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Inklings Issue 3.13
================================================================
i n k l i n g s
Inkspot's newsletter for Writers on the Net
Issue 3.13 June 25, 1997
================================================================
<http://www.inkspot.com/inklings/issues/ink0313.html>
* Over 13,000 subscribers! *
This issue features the first ASK THE LAWYER column with Mark
Fowler and David Leit about quoting from the net, an interview
with Karen Wojtyla (senior editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell
Books For Young Readers), Susan Graham's response to a reader
letter re: vanity publishing.
This issue sponsored in part by:
================================================================
ON SPEC Magazine - Premiere Canadian Quarterly of Speculative
Writing...the best in Canadian SF, Fantasy, Horror and Magic
Realism. $2 off your subscription if you mention Inklings.
Email: onspec@earthling.net
================================================================
THE WRITER'S SOFTWARE COMPANION: multimedia software by Writer's
Digest's Nancy Kress. Uses advanced learning tech. and total
immersion to bypass years of trial-and-error, dramatically
accelerating a writer's progress. http://www.novalearn.com
================================================================
MARKETS ABROAD - Thousands of publications overseas buy English-
language articles. This quarterly newsletter, delivered by email,
provides editor names, addresses, needs, rates, etc. $27/year.
Sample: sedgesample@inkspot.com. Inquiries: pp10013@cybernet.it.
================================================================
* Samurai Consulting * http://www.samurai.com
Services include internet consulting, WWW page design, electro-
nic newsletters, mailing lists, FTP sites, system maintenance,
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================================================================
ISSN 1205-6413. Copyright 1995-1997 Debbie Ridpath Ohi. For more
info about Inklings (how to subscribe/unsubscribe, change your
address, submit material, copyright, etc.) send any email message
to infoinklings@inkspot.com. For info on how you can become an
Inklings sponsor, send any email to ratecard@inkspot.com. No
attachments, please. Send comments to editor@inkspot.com (please
use a meaningful subject header!).
================================================================
| CONTENTS THIS ISSUE: |
| From The Editor's Desk |
| Fresh Ink and Market Information |
| Tips For Writers On The Net |
| Ask The Lawyer |
| Interview with Karen Wojtyla |
| Susan Graham's response to subscriber letter |
| Writers' Conferences and Events |
================================================================
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK:
=======================
Thanks to Lucy V. Parker for mentioning Inklings in the second
edition of her book, "How to Start a Home-Based Writing Business"
(The Globe Pequot Press).
Thanks also to Geri Anderson for her article about me (*blush)
in her Folks Online piece (www.folksonline.com). See the article
at: http://www.folksonline.com/folks/hh/talent/cw.htm.
Recently I've been getting more inquiries about sending books for
review. Writing-related books for potential review are always
welcome. However, please note the following:
(1) Sending a book does not guarantee a review to be published in
Inklings/Inkspot.
(2) Please do not ask when your book will be reviewed. If your
book is reviewed in Inklings, you will be notified in advance.
Please contact me for a snailmail address if you wish to send me
a package, whether for review, potential prize giveaway, or just
to send me free things :-). Many thanks to those kind subscribers
who have sent me postcards and letters. Snailmail and small
packages can be sent to: Inklings, 55 McCaul St., Box 123,
Toronto, ON Canada M5T 2W7. For larger packages, please contact
me first.
Congratulations to Louise Heite from Iceland, who wins an
autographed copy of WRITERS.NET by Gary Gach (Prima Publishing,
1997). See her winning tips for writers later in this issue.
FRESH INK
=========
Free book giveaway!
-------------------
Win a copy of WRITER'S GUIDE TO HOLLYWOOD PRODUCERS, DIRECTORS,
AND SCREENWRITER'S AGENTS by Skip Press (Prima Publishing, 1997).
To enter, send an email message with your name and email address
to giveaway@inkspot.com. DEADLINE: July 7th, 1997. One name will
be randomly chosen and announced in the next issue. For more
details, see http://www.inkspot.com/admin/giveaway.html. For info
about Skip's book, see
http://www.primapublishing.com/life/76150399.html.
LiteraryAgent.com
-----------------
Database of literary agents. Still in early stages of
development.
http://www.literaryagent.com/index.html
A Brief Intro To Copyright
--------------------------
By Brad Templeton. Includes some copyright links.
http://www.clari.net/brad/copyright.html
Resources for Young Writers
---------------------------
Jumping-off points for young writers.
http://www.dimensional.com/~janf/wtwriting.html
ProfNet
-------
Enables journalists to ask a group of academic, business contacts
and other experts for comments on virtually any subject. No
charge.
http://www.profnet.com/
Newswise Guide To Journalism Grants and Fellowships
---------------------------------------------------
Includes description, deadline and contact information for more
than 90 upcoming awards, grants and fellowships.
http://www.newswise.com/grants.htm
Writers' Classifieds
--------------------
Free classifieds for writers, different topics: market info,
wanted, services, contests, promotion, events. Please read
guidelines before posting.
http://www.inkspot.com/classifieds/
================================================================
NEXT INKLINGS CHAT: Children's Writers
--------------------------------------
Wed. July 16th. Chat host: children's author Karleen Bradford.
More details next issue.
================================================================
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/market/.
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING MARKET SOURCES:
SCAVENGER'S NEWSLETTER
Monthly market info letter for sf/f/h/m writers & artists.
More info at: http://users.aol.com/Lemarchand/scavenger.html
THE GILA QUEEN'S GUIDE TO MARKETS
POB 97, Newton, NJ 07860-0097 Email:K.Ptacek@genie.com
http://www.pacifier.com/~alecwest/gila/index.html
CHILDREN'S WRITERS MARKET LIST (magazines only)
Available by e-mail or snailmail. Email mshauers@midusa.net.
==-----------------------------------------------------==
"FNASR" = First North American Serial Rights, "SASE" =
self-addressed, stamped envelope, "simsubs" = simultaneous
submissions, "mss" = manuscript, "RT" = response time, "GL" =
guidelines, "wds" = words, "cc" = contributor's copy.
***If you are a *paying* market and would like your guidelines
included in a future issue of Inklings, please fill out the form
at: http://www.inkspot.com/market/mktpayform.html
Sunday Times (London) - seeks articles
--------------------------------------
SUNDAY TIMES (LONDON) - John Witherow - Editor - 1 Pennington
Street, London E1 9XW, UK. Tel. 44 171 782 5000. Top newspaper
rates--Bpd 100 for features, Bpd 50 for illustrations--are
offered for authoritative articles in the areas of art,
entertainment, science, politics, and current issues. Also part
of this edition is THE SUNDAY TIMES MAGAZINE (general interest
articles on people, travel, tabloid-type news); STYLE (fashion,
art, upscale profiles, travel); and CULTURE (education, people,
music, entertainment, television). The supplements are good photo
markets too. (Source: Markets Abroad, overseas mkt newsletter,
for sample send email to sedgesample@inkspot.com)
Company Magazine (London) - seeks articles
------------------------------------------
COMPANY MAGAZINE - Fiona McIntosh - Editor - National Magazine
Company Ltd., 72 Broadwick Street, London W1V 2BP, UK. Tel. 44
171 439 5000. This monthly publication for contemporary woman
covers a wide range of topics. The July issue, for example,
carried: 51 Shameless Orgasm Confessions; Love By Numbers;
Summer's 10 Most Wanted Swimsuits; Drugs & You; Makeovers; and a
true story about doctors and babies. While specific rates were
not given, UK writers organizations say that this is a good
paying magazine. (Source: Markets Abroad, overseas mkt
newsletter, for sample send email to sedgesample@inkspot.com)
Grand Times - seeks articles, short fiction
-------------------------------------------
Grand Times Publishing, Inc., 403 Village Drive, El Cerrito, CA,
94530. Managing Editor, Kira Albin. Online magazine for active
retirees worldwide. Editorial focus: "inform, inspire and
entertain while providing the reader with a sense of belonging
and pride in being an older person." Items sought include, but
are not limited to, the following:
- articles on health, travel, current events, crime prevention,
lifestyles, and relationships
- controversial topics (gun control, assisted suicide,
grandparenting, etc...)
- articles and photos with a nostalgic theme
- updates on newsworthy personalities and events from earlier
days
- fictional short stories (romance, adventure, mystery, etc.)
Subjects should be of interest to older audience (60+). Writing
style should be entertaining, succinct, similar to that in
Reader's Digest. LENGTH: Max 1,000 wds. No queries and no email.
Send hardcopy mss by snailmail, max 2 submissions at a time.
Simsubs and reprints okay if informed. RT: 2 months. Payment
$10-35. See website for full guidelines. (Confirmed: June 1/97).
Email: mags@grandtimes.com
GL: http://www.grandtimes.com/guidelines.html
Paper Moon Graphics - seeks greeting card copy
----------------------------------------------
POB 34672, Los Angeles, CA 90034. Art/Copy Department. Produces
greeting cards, etc. "The credit line can include your name,
the name of an imaginary friend, or nothing at all. Be aware
that there are many instances where similar concepts and copy
have arrived from different sources, or they already exist in
our line, or in someone else's. In the case of similar copy,
we pay the individual whose copy reaches us first. Please be
careful not to submit material from another company's card
line." PAYMENT: $75/published card. RT=3 months. (Source:
The Gila Queen's Guide To Markets #86).
Amelia - seeks poetry
---------------------
329 "E" St., Bakersfield, CA 93304. Editor: Frederick A. Raborg,
Jr. Quarterly. Circ. 1750. "We look for a strong sense of
kinship with the reader, a feeling of importance and worth,
stance and control in our poetry, any form. We use very short
poems often as filler to break up long stretches of narrative.
1-liners and aphorisms also are welcomed." LENGTH: max 100 lines.
PAYMENT: $2-25 on acceptance for FNASR "except 1-liners and
aphorisms for which payment is 1 copy." Sample $8.95; sub $25/yr.
(Source: The Gila Queen's Guide To Markets #86).
alphaDRIVE - seeks short sf, articles, poetry
---------------------------------------------
S.C. Virtes, Editor, SCB Systems, 1313-K Simpson Way, Escondido,
CA 92029. SF, one-time rights. FICTION: 1,000-4,000 wds, query
for longer works. Pays 2-6c/wd on acceptance. NON-FICTION:
articles of science fact, trends in technology. Query first.
POETRY: good solid poetry with sharp futuristic feel or imagery.
Pays 20-50c/line. LOOKING FOR: "Fiction - sf, cyberstuff, views
of the future on earth or elsewhere. Some surreal works are
okay, but no generic fantasy material. Bleak and dark works
are anticipated, but they can't ALL be depressing! A sense of
adventure, wonder or discover is key to the magazine overall.
Especially wanted: interactive tales & experimental designs.
Note: all works will be heavily illustrated, with soundtracks
and possible animations. All authors should expect their works
to be visually adapted. (Source: Scavenger's Newsletter, Jun/97)
Black Rose - seeks short f/h fiction
------------------------------------
David P. Dunning, POB 5461, Dublin 12, Ireland. Seeks traditional
ghost stories, supernatural tales, dark fantasy and horror.
Published
twice/year. Copyright reverts to writers upon publication.
Fiction
2,000-10,000 wds. Tentatively planning to pay $20/story + cc.
Payment is still to be decided. RT=12 wks max. Scheduled to
debut early next year. "No blood/gore, vampire garlic/silver
bullet stories, monsters from space with chainsaws going mad."
Especially welcomes work from new writers. All writers asked to
send bio of themselves in 50 wds. $10 prize for best voted
story in each issue. (Source: Scavenger's Newsletter, Jun/97)
Coldwater Creek - seeks copywriters
-----------------------------------
Catalog company located in the Idaho Panhandle. See website for
copy style sought. Primarily looking for writers are willing to
relocate but also seeking freelancers. "This will be an exciting
opportunity for the right person to get on board with one of the
fastest growing catalog companies in the country. Great benefits
and pay, too!" Contact Karen Clark at kclark@thecreek.com.
http://www.coldwater-creek.com
================================================================
TIPS FOR WRITERS ON THE NET
----------------------------------------------------------------
In the last issue, I asked for readers to send me useful tips for
writers on how to efficiently use the internet. Congratulations
to Louise Heite from Iceland, who wins an autographed copy of
WRITERS.NET by Gary Gach (Prima Publishing, 1997), a guide to
online resources and opportunities for writers. You can find out
more about Louise and her work at http://www.eldhorn.is/~lheite/.
Here are the winning tips from Louise:
"1. Read the bulletin boards frequently. Write to the editor as
soon as a request in your field of expertise appears. Be clear,
concise, and informative - exactly as you would with any other
inquiry or proposal for an article.
2. Join interest lists in your fields. People looking for writers
often post inquiries there.
3. You never know where a contact will turn up! I was approached
to do some short essays for a public radio network by way of a
knitting interest list. More recently, I was contacted about
possibly writing an article for an engineering school alumni
magazine, as the result of some postings to a list having to do
with stuttering. Which leads to...
4. Polish your interest list postings. Every posting that you
toss out into the ocean of Internet communication is a message in
a bottle which might just wash up on an editor's shore. Let your
messages represent your skill as a writer. The moment or two it
takes to check your spelling, grammar, style, and facts, might be
worth an assignment or two, or even an ongoing project."
Do you have a useful tip for writers on using the internet?
Send it to tips@inkspot.com.
================================================================
Ask The Experts
---------------
*** Please put "inklings question" in the subject header. ***
Judith Bowen (ROMANCE WRITER) jbowen@max-net.com
David Breeden (POET) drpoetry@ktc.com
Charles Deemer (SCREENWRITER) cdeemer@teleport.com
Mark Fowler (LAWYER) askthelawyer@inkspot.com
Susan Graham (AGENT) slgraham@mindspring.com
Paula Guran (HORROR WRITER) DarkEcho@aol.com
Carol Henson (BOOK DOCTOR) UBKX12C@Prodigy.com
Ken Jenks (ELECTRONIC PUBLISHER) MindsEye@tale.com
David Leit (LAWYER) askthelawyer@inkspot.com
Bob Sablatura (JOURNALIST) bob.sablatura@reporters.net
Michelle Sagara (SF/FANTASY WRITER) Michelle.Sagara@sff.net
Lee Wardlaw (CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITER) Katknip2@aol.com
Marcia Yudkin (FREELANCE WRITER) send to yudkin@inkspot.com
Sharon Zukowski (MYSTERY/SPY WRITER) 76372.2252@CompuServe.COM
Columnists may be unable to reply privately to every message,
but will answer selected questions in future issues of Inklings.
===============================================================
ASK THE LAWYER
---------------------------------------------------------------
by Mark Fowler and David Leit
<askthelawyer@inkspot.com>
Quoting from the net
--------------------
Q: My question concerns the feasibility of quoting information
found readily available on the Net: Home pages and web sites
contain published information, readily available to anyone who
happens by. If the source is credible, what rules of thumb apply?
Does standard protocol exist? Lacking posted copyrights, is the
information considered fair game, or does plagiarism become a
factor?
A: There is an all-too-common misconception that text and images
posted on web sites or in Usenet groups are in the public domain
and may be freely copied without permission. Don't make that
mistake. Materials available on the Internet are subject to
basically the same rules of copyright protection as materials in
any other medium. Some of the material on the Internet -- such
as U.S. government works -- is in the public domain. But the
great majority is not. There is a respectable argument that
someone who posts his or her work on the Net has given implicit
permission for people to download copies for their own personal
use -- the equivalent of making a photocopy of an article for
your own personal use. But that implied permission would not
extend to republication and redistribution.
The absence of a copyright notice on a work does not -- I
emphasize, not! -- indicate that a work may be freely copied
without permission.
Regardless of whether a work is published in print or on the Net,
the doctrine of "fair use" in the United States -- and the
similar doctrine of "fair dealing" in Canada -- may permit you to
quote limited portions for such purposes as criticism, comment,
news reporting, and scholarship. Whether or not the use you make
of someone else's work will qualify as "fair use" depends on such
factors as the nature of the copyrighted work, the purpose and
character of your use, the amount that you copy, and whether your
copying will have an effect on a potential market for the
copyrighted work. There are no clear rules on how much quotation
is too much. Sometimes the quotation of many hundreds of words
has been held lawful. Sometimes the quotation of just a few lines
(as from a song or poem) has been deemed infringing.
Many websites provide useful information on copyright. In
particular, you may want to check out the Stanford University
Libraries site (www.fairuse.stanford.edu), the U.S. Copyright
Office site (lcweb.loc.gov/copyright), and the ILT Web Guide to
Copyright (www.ilt.columbia.edu/projects/index.html) for
information on fair use.
==------------------------------------------------==
This column is co-authored by Mark A. Fowler and David Leit of
Satterlee Stephens Burke & Burke LLP (http://www.ssbb.com).
PLEASE NOTE:
This column is intended solely to provide general information
about matters of concern to writers, not specific legal services
or advice. On some issues, there are significant differences
between the laws of the United States and the laws of Canada (and
significant variations from state to state or from province to
province.) If legal assistance is required, the reader should
consult an experienced attorney who can review and assess all of
the facts and circumstances relevant to the reader's situation.
Copyright (c) 1997 Mark A. Fowler and David Leit.
================================================================
INTERVIEW WITH KAREN WOJTYLA
----------------------------------------------------------------
by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
<editor@inkspot.com>
Karen Wojtyla is the Senior Editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell Books
for Young Readers.
How does the submission process work at BDD? When an unsolicited
mss arrives, what happens to it? At what point would you see it?
--------------------------------------------------------------
We do not accept unsolicited mss. strictly speaking, though I've
found that different houses have different definitions of
"unsolicited." At BDD, anything addressed only to the company
with no other name on it is returned unread. However, simply
having the wherewithal to address a manuscript to a member of the
editorial staff will get the ms. to that person, to be read by
the editor or an assistant. In my case, my assistant sometimes
reads for me; generally speaking a manuscript with
my name on it goes straight to me, and then I try to give a
response in 8-12 weeks,(though I have been known to take longer
if I'm really backlogged). We also have two contests through
which
we look for new writers of fiction: the Delacorte Press Prize for
a first young adult novel, and the Marguerite de Angeli Prize for
a first middle grade novel. Interested readers of Inklings should
address requests (with SASE) for the contest guidelines to Pearl
Young at BDD, 1540 Broadway, NY 10036.
What sorts of things would immediately turn you on/off a mss?
-------------------------------------------------------------
An immediate turn-off is anything written in crayon (yes, this
does happen). Beyond making sure the ms is typed, double-spaced
and legible, I'll consider anything. I have found, though, that
rhymed verse picture books are very hard to pull off
successfully, as are fictionalized stories trying to impart
nonfiction information (often on the natural world). Also, a
character named something like Chirpy the Chipmunk appearing in a
story with a strong moral lesson for kids that is perfect for a
whole series of books is usually a bad sign. Turn-ons are
succinct cover letters with short descriptions of the ms enclosed
and mentioning relevant writing background of the author's.
Also, quite apart from the appearance of a submission, I
encourage writers to check out, through bookstores, libraries,
publishers' catalogs, SCBWI listings, or wherever, what kinds of
books a particular house publishes so they can target their
submissions to their advantage. BDD publishes mostly fiction from
picture books to YA novels, so nonfiction submissions are not a
good bet here, for example.
What do you think makes a good author/editor relationship?
(e.g. role of the author/editor in the relationship)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-
A good author/editor relationship, I think, should be based on
mutual respect--with a good dollop of patience on both sides.
Both editor and author need to be aware that they are working
toward the same goal, which is to get out the best possible book
with the greatest possible sales success. From an editor's
perspective, I think the biggest frustration is being constantly
overworked, and never having enough time to get to everything
promptly. It's a grueling job, in the sense that you have to
concentrate on each book, each thoroughly unique, while juggling
a number of them, all at different stages and with different
needs, at the same time. That's where the patience comes in.
Writers need to remember that a busy editor has taken on your
book because she is completely committed to it, and will do her
best to make it a success. The other thing I hope writers will
remember is that an editor in a big publishing house is not
(unfortunately) god, and cannot simply command that all the
marketing money, for example, go to her books. She's got to work
within a larger organization that is committed to a lot of other
books, and with other departments and people often as busy as she
is. The editor is the author's champion within the publishing
house, and it's her job to do everything she can to see her books
well published.
Also I hope writers will remember that an editor is a
professional, knows the business, and is never asking for changes
or making suggestions without some reason that she believes is a
good one. You may not agree, which is fine--the book is the
writer's, and all changes are the writer's final decision. But do
think about an editor's suggestions with respect, and respond
with courtesy--they are never meant to harm a book but to help
it, and if they seem misguided to you discard them politely. If
all else is failing, and respect and patience are running out the
door, a sense of humor is an invaluable ally in this tumultous
business of ours.
What is your opinion re: simultaneous submissions?
--------------------------------------------------
Re: simultaneous submissions. I don't like them, though I do
recognize how frustrating it must be to wait months to hear from
one editor. The reason I don't like them is pretty simple: time
is my scarcest commodity, so if I spend time reading a
manuscript, thinking about it, maybe asking another editor to
read it, bringing the manuscript into an editorial meeting to
generate interest, and then call the author and find out it's
gone somewhere else, or someone else is interested, I've been
wasting my time. I hate this, this is time that could have been
devoted to books I'm already working on or other submissions that
are waiting.
My own suggestion is to send out single submissions, doing some
research beforehand to find appropriate publishers where you are
more likely to have a good fit, and then get working on the next
manuscript. After all, you're not going to stop at one, are you?
If writers feel they simply cannot cope with waiting weeks or
months for an answer, then I ask them to clearly indicate on the
cover letter that this is a simultaneous submission. Another
strategy is to ask for a reply by a certain date--say eight weeks
from when the manuscript would arrive at the publisher's
office--and say that after that date you will submit it
elsewhere. Then when the time has elapsed send a follow-up letter
asking for the manuscript back. This may give a nudge to a slow
editor and should not cause offence.
What are/aren't you looking for right now in terms of
submissions?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-
In terms of submissions, in general there's been a shift, as the
baby boomlet grows older, away from the vast numbers of picture
books being published a few years ago toward more early chapter
books for beginning readers. At BDD we have a line of books
called First Choice Chapter Books, for first or second graders
just reading on their own. I think middle grade fiction is
expanding again as well. The market for YAs continues to be very
difficult; publishers and booksellers are having trouble getting
teenaged readers, who now routinely read adult titles, and
there's been a lot of effort spent on trying to get these readers
back to YA literature. In terms of genres, the heyday of
Goosebumps and horror seems to be fading, and what I
call Americana, wholesome nostalgia with historical subjects, is
doing very well. Teachers continue to expand their use of
literature in the classroom, so subjects that can be related to
the age-appropriate school curriculum are increasingly useful.
How useful is the Internet to you as an editor?
-----------------------------------------------
So far it hasn't had too much direct impact, although I
appreciate the ease of communication email allows, and I use the
Web as a research tool. The Web also provides another marketing
opportunity for us, and we can be found at www.bdd.com, which has
features like "Author of the Week" and, for children's books, a
teachers' resource section where we make available teachers'
guides for many of our books (with more to come). ( You can also
look up today's horoscope at the Dell horoscope site.)
Do you have any advice for a writer attending his/her first
writer's conference in terms of making useful contacts?
----------------------------------------------------------------
For writers attending their first writers' conference, editors
are there to make contacts as well as to help keep writers
up-to-date on their houses and the industry in general. Just keep
it polite and don't ask an editor to look at your work on the
spot, or take it home with them. The editor will let you know how
she prefers to receive submissions, and please do listen to what
she tells you. It's distressing to go to a conference, as I've
done, and state very clearly that we publish very little
nonfiction, or that I don't like multiple submissions, and then
to receive manuscripts from conference attendees that are
nonfiction multiple submissions. I would also encourage writers
to talk to each other at conferences, get information on writing
groups, local readings or gatherings; in other words use the
conference to network in your own area--a lot of valuable
contacts and valuable information can be learned from those
around you who have already been there and done that.
What basic advice do you have for writers hoping to break into
the
children's book market?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
--
My basic advice for writers who want to break into the children's
book market would probably hold for any writer: have patience and
keep on trying! If, at the end of a long day, in spite of your
wonderful writing, your extremely professional cover letter, your
beautiful typing, and the perfect symmetry of the return address
on your enclosed self addressed stamped envelope--if after all
this you should still receive a rejection, try to remain as
cheerful as possible and remember that no less a writer than
William Faulkner papered a wall (or was it a room?) with
rejection slips. He lived through it and so will you. It starts
with the basics: know your field, research the books out there,
research the publishing houses, target your submissions, be
serious and professional in your approach, and keep at it. If
writing is truly your vocation, publication will come.
================================================================
RESPONSE TO READER'S LETTER (from last issue)
----------------------------------------------------------------
by Susan Graham
<slgraham@mindspring.com>
Dear Tag Goulet,
Thank you for adding your comments about vanity publishing.
While I was trying to make a different point in my Q&A; column,
it's certainly important to explain the details, too.
I certainly don't mind if you disagree with me or if anyone does.
It's an important part of free speech, which I of course
strongly support. Among many other things, it brings more
information into a positive discussion.
I would like to correct some misunderstandings centering around
my suggestion to not submit a vanity press-published novel as
"unpublished" to an editor or agent. While it's certainly true
that a few books have been purchased by large publishers from
smaller presses or self-published authors, it's as likely to
happen as the million-dollar advance that is also widely
publicized. That's not to say that an author shouldn't try to
get those large advances--it's important to dream. And without a
big goal firmly in sight, you'll certainly never get there. The
purpose of this column, however, is to give the answers that as
many as possible of its readers can really use, so I deliberately
don't focus on the exceptions to the rule. I reply privately to
the other kind.
A publisher or agent does need to know about the history of a
book, including whether it was self-published or not. The
publishing contract specifies that the manuscript has never
before been published, and in the strict sense the publisher does
consider vanity press and self-publishing to be "published" (with
ISBN#s). While I don't encourage writers to submit books
published as mentioned, it is certainly fine to do so, with the
proper explanations attached.
Also, the comment about writers practicing their craft was not in
any way meant to be patronizing. Its source is actually a quote
from another well-respected literary agent who was giving a
writing group some free helpful advice in my presence. Many
beginning writers truly don't understand that a published book
doesn't "just get written" and that many "first books" are by no
means the first effort from the writer. Since my audience here
is mostly beginning writers, this was as always simply meant to
be passing on a helpful piece of advice.
Although I admit it is unlikely, it is possible to get a vanity
press book reviewed. There are many small newspapers and radio
shows across the nation that should not be ignored in the quest
for a good review or for publicity. I highly recommend "1001 Ways
to Market Your Books for Authors & Publishers" by John Kremer,
among others.
I think vanity publishing and self-publishing have many more
similarities than differences, although I respect your differing
opinion on this. I do understand both methods, and the
difficulties involved. I carefully explain when it is
appropriate to use either method whenever questioned (vanity:
personal memoirs for family only--self: good book/no reasonable
offer from publisher). Note that these, too, are generalities
and not meant to be comprehensive.
As you can see, getting this involved in the how's and why's can
get rather long, and there are limits to the size of the columns.
- Susan
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WRITERS' CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
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GOLDENROD XV WRITERS CONFERENCE: Oct 17-19, 1997. Morgantown,
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