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Inklings Issue 4.19
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i n k l i n g s
Inkspot's newsletter for Writers on the Net
Issue 4.19 * Over 39,000 subscribers! * Sept.16, 1998
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<http://www.inkspot.com/inklings/issues/ink0419.html>
This issue features tips on how to network for articles by Dana
Nourie, and advice from Judith Bowen (ASK THE ROMANCE
WRITER) on getting started in the romance genre.
This issue sponsored in part by:
================================================================
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
================================================================
ISSN 1205-6413. Copyright 1995-1998 Debbie Ridpath Ohi. See end
of issue for copyright/contact info. http://www.inkspot.com
================================================================
CONTENTS THIS ISSUE:
From The Editor's Desk
Fresh Ink and Market Information
Ask The Romance Writer
Networking For Articles
Writers' Classifieds
================================================================
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK:
=======================
Thanks to all those who applied for the job opening(s) at
Inkspot. I received over 200 applications from all over the
world, including Japan, Germany, New Zealand, Africa, Australia,
and Britain. Many of these were perfectly qualified, so choosing
from among them was difficult. I plan to keep the extras on file
for when I need more help.
It will take several weeks to sort through these, so please be
patient. If you haven't already applied, please don't...I'm
in the second stage of narrowing down applications and will
not be accepting new ones. Thanks for everyone's interest!
Thanks to Anthony Tedesco for including my profile and photo
in his article for the 1999 Writer's Market, which should be
on the shelves in stores now. Check out p94 under "Tips For
Tapping Online Writing Markets".
Thanks also to Dina Gan for the nice Inkspot review (Sep/98,
p114) in the Sept/98 issue of Yahoo!Internet Life. And thanks to
the subscriber that told me about the article. If any of you see
Inkspot and Inklings mentioned in the press and it's not
mentioned in my clippings section
(http://www.inkspot.com/admin/clippings.html), please do let me
know! Thanks also to Poet and Writer magazine for their mention.
I recently received several inquiries from curious users and
acquaintances asking if I'm the same Deborah Ridpath who produced
the new movie, "Let's Talk About Sex". Um...the answer is NO. :-)
Congratulations to Mark Davis, who wins a copy of HOW TO PROMOTE
YOUR CHILDREN'S BOOK by Evelyn Gallardo (Primate Productions,
1997).
FRESH INK
=========
BOOK PRIZE GIVEAWAY: If You Can Talk, You Can Write
---------------------------------------------------
By Joel Saltzman (Warner Books, 1993). Thanks to Carol Henson for
donating this book. For those needing motivation and inspiration.
Topics include: getting started, what to write about, rewriting,
overcoming writer's block, more.
One name will be randomly drawn to win this book. To enter, send
email to giveaway@inkspot.com with your name and email address
with "talk" in the subject header. By entering, you agree to let
Inkspot and Inklings publish your name and email address if you
win. Deadline: Sept.27, 1998. More info about the contest and
book (including ordering info) at:
http://www.inkspot.com/admin/giveaway.html
If you wish to contact Inkspot to volunteer a writing-related
giveaway book or product, please send email to editor@inkspot.com
with "book for giveaway" in the subject header.
BBR Directory
-------------
Free newsheet for anyone interested in the small press. Industry
updates, publishing news. To subscribe, send email to
directory-submission@bbr-online.com.
http://www.bbr-online.com/directory/index.htm
Heliocentric Network
--------------------
Networking newsletter for clients of the independent press:
writers, editors, publishers, reviewers, booksellers, etc.
Abbreviated version available for free by email by writing to
LBothell@wolfenet.com with "subscribe" in the subject header.
http://www.wolfenet.com/~lbothell/3snetwk.htm
Fantasy Writer's Outlet
-----------------------
New critique forum for fantasy writers.
http://www.fantasywriter.com/
A Web Of Online Dictionaries
----------------------------
Nice design, comprehensive, includes links to grammar resources
as well as other related links.
http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/rbeard/diction.html
Author's Registry
-----------------
Non-profit organization formed to help expedite the flow of
royalty payments and small re-use fees to authors, particularly
for new media uses.
http://www.webcom.com/registry/
AuthorLink!
-----------
Publishing news, author showcase (fee), interviews, articles,
resource links, contest, more.
http://www.authorlink.com/
Raab Associates
---------------
Info about book promotion, archives of Susan Raab's author
marketing column, resource links, more. Focus on children's
authors.
http://www.raabassociates.com/books.htm
Pete's Place of Canadian Freelance Journalism
---------------------------------------------
Lots of useful info here.
http://www.npiec.on.ca/~inf11009/
The Internet Public Library
---------------------------
Definitely worth checking out if you haven't already. Includes
access to many online serials, newspapers, texts. Web search
tips, other valuable research info.
http://www.ipl.org/
Children's Writers' Marketplace
-------------------------------
Monthly market news column by Margaret Shauers.
http://www.inkspot.com/feature/shauers/
The Internet Sleuth
-------------------
Index of over 3,000 searchable databases. Search for a
particular category of database, then the database itself.
http://www.isleuth.com/
Teachers and Writers Online
---------------------------
Nonprofit organization, brings writers and educators together
in interesting collaborations.
http://www.twc.org/
Writers Resource Center and Reference Library
---------------------------------------------
Nice collection of resource links, categorized.
http://www.theriver.com/writers/
A Word A Day
------------
Also available by email.
http://www.wordsmith.org:80/awad/index.html
** Please send suggestions for Fresh Ink to freshink@inkspot.com
================================================================
MARKET INFORMATION
==================
Please get current, detailed guidelines before submitting to
publications if possible. Don't submit to email addresses unless
specifically stated. Include a SASE for surface mail replies.
More market info at: http://www.inkspot.com/market/.
==-----------------------------------------------------==
"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,
"IWGL" = Inkspot Writer's Guideline Library.
Markets Editor: Sal Towse (ST).
E-SCAPE MAGAZINE
------------------
E-scape Magazine. 1228 Westloop #356. Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Fiction editor: Allison Stein. Bimonthly electronic magazine of
speculative fiction. NEEDS: All forms of science fiction,
fantasy, horror, and any combination thereof. LENGTH: 500-5000
wds. PAY: $.01/wd for fiction. Buys first serial rights and first
electronic rights with an option on nonexclusive anthology
rights. Do not query for fiction. Postal (snail mail) submissions
are preferred for manuscripts originating in the U.S. Please
include SASE for response (or you won't get one). Foreign
submissions should be made electronically if possible. E-mail
submissions must be sent to Dave Phalen at dphalen@interink.com
as a text file or in a format compatible with Word 6.0. E-scape
is in the process of reshuffling editorial duties (new fiction
editor noted above). Guidelines are being revised. Be sure to get
current guidelines. (ST)
URL: http://www.interink.com/escape.html
GL: http://www.interink.com/office/guide.html
E-mail: dphalen@interink.com (out of USA submissions)
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY
--------------------
The Atlantic Monthly. 77 North Washington St. Boston, MA 02114
(617)536-9500. Editor: William Whitworth. Monthly magazine of art
and public affairs. Circ:~500K. Size: ~8x11" ~120pp Audience:
Educated mainstream. NEEDS: Always interested in poetry, fiction,
and articles of the highest quality. Simply send your manuscript
-- type-written, double-spaced, with SASE. No e-mail or FAX
submissions. Non-fiction: 1K-6K wds. Informational articles and
opinion pieces: travel, pop culture, politics, entertainment,
social issues. Fiction: 2K-6K wds Mainstream PAY: On acceptance.
FNASR. NF: varies. Word count, experience of author, etc. help
determine pay. Fiction: $3K/story. RT: Varies. 1-3mos. Copyright
returns to the author after publication. SAMPLE: available at
newsstands. POETRY: Our interest is in the broadest possible
range of work: traditional forms and free verse, the meditative
lyric and the "light" or comic poem, the work of the famous and
the work of the unknown. We have long been committed to the
discovery of new poets. Our one limitation is length; we are
unable to publish very long poems, and authors should consult
back issues of the magazine for precedents. Send a typewritten
group of two to six unpublished poems to the attention of Peter
Davison, Poetry Editor w/ SASE. No simultaneous submissions. No
previously published, even in small, private editions.
Submissions/yr: 75K poems 12K short stories 60K non-fiction
manuscripts and queries. TIP: A familiarity with the articles and
stories and poetry we print is the best guide to the sort of work
we are interested in. (ST)
URL: http://www3.theatlantic.com/
SOJOURNER
---------
Sojourner: The Women's Forum. 42 Seaverns Avenue, Jamaica Plain,
MA 02130. 617-524-0415 FAX: 617-524-9397 Editor-in-chief:
Stephanie Poggi. The largest feminist newspaper in the United
States. Committed to publishing writing by and for women.
Monthly. Circ: 40K 10x15" newspaper. NEEDS: Features (up to 10
pp); viewpoints and reviews (up to 4 pp); letters (no more than 2
pp); fiction (up to 15 dbl-spaced pp)(only a few times a year).
Please submit no more than three poems at a time. We prefer no
footnotes; put short citations in the text, or use an asterisk if
necessary. Will also consider reprints and simultaneous
publication. PAY: On publication. FNASR. $15. 2 copies. A
one-year subscription. RT: 8 wks. Query by mail, e-mail, or FAX.
Articles are due by the first of the month prior to the month of
publication. Unsolicited submissions are welcome. Send
electronically or on computer disk. We also request a hard copy
by mail or FAX: typed, double-spaced, with 12-point type. E-mail
preference: attached MS Word 5.1 for Mac document. We can also
accept MS Word 6.0 for Mac. Otherwise include text in e-mail
message. TIPS: We're also looking for news stringers, and women
who'd like to comment on current events! (ST)
URL: http://www.sojourner.org/
GL: http://www.sojourner.org/us/subguide.html
E-mail: submissions@sojourner.org
VERMONT INK
-----------
Vermont Ink, POB 3297, Burlington, VT USA 05401-3297.
Publisher/Editor: Donna Leach. Adventure, historical, humor,
mainstream, mystery/suspense, romance, sf, and westerns.
Quarterly. Fiction 2,000-2,500 wds. Pays up to $25 + 1 copy.
Poetry 4-25 lines. Pays $10 + 1 copy. Features Vermont writers,
poets and illustrators, but also includes writers and poets
worldwide. Short stories should be well-written, entertaining and
basically G-rated. Stories should have a beginning, middle and
end. Poetry should be upbeat or humorous. Send complete mss,
cover letter, and brief bio. Sample available for $4, $14.95/yr
(4). No email submissions. (Source: Scavenger's Newsletter,
www.cza.com/scav/index.html + info from website)
URL: http://www.selectvermont.com/vtink/
GL: http://www.selectvermont.com/vtink/
MARKET UPDATES FROM SAL:
Upstart magazine (http://www.upstartmagazine.com) is no longer a
paying market.
=================================================================
Ask The Experts
---------------
*** Please put "inklings question" in the subject header. ***
Judith Bowen (ROMANCE WRITER) JudithBowen@poboxes.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
Carol Henson (BOOK DOCTOR) bookdoc@Prodigy.net
Ken Jenks (ELECTRONIC PUBLISHER) MindsEye@tale.com
Michelle Sagara (SF/FANTASY WRITER) Michelle.Sagara@sff.net
Lee Wardlaw (CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITER) lwardlaw@gte.net
Marcia Yudkin (FREELANCE WRITER) send to yudkin@inkspot.com
Columnists may be unable to reply privately to every message,
but will answer selected questions in future issues of Inklings.
Please keep your question BRIEF and send it to *one* columnist.
=================================================================
ASK THE ROMANCE WRITER
-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Judith Bowen <JudithBowen@poboxes.com>
Becoming a series romance novelist
----------------------------------
Q: I've been trying to find out information about writing series
romances. I've heard stories of writers sort of working on
contract to produce novels, rather than writing a book in hopes
of publication. Can you tell me how I would go about becoming a
series romance novelist?
A: Unfortunately, even in series romance fiction, only authors
with a track record with the publisher would be offered a
contract to write a book based on an outline or proposal (three
chapters and an outline). A new writer would invariably be
offered a contract based on a complete manuscript. Once your
publisher is certain of your professionalism, ability to revise
and reliability, you may be offered a contract based on less than
a complete manuscript. In that case, you will receive part of
your advance upon signing the contract, part upon supplying a
partial manuscript and the final third upon satisfactory
completion of the manuscript. (Note: sometimes the advances are
half and half, rather than thirds.)
Getting started in the romance genre
------------------------------------
Q: What advice would you give to a new writer who's anxious and
enthusiastic, but lacks a bit of the confidence necessary to make
a go of it. Also, do you have any suggestions for someone
starting out in the romance genre?
A: Never mind confidence. Nobody has it! Just work hard, improve
your skills, learn, learn more, keep sending out your work to
editors. That's the track to publishing success. As for
suggestions if you're just starting out, read lots of romances,
especially the ones you think you'd like to write. There is no
substitute for reading in the genre you want to target.
Next to wide reading, probably attending some romance-specific
workshops and conferences would be useful. Romance Writers of
America (http://www.rwanational.com), which accepts unpublished
authors trying to break into the genre, has chapters through the
United States and Canada and these chapters often offer good
value regional conferences showcasing editors, agents and
published authors. Also, the resources on the Novelists Inc.
webpage (http://www.ninc.com) might be useful. This organization
boasts a membership ranging from lowly Yours Truly to such
stellar writers of popular fiction as Catherine Coulter, Steve
Womack, Nora Roberts, William Bernhardt and Debbie Macomber.
Often these web pages will have hot links to others that you'll
find useful.
Improve your craft, discipline yourself to write regularly, don't
get caught up in the "contest trap" (sending the same three
chapters out, receiving kudos and never writing the whole book),
ask questions of those you meet who are in-the-know and, mostly,
persevere. Always remember that a romance novel must show
"heart", that ineffable quality that all editors dream of
finding. That means writing with sincerity about characters you
love. Good luck!
==------------------------------------------==
Judith Bowen is an award-winning romance author who currently
teaches classes on writing popular fiction in Vancouver, Canada,
and on-line with Writers on the Net <www.writers.com>. O LITTLE
TOWN OF GLORY will be available in Dec/98. THE RANCHER'S RUNAWAY
BRIDE (HS #739) was a May/97, release and is available from
Harlequin Books <www.romance.net>.
Copyright (c) 1998 Judith Bowen.
================================================================
NETWORKING FOR ARTICLES
----------------------------------------------------------------
by Dana Nourie <dana@san-jose.crosswinds.net>
Many of us network with writing colleagues to get through the
emotional turmoil of the writing life. Who can understand better
how it feels to have your latest project rejected than someone
who has been rejected themselves? But your writing colleagues are
more than just a shoulder to cry on--they can be a powerful
source for anecdotes, information, and markets.
When I needed an anecdote of a three-year old talking to herself,
I first turned to parent-related newsgroups. Those mothers,
though, sent me unusable material, full of details that didn't
fit my article's focus. So, in desperation, I turned instead to
one of my writers' groups. An hour later, I had a perfect
anecdote, which I plugged into my assignment for Parenting
Magazine.
Turning to writers is especially helpful when the topic is
unique. "I was afraid I wouldn't find anecdotes for my petite
article," says Jessica Williams of Montana, "but I was delighted
to learn there are a lot of petite writers out there. My e-mail
was packed with ready-to-use anecdotes."
Jessica illustrates the ease she had in locating anecdotes on the
petite experience and why it's sometimes preferable to locating
them through writers. Colleagues understand your needs, and you
avoid boring or inappropriate harangues from non-writers.
"Overall, using writers for anecdotal material has been easier
than dealing with the general public," says Sheri McGregor of
California and contributing editor of Parenting Today. "Writers
understand the lag time that often comes between an article's
inception and publication. They trust me to use their quotes and
knew I would help them in return when they need me."
In other words, mining your colleagues for anecdotes creates
stronger friendships and bonds between writers while allowing you
to illustrate points in your article and making the piece more
readable overall. Not all writers agree with this strategy.
"Turning to other writers for anecdotes is a bit like cheating,"
says Julie Bort, author of Building an Extranet. "If the topic
is parenting, then your sources should be parents. The mom who
is an engineer has a different point of view than a parent who is
a writer. A well balanced story includes a variety of point of
views."
True, you do need to look at all perspectives. But starting with
a network of writers can give you an idea of the types of
anecdotes you'll need for a project as well as ideas for other
articles.
Florence Cardinal of Canada hadn't considered writing about
precognitive dreams until she had shared a personal experience
she had with other writers. "I was astounded by the response,"
she says. "I got letter after letter from writers with similar
experiences, so I decided it would make a wonderful article."
You can also locate information quickly and easily by networking
with writers. Kathleen Purcell of Missouri found other writers
helpful for an assignment she wrote for Eye on the Web. "I needed
family-oriented web sites, especially things like virtual
Christmas letters, family trees online, or sites organizing
family reunions. One writer sent me an URL to a family in Malta
trying to track down a long lost relative. It was just what I was
looking for, and I wouldn't have found it on my own."
Besides helping to locate hard to find or unusual information,
writers can also be good sources for the markets themselves. "The
entire Eye on the Web thing came about as a result of belonging
to a group of writers." adds Kathleen, "I never would have known
about this market if one of the writers hadn't brought it up in
the first place."
She is not alone in finding suitable markets for her writing
through other writers. Many writers watch the threads of their
networks for possible markets that arise from colleagues who
announce their successes.
"When a writer lets us know he or she has just sold a piece or
snagged an assignment, the first thing I do is check out that
magazine," says Marie-Helen Goyetche in Laval, Canada. "Writers
have alerted me to possible homes for my child care articles. In
return, I send them market information when I know it's something
they'd be interested in."
Locating a writing group that suits your needs is important to
your career. Start by inviting writers into your e-mail through
lists you subscribe to.
SOME RESOURCES:
Freelance-Journalist Mailing list:
http://www.mlists.net/freelance/
Internet Writing Workshop:
http://www.geocities.com/~lkraus/workshop/index.html
MagWrite: Magazine writers discussion list. Subscribe by sending
email to listserv@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU. In the body of the
message, type "subscribe magwrite" (without quotes)
Children's Writing: To subscribe, send e-mail to
MAJORDOMO@LISTS.MINDSPRING.COM, and in the body of the message,
put just the line "subscribe CHILDRENS-WRITING" (without the
quotation marks).
Envwrite: writing workshop for environment, science, nature, and
travel writers. To subscribe, send e-mail to
LISTSERV@IMAIL.GREENDZN.COM. In the body of the message, type
"subscribe ENVWRITE "your-name" (without the quotation marks).
==-----------------------------------------------==
Dana Nourie is a freelance writer based in San Jose, CA. She
writes on a variety of topics including: Parenting, Children's
science/nature, and Computing.
Copyright (c) 1998 Dana Nourie.
================================================================
W R I T E R S ' C L A S S I F I E D S
=================================================================
Book Promotion empowers authors to self market their books Online
Charles Kessler 888-680-3223 http://www.bookpromotion.com
=================================================================
Over 400 up-to-date writer's guidelines of paying markets plus
"Writing for DOLLARS!" newsletter - FREE at http://www.awoc.com
=================================================================
FREELANCE SUCCESS newsletter gives nonfiction writers the tools
they need to earn a fulltime living. Detailed market information
for pros and those who aspire to be, plus online writing classes.
SASE to 801 NE 70th St., Box IK, Miami, FL 33138.
E-mail: freelance-success@usa.net http://www.freelancesuccess.com
=================================================================
ReadingWrite Internet Workshops http://www.readingwrite.com
Online creative writing workshops in poetry and memoir.
=================================================================
WORGAN: idea organizer. Win95 shareware with name generation and
submission tracking. www.angelfire.com/biz/knowledge/index.html
=================================================================
CLASSIFIED RATES: US$20/line/issue. Min. 2 lines, max. 5 lines,
where a line = 65 characters including spaces and punctuation.
Pay for a 5-issue run and get an extra issue free. All contracts
must be prepaid. Write to classifieds@inkspot.com.
=================================================================
EDITOR: Debbie Ridpath Ohi <editor@inkspot.com>
ASSISTANT EDITORS RESEARCH/EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Fox, Chris Donner Tina Kennedy
SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR BUSINESS MANAGER
Bryan Fullerton Jeff Ridpath
COPY EDITORS/ Gail Heinsohn <intrepidrider@taconic.net>
PROOFREADERS: Cathy Rutland <copyeditor@inkspot.com>
SALES & ADVERTISING: MediaGlue <sales@inkspot.com>
(CLASSIFIEDS: classifieds@inkspot.com)
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS:
Moira Allen, Judith Bowen, David Breeden, Charles Deemer, Mark
Fowler, Susan Graham, Carol Henson, Ken Jenks, Tina Kennedy,
Michelle Sagara, Sal Towse, Lee Wardlaw, Marcia Yudkin
Full masthead info at http://www.inkspot.com/admin/contact.html
Thanks to Samurai Consulting for hosting the Inklings mailing
list. More info: http://www.samurai.com or bryanf@samurai.com
=================================================================
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