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Inklings Issue 1.03
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i n k l i n g s
Newsletter for Writers on the Net
Issue 1.3 Wednesday, October 25, 1995
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<http://www.inkspot.com/inklings/issues/ink0103.html>
In This Issue
-------------
Feature Article:
----------------
SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK...FACING THE CHALLENGE
by Carol Henson
Regular Columns:
----------------
FRESH INK What's new for writers, best of the Web
MARKET Market information
WORKSHOP Critique groups
MAIL BAG Writer's Poll: Overcoming writer's block
Apologies for the late issue. I have just switched over to
a new computer system and a new internet service provider, as
well as trying to get a majordomo list set up so that people
can subscribe and unsubscribe themselves. If anyone knows of
a reliable majordomo or listserv service, preferably in
Canada, I'd appreciate knowing about it.
My e-mail address remains the same: morgaine@utcc.utoronto.ca.
FRESH INK
=========
International Writer's Calendar
-------------------------------
Screenwriters Online has compiled an impressive list of workshops,
conferences, and seminars organized by states with an additional section
for Canadian and International events. The events are for writers of all
genres, not just screenwriting.
International Writer's Calendar
http://screenwriter.com/insider/WritersCalendar.html
Screenwriters Online
http://screenwriter.com/insider/news.html
Copyright Questions Answered:
----------------------------
BookZone now has a copyright attorney answering any copyright questions
you may have at no cost. Post your questions to the BookZone
Copyright Forum and the answers will be posted every Monday.
BookZone
http://ttx.com/bookzone
The Copyright Forum
http://ttx.com/webforum/index.htm
The Muse's Muse:
---------------
This new site is a good resource for songwriters, with information
about songwriting organizations, music publishers, magazines, etc.
Jodi Krangle (jkramps@yorku.ca) hopes to eventually make this an
interactive forum for songwriters.
The Muse's Muse
http://www.interlog.com/~elysium/muse/home.html
New column in Inklings: "ASK THE BOOK DOCTOR"
---------------------------------------------
Carol Henson is an experienced Book Doctor/editor/author and will be
happy to answer your questions about writing, editing, and "book doctoring"
in future issues of Inklings. Please send your questions in e-mail
to her at UBKX12C@Prodigy.com with the subject header: "Book doctor question".
SUBSCRIBER FOCUS: JIM WITKINS
=============================
Jim Witkins is a recent graduate from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. For the past 2 years he has been working on
a children's book in between classes and work. Be sure to check
out his web site for an excellent example of how writers and
artists can "market themselves" on the web. "While I'm not
published yet, I think your readers might enjoy my site which shows some
of my artwork and also takes a behind the scenes look at the struggles
of completing a book for publication."
http://phish.cs.wisc.edu/witkins/
MARKET INFO
===========
Rippin' Good Yarn
-----------------
Online magazine dedicated to publishing quality sf and fantasy.
100% freelance, replies within 2 weeks. FICTION: hard sf, cyberpunk,
sociological sf, humourous sf, space opera, dark fantasy, high fantasy,
vintage sf and horror. 2,500-8,500 words. Pays 3-8 cents/word.
Also accepts poetry and non-fiction. "Impress me. If your plot is old
and tired then you probably won't get in. I like refreshing stories
that make me think and can keep me guessing. If I don't accept your
first submission try again.
Check out Rippin' Good Yarn and guidelines at:
http://www.3rdplanet.com/rippin.html
E-mail contact:
Elden Williams at submissions@3rdplanet.com
American Journalism Review
--------------------------
701 Adelphi Road, Adelphi, MD 20783-1716, Voice: 301-431-4771;
Fax: 431-0097.
FREE PRESS pieces run from 500-1,000 words and are usually tied to some
current event, though not exclusively. "Very seldom do we run first-person
in this section, but we're always looking for journalists who've
crossed some line, humor, off-beat approaches to the craft, new
technologies, etc."
Pay: minimum $100, plus expenses. Query by mail, e-mail, or fax.
No calls, please. Send to Free Press Editor at srevah@ajr.umd.edu.
FEATURES usually run from 2,000-5,000 words.
Usually responds within 4 weeks. "Query by mail, e-mail or fax, and tell us
especially why you're the person we should assign to do the piece. It's
okay to have a viewpoint here, but make sure your query
reflects that you're not a zealot with an ax to grind. No calls."
E-mail contact: rrieder@ajr.umd.edu
"Our chief frustration is receiving queries and manuscripts from people who
haven't read the magazine (e.g., Editor Bill Monroe retired four years ago,
but we still get mail addressed to him)."
Submission Guidelines:
http://www.inform.umd.edu:8080/News/AJR/guide.html
American Journalism Review
http://www.inform.umd.edu:8080/News/AJR/ajr.html
Stoddart Publishing
-------------------
34 Lesmill Rd., Don Mills, ON, Canada M3B 2T6. Publisher: Kathryn Cole.
Seeking picture books for ages 4-8 (1,000-2,000 wds), juvenile novels
for ages 8-11 (approx. 180 pages), YA for ages 12-16 (approx. 256 pages).
Illustrators should mail samples only, no originals. Response in
2-3 months. "Please do not request critiques".
Armchair Detective
------------------
The Armchair Detective, 129 W. 56th Street, New York, NY 10019
(212) 765-0902, Editor-in-chief: Kate Stine. Quarterly magazine devoted to
mystery and crime fiction. Every issue contains an interview with a
well-known mystery writer, portraits of both famous and little known writers,
historical overviews, criticism and book reviews. Interviews, articles and
commentary range from 2,000 to 10,000 words.
Footnotes are discouraged unless essential. Payment is $12 per PRINTED page;
upon publication. We send contributors a copy of the magazine.
Book reviews range from 250 to 500 words. All bibliographical information
runs at the beginning; do NOT give the solution away. There is no payment for
reviews; individuals may write in for free books to review. Please include a
sample review and mention what types of mysteries you prefer.
Manuscripts must be double-spaced and accompanied by SASE. No dot matrix;
photostatic copies are acceptable. Artwork & photographs are very much
welcome and are always carefully returned. Notification of acceptance/rejection
can take up to 3 months. Individual copies of the magazine may be obtained
by sending a check or money order payable to The Armchair Detective.
The $9.00 cost includes postage.
SO, YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK...FACING THE CHALLENGE
===================================================
by Carol Henson (UBKX12C@prodigy.com)
In her book, FROM PEN TO PRINT, Ellen M. Kozak wrote; "Any
occupation has a down side, and writing is no exception. It
requires the direct application of the seat of your pants to a
chair in front of your typewriter or word processor, whether you
want to be there or not. It is work without immediate
satisfaction.
If writing is not to become a chore more dismal than
dishwashing, not only must you want to write, you must need to
write and you must love to write. If you're just in it for the
glamour, try the stage, or politics."
What does this mean? Writing is work. You say you're up
to the task, you like a good challenge? You've sharpened your
pencils and stacked your legal pads neatly in front of you. But
what about all those horror stories you've heard about writing a
book? Is there any way to avoid problems? Can you really write
a book and get it published?
The first thing you need to do is write this down. READ,
READ, READ. WRITE, WRITE, WRITE. These six words have to be the
most important words you'll ever hear, so commit them to memory.
You can't write if you don't read. Once you've done your
reading, you need to do your writing. Now that you've mastered
the most basic rule of writing, let's go through a few of the
most common challenges facing writers today as well as a few
solutions to those challenges.
REJECTION
---------
Can you avoid rejection? No. Every writer gets rejected at
one time or another. Since you can't avoid rejection, it might
help to look at a few of the reasons why it happens.
1). You haven't found an appropriate market.
Are you sending your children's book to a publisher known
for its How-To books? It would be better to see which
publishers, or agents are the most comfortable with buying
or representing your type of manuscript.
2). You haven't kept up with what publishers are buying.
When THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER was hot, publishers were buying all
the submarine books they could get their hands on. Now the trend
is courtroom drama or books about bridges, or wife-beating
celebrities suspected of murder. Ask yourself what's current,
what's hot. Check BOOKS IN PRINT to see how your book is the
same, but unique. More on this later.
3) You manuscript needs improving.
Try to find an honest critic, someone you respect, who will
give you an honest, unsentimental evaluation of your work.
This probably won't be your mother, unless she can promise
more constructive criticism than praise.
What if you discover your work has all three of these
problems?
Ask yourself a couple of questions. Do I know who will
be buying my book? Have I REALLY taken the time to read other
books in my genre? Juvenile, mystery, science fiction, fantasy,
contemporary fiction, historical romance, nonfiction, biography,
how-to? How does my book match up with what I've been reading?
Take note of publishers who are selling these books. Sometimes
you can find the names of agents or editors who handle your type
of book by reading the author acknowledgements in the beginning
of books you admire.
Another trick is to find some people to read your book.
Elementary, junior high, high school and community college
teachers may be interested in using your manuscript for a class
project. I took my juvenile book to my son's former third grade
teacher. She was excited about using it as a class project, and
asked me to lecture on writing. I stuck around after the lecture
and heard the teacher READ a chapter from my story. What a
shock! The most amazing thing I learned from that half hour
session in a third grade classroom was that THIRD GRADERS were
actually going to read my book. I admit I'd never thought about
what it would sound like to third graders, my potential audience.
I also took the time to ask the teacher for a list of her
favorite books, the ones she picked to read to her class. Then I
went out and read books from that list. I learned a lot about
what kids enjoy reading, and the rhythm of what they like to
read. Just reading your manuscript out loud can tell you a lot
about your story. Try it!
DON'T TAKE REJECTION PERSONALLY! Learn from the rejections
you're getting. Categorize your rejection slips. Pre-printed,
highly impersonal post cards go on top. Then photocopied letters
on 3/4 size paper. Then the form letter printed on an actual
full sheet of paper, then a full sheet with actual typing. If
there's a signature in INK, that's a bonus. Next, a letter
typed, signed in ink, with your name and the name of your book on
it . . . You get the idea. If they offer comments, take them to
heart. You know you're on the right track if they tell you why
they're rejecting you.
Do they all say the same thing? You could stubbornly
conclude, "they don't know what they're missing," by rejecting
your work. The reality is, they know EXACTLY what they're
missing! Remember, they're not rejecting you personally, only
what you sent them. Above all else, fix the problem and send
your manuscript back out there.
RESOURCES
---------
Writers have many resources available to help them get
published. One of my favorites is to adopt a librarian.
Librarians love to help library patrons. It is more than just
their job. I've adopted several librarians and it works quite
well. Just follow a few simple rules. Be courteous. Smile. Ask
one question at a time. Be specific and patient. If they
say they have to get back to you later, believe them. Let them
get back to you. Approach them when they're not busy. With my
children's book, I asked a children's librarian what books they
get the most requests for. Ask them what they like and what they
recommend to patrons. Believe me. It works.
The library is also a great place to find books about
writing. You'll find Writer's Digest Books like, HOW TO WRITE A
CHILDREN'S BOOK AND GET IT PUBLISHED, HANDBOOK OF NOVEL WRITING
or James Michener's WRITER'S HANDBOOK. There are magazines about
writing, WRITER'S DIGEST, WRITER, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY. From these
you'll learn what publishers are buying, and you can see their
projections for the next season.
Other resource books include The LITERARY MARKETPLACE (LMP),
WRITER'S MARKET and publisher's catalogs. You can send for
catalogs directly from the publisher and that way you'll see
sizes, shapes, colors and content of books that publishers have
already bought. Ask to be put on mailing lists. Check out book
reviews on upcoming books like those found in The NEW YORK TIMES
BOOK REVIEW.
Have you thought about your computer being a resource? It
is. If you subscribe to an electronic information service like
Prodigy or America OnLine, you have encyclopedias, bulletin
boards, and the Internet at your fingertips. Computers also come
in handy for mass mailings, multiple submissions, spell checking,
grammar checking, and cut-and-paste.
MOST COMMON QUESTIONS WRITERS ASK
---------------------------------
Should I get a Literary Agent or send my
manuscript directly to a Publisher?
------------------------------------------------------------
Well, it comes down to personal preference, although the
market is slowly suggesting you need an agent to get your work
published. Many publishers today will not look at unsolicited
manuscripts. There are still a few out there that will look at
your manuscript without agent representation. I prefer an agent.
I feel literary agents are just like real estate agents. A real
estate agent will do all the work and get a better deal on your
house. It will cost you a percentage, but it will be well worth
it. A literary agent does the work for you and often can get you
a better contract.
The LMP can tell you which agents charge reading fees, which
don't, and what type of writing they represent. If you're going
the publisher route, it can give you the names of contacts at the
publishing houses. The agents will list their requirements for
submission. NO POETRY, NO JUVENILE or NONFICTION, are a few of
the comments you'll find along with whether they charge a reading
fee. In the publisher section you'll find the names of editors
to contact who handle your type of manuscript.
Should I pay a reading fee?
------------------------------------------------------------
Most reputable agents don't charge reading fees, they take a
percentage of the money you earn from your book, usually between
ten and 20 percent. Time is money, so more and more agents are
charging fees. Decide for yourself. I suggest you first try
agents who don't charge. Then you can move on to those that do
charge a fee. Keep in mind that agents aren't editors. If you
need editing work, do it before you submit your work. Book
doctors are relatively new on the scene and can be quite useful
for in depth editing and marketing suggestions. Nothing replaces
self-editing however. If you think you need additional help,
call a professional, ask for a list of their previous clients and
check their fees. Don't expect your agent to do much editing.
Do I send a query letter or the entire manuscript?
------------------------------------------------------------
The first thing to do is check the LMP or Writer's Market.
If an agent or publisher wants a query, send a query. Some may
want the entire manuscript or three chapters and an outline. They
may ask for a detailed synopsis. Send whatever they ask for.
What is a query?
------------------------------------------------------------
A query can be a single page, or it can include several
pages of details about your book. Get an older copy of Writer's
Digest at the library that talks about query letters. They give
you step-by-step instructions for creating good query letters.
What's a professional manuscript supposed to look like?
------------------------------------------------------------
Again, check the writer's magazines for details. Some of
the most common mistakes are not putting their name and the title
of their book on every page of their manuscript, and omitting
page numbering. Use 20#, white, bond paper (standard copy
paper), one inch margins and be sure to double space. The double
spacing is easy on a tired editor's eyes. It also gives the
editor room to write notes.
What about sending my manuscript or query to more than one
agent or publisher at a time?
---------------------------------------------------------------
Multiple submissions are practically industry standard
today. Time is money and most agents and publishers recognize
the need for submitting to more than one potential buyer at a
time. It all comes down to how good you are at waiting for an
answer.
How long do I wait for an answer before I follow-up or give up?
---------------------------------------------------------------
After two months, follow up your query with a brief letter.
If you don't get a response, in two weeks send a funny postcard.
This is a little out of the ordinary and will get a little extra
attention without being obnoxious. If you still get no response,
in two weeks follow your post card up with a phone call. If this
fails, you may want to consider writing another letter asking for
the return of your manuscript. Twelve weeks is a long time to
wait for a simple acknowledgement. Don't forget to include a
self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) in your original
materials.
This makes it easier for agents or publishers to
respond quickly.
What if I decide to try multiple submissions and more than
one person accepts my work?
----------------------------------------------------------
I love this question. What do you do if more than one wants
your work? First, SCREAM! Then throw a party! After you've
recovered, calmly ask for a client list, in the case of an agent.
That will give you an idea of their track record. In the case of
a publisher, choose the one that offers the best contract terms
and/or the most money.
What about a vanity press, paying a company money to publish my
book?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
----
Know what you're getting into. The traditional vanity press
charges you big money to publish your book, around $6,000 an
average per book. Usually, they don't help you sell your book,
or provide a marketing plan. They may even expect you to buy
back unsold copies, copies you've already paid for!
Some writers have gone the vanity press route and it's
worked out well for them. They develop a reader following, sell
a few books, and use this track record to attract a large
publishing house.
What about writing for free, like for small press literary
magazines or science fiction fanzines?
----------------------------------------------------------
Both are great places to gain experience. You can learn
your craft and develop an audience. There's nothing wrong with
that. If you get a chance to write for free, there can be great
satisfaction in seeing your work published. Keep the rights to
your work, giving up first serial rights only. You may gain so
much confidence in your writing skills that you'll want to submit
your free work to a paying market.
BOTTOM LINE
------------------------------------------------------------
So, what's the bottom line? Is it possible to avoid all the
perils of publishing? The answer to that is no. You can learn
from your mistakes and the mistakes of others. Decide right now
if you want to be a politician or writer. STOP TALKING and START
WRITING. Rewrite. Learn the craft of writing by writing.
*****************
Carol Henson is a Book Doctor/editor/author cruising the 'net on a
regular basis and would be happy to respond to your questions about
Book Doctors, editing, writing, etc.
"Writing takes WORK. Study your markets. Get your manuscripts in
the mail and keep them there. That's how you sell what you
write. Getting a book published is like a marathon, not a short
sprint. Learn by doing. Listen to your own voice, not that of
others. And never forget to READ, READ, READ. And WRITE, WRITE,
WRITE."
ASK THE BOOK DOCTOR:
Send your questions to Carol Henson at UBKX12C@Prodigy.com
with the subject header: "Book doctor question". Carol will answer
selected questions in a column in future issues.
WORKSHOP: GETTING YOUR WRITING CRITIQUED
========================================
WEB SITES
---------
The Online Writers' Club has been running for two years, originally
an IRC group but now more prominently on the web. They offer
offers various types of critiquing, from group critiquing to a 1:1
setting for those who are a little shy or who are afraid of
their ideas being stolen.
Online Writers Club
http://mhdstore2.moorhead.msus.edu/write/index.html
Writers on the Net was discussed in the last issue of Inklings. It
offers tutoring, classes, editing and writers' groups. All the
teachers are published writers or editors (you can check
bios online) and have had experience teaching. There is a fee.
Writers On The Net
http://www.writers.com/
W.R.I.T.E. (Writers' Internet Exchange) is a moderated group in which
members are encouraged to share their works-in-progress as well as
critique other members' work. Social chatter is discouraged, and although
critiques are posted to all members, follow-up conversation is done
via private e-mail. There are no genre restrictions, and members can
post up to 30k a day. There is a minimum contribution requirement per
month.
W.R.I.T.E.
http://www.geopages.com/Athens/1850
MAILING LISTS
-------------
The following mailing lists require no membership fee. If you know of
any other online critique mailing lists, please do let me know.
Writers' Online Workshop:
------------------------
One of the best online critique groups I've found so far. Members are
serious about their writing (most pursue publication), and the
tone is professional. There is a minimum contribution
requirement per month (critiques and/or submissions) to
retain membership status. There are four categories available:
fiction, non-fiction, novels, and poetry.
To subscribe:
Address message to: LISTSERV@PSUVM.PSU.EDU
Body of message:
SUBSCRIBE (listname) (yourfirstname) (yourlastname) where
(listname) is FICTION, NOVELS-L, NFICTION, or POETRY-W.
For more information, contact: writing-request@psuvm.psu.edu
Writers' Workshop:
-----------------
An open, unmoderated workshop for discussions of the art and craft
of writing and sharing of works in progress. I tried this list for
a while but was overwhelmed by the amount of e-mail I was getting
(it's a fairly chatty workshop, very friendly) and had to drop out.
To subscribe:
Address message to: LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.EDU or
LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.BITNET
Body of message:
SUBSCRIBE WRITERS (yourfirstname) (yourlastname)
Other resources:
---------------
There are many sites on the web that allow writers to post
their writing and encourage feedback. These will be discussed in the
next issue of Inklings.
Once you join a critique group, you'll find that there's an art to
formulating a good critique. The following essay is useful to those who
wish to improving their critiquing skills:
How To Critique Fiction - by Victory Crayne
http://www.webcom.com/~victory/howcrit.html
PROFESSIONAL EDITING SERVICES
-----------------------------
There are many professional editing services available online. These will
be discussed/reviewed in a future issue.
MAIL BAG: WRITER'S POLL #1
==========================
"How can I get over my writer's block??"
Every writer has their own method for overcoming this problem.
If you'd like to share your answer (all answers will be considered
anonymous), please e-mail morgaine@utcc.utoronto.ca with
"Writer's Poll #1" in the subject header, or fill out the form
at http://www.interlog.com/~ohi/ink/poll.html. Results will be
given in the next issue.
=========================================================================
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). Other cases should contact me at morgaine@utcc.utoronto.ca
or ohi@interlog.com.
Inklings is a free newsletter for writers on the net and is
published every 2-3 weeks. For more info, please e-mail:
morgaine@utcc.utoronto.ca or see
http://www.interlog.com/~ohi/ink/inklings.html
WWW-VL: Writer's Resources on the Web:
http://www.interlog.com/~ohi/www/writesource.html
INKSPOT: Resources for Children's Writers:
http://www.interlog.com/~ohi/inkspot/
To subscribe, send e-mail to morgaine@utcc.utoronto.ca
with "subscribe inklings" in the header. To unsubscribe,
put "unsubscribe inklings".
===============================================================
