Writing World Newsletter Archive
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Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 17:49:45 -0500
To: editors"at"writing-world.com
From: Moira Allen
Subject: Writing World 5:05
Status:
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W R I T I N G W O R L D
A World of Writing Information - For Writers Around the World
http://www.writing-world.com
Issue 5:05 15,200 subscribers March 3, 2005
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SPECIAL NOTICE: Please DO NOT REPLY to this e-mail; any messages
sent to the listbox address are deleted. See the bottom of this
newsletter for information on how to subscribe, unsubscribe, or
contact the editors.
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CONTENTS
=================================================================
From the Editor's Desk
WRITER TO WRITER - by Peggy Tibbetts
News from the World of Writing
FEATURE: Canning the Spam, by Moira Allen
The Write Sites -- Online Resources for Writers
WRITING DESK: How do we go about compiling emails into a
book? by Moira Allen
WHAT'S NEW at Writing World
MARKET ROUNDUP/Writing Contests
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FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
=================================================================
Why This Newsletter is Late...
------------------------------
One of the challenges of every issue of this newsletter is to
come up with something that sounds reasonably intelligent to say
in this space. Sometimes I succeed; sometimes, I'm sure many
would say, I don't. In this issue, we're looking at the results
of the survey of "How Writing-World.com has helped your career."
After discarding several possible ways to introduce this topic, I
finally decided that there really wasn't anything I could say
that would add anything meaningful to the responses themselves.
And so, rather than waste space, I decided to pull Peggy's
"Writer to Writer" column from the bottom of the newsletter and
put it here, where (at least this issue!) it belongs!
So I'll close with a couple of very brief items, and we'll move
on to what YOU have to say!
Brief Items
-----------
Brief Item #1: The Contest Database is back online, and updated
listings for March have been loaded, along with a number of
listings for April and May. By the end of the month, we hope to
have a good selection of listings loaded for all of 2005 (and
keep in mind that contest organizers are posting new listings all
the time). I have also found another database program that I
like better than the current one, so I may swap over shortly.
This, however, should not result in any "interruption in
service," since the old database will remain online until the new
one is fully installed and tested.
Brief Item #2: Is there anyone out there who knows how to create
animated gifs? I'd like to put together a couple of animated
banners, and have no idea how this is done! If you can help,
please contact me at editors"at"writing-world.com!
-- Moira Allen, Editor
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WRITER TO WRITER
=================================================================
by Peggy Tibbetts (peggyt"at"siltnet.net)
The responses to "How has Writing World helped your career?" were
bursting with warm fuzzies. They made me feel so good, I want to
repeat the question for the rest of the year. Just keep showering
me with happy emails! Besides heaping praise and thanks on Moira
and me, writers shared their stories about how Writing World has
helped them and also what it means to them.
Moira Allen is the captain of this ship. Her hard work and
generosity influence all of us. Like many writers who have taken
Moira's classes, K. Stein feels that it helped her write her
book: "I took Moira's class about getting published and, while
doing the market research, found that the book I was writing had
already been published. I changed my focus and struggled on. When
I reached another impasse, I e-mailed Moira and she answered with
some great advice -- just write your story as truthfully and
honestly as you can."
Others rely on her personal touch and expert advice in this
difficult profession, as expressed by A. Smith: "Moira gives
great advice, including responding to personal queries, and I
feel like I have an expert on my side that I can go to if any
problem arises that I can't fix. I do not frequent many writing
websites and I trust few people, but I trust Writing World and
Moira -- and that's a great relief."
Being interviewed and seeing it on the web site boosted N. Ali's
confidence: "Moira contacted me with a request to interview me
about the art of writing greeting cards. Whenever I falter and
wonder if I still have the ability to write greeting cards I
look at my interview with Moira and it gives me the encouragement
I need to continue submitting."
Another contributor, S. Lick, appreciates the exposure she has
gained: "Writing-world.com has helped my career a great deal by
publishing my articles and sponsoring my online freelance writing
classes. Many people have contacted me as a result of things they
have seen on your site. Personally, I have found the market and
contest listings extremely helpful. The site has been a class act
from the beginning, and I have always been proud to be involved."
According to S. Corder, writers from around the world are not
only attracted to the markets and information, but also the
convenience: "Here in South Africa we pay for online time by the
minute. Surfing is an expensive hobby! So I have a folder on my
desktop called URLs, and when I open your e-zine I slide and drop
each link of interest into my folder. Then during the cheaper
times at the weekend, I check all the sites and opportunities. I
so appreciate the easy-to-follow layout and the helpful
information available."
K. Thiagarajan told us an amazing success story about how Writing
World helped revive her career: "As a young bride, I moved in
with my husband to a small quiet town in the interiors of South
India. I had worked as a stringer for newspapers and the
excitement of interviewing, writing, and seeing my name and hard
work in print was fairly addictive. But after my move to small
town India, I despaired of ever being able to interest these
editors again. While I was brooding over this, my husband urged
me to check out Writing World. When I first saw the site, it was
like a dream come true. It gave me inspiration, focus and most
importantly, told me that I could be a success from anywhere in
the world provided I had the right work ethics. Today, I write
regularly for editors in seven countries and have published over
350 articles for an international audience."
For J. Zimon it's all about the information, which she finds
useful for her various projects: "I did a search on 'flyers'
because I want to submit something to a conference and needed to
know what to put on one. A couple of weeks ago, I searched and
found numerous articles on syndication for my new column. Last
month, I used your search engine to learn about how to write
fellowship applications. When I was procrastinating on a big
project, I browsed through your contests looking for a 'bribe' to
get my work done."
E. Masters finds motivation and encouragement from connecting
with other writers: "I've become a better writer through the
articles, and it has given me a kind of 'we're all in this
together' feeling as I read of other writers' woes and wisdom.
Reading of the successes of other writers encourages me to keep
on keeping on. I have had several children's books published in
Hawaii as well as some small victories with grade-level
publishers on the US mainland."
Finally, writers believe that Writing World has helped improve
their craft. T. Wiebush said, "I have learned so much about
writing -- the mechanics and the soul of it -- and where to send
things I've written. It's given me a better feel for where my
writing fits into the world." And L. Clemmons found her way into
print: "Without the advice and real-deal explanations, I'd have
been lost, or at least a lot less professional. And in fact, I
credit my first appearances in national print to lessons learned
from Writing World."
Thank you all for sharing your stories with us. I am both
gratified and humbled to be associated with a web site that
touches so many lives!
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Peggy Tibbetts answers your questions about writing for children
in her monthly column, Advice from a Caterpillar:
http://www.writing-world.com/caterpillar/index.shtml
She is the author of "The Road to Weird" and "Rumors of War".
Visit her web site at: http://www.peggytibbetts.net
Copyright (c) 2005 by Peggy Tibbetts
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NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF WRITING
=================================================================
New Andre Norton Award for YA fiction
-------------------------------------
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) has
created a new literary award to recognize outstanding science
fiction and fantasy novels that are written for the young adult
market. The award has been named in honor of Andre Norton, a SFWA
Grand Master and author of more than 100 novels, including the
acclaimed Witch World series, many of them for young adult
readers. The Andre Norton Award for an outstanding young adult
science fiction or fantasy book is an annual honor that will
first be given in 2006. "We are thrilled to honor Ms. Norton with
this new award," said Catherine Asaro, President of SFWA. "Andre
Norton has done more to promote reading among young adults than
anyone can measure." For more information:
http://www.sfwa.org/news/nortonaward.htm
10th annual National Poetry Month
---------------------------------
April will be the 10th annual National Poetry Month. The Academy
of American Poets (AAP), organizers of the event, have made
numerous resources available on their web site, including lists
of new poetry books and a book club. This year's poster, by book
designer Chip Kidd, features Emily Dickinson's dress and
quotation: "Nature is a haunted house -- but Art -- is a house
that tries to be haunted." The academy will also be presenting a
"10 Years/10 Cities Reading Series", with poets giving readings
from Boston to Los Angeles. Gary Snyder, Jorie Graham, Heather
McHugh, and Maxine Kumin are among the featured readers. For more
information: http://www.poets.org
US Copyright Office considering orphan works
--------------------------------------------
For designers, academics, artists, musicians, and filmmakers,
it can be difficult to find out if a particular work is still
under copyright or not. And even when people would happily pay
to use a copyrighted photo, passage, or video clip, it's often
impossible (or costly) to find the copyright holder. Until March
25, the US Copyright Office is asking for public comment on the
"orphan works" problem. They are seeking comments from people who
have run up against the problem of trying to clear a potentially
copyrighted work -- either for use in a new creative effort or
simply to make the work available to the public once again. If
you have a story like this, you can make your voice heard. For
more information: http://www.orphanworks.org
Penguin cuts jobs in US and UK
------------------------------
After declining profits and sales in 2004, Penguin Group has laid
off dozens of employees on both sides of the Atlantic in
departments including editorial, sales and marketing. In the US,
more than 2%, or about 40 employees have been laid off, with the
majority of the cuts coming in the sales department, says David
Shanks, CEO of Penguin Group USA. Company spokesperson Marilyn
Ducksworth says additional cuts also were made in other
departments including marketing. In the UK, 44 employees, mostly
in editorial roles, are being cut, says John Makinson, Chairman
and CEO of Penguin Group UK. The group suffered from a
distribution crisis in the UK, and a sluggish sales for mass
market books in the US.
Book fair coming to South Africa
--------------------------------
The Publishers Association of South Africa is teaming up with the
Frankfurt Book Fair to host the first international book fair to
be held in South Africa. The Cape Town Book Fair will run for
four days starting June 17, 2006, at the Cape Town International
Convention Centre. The fair, which organizers plan to turn into
an annual event, will showcase international and local publishers,
with an emphasis on rights trading. It will also have events
designed for the public, including a book festival and a range of
cultural events.
Agatha Christie novel morphs into a computer game
-------------------------------------------------
The Adventure Company, a publisher of PC adventure games, has
announced the fall 2005 release of "And Then There Were None",
the first title in a series of computer games based on Agatha
Christie's mystery novels. AWE Games has been signed to recreate
the storyline and characters. According to Richard Wah Kan, CEO
of The Adventure Company, the storyline stays true to the
original concept but Agatha Christie fans will encounter new plot
twists. Scott Nixon, Producer for AWE Games added: "We are proud
to be a part of presenting Agatha Christie's mysteries in a new
medium. Her writing and the adventure game genre make a perfect
match, one that stresses character interaction, development, and
psychology.
*****************************************************************
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CANNING THE SPAM
=================================================================
by Moira Allen
Spam plagues everyone who ventures into cyberspace, but for
writers it poses some extra problems. Because we often have
material posted online, or have our own Web sites, we can become
especially vulnerable to spammers. At the same time, we must be
careful that our efforts to avoid spam don't make it too
difficult for editors (and others) to contact us.
Fortunately, there are many methods of spam prevention to choose
from. Here are just a few, with their pros and cons.
Protecting Your Work Online
---------------------------
Posting contact information on your Web site automatically makes
you vulnerable to spam "robots" that harvest e-mail addresses.
However, there are several ways in which you can protect that
information.
One method is to refrain from hotlinking your e-mail address, so
that it is not "clickable". This prevents "spambots" from
harvesting your e-mail from the HTML code of your Web site. Many
writers modify their e-mail addresses, through such tricks as
replacing the "at"-sign with the word "at" or adding extra spaces or
words to the address that must be removed by the sender. For
example, you might write your e-mail address as
, or as , so
that a sender would have to replace "at" with the "at"-sign, or
remove the word "nospam" from the address before sending you an
e-mail. The advantage of this method is simplicity; it requires
no special coding. The disadvantage is that anyone who wishes to
contact you must either copy or retype your e-mail address, and
make several corrections.
Another option is to uni-encode your e-mail address. This
involves placing a special code for your e-mail within the HTML
of your site. To obtain the code, just visit the Fantomas Mail
Shield page, enter your e-mail address in the form, and press the
button to generate the code. This precludes the need to display
your actual e-mail address on your Web site; instead, you can
hotlink your name or the word "contact" to the uni-encoded
address. (Such a hotlink might appear as follows:
My Name.) With this
approach, your e-mail won't show up either on the visible page or
the hidden HTML code.
The disadvantage of this method is that it requires you to insert
the code directly into your HTML. If you do not understand HTML,
or work with a program that doesn't let you easily access the
underlying code for your page, this can be a problem.
For the more experienced coder, a more elegant solution is to use
a java script to hide one's e-mail. Several free java e-mail
"hider" scripts are available online; one source is
Needscripts.com. Again, this requires you to work directly with
the HTML code on your page, and you must have an ISP that
supports java.
If you have your own domain or a site hosted on an independent
service provider (i.e., something other than AOL, Yahoo
Geocities, etc.), another step you should take is to make sure
that your ISP does not have a "catch-all" e-mail inbox. ISPs
still commonly set up such an inbox to "catch" any incoming mail
to your domain that isn't addressed to an "official" address.
Thus, any mail addressed to, for example, "info"at"" or "admin"at""
would be automatically funneled to this catch-all inbox. Today,
however, spammers routinely bombard domains with this type of
generic e-mail address, which means that if you do have a
catch-all inbox, it's going to fill up with spam. Check with your
Web host, therefore, to make sure that you don't have such an
inbox -- and if you do, insist that it be dumped and removed.
A final consideration is protecting work that is posted on other
Web sites or e-zines. If you've sold articles to other online
publications, chances are that they've included your bio and your
e-mail address. Fortunately, online publications are becoming
more sensitive to the problems of spam, and are often willing to
replace your old bio with a new version that either omits or
uni-encodes your e-mail. If your work is included in archived
e-mail newsletters, ask the editor or publisher to consider doing
a global search-and-replace on their archives to remove or
replace all "at"-signs from those back issues. In the future,
consider omitting your e-mail from online bios, and include only
your Web URL.
Protecting Your Mail
--------------------
No matter how well you shield your e-mail address online, spam
seems to be inevitable. The next step, therefore, is to protect
your inbox from incoming spam (and, of course, viruses). Again,
there are several ways to do this, each with its own advantages
and disadvantages.
One approach is to choose an ISP that includes spam-blocking
software. Most of the major providers, such as AOL, Earthlink,
Yahoo, Hotmail, MSN, and so forth, work hard to block spam.
Unfortunately, some of these providers work a bit too hard, and
end up blocking mail that you may want to receive. Some
providers don't give the user much flexibility in determining
what types of messages to accept or reject; some, for example,
may reject a message based simply on length (which can cause an
ISP to trash incoming newsletters), while others may block
e-mails based on the originating ISP. For example, one
individual found that her e-mails were no longer reaching her own
mother, simply because they originated from a major broadband
provider -- because her mother's spam-blockers were blocking
e-mail from any ISP that generated large numbers of e-mail
messages.
Many Web mail providers require one to maintain an "address book"
that includes the addresses of senders from which one is willing
to receive e-mails. For a writer, however, this is an awkward
method of controlling spam, as we often need to be able to
receive messages from people we don't already know, such as
editors. This system also has a reputation for screening out
e-mail newsletters to which one has subscribed -- so if you've
signed up for a newsletter and haven't gotten it, be sure to
check your trash!
One problem writers face when dealing with any sort of automated
spam-blocking software is that such software often looks for
words and phrases that may be common to a writer's
correspondence. Words like "money" and "free", as well as the
dollar sign, often trigger spam-blocking software. E-mail
newsletters for writers are often screened out because they not
only tend to contain these words, but because they also are
likely to have phrases all in caps, lines of asterisks to
separate articles, and a number of other spam triggers.
To avoid the problems of spam-blocking software, many writers are
turning to online systems like "Spam Arrest," which block spam by
requiring legitimate correspondents to visit a Web site and type
in a word that is embedded within a picture. This system is
effective, as automated messages are blocked entirely; only a
"human" can decipher the word and thus bypass the barrier. Such
systems usually have a limited "free" version, but if you want to
be able to specify more options or use the system with programs
like Outlook or Eudora, you'll generally have to pay a small fee.
Such systems also work with address books, so that you can
specify e-mails that should not be blocked. Keep in mind that
such a system will block e-mail newsletters unless you specify
otherwise, so check your "blocked" files periodically to make
sure that you aren't missing anything important. Another problem
with this type of system is that it adds an extra barrier to
editors who may be responding to your queries or submissions, so
do let your editor know in your query or cover letter that they
may be asked to verify their e-mail. Or, simply make sure,
whenever you send a submission to an editorial address, that you
add this address to your address book.
If these methods aren't enough, or if you're already inundated
with spam, sometimes the only option left is to simply change
your e-mail. If you do, hold onto your old address for a period
of time so that you can monitor it and send change-of-address
notices to all your contacts. You might also wish to maintain two
addresses, one for personal use, and one closely protected
address just for business.
For writers, the Internet has provided a huge advantage in
enabling us to communicate easily, quickly and cheaply with just
about anyone in the world. Sadly, the steady increase of spam and
virus e-mails is threatening to destroy that advantage. The best
way to keep your lines of communication open is to make sure that
those lines are protected!
Resources:
----------
Mail Shield
http://fantomaster.com/fantomasSuite/mailShield/famshieldsv-e.cgi
NeedScripts.com
http://www.needscripts.com/JavaScript/Scripts_and_Programs/Email_Scripts/
Spam Arrest
http://www.spamarrest.com
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Moira Allen has been writing and editing professionally for more
than 20 years. A columnist for The Writer, she is also the author
of "Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer", "The Writer's
Guide to Queries, Pitches and Proposals" (now available as an
e-book) and "Writing.com: Creative Internet Strategies to
Advance Your Writing Career". For more details, visit:
http://www.writing-world.com/moira/moira.shtml
Copyright (c) 2005 by Moira Allen
*****************************************************************
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THE WRITE SITES
=================================================================
Answers.com
-----------
New reference search service, created to provide instant answers
on over a million topics.
http://www.answers.com
How To Set Your Fees As A Freelance Writer
------------------------------------------
Debra Jason shows you how much it costs to be a writer and how to
price your work accordingly.
http://www.writedirection.com/rprt300e.htm
Resources on the Internet for Business Journalists
--------------------------------------------------
Comprehensive database of links to every aspect of business and
journalism.
http://jclass.umd.edu/cars/special/sabew2004.htm
WritersWrite Blogging
---------------------
Blogging news headlines, resources, tools and articles about
creating a weblog.
http://www.writerswrite.com/blogging/
Young Adult Books Central
-------------------------
Kimberly Pauley reviews print or ebooks with a concentration on
YA/Middle Grade fiction, though picture or kid's books are
accepted. Also publishes author interviews and bios.
http://www.yabookscentral.com
JigsawLand.com
--------------
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*****************************************************************
THE WRITING DESK
=================================================================
by Moira Allen
How Do We Go About Compiling Emails Into A Book?
------------------------------------------------
Q: I am emailing you for the sole purpose of finding out how my
friends and I can create a book. We are all in our twenties and
have been using email as our means of communication. Because our
lives are all so busy, this is how we discuss our day to day
trials and tribulations. We have a compilation of emails for 12
months. Subjects that we have touched on are: getting married,
having children, beginning our careers, and dealing with "growing
pains". We are willing to write this book on our own but do not
have the slightest inkling on where to begin. If you could please
enlighten us on this idea, we would appreciate it tremendously!
A: The question you should probably be asking yourselves first is
"why do we want to write a book?" Or, more importantly, "Who will
want to read this book?" What is your intended audience? What do
you want to say to that audience? What has been of interest to
you as a closely knit group of friends may not necessarily be of
interest to a larger audience who doesn't know any of you -- and
who thus have no vested reason in caring what you have to say.
That can sound harsh -- but the business of publishing is also
harsh. Lots of books are published every day that go nowhere
(and, sadly, lots of very poor books are also published every day
that ALSO go nowhere).
So -- first, decide what you want to do and why. Your next step,
if you decide to proceed, is to ask "what is this book about?"
You've listed a short selection of subjects; you might be able to
expand this list into your basic "contents." Perhaps you want to
assemble a chapter or section on each of these topics. Your
section on "getting married," for example, would presumably be a
collection of the e-mails that you've shared on that topic.
Any book needs some coherent organization. For example, I
recently saw a fairly poor example of "e-mail collections" that
was simply all the e-mails on a topic, slapped into a book one
after another. Because e-mail is an interactive communication,
you'll have to decide how you want to deal with an e-mail that
has gone back and forth several times, collecting snippets of
replies as it goes.
Who will put your book together? You'll probably want one person
in charge of assembling the material and doing an initial sort of
what to include, what to leave out. You may still find that you
have more than you can use, so at that point you might
want to "vote" on what to include in each section. Find out if
anyone in your group has any experience in converting e-mail text
to, say, MS Word for formatting purposes.
Formatting is another issue that will arise a bit further down
the line -- but you have a lot of decisions to make before you
get there, so I'm not going to go into that. Another issue that
you'll want to ask is whether you hope to try to find a
commercial publisher for the book (someone who pays YOU) or
whether you are more likely to issue it as a self-published or
print-on-demand title. Again, the issue here is "who is this book
for?" Don't fall into the trap of saying, "Well, we're all women
and this book is about women and there are lots of women in the
world who would therefore be interested in this book." It doesn't
work that way! Spend some time discussing with your friends, very
honestly, who might be the audience for YOUR words (as a group).
That will help you determine how to seek publication when the
writing work is done.
A book can be a very enjoyable and rewarding project, but it's
not one to undertake lightly. Be sure you've decided what you
want to achieve, and why; that will help you determine HOW to
achieve it.
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Moira Allen has been writing and editing professionally for more
than 20 years. A columnist for The Writer, she is also the author
of "Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer", "The Writer's
Guide to Queries, Pitches and Proposals" (now available as an
e-book) and "Writing.com: Creative Internet Strategies to
Advance Your Writing Career". For more details, visit:
http://www.writing-world.com/moira/moira.shtml
Copyright (c) 2005 by Moira Allen
*****************************************************************
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magazines. Check out http://www.smithpublicity.com or call
(215) 547-4778, ext. 111; e-mail: info"at"smithpublicity.com
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WHAT'S NEW AT WRITING-WORLD.COM
=================================================================
MARCH COLUMNS:
--------------
Advice from a Caterpiller, by Peggy Tibbetts
Submitting a Manuscript Your Agent Won't Handle; How Much to
Charge for Stories; Finding Book Industry Statistics
http://www.writing-world.com/caterpillar/cat50.shtml
Ask the Book Doctor, by Bobbie Christmas
Copyrights, Plurals, Grammar Checkers, Style, Title Pages and More
http://www.writing-world.com/columns/book/book05.shtml
Murder Ink, by Stephen D. Rogers
Rolling with the Punches
http://www.writing-world.com/columns/mystery/murder20.shtml
Romancing the Keyboard, by Anne Marble
Romance in Other Worlds -- Writing Fantasy, Futuristic, and
Paranormal Romances
http://www.writing-world.com/columns/romance/marble20.shtml
ARTICLES:
---------
The Art of Assembling Anthologies, by Arlene Uslander
and Brenda Warneka
http://www.writing-world.com/publish/anthologies.shtml
Just Updated:
The UK Regional Magazine List, by Rachel Newcombe
http://www.writing-world.com/international/countylist.shtml
(Formerly known as the UK County Magazine List.)
The CONTEST DATABASE is back online with updated listings for
March at: http://www.writing-world.com/contests/index.shtml
*****************************************************************
FIND 1700 MARKETS FOR YOUR WRITING! Writing-World.com's market
guides offer DETAILED listings of over 1700 markets, with contact
information, pay rates, needs and more. Fourteen themed guides
are available for $2.50 apiece or $25 for the set. For details,
see http://www.writing-world.com/bookstore/index.shtml
*****************************************************************
MARKET ROUNDUP
=================================================================
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: THERE'S ALWAYS A STORY
Candace Evans, Editor
660 Preston Forest Center, PMB 441, Dallas, Texas 75230
EMAIL: info"at"theresalwaysastory.com
URL: http://www.theresalwaysastory.com
We are seeking short stories that beg to be read aloud to upscale
hotel and spa guests. You supply the words, we supply the perfect
complement in voice. A certain magic occurs when tone, inflection
and the melody of voice combine with well-written words. The
story cradles and comforts, becoming a sublime pleasure and the
antithesis of deadlines and decisions. Yoga for the mind, if you
will. Many submissions are too graphic or disturbing for our
clients' situation. Writers should think of themselves, and
possibly their families, in a lovely hotel on holiday. We
certainly disdain from censorship, but the fact remains that a
hotel would not want their guests offended, frightened or
challenged. Stories must be a specific length and style, due to
recording time and interpretation needs. We love stories with
enough dialogue to establish character, but not so much as to
require a reader's theatre presentation. We voice each story with
only one actor, for a more personal and intimate read.
LENGTH: 2,500-3,000 words
PAYMENT: $250
REPRINTS: No
RIGHTS: FNASR and audio rights
SUBMISSIONS: From overseas authors only, US authors please submit
by mail
GUIDELINES: http://www.theresalwaysastory.com/writers.html
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:
CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL HEALTHY LIVING SERIES
Attn: Theresa Peluso, Story Submissions
3201 SW 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
EMAIL: submit"at"thehealthysoul.com
URL: http://www.thehealthysoul.com
The new Chicken Soup Healthy Living series is the perfect blend
of emotional support and vital information. Each title features
heartfelt, personal, uplifting stories from real people living
and thriving with specific medical conditions along with
positive, practical medical advice for caregivers and patients
from top medical experts. Story topics can focus on issues that
affect your daily life; diet, psychological issues,
relationships, daily challenges, unique obstacles, or even
alternative therapies. Expert content will explain medical terms,
managing symptoms, quality of life issues, the effects of
treatment options and managing the doctor-patient relationships.
DEADLINE: June 30, 2005
LENGTH: 300-800 words
PAYMENT: $200
RIGHTS: Non-exclusive rights covering world-wide sales in all
languages if the story is published
REPRINTS: No
SUBMISSIONS: By mail, email, or use online submission form
GUIDELINES: http://www.thehealthysoul.com/guidelines.html
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:
CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE RECOVERING SOUL DAILY INSPIRATIONS
Attn: Story Submissions
3201 SW 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
EMAIL: submit"at"recoveringsoul.com
URL: http://www.recoveringsoul.com
An inspirational message for each day of the year centered on the
process of recovery. A little nudge in the right direction, a few
words that become food for thought, messages that heal,
encourage, support and enlighten. Passages that bring a little
light into your day or provide spiritual direction to ease a
burden. Each page will feature a paragraph or two of inspiration
and an area for journaling. Go to the web site to view a sample
page layout of our Daily Inspiration format.
DEADLINE: June 30, 2005
LENGTH: 120 words or less
PAYMENT: $25
RIGHTS: Non-exclusive rights covering world-wide sales in all
languages if the story is published
REPRINTS: No
SUBMISSIONS: By mail, email, or use online submission form
GUIDELINES: http://www.recoveringsoul.com/index.html
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Please send Market News to: peggyt"at"siltnet.net
"FNASR": First North American Serial Rights, "SASE":
self-addressed, stamped envelope, "GL": guidelines. If you have
questions about rights, please see "Rights: What They Mean and
Why They're Important"
http://www.writing-world.com/rights/rights.shtml
*****************************************************************
WRITING CONTESTS
=================================================================
This section lists contests that charge no entry fees. For more
contests, check our online contests section.
http://www.writing-world.com/contests/index.shtml
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
National Press Club (NPC) Awards
DEADLINE: April 1, 2005
GENRE: Journalism
OPEN TO: Professional journalists
LENGTH: No word length requirements
THEME: For works published in the previous calendar year in the
following 11 award categories: Consumer Journalism; Washington
Correspondence; Arthur Rowse for Press Criticism; Robin Goldstein
for Washington Regional Reporting; Edwin M. Hood for Diplomatic
Correspondence; Newsletter Journalism; Robert L. Kozik for
Environmental Reporting; Online Journalism; Freedom of the Press;
Excellence in Political Journalism; Excellence in Geriatric
Writing. Must submit 5 copies of each completed entry, including
entry form, (available to print online) tapes, etc.
PRIZES: Awards range from $500-$2000
ELECTRONIC ENTRY: No
ADDRESS: General Manager's Office, National Press Club, National
Press Building, Washington, DC 20045
URL: http://npc.press.org/programs/npcawards.cfm
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Paterson Fiction Prize
DEADLINE: April 1, 2005
GENRE: Fiction novel, or collection
OPEN TO: Fiction published in 2004
LENGTH: No word length requirements
THEME: For a novel or collection of short fiction which, in the
opinion of the judges, is the strongest work of fiction published
in 2004. Each book submitted must be accompanied by an
application form, which can be printed from the web site.
PRIZE: $1000
ELECTRONIC ENTRY: No
ADDRESS: Maria Maziotti Gillan, Executive Director, Poetry
Center, Passaic County Community College, One College Boulevard,
Paterson, NJ 07505-1179
URL: http://www.pccc.cc.nj.us/poetry/Prize/index.html
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Wergle Flomp Poetry Contest
DEADLINE: April 1, 2005
GENRE: Humor poetry
OPEN TO: All
LENGTH: No word limit
THEME: Find a vanity poetry contest, a contest whose main purpose
is to appeal to poets' egos and get them to buy expensive
products like anthologies, chapbooks, CDs, plaques, and silver
bowls. Vanity contests accept nearly all poems, no matter how
bad, in their effort to sell as much stuff to as many people as
possible. Make up a deliberately absurd, crazy, laugh-out-loud
parody poem that pokes fun at vanity contests and what they do.
Submit your parody poem to a vanity contest as a joke. After
you're done, submit your parody poem to us, and tell us which
vanity contest you sent it to as a joke.
PRIZES: 1st Prize: $1,190.70; 2nd Prize: $169; 3rd Prize: $60; 5
Honorable Mentions: $38 each; plus all winners and honorable
mentions will be published at WinningWriters.com
ELECTRONIC ENTRY: Yes, use online entry form
EMAIL: flompcontest"at"winningwriters.com
URL: http://www.winningwriters.com/contestflomp.htm
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Foley Poetry Award
DEADLINE: April 16, 2005
GENRE: Poetry
OPEN TO: All
LENGTH: 30 lines or fewer
THEME: America, the National Catholic Weekly, sponsors the annual
contest in honor of William T. Foley, M.D. Submit only one poem.
No poems will be returned. Only typed, unpublished poems not
under consideration elsewhere will be considered. The winning
poem will be announced on the web site in early June and
published in the issue of America. The envelope containing the
poem for consideration must have "The Foley Poetry Award" clearly
indicated.
PRIZE: $1,000
ELECTRONIC ENTRY: Yes
ADDRESS: Foley Poetry Contest, America, 106 West 56th Street,
New York, NY 10019-3803
URL: http://www.americamagazine.org/poetry.cfm
*****************************************************************
2000 ONLINE RESOURCES FOR WRITERS -- links for every kind of
writer! Still only $5.
THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO QUERIES, PITCHES AND PROPOSALS - available
as an e-book! Find out how to write the perfect query, book
proposal, novel synopsis, column proposal, or grant application.
Only $8.95 (save $5 from the print edition.)
To order, visit http://www.writing-world.com/bookstore/index.shtml
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New Listings on THE AUTHOR'S BOOKSHELF:
---------------------------------------
Many Faces to Many Places, by Judy LeBlanc
Find these and more great books at
http://www.writing-world.com/books/index.shtml
Advertise your own book on Writing-World.com:
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ADVERTISE in WRITING WORLD or on WRITING-WORLD.COM! For details
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WRITER'S SUCCESS: 300+ Online Guidelines, Local Writer's Groups,
Contests, Writer of the Month, and more! Subscribe at
nickyswriting"at"comcast.net with "subscribe" in subject line.
http://writerssuccess.netfirms.com/
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EXPAND YOUR NETWORK--DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS--NURTURE YOUR CREATIVE
LIFE! Visit the National Association of Women Writers Web site at
http://www.NAWW.org! Weekly Inspirational/How-To E-zine:
http://www.naww.org/homepage.html Membership Information:
http://www.naww.org/generic1.html
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SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) is
launching local networking Chapters. Check with us to find a
Chapter near you. Contact us if you'd like to start one.
Patricia"at"spawn.org. Subscribe to newsletter http://www.spawn.org
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WRITERS: FIND MARKETS EASILY - Worldwide Freelance has a NEW
fully-searchable Markets Database. Discover writing markets from
North America, Europe, Australasia and other places. It's free,
so come and try it out here: http://www.worldwidefreelance.com
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WRITING FOR DOLLARS! - the FREE ezine for writers featuring
tips, tricks and ideas for selling what you write. FREE ebook,
83 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY WRITING when you subscribe. Email to
subscribe"at"writingfordollars.com http://www.WritingForDollars.com
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PUBLISH AND PROFIT FROM YOUR BOOK OR EBOOK: Learn how to write
and sell your book idea online. Join others from around the world
who are making a good living selling their book or ebook online.
http://www.zizzoo.com/guides/ebook
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Writing World is a publication of Writing-World.com
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Editor/Publisher: MOIRA ALLEN (writing-world"at"cox.net)
Managing Editor (Newsletter): PEGGY TIBBETTS (peggyt"at"siltnet.net)
Copyright 2005 Moira Allen
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