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Inklings Issue 5.19
*****************************************************************
i n k l i n g s
Inkspot's newsletter for Writers on the Net
http://www.inkspot.com
Issue 5.19 * Over 45,000 subscribers! * Sept.29, 1999
*****************************************************************
<http://www.inkspot.com/inklings/issues/ink0519.html>
In this issue, Marcia Yudkin (ASK THE FREELANCE WRITER) answers
questions about writing on spec and the difference between
querying by e-mail and querying by surface mail. Joseph Hayes
offers tips on how to set up a virtual office.
This issue sponsored by:
*****************************************************************
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FREE SUBSCRIPTION to T-Zero Xpandizine: The Writers' E-Zine.
Learn about Writers' Village University's FREE WRITING COURSES,
and find out how you can become a part of the world's friendliest
international writers' group. It's the fun way to learn the craft
of writing and meet writers! http://wvu.org
*****************************************************************
ISSN 1205-6413. Copyright 1995-1999 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 Freelance Writer
The Writer's Virtual Office
Writers' Classifieds
*****************************************************************
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK:
-----------------------
I'm pleased to announce an increase in writer pay for both
Inklings and Global Writers' Ink, starting immediately. Payment
will be 6c/wd (US) on publication for first-time, one-time
rights. You can obtain a copy of the guidelines for each of these
publications by sending a blank e-mail to the following
autoresponders:
guidelines@inkspot.com (Inklings)
guidelinesglobal@inkspot.com (Global Writers' Ink)
Thanks to all those who came to visit me at my booth at the
Toronto Word On The Street literary festival. I love e-mail, but
there's something to be said for meeting people face-to-face. :-)
NOW AVAILABLE: Moira Allen's new book, WRITING.COM
--------------------------------------------------
WRITING.COM (Creative Internet Strategies to Advance Your Writing
Career) is now available! This is an *excellent* resource for
writers; I highly recommend it. Topics include: finding markets
online, electronic rights, netiquette, online learning, website
construction, promoting online, publishing online, research,
networking. You can find out more about this book at Moira's
website:
http://www.tipsforwriters.com/
Inkspot columnist news
----------------------
Lee Wardlaw's new board book for babies and toddlers, FIRST
STEPS, illustrated by Julie Paschkis, was just released by
HarperCollins/ Growing Tree.
Discussion forums
-----------------
The Inkspot discussion forums are flourishing, with new topics
being added all the time. Recent additions include sportswriting,
travel writing, humor writing, women writing at home,
young writers, marketing tips and techniques for writers.
See a full list at:
http://www.inkspot.com/forums/topics.html
Coming next week in Global Writers' Ink
---------------------------------------
"Looking for Libraries in All the (Exotic) Places", and "Tips On
Working With An Interpreter". For a free sample issue of this
international marketing newsletter for writers, please send
e-mail to globalsample@inkspot.com. For more info about the
newsletter and website, please see:
http://www.inkspot.com/global/
New chat environment and Oct.1st author chat
--------------------------------------------
Inkspot has a new chat environment hosted by the University of
Toronto's collaborative learning environment, ACHIEVE. The next
author chat is with tech writer JOHN GOODMAN on October 1st. For
details, see:
http://www.inkspot.com/ss/iwcc/
- Debbie
*****************************************************************
FRESH INK
---------
PRIZE GIVEAWAYS: SELLING SCRIPTS TO HOLLYWOOD
---------------------------------------------
By Katherine Atwell Herbert (Allworth Press, 1999). Veteran
script analyst and writer gives overview of business as well as
sharing tips on how to successfully write, develop and sell
scripts to the major entertainment venues and markets.
Deadline: Oct.10, 1999. For more info about these books and how
to enter, see: http://www.inkspot.com/admin/giveaway.html
RECENT PRIZEWINNERS:
Melissa Bauman, HOW TO WRITE ARTICLES THAT SELL
Amy Poppenga, Inkspot pen (secret Classifieds giveaway)
Tasini vs New York Times
------------------------
The courts have reversed a federal district court decision
against the plaintiffs in the Tasini v New York Times case. Check
the website below for a summary of the case and its implication
for writers. (DO)
http://www.nwu.org/
For Young Writers
-----------------
Inkspot's newly revamped section for young writers can be seen at:
http://www.inkspot.com/young/
The Write Life
--------------
Free monthly newsletter for writers, free buddy-mentorships,
other resources and services. (DO)
http://welcome.to/thewritelife
To subscribe: thewritelife-subscribe@onelist.com
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
-------------------------------
Arts recognition program intended to identify and encourage
emerging young talent. Eligible: students in grades 7-12
currently enrolled in a public or non-public school in the United
States, Canada, the U.S. territories, or U.S.-sponsored schools
abroad. Details in website. (DO)
http://www.scholastic.com/artandwriting/
Harry's Place
-------------
Writing resources and links with a UK focus, including info
about THE INKLINGS, a Merseyside Writers' Circle. (DO)
http://www.mersinet.co.uk/harry/
RoseDog.com
-----------
Showcase your writing for free. Nice interface, well organized.
Free classifieds, prizes, other resources. (DO)
http://www.rosedog.com/
Forensic Science Web Page
-------------------------
Learn the basic science for detectives from this site, picked as
a "site of the day" by New Scientist. The author is a forensic
investigator specializing in counter-terrorism and questioned
document examination. (TK)
http://users.aol.com/murrk/index.htm
Elements of Style
-----------------
The classic grammar guide by William Strunk, Jr. is available
on-line, along with many other "Great Books." (JE)
http://www.bartleby.com/141/index.html
Fresh Ink contributors this issue:
DO:Debbie Ridpath Ohi, JE: Jan Edwards, TK: Tony King.
** Please send suggestions for Fresh Ink to freshink@inkspot.com
*****************************************************************
GOTHAM WRITERS' WORKSHOP: Creative writing classes in Fiction,
Nonfiction, Screenwriting, Poetry, Children's Books, more.10-wk &
1-day classes in NYC and online for adults and teens. For free
catalog, call 212-WRITERS or visit http://www.WritingClasses.com
*****************************************************************
Advertise here! Send e-mail to sales@inkspot.com for details.
*****************************************************************
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.
Markets Editor: Sal Towse (ST). Research assistants: Shane Stacks
(SS), Margaret Shauers (MS), Kathie Meyer (KM), Jan Edwards (JE).
ARTEMIS MAGAZINE
----------------
Artemis Magazine. 1380 East 17 Street, Suite 201, Brooklyn, New
York, 11230-6011. Editor: Ian Randal Strock. Publishes the best
science, and science fiction, based, in some way, on near-Earth
space or lunar development. CIRC: 1.5K (Startup magazine,
circulation projected at 5K soon). FREQ: Quarterly. NEEDS:
Articles, short stories, and poetry (all related somehow to lunar
development or near-Earth space). Technical accuracy is a must,
but don't bog down fiction with details. For poetry, inspire a
sense of wonder. LENGTH: Non-fiction- 5K wds max; Fiction- 15K
wds max. In either case, "shorter is better." Poetry- query. GL:
Postal submissions only, use standard ms format and include an
"about the author" paragraph on a separate sheet. Include SASE
(if ms is disposable please mark as such). Multiple submissions
okay ("If I've got two really good stories from one author at one
time, I may be less inclined to take the second"), no simsubs or
previously published material. RIGHTS: First World English. PAYS:
Articles and fiction- $.03-$.05/wd; Poetry- $1/line. RT: 1 month.
TIP: "Present lunar development in a positive, entertaining
manner. The Moon is an attractive goal, to which people want to
go. Please remember that we are part of the Artemis Project, so
stories about colonists bashing the company that got them there
probably won't make the cut." FURTHER NOTE: "I've noticed that
the vast preponderance of submissions I've been getting are
fiction, and since the magazine is about half-and-half fiction
and non-fiction, I thought I'd urge you non-fiction writers on
(which is not to discourage anyone from sending good fiction)."
(SS)
URL: http://www.lrcpubs.com/artemismagazine.html
GL: http://www.lrcpubs.com/artemismagazine/guidelines.html
E-Mail: irs@lrcpubs.com (info only, *no* email submissions)
FREEFALL
--------
FreeFall. 922 Ninth Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2G OS4.
Phone/fax: 430-264-4730. Editor: C.F. Fuller; Managing Editor:
Sherring Amsden. FreeFall magazine (founded 1990) is a biannual
literary magazine published by the Alexandra Writers' Centre
Society. Deadline dates for each issue are March 1 and October 1.
CIRC: 400 SIZE:40/pp AUDIENCE: General audience interested in a
wide variety of topics and genres. NEEDS: Short stories, poetry,
interviews (associated with writing or publishing), black and
white photographs or artwork. LENGTH: Prose - maximum of one
entry per submission, up to 3,000 wds or three postcard stories
up to 250 wds each. Fiction: short story, postcard story, novel
excerpt or dramatic piece. Creative nonfiction. Nonfiction:
topics related to writing. Poetry: any style, maximum of 6 pps or
5 poems. Interviews: with writers, publishers or those involved
in the business of writing - maximum 4 pps. Photos or Art Work:
maximum size 5" x 7". Black ink drawings (greys and pencil or
charcoal sketches do not reproduce well). Photos must be glossy.
Black and white preferred, but colour may be submitted for
reproduction in black and white. RTS: FNASR. May consider 2nd
publication rights, but requires title and date of the
publication in which the work first appeared. PAY: On
publication, C$5.00 per printed page and one contributor's copy.
Allow 5 months after acceptance for your payment and
contributor's copy. SUBMISSIONS: Does not accept e-mail
submissions or simultaneous submissions. Type work on white bond
in 12-point font, Courier or Arial font preferred. Label each
page with page number, author's name and title of submission.
Prose should be double-spaced, poetry single-spaced. Use standard
Canadian spelling. Include name, address, telephone and fax
number, e-mail address and a biographical note (60 words). Do not
fold or staple mss. Include SASE for the return of mss or disc
with sufficient Canadian postage or IRC's for return of work. Mss
without sufficient return postage or IRC's will be destroyed. If
work need not be returned, enclose a #10 SASE or e-mail address
for reply. Accepted submissions will not be returned. Successful
contributors will be asked to submit a 3.5-inch disc with
submission in text only format. Indicate italicized text by
enclosing it between "italic" symbols. RT: Approximately 60 days
after the deadline date. (JE)
URL: http://www.writtenword.org/awcs/
GL: http://www.writtenword.org/awcs/ffguide.htm
E-mail: awcs@writtenword.org
TRANSITIONS ABROAD
------------------
Transitions Abroad. P. O. Box 1300, Amherst, MA 01004-1300.
Phone: 413.256.3414. Fax: 413.256.0373. Editor/Publisher:
Clay Hubbs; Managing Editor: Nicole Rosenleaf Ritter.
International travel magazine for budget-conscious independent
travelers of all ages, in its 22nd year of publication. Contains
practical information on international travel that involves
"growing and learning," whether vacationing, studying, working or
living alongside people of the host country. FREQ: Published
bimonthly. CIRC: 20,000. SIZE: 100/pp. AUDIENCE: Readers
from high school age to senior citizens, interested in active
involvement rather than passive tourism. NEEDS: Features and
Departments. Departments include: Information Exchange; Special
Interest Travel: Resources and Program Notes; Responsible Travel
News; Ecologically Responsible Travel; Worldwide Travel Bargains;
The Working Traveler; Activity and Learning Holidays; Education
Abroad: Program Notes; The Independent Traveler, The Learning
Traveler, Living Abroad. Please see the comprehensive guidelines
for specifics on Departments and more information on submitting
work. LENGTH: Average length for features is 1,000 - 1,500
words. Maximum length is 2,000 words. Lengths for Departments
vary according to categories. Consult the Writers' Guidelines on
the Web site for detailed information. RIGHTS: Purchase FNASR;
reserve the right to reprint published articles in part or whole.
Will consider reprinted material from publications outside
primary circulation area. PAY: On publication, from $2.00 per
column inch (50-55 words), sometimes more for repeat
contributors. Fees negotiable for regular contributors. Two
contributor's copies included with payment. Photos submitted
with manuscripts pay an additional $10 each ($25 each for
independent submissions). RT: 4 weeks. SUBMISSIONS: Query
letters are suggested, but not required. Preferred method of mss
submission is via email to editor@TransitionsAbroad.com. If
submission is made by U.S. Mail, include a disk with PC
formatting. Mss should include the author's name and address on
at least the first page. They should be typewritten,
double-spaced and use conventional margins. All submissions must
be accompanied by a SASE with adequate postage for return of
work. SAMPLE ISSUES: May be ordered from the Web site.
ADDITIONAL TIPS FROM THE EDITOR: Does not want sightseeing or
"destination pieces that focus on what to see rather than on the
people and culture; personal travelogues or descriptions of
personal experiences" (unless readers can use the account in
making travel plans); articles that objectify people of other
countries or emphasize what visitors can get from them, rather
than what they can learn from them. COMMENTS: Transitions
Abroad has an excellent Web site with detailed guidelines and
submission information. Photographers' guidelines, word counts
for departments and information on sidebars are included. (JE)
URL: http://www.transitionsabroad.com
GL: http://www.transitionsabroad.com/information/writers/guideli.shtml
E-mail: editor@TransitionsAbroad.com (email subs preferred)
CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE GARDENER'S SOUL
------------------------------------
Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul, PO Box 1694, Kodiak, AK.
907-486-5079. FAX: 907-486-2686. Co-author: Marion Owen. NEEDS:
Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul is looking for true stories,
articles, or anecdotes about your life or someone else's that
would uplift, inspire or entertain gardeners and plant lovers.
The purpose of 'Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul' is to touch
and inspire gardeners by sharing stories of love, growth, and
lessons learned from the many ways our lives are touched by
gardens, plants, flowers and trees. These stories may be
original, ones you've experienced or heard of, or one of your
personal favorites collected over the years from magazines,
newspapers, or other sources. Topics we're planning are: On Love
+ Making a Difference + Growing Friendships + Across the
Generations + Overcoming Obstacles + Nature's Garden + Urban
Gardening + Children & Gardening + Garden Humor + Gardens as
Consolation + Special Moments + Healing Gardens. We are looking
for true stories that have to do with gardening, gardeners, or
even nongardeners' experiences with plants. IMPORTANT: A good
'Chicken Soup' story will make readers laugh, cry, or sigh. It
will give you goosebumps, bring a tear to your eye, lift you up
or make you laugh out loud. Stories should have a positive
viewpoint, and that famed 'Chicken Soup moment' that tugs at the
heart or surprises the mind. Please do not submit essays,
reminiscences, tributes, commentaries, philosophical, or
biographical pieces. Note: Chicken Soup books are books, not
magazines. There are currently over 45 million Chicken Soup books
in print and translated in over 30 languages. SAMPLE STORIES:
available by e-mail or via website. LENGTH: Up to 1200 wds. PAY:
$300 on publication for accepted stories. You will also get a
50-word biography. RT: Initial response within 2 mos. We go
through a very long review process, so please be patient. SUBMIT:
Mail, FAX or e-mail (no attached files, please). Put your full
name, address, and phone number on your story, not just on your
cover letter. DEADLINE: Final deadline is March 1, 2000, but the
sooner, the better. Publication is planned for February 2001.
Submissions will not be returned. [ST]
URL: http://www.gardeners-soul.com
GL: http://www.gardeners-soul.com
E-mail: marion@ptialaska.net
FICTION FIX NEWSLETTER
----------------------
Fiction Fix Newsletter. Coffeehouse for Writers. 910 S. Westover St.,
Oconomowoc, WI 53066. Managing Editor: Karen A. Hertzberg; Articles
Editor: Joy Thompson. Monthly e-mail newsletter for fiction writers
and those interested in learning the craft of writing fiction. 80%
freelance written. Fiction Fix exists to help writers discover the
craft. (We're about WRITING fiction--we don't PUBLISH fiction.) Our
readership spans the novice writer-wannabe to the professional. CIRC:
1000. Needs: 800-1200 wds articles on fiction writing techniques and
personal experience pieces w/ educational value for fiction writers.
Interview/profile are by assignment only and are mostly staff written.
We sponsor a monthly essay contest. Prizes are awarded. Writers are
not otherwise compensated for essays. Information:
<http://www.coffeehouse4writers.com/contest.html>. Fiction Fix doesn't
provide market news, publishing news, or coverage of any topics not
related specifically to the art of crafting brilliant, publishable
fiction. We don't accept articles relating to non-fiction. We also do
not publish fictional stories. We don't pay for articles other than
our monthly features, which must be how-to or educational personal
experience articles. We currently do not pay for essays, reviews and
opinion pieces, although we welcome your submission of 800 words or
less. We buy 12-15 mss from freelance writers/yr. RTS: First-time
electronic. PAY: on publication. Publishes ms on average 2 mos. after
acceptance. Pays $10-20/ article for assigned and unsolicited
articles. RT: 1 wk/queries. 2wks/mss. Submit seasonal material 3 mos.
in advance. Sample copy free on website. TIPS: We assume a certain
level of intelligence in our readers and look for smart, descriptive
how-to articles. We prefer focused articles. Instead of writing about
characterization (too broad), tell us how to characterize a villain.
Don't tell us how to improve our writing
(too general), give us six tips for tightening a manuscript. We
prefer a light, humorous tone over a dry, clinical one. Keep it fun!
Write as though you're talking to a group of writer friends and
saying, "Hey, look at this! I've learned some interesting things
that have helped me become a better writer. Let me share them with
you." [ST]
URL: http://www.coffeehouse4writers.com/news.html
GL: http://www.coffeehouse4writers.com/news.html
E-mail: Joy Thompson (jt_23661@yahoo.com)
MARKETS UPDATE:
Amazing Stories (http://www.wizards.com/amazing/) has an amazing
backlog of unsolicited manuscripts and will be returning stories
unread. From their website: "We do not know exactly when we will
be able to start taking unsolicited material again, but it will
be at least a few months from now. Watch for an announcement on
our website. In the meantime, thanks for thinking of us!" (ST)
Jayne Hitchcock reports Silicon Sorcery has closed before it even
opened. She'd had two stories accepted and was never notified by
e-mail that the magazine was defunct. The publisher's letter
gives the scoop: http://www.siliconsorcerymag.com/
CONTEST: Blue Mountain Arts' "9th Tri-Annual" Poetry Card
Contest. Deadline: October 20th, 1999. Prizes: Four 1st Prizes @
$300 each; four 2nd Prizes @ $150 each; eight 3rd Prizes @ $50
each. In addition, 100 finalist poems will be published on the
Blue Mountain Arts website. "We're looking for original, unique
poetry on such themes as love, friendship, family and achieving
your dreams...in English language please. Write with your honest,
emotional feelings about some special person, holiday or
occasion." Poems can be rhyming or non-rhyming. Give each poem
entry a great title. Enter as often as you like. Label each
submission with your name, snail mail address, phone number and
e-mail address. Entries may be submitted by snail mail to Blue
Mountain Arts Poetry Contest, PO Box 1007, Dept. E, Boulder, CO
80306 or by using the electronic form at
http://www1.bluemountain.com/esub/contest1/. (KM)
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) charlesd@inkspot.com
Mark Fowler (LAWYER) askthelawyer@inkspot.com
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) 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 FREELANCE WRITER
-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Marcia Yudkin <yudkin@inkspot.com>
Querying by e-mail vs. surface mail
-----------------------------------
Q: How does querying by e-mail differ from querying by regular surface
mail? Or is there a difference?
A: Yes, there are differences. Here are some things you need to watch
out for with e-mail queries.
1. Don't send e-mail queries at all unless you have good reason to
believe they are welcome, for example by specific information in
Writer's Market or in copies of the magazine. At some magazines,
e-mail addresses are only checked once every couple of months, and at
others editors prefer to keep their e-mail for urgent correspondence
with writers and colleagues working on current assignments.
2. Don't send any attached files.
3. Don't use an html "signature." These don't show up on older
e-mail systems.
4. Don't ask an editor to go to a Web site to see your writing
samples. Many won't bother.
5. When you do use e-mail to contact an editor, use the same degree
of courtesy and carefulness as you would in a regular query.
Writing on spec
---------------
Q: I have read several thoughts on writing on spec. Some advise never
to do it as it brands you as an amateur, makes an editor suspect your
piece may be damaged goods and that it makes the article harder to
sell. What is your opinion?
A: There are two ways to write on spec: first, sometimes an
editor will ask you to write on spec because you don't have
enough clips to show, or because they ask everyone writing for
them for the first time to write on spec. After my first query I
was asked to write on spec and I happily did it, and the
resulting article was published in the New York Times. Once I had
several years of freelancing experience and a lot of clips, I was
not so happy to be asked to write on spec, and I did refuse once
or twice.
The second method of writing on spec is simply writing a complete
article and sending it around. I don't recommend this, because most
articles written without a specific market in mind tend to be
unsalable. Even so, when I had an article "killed" at Cosmopolitan I
sent it to another magazine and they published it and paid me several
hundred dollars. After it was accepted I told the editor its history.
He said, "We wondered. But still we were thrilled to get the
article." In that case at least, a "damaged goods" stigma did not
apply.
How long do I wait?
-------------------
Q: I recently queried several magazines by e-mail. I received a
prompt response from one editor indicating interest in one of my
ideas. She asked for writing samples and said that not only would
she keep my idea in mind for an upcoming issue, she might also
give me another assignment she had on the go. I whisked off a
couple of writing samples right away. She said she liked my
samples and would keep in touch. However, I have not heard from
her in several weeks. How long do I wait...?
A: Editors usually place top priority on dealing with articles
that have already been assigned. You have probably not been
forgotten; she is probably just busy with more urgent matters.
Feel free to contact her again after about three weeks have gone
by. Keep your tone friendly. If the editor senses that you are
anxious or angry because you haven't yet received a reply, it
could kill her interest in working with you. Don't ever take a
non-reply personally!
**--------------------------------------------**
Marcia Yudkin is a freelance writer who has published hundreds of
magazine articles in markets ranging from the _New York Times_ to
_Cosmopolitan_, and is the author of nine non-fiction books. Get
the latest version of Marcia Yudkin's Freelance Writing FAQ and
other articles about successful freelancing at her Web site,
http://www.yudkin.com/publish.htm. Her most recent book is
WRITING ARTICLES ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND YOU (Writers Digest
Books).
Copyright (c) 1999 Marcia Yudkin.
*****************************************************************
THE WRITER'S VIRTUAL OFFICE
-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Joseph Hayes <Joebobtom@aol.com>
It's the way things are going, I'm afraid. Unless you have an
online presence these days, savvy editors are likely to send your
stuff to the bottom of the slush pile...again. The real value of
a personal webpage is to offer editors samples of your work a
quick, accessible resume. But a website gives you more than an
immediate marketable identity; you can have many of the tools of
a real office without the cost or hassles of a room in a
building, even meet potential clients and do interviews online.
Here are the tools of setting up a virtual office, and the best
part is, it's all free!
The Webplace
------------
First, learn HTML. Now that I've scared you silly, I'll take that
back. These days, programming pages means dragging pictures
around, and one of the best that I've found (and what I've used
to design six websites) is absolutely free; AOLPress (available
for download at http://www.aolpress.com). I've found it to be
easier to use than MS FrontPage, and it doesn't cost $140,
either.
Now that you've built your pretty page, where do you put it? PC
Magazine picked Homestead (http://www.homestead.com) as the best
provider of free webspace, and there are some definite benefits
to this little community. If you dont want to use AOLPress,
Homestead pages have a versatility that is very close to what you
could develop on your own domain. Their drag-and-drop java-based
editor called Homestead Online lets you build from templates or
design from scratch, and unlike ISP webpages like those provided
by AOL or AT&T;, Homestead allows your own chat rooms, counters
and guest books or use the Express model, plug in some text,
and you're on the web. Once signed up, you get 12Meg of space (a
lot, trust me), and an address like
http://www.homestead.com/Writerstuff. About 1/2 inch of the
bottom of every page is a banner link back to Homestead.
If you'd like to have your own identity online, there are ways to
get your name up in cyberlights cheaply. First, go to
Register.com (http://site.register.com) and reserve a name.
Unlike a lot of "registries" (which could cost another $100),
this one does not charge all you have to pay is a $70 fee to
Internic, the licensing company for domain names. If you want,
you can use a URL forwarding service (Register.com offers this
for $50 a year, but there are others) to send people typing in
your domain name to any other site, like your free pages on AOL
or Homestead. But there is a new generation of domain providers
who will give you webspace for free (take a look at
Portland.co.uk or Virtual Avenue <http://www.virtualave.net> for
info.)
Now imagine if you could also offer complete articles,
retrievable from your own private storage site: think about
typing a story once, then telling your editor where he can
download it, using a password you supply. This could be the wave
of freelancing future, and you heard it here first.
Simplest is Netfloppy (http://netfloppy.com), three megs of
"virtual floppy drive" where you can upload files (pictures,
articles) and give your friends, neighbors and editors a password
to retrieve them via download. Easier than mailing a disk, and
it's free.
The Web Office
--------------
Already spent too much money on your computer, but need a fax
machine too? EFax (http://www.efax.com) provides a free (to you)
phone number (I believe it's a Mid-west exchange for now) that
customers, co-workers, friends or family can use to send faxes
from their computer or fax machine. The eFax document is then
sent to you via email attachment, viewable with the Microviewer
software supplied by eFax. Just like regular faxes, eFaxes can
include text, graphics or both.
Still low on funds, but you need calendars and phone books and
email? Try Magical Desk (http://216.32.166.169/main). Six
web-based "modules" give you a free E-mail package; a Web-based
calendar and scheduling software, a personal To-Do list; address
book; the "MagicalFiles" file sharing set-up; and a bookmarks
section to save your favorite Internet destinations online,
accessible from any computer.
Finally, the Full Monty er, Office. Visto (http://www.visto.com)
all the things on Magical Desk, plus contact management and 15MB
of online storage. You can use it to send and receive email,
store and share files and photos, your calendar, address book,
bookmarks, and to do lists accessible anywhere, from any web
browser. The most interesting part is the ability to create
multiple interactive groups, where family, friends, and
colleagues can interact, share photos and files and plan events
sort of your own little online service.
Go ahead, take the plunge. Join us here in the 21st Century.
**-----------------------------------------**
Joseph Hayes' Web-room of his own can be seen at
http://members.aol.com/hayesweb; at least until his own domain is
ready (www.jrhayes.net - watch this space).
Copyright (c) 1999 Joseph Hayes.
*****************************************************************
INKSPOT CHAT UPDATE by Shane Stacks
-----------------------------------
NEXT AUTHOR CHAT: JOHN M. GOODMAN, Ph.D.
Friday, October 1st, 1999 @
9 PM Eastern / 8 PM Central
See http://www.inkspot.com/ss/iwcc/
Join this prolific technical writer and author of seven books
(including the latest two editions of "Peter Norton's Inside the
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john@agoodman.com.
*NEW* chat site: INKSPOT CHAT CENTER on ACHIEVE
-----------------------------------------------
User-friendly interface, easy to learn. part of the SchoolNet
Collaborative Virtual Environment. Many thanks to Jason Nolan for
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Walk-through of how to connect to the chat room:
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