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Inklings Issue 5.10
================================================================
i n k l i n g s
Inkspot's newsletter for Writers on the Net
http://www.inkspot.com
Issue 5.10 * Over 45,000 subscribers! * May 12, 1999
================================================================
<http://www.inkspot.com/inklings/issues/ink0510.html>
In this issue, J.A. Hitchcock offers tips on what to do when
a promised writing fee doesn't come through, Christine
Ballew-Gonzales explains the "Care and Maintenance Of The Working
Writer", and Michelle Sagara (ASK THE SF/FANTASY AUTHOR) answers
readers' questions about writing about other worlds/settings.
This issue sponsored by:
=================================================================
SOFTWARE AND CASH GIVEAWAYS for writers: over the next two weeks
Writer Online will give away $1000 in software and cash prizes,
as well as free writer's software to ALL subscribers. The
WRITER'S SOFTWARE COMPANION, SOFTWARE DREAMPACK FOR WRITERS,
WORDWRIGHT and more. http://www.novalearn.com/sites/ink.htm
=================================================================
***50 GREAT WRITING CLASSES*** - Naomi Epel, author of the
_Observation Deck: A Toolkit for Writers_ and _Writers Dreaming_:
"I thought Judith's essay writing class notes were incredible!
Very clear and focusing. I thought the class brilliant."
WCU Course Catalog - http://www.writersclub.com/wcu/catalog.cfm
================================================================
STORYCRAFT WRITER'S SOFTWARE -- Since 1994, the most beloved
fiction-writing program in the world (fabulous endorsements).
Turns ideas into COMPLETE novels/screenplays/plays/short stories!
Have it mailed or download it in minutes. Secure online ordering.
http://www.storycraft-soft.com 1-800-97STORY (1-800-977-8679).
================================================================
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 SF/Fantasy Writer
What To Do When You Don't Get Paid
The Care and Maintenance of the Working Writer
Writers' Classifieds
================================================================
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK:
=======================
I am pleased to welcome Ginger Knowlton as an Inklings columnist
(ASK THE AGENT). Ginger is a literary agent at Curtis Brown Ltd.
Please note that Ginger is unable to reply to messages privately,
but will answer selected questions (send to agent@inkspot.com) in
future issues of Inklings. Also note that this email address is
to be used for column questions only, and that Ginger is
currently not looking for new clients. If you wish to make a
business-related query, please use regular channels (surface
mail). See the AAR FAQ for tips on how to query an agent:
http://www.bookwire.com/AAR/FAQs.html
Apologies to those subscribers who received their last issue
in an odd format (lots of "=3D=" characters). This was an
inadvertent formatting glitch (many thanks to John Savage and
others who helped solve the problem), not a virus or redesign
attempt on my part. I'll be sending the issue out to a small
test group in advance of the full mailing from now on.
Incidentally, if you ever DO notice a problem with your issue of
Inklings, chances are fairly good that someone else has already
notified me about it. Corrections and last-minute updates will
always be posted on the Inklings website at:
http://www.inkspot.com/inklings/
Thanks to Sympatico Netlife magazine for featuring Inkspot in
their May/June issue.
Congratulations to: Heather Greene, winner of WRITING FOR YOUNG
ADULTS by Sherry Garland (Writer's Digest Books, 1998).
================================================================
FRESH INK
=========
PRIZE GIVEAWAY: 10-week writing workshop, Internet Research book
----------------------------------------------------------------
GOTHAM WRITERS' WORKSHOP is giving away a free 10-Week Online
Workshop worth $395 in a choice of topics. Info about contest at
URL below. Course info at http://www.WritingClasses.com.
THE INTERNET RESEARCH GUIDE by Timothy K. Maloy (Allworth Press,
Feb/99). Tips on how to conduct fast and effective research
online.
Deadline: May 21. For more info about the book and how to enter,
see: http://www.inkspot.com/admin/giveaway.html
Content Exchange
----------------
"Digital marketplace for online content creators and publishers."
Many useful resources for online writers. Free profile service.
Newsletter, discussion list, links, other resources. (DRO)
http://www.content-exchange.com
Online copyright issues
-----------------------
Transcript of an Inkspot chat hosted by Loretta Kemsley. (DRO)
http://www.inkspot.com/ss/iwcc/transcripts/oncopy.txt
Writer Beware
-------------
"Warnings and Cautions for Writers" by Victoria Strauss. (DRO)
http://www.sfwa.org/Beware/Warnings.html
How Stuff Works
---------------
Haven't you ever wondered how stuff works? Now you can find out.
(TK)
http://www.howstuffworks.com
The Faerie Encyclopedia
-----------------------
Great resource for fantasy writers. Ten 'volumes' including a
Gaelic pronounciation guide. (TK)
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/3351/
The Freelance Fishin' Hole
--------------------------
New Inkspot feature article, by Joseph Hayes. Online freelance
market resources. (DRO)
http://www.inkspot.com/feature/hayesfishing.html
Fresh Ink editors: (TK=Tony King) (DRO=Debbie Ridpath Ohi)
(GH=Gail Heinsohn)
** Please send suggestions for Fresh Ink to freshink@inkspot.com
================================================================
FREELANCE SUCCESS newsletter gives nonfiction writers the tools
to earn a fulltime living. Detailed market info and online
writing classes. SASE to 801 NE 70th St., Miami, FL 33138, email
freelance-success@usa.net or see http://www.freelancesuccess.com
================================================================
Advertise in this space! Email sales@inkspot.com for info.
================================================================
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/bt/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). Research assistants:
Shane Stacks (SS), Margaret Shauers (MS).
AN ECLIPSING
------------
An Eclipsing, S.D. Campbell. 51 Whitefield Close NE, Calgary, AB.
Canada, T1Y 4X6. (E-mail subs preferred: all snail mail subs
'must' include a SAE with 1 IRC). Phone: (403)590-5702. Editor:
S.D. Campbell. E-zine dedicated exclusively to poetry--one half
of Conflicting Spectrums, an electronic magazine dedicated to
viewing each issue's theme through differing points of views. Our
sister publication, Exodus, can be seen at:
http://blindside.net/Spectrums/Exodus. FREQ: Web site updated
bi-monthly. CIRC: ~400 page hits/mo. NEEDS: Humorous and light
hearted poetry, but would also like to see poetry that deals with
the issue's theme in a serious and darker manner. "I want to see
poetry that tells a story, and entertains me. Vivid images and
vibrant use of language are sure to tickle my fancy." An
Eclipsing will accept only poetry that deals in some way with an
upcoming theme. Now accepting submissions for the upcoming
'Silence' issue. We do not accept 'general' submissions. Poems
should be no longer than 60 lines, although I do prefer shorter
poems. Modern and traditional poetry are both acceptable, but
rhyming poetry should have a consistent meter, and rhymes should
not be forced. No reprints or simultaneous submissions, please.
You may send a maximum of three poems per submission. Please
submit your poetry via e-mail to: aneclipsing@blindside.net with
your subject reading: [An Eclipsing Submission - (Theme you are
submitting for)]. I would prefer all submissions be made as ASCII
text in the body of the e-mail, so please query first before
sending attachments. Feel free to include a short bio and
publication credits. PAYS: $2/poem on publication, as well as six
months access to Conflicting Spectrums for First World Electronic
rights. RT: 2 wks. TIPS: Don't feel constrained by our themes.
Write from the heart. If your poetry doesn't move you, it won't
move me or my readers. Don't be afraid to send experimental
works, or unusual forms (haiku etc.) as well as more traditional
forms and styles. (ST)
URL: http://blindside.net/Spectrums/Eclipsing
GL: http://www.blindside.net/Spectrums/Eclipsing/guidelines.html
E-mail: aneclipsing@blindside.net
THE FUNNY TIMES
---------------
The Funny Times. PO Box 18530, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118.
Phone: (216) 371-8600 (9AM to 5PM EST). Fax: (216) 371-8696.
Co-editors: Raymond Lesser and Susan Wolpert. Business Manager:
George Cratcha. The monthly magazine of humor, politics, and fun!
CIRC: 55K. NEEDS: Written humor columns, stories, and cartoons.
LENGTH: 500-700 wds. GL: Send completed work (no queries, please)
via *postal mail only*. Send only copies, include SASE. Multiple
submissions, simsubs, and previously published material okay.
RIGHTS: One-time print rights, all other rights stay with
copyright owner. PAYS: $50 per humor piece, $20-30 per cartoon.
Pays upon publication. RT: 2-3 months, except during the holiday
season (Oct-Dec), when response time is considerably longer. TIP:
"All submissions must be funny!" (SS)
URL: http://www.funnytimes.com
E-mail: ft@funnytimes.com
MILLENNIUM SF & FANTASY
-----------------------
Millennium Science Fiction & Fantasy, P. O. Box 8118, Roswell,
NM 88202-8118. Senior Editor: S. Joan Popek. Production Editor:
Diana R. Moreland. The only science fiction magazine published in
Roswell, NM, the home of the 1947 UFO crash site. AVAILABLE:
On-line monthly and hardcopy quarterly. FREQ: Monthly. CIRC: 1K.
NEEDS: Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror short stories,
riddles, and brain teasers. LENGTH: Short stories- 2500 wds max
(longer accepted rarely); Flash Fiction, Riddles, and Brain
Teasers- 100 wds max. GL: Submissions 100 wds and under accepted
via email, all others via postal mail. Always include SASE and
hard copy of ms. If possible a copy of work on disk (.rtf,
MSWord, or WordPerfect format) is greatly appreciated, but not
necessary. No multiple submissions accepted, simsubs and
previously published material okay. [Note: please see below
listed GL URL for appropriate manuscript format] PAYS: Short
Stories: $10.00; Riddles, Flash Fiction (under 100 words),
Short-shorts (under 1000 words), Brain Teasers: $5.00. Pays on
acceptance. RIGHTS: One Time, First Worldwide Electronic for our
on-line version, and equivalent one-time print rights for
inclusion in our quarterly "Best of Millennium" hard copy (if
chosen by our readers). The work will remain on-line for one
month only (we do not archive), and all rights revert to the
author immediately after. All other rights remain with the
author. RT: 2-8 weeks average (no reading done 1 Nov - 31 Jan
annually). PLEDGE: "The editorial staff will send personal
comments on every rejected manuscript that is accompanied by an
SASE. You will never receive a generic rejection from us. Your
growth is important to us." TIP: "(If submitting a story with a
moral) Just flavor the story; don't hit the reader over the
head." (SS)
URL: http://www.jopoppub.com/
GL: http://www.jopoppub.com/Guidelines.htm
E-Mail:
Submissions- sagas@jopoppub.com
General- jopoppub@jopoppub.com
INKSPOT: seeks humorous poems, stories, personal essays
-------------------------------------------------------
Inkspot is currently seeking material for a new section of the
website. All pieces must be humorous and related to writing.
POEMS: rhyming, 4-6 lines, pays $10/poem. Please don't submit
more than three at a time. SHORT-SHORTS: fiction or personal
essay, max. 500 wds, pays $20. Rights: first-time, non-exclusive
rights (i.e. you can sell your piece elsewhere after it appears
on Inkspot).
URL: http://www.inkspot.com
Submissions editor: Chris Donner, submissions@inkspot.com
KIWI ENTERPRISES SARL
---------------------
Kiwi Enterprises Sarl, 43, rue Barbes, 942900 Petit Ivy, France
TEL 00 331 467 10 367, FAX 00 331 467 20 246. Editor: L. Rose
Bell. This is a new group of young publishers of children's
collections. They will publish selected works to be distributed
in six languages (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German
and Italian), with hope of expanding their translation team
eventually to include other languages. Collection categories are
for children of 5-6 years, 7-8 years, and 9-10 years. GENERAL
NEEDS: short material of three to twelve pages long should be
sent as part of an email (NO attachments, please!). If you have a
story that is full book length or more than twelve pages, email
for instructions on how to best send it. Each work submitted
should indicate as a cover/introduction, the following
information: "submission--the work's title" in the email subject
box; your pen name if you use one; your full name, address,
phone, fax and email information; number of words; whether work
is first rights or give previous publication. Tell whether you
own reprint rights (they may wish copies of previous contracts);
whether the piece is being offered as exclusive or non-exclusive;
whether there are any languages or territories where work will
not be publishable (if you've sold all German rights, for
instance). Include a 5-6 line synopsis (preferably in italics) of
the story line, with an indication of the conclusion, the age
group you are addressing, a brief description of yourself as the
author, a little message of encouragement you would like to share
with all children readers, whether you have illustrations
available, and whether you have a "fully fluent" bilingual
capacity, and if so what is the first and second language.
Contracts will be offered for both exclusive and non-exclusive
works, with royalties ranging between 3% and 6%. Rather than
following the usual practice of paying higher royalties for one
language right, and half that for all others, the group will set
a fixed royalty structure to be applied to all language rights.
The underlying and long term objective of the group is that once
they are successfully launched, 50% of all operation profits will
be paid into a Foundation set up to help underprivileged kids and
children at risk. Ms. Sarl states, "Please note that because of
the translation procedures, it is very difficult to integrate
poetry or rhymes into our collections since maintaining the
original beauty of the work achieved in its first language is a
very demanding task for the translators. For the moment, we do
not accept this style of work." They will consider fantasy, real
life based fiction and educational material of high quality that
appeals to the targeted readership. They also will consider real
life events so long as these concern events another child has a
chance of experiencing. All stories must have a happy ending and
all stories will be read by a child psychologist to insure that
they do not contain damaging messages of a racial, gender or
psychological nature. (MS)
E-mail: kiwi ent@club-internet.fr
Please send market news to Sal Towse, towse@inkspot.com.
=================================================================
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
Carol Henson (BOOK DOCTOR) bookdoc@Prodigy.net
Ken Jenks (ELECTRONIC PUBLISHER) MindsEye@tale.com
Ginger Knowlton (AGENT) agent@inkspot.com
Michelle Sagara (SF/FANTASY WRITER) Michelle.Sagara@sff.net
Lee Wardlaw (CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITER) lee@inkspot.com
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 SF/FANTASY AUTHOR
----------------------------------------------------------------
by Michelle Sagara <Michelle.Sagara@sff.net>
Better to invent a new world or stick to an established one?
------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Is it better to come up with your own worlds and totally new
concepts or to follow something like the RavenLoft format or
Forgotten Realms.
A: If you are writing without the benefit of permission from
Wizards of the Coast (the new publishers and owners of RavenLoft
and Forgotten Realms universes), then not only is it better to
come up with your own worlds and concepts, it's also legal.
Worlds that are owned by corporations such as Wizards of the
Coast, or Paramount (Star Trek), etc., can only be written in
with express permission -- commission -- of their owners, and any
work you do, any character you create within those universes, is
considered work made for hire. You don't own or have any rights,
beyond payment as set out in whatever contracts you negotiate,
for your work.
If you wanted to write a Ravenloft or Forgotten Realms book,
you'd have to write a proposal, send it to the appropriate editor
at Wizards of the Coast, and wait. If they thought your proposal
had merit, if they wanted to see a novel based on it, they'd
contact you, and you'd sign a contract which stated, clearly,
that you were doing work made for hire. Usually this means they
can also reject out of hand any changes to the world that they
don't like, etc.
Conversely, if you wanted to create and populate your own
universe, you would own the concept and characters, and you could
submit the finished manuscript anywhere you wished. If the books
ended up being very popular, they'd be yours. If by "better" you
mean "make more money" then you're probably in the wrong business
-- money in writing is a long shot. That said, there is no
question that Robert Jordan makes more money for his Wheel of
Time series than Weis & Hickman made for their Dragonlance work.
Work made for hire is a way of making money. It's a way of
having fun if you happen to love the world you've chosen to write
in -- I would happily write a Buffy the Vampire Slayer novel if I
were offered the opportunity, for instance, because I'm just one
step shy of obsessed with the show :-) -- but in the end,
it's not your world.
How do I write a Star Trek novel?
---------------------------------
Q: I am a fledgling writer that has yet to have anything serious
published. I would like to write a Star Trek: The Next
Generation novel, but Pocket Books only takes agent-sponsored
manuscripts. I'm unsure of how to proceed. Should I seek
representation before I write, or should I send an agent a copy
of my outline to see if it's something marketable, or should I
write the whole story and then seek out an agent?
A: As a fledgling writer, there's bad news: The Star Trek
editing crew is only interested in book length proposals from
already established authors. There was, earlier this year, a
collection of Star Trek short fiction written by new writers; I
believe there was some sort of contest that resulted in both
payment and publication in trade paperback. That anthology
provided a bit of a break for new writers trying to break into
the Trek market, although I'm not certain that any of the writers
therein graduated to writing Trek novels.
I don't know if they're going to continue with that writing
contest or not; you might try going to the bookstore and taking a
look at the published trade paperback that contained the stories
to see if there are any instructions about a further contest. (I
don't actually remember the title, unfortunately, but the editor
in question was Dean Wesley Smith, a veteran Trek novelist, and
the book is likely to be found under his name in a bookstore
database).
The only way to get a Trek novel published would be to publish
elsewhere -first-, and then to write the standard sample chapter
and outline and submit on that basis. You don't need an agent to
submit to the Trek editors, but they'll want a published sample
of your work before proceeding. The other thing to keep in mind
-- and this was true a number of years ago, so I'm not sure how
it holds up at the moment -- is that for every 10 proposals the
editors think worthy of accepting, Paramount will bounce 9; this
means that even if the editor likes what you've submitted you've
got a 10% chance of getting the go ahead from Paramount; all
proposals are heavily vetted.
This probably isn't good or cheerful news, but I hope it clears
up a few questions.
[Editor's Note: you can find out more info about the Star Trek
contest that Michelle mentioned in her column at
http://www.simonsays.com/startrek/features/rules.cfm. From Moira
Allen: "The results of the previous contests are compiled in
'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' (I & II). I believe only the
second volume is still in print, and is available through
Amazon.com."]
==-----------------------------------------------------==
Michelle Sagara is the author of The Sundered novel series (Del
Rey) the Hunter Series (DAW, under her married name Michelle
West), as well as many short stories. Her fourth West novel, _The
Uncrowned King_ was recently released from DAW books.
Copyright (c) 1999 Michelle Sagara.
=================================================================
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DON'T GET PAID
-----------------------------------------------------------------
by J.A. Hitchcock <anotherwriter@hotmail.com>
You've gotten a positive response from a national magazine you've
queried, the editor is friendly and you're told your article will
be a feature. The only problem is that the editor doesn't answer
your questions about a contract or payment. But the magazine
paid your expenses to interview the subjects of your article and
the editor tells you he needs the article RIGHT AWAY. So,
against your better judgment, you write the article, send it in
and wait. You don't get paid. Now what?
Surprisingly, this happens more often than not. I learned the
hard way, because the above happened to me. It began simply
enough - I sent an email query to a Ziff-Davis publication, got a
fast response, they whisked me off to Ohio to do interviews,
wanted the article ASAP and I got it to them. I had expenses I
paid out of pocket, so I submitted those to the editor. The
months passed and I repeatedly asked about a contract and
payment. No answer. I called and left voicemail messages. Since
this was Ziff-Davis, I didn't want to rock the boat; I let it go.
Then my article came out. I immediately e-mailed the editor and
asked when I would be paid, how much and was I going to get a
sample issue? The issue with my article was mailed right away,
but my other two questions were ignored.
A month later, I got a letter from one of the people I'd
interviewed for the article. Enclosed was a photocopy of my
article -- printed in the U.K. edition of the magazine. I went
online to their web site, followed the link to their U.K.
magazine and my article was also on the web site.
More phone calls, emails - no answer. I contacted the
editor-in-chief via email and politely explained the situation. I
got an immediate answer, with apologies, then an editorial
assistant called to get my information for payment processing.
Two months passed. Still no payment. By this time, I had joined
the NWU (National Writers Union) and asked them for help. I was
put in touch with a local grievance counselor, who helped me
draft a demand letter, which clearly stated what I had done,
where my article had been published and how much I felt I should
be paid. Based on NWU standards, I asked for $1,000 for each
printed article and $150 for the online article, plus $144 for
expenses, then set a deadline of 20 days for payment. I sent
the letter and didn't get a reply. On the 21st day, my grievance
counselor called Ziff-Davis and spoke to the editor-in-chief.
Within a week, I received a check for $2500 and my expense check
came a week later. I also got a phone call from the editor-in-
chief, who apologized profusely and said he hoped I'd write for
them again.
I won't.
Why do publications do this to writers? Barbara Mendes of the NWU
Boston Chapter, offers this theory, "They're just trying to
preserve cash flow; they pay the utility bills before the
writers. They're not mean guys out to stiff you; they just try to
forget about you and hope you'll go away."
Which you shouldn't. What can you do to prevent this from
happening? What do you do if it's happening to you right now?
1) If the editor/publisher has email, communicate in this way.
Keep copies of every email you send and receive! It's easier to
prove you asked questions and didn't get adequate answers when
you can produce copies of pertinent emails - this is what helped
me the most in my situation.
2) Make sure you get a firm commitment with the amount of payment
noted and/or a contract emailed or sent to you via regular mail.
Do not accept a verbal commitment - if you do have problems,
you'll have trouble proving there was any agreement.
3) If you do have a problem, email them first. Then call them.
Jack Mingo, noted author, says, "I call repeatedly, politely and
reasonably. I note the situation and the contract or agreement as
I understand it. I ask if this is the person who is responsible,
and if not, how do I reach him or her? I press for a commitment
of when the situation will be taken care of."
4) If you do send letters asking for payment, do not send it
return receipt - this is considered confrontational. Send
photocopies of the article as it was printed, to prove they did
publish it. Be polite, yet firm!
5) Let's say you get a positive response to your payment request.
Mingo suggests, "The day before I call and confirm the check is
going out the next day, I ask them to send it overnight, offering
that they can take the extra cost out of the check. The day
after, I call back to thank them, or if I haven't received it,
sound disturbed and ask them for the tracking number of the
overnight letter. Keeping at them is the key."
6) If you still have problems, this is when you turn to your
writers organization, or join one and ask them for help. Victoria
Strauss, from the SFWA (Science Fiction Writers Association),
says, "Our Grievance Committee handles any kind of
writing-related grievance, including the failure to get paid. We
have dealt very effectively with a wide variety of issues,
including publishers who've withheld or mis-paid royalties,
questionable agenting practices, copyright violations, and
foreign rights sold without the authors' knowledge."
7) There's always small claims court, but that takes time, when
you could be writing, and the court day may be way off. Take the
plunge and join a writers organization - protect yourself and
your writing. It's definitely worth it!
Related web sites:
-----------------
The NWU http://www.nwu.org
SFWA http://www.sfwa.org
Writers Guild of America http://www.wga.org/
==-----------------------------------------==
J.A. Hitchcock is the author of six books and freelances for
print and online magazines. Hitchcock is currently writing a
book detailing various forms of online harassment, including her
own case (at http://members.tripod.com/~cyberstalked) and can be
reached via email at anotherwriter@hotmail.com
Copyright (c) 1999 J.A. Hitchcock.
=================================================================
CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE WORKING WRITER
-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Christine Ballew-Gonzales <Christygon@aol.com>
Jumping off the corporate treadmill to make a go of a freelance
writing career won't do you much good unless you use the
opportunity to take care of yourself. Boost your writing
productivity and improve your life with the following steps.
Exercise
--------
The combination of many hours on your behind in front of the
computer and on the phone, as well as being ten feet from the
kitchen all day, places many working writers at risk for
'creeping obesity.' Some form of exercise, at least 30 minutes a
day, is absolutely essential for a working writer - but not just
for physical reasons. You will be amazed how exercise clears your
head and improves your attitude - extremely important benefits to
your writing career.
Eating right
------------
Long hours in a home office, coupled with a ready supply of junk
food, leads to gaining weight and feeling crummy. Try to eat a
balanced diet, include more vegetables, and drink more water. At
least eat a decent breakfast and take a multivitamin. Treating
your body right equals productivity.
Avoiding burnout
----------------
Burnout is common in the land of wordsmiths, partly because
writers love what they do so much that it's hard to stop. Pay
attention to the way your body feels when your creativity and
productivity begin to wane - it's telling you that it's time to
switch gears.
Socializing/Having fun
----------------------
Virtual offices mean that writers are often too solitary for
their own good. Socializing and having fun are not privileges you
earn, they are your responsibility to yourself as a human being
and as a writer. Schedule blow-off time each day, and don't be
afraid to get a little silly in order to de-stress and keep the
creative juices flowing - dancing around the living room to loud
music and watching comedy videos are just a few ways I keep
myself sane.
By listening to the cues that your body and mind are sending out,
you will be able to sharpen the saw and produce at your highest
level. And in the process, you can have the life you've always
wanted.
==-----------------------------------------==
Christine Ballew-Gonzales is an award-winning freelance writer
based in Springfield, Missouri. She has produced hundreds of
published newspaper, magazine and corporate articles and
specializes in writing about parenting issues and the business of
writing.
Copyright (c) 1999 Christine Ballew-Gonzales.
=================================================================
INKSPOT WRITERS COMMUNITY CENTER UPDATE (IWCC) by Shane Stacks
http://www.inkspot.com/ss/iwcc/
Starting next month: Casual author Q&A; and open discussion. If
you're a published author and are interested in hosting a chat,
please let me know. Authors receive a small honorarium and
publicity in Inklings and Inkspot. Reminder: There doesn't have
to be a scheduled chat for you to show up, have some fun, and
participate in our writing community. Please drop by anytime!
NEXT IWCC HELP SESSION: Saturday, May 22nd @ NOON EDT / 11 AM CDT
(Inkspot Classroom)
MISCELLANY: Up-to-date IWCC info and help can ALWAYS be found at
http://www.inkspot.com/ss/iwcc/, or contact Shane Stacks
directly: staxx@inkspot.com. The IWCC is generously supported by
the kind folks at MOOkti (http://noisey.oise.utoronto.ca:9996/).
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W R I T E R S ' C L A S S I F I E D S
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WEBSTORE FOR WRITERS includes the popular "Writers' Software
Store". Ready to be a Master? See http://www.MasterFreelancer.com
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Thick skin wearing thin? Agented Bookdoc will help whip your mss
into publishable shape. REASONABLE rates. L.Grant@prodigy.net
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A contest EVERY month for a CASH prize at The Writers' Hangout.
Membership is free! Simply submit your work to one of our 14
genres, along with a cool password for access to the Members'
Section, and that's it! Members are automatically eligible for
all contests! http://www.writershangout.com
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ABC Editing: Successful, published writers perform Effective,
affordable editing! See http://www.abcediting.com
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Get Published! New, affordable way to market your writing online.
Visit Manuscript Depot http://www.manuscriptdepot.com/
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Inkspot Secret Prize Giveaway: Send email to giveaway@inkspot.com
with "secret" in the subject header. One name will be randomly
chosen to win a copy of WRITER'S GUIDE TO INTERNET RESOURCES by
Phillips & Yager (Macmillan, 1998). Deadline: May 21, 1999.
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Learn from the pros at Writers Write University! Online writing
classes available now. http://www.writerswrite.com/wwu/
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FREE. Enjoy a weekly fix of crisp, original, short humor.
http://www.virtualabsurdity.com or sample@virtualabsurdity.com
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PERFECT KEYBOARD LITE ($19): Tired of typing the same phrases
over and over? Why not let your computer do the work. Launch
phrases, paragraphs, URLs email addresses, scripts and macros
with one key or combination of keystrokes. This simple program
will change your computer using experience forever. Free 30 day
trial. http://www.tricksandtrinkets.com/pk
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== How to advertise in Inkspot or Inklings ===
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Reach over 45,000 people for as little as $30/issue. For full
details, write to the autoresponder ratecard@inkspot.com or see:
http://www.inkspot.com/admin/ratecard.html
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EDITOR: Debbie Ridpath Ohi <editor@inkspot.com>
ASSISTANT EDITORS RESEARCH/EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS
Fox, Chris Donner Shane Stacks, Margaret Shauers
SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR WEB ADMINISTRATORS
Bryan Fullerton Tony King, Bianca Thomas, Shane Stacks
MARKETS EDITOR FRESH INK CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Sal Towse Tony King, Gail Heinsohn
COPY EDITORS/ Gail Heinsohn <intrepidrider@taconic.net>
PROOFREADER:
SALES & ADVERTISING: sales@inkspot.com
BUSINESS PARTNER: Jeff Ridpath
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS:
Moira Allen, Judith Bowen, David Breeden, Charles Deemer, Mark
Fowler, Susan Graham, Carol Henson, Ken Jenks, 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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Inklings is a free biweekly newsletter for writers.
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
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authors.
Back issues and other information available at:
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Inklings is part of INKSPOT, a web resource for writers:
http://www.inkspot.com/
Autoresponder info (send any email to the following addresses)
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info@inkspot.com - Info about Inkspot and Inklings
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guidelines@inkspot.com - Writers' guidelines, payment info.
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