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Writer to Writer - October 2007 Brought to you by www.writer2writer.com
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EDITORIAL:
Last week I received a phone call to meet with a potential client who found me via one of these groups. I wasn’t terribly inclined to meet him because I had at least an hour drive each way. But I bit the bullet and went. What followed surprised me immensely. I understood - from the phone call - the client needed a brochure revamped. What he really wanted was much more. He needs several individual brochures rolled into one large one, (more like a booklet than anything) highlighting the various aspects of his business. Plus he wants his entire website rewritten, and wants to start a client newsletter that I’ll also handle. He also wants me to be his ‘on-call’ writer. What that means is that every piece of writing that leaves their office must go through me first. English is a second language to all their staff, so writing cohesively is difficult. And that’s only the beginning. I’m probably looking at two or more months of work on this one project. My first task was to rewrite a ‘soft’ sales page for them. That’s done, and I’m awaiting advice regarding any rewrites that are required. Oh, and they own other businesses that also have ongoing work needed. Down the track he also wants a non-fiction book ghost-written. Phew!! What appeared to be a small job has turned into a mammoth one. If it gets to be too much, I may outsource some of the work to another (local) copywriter I know and trust. I’d rather do that than to jeopardise the entire project. We’re still nutting out all the details, so there’s a possibility this could all dissolve in an instant. But I certainly hope it doesn’t! Okay, as discussed last time, we’re trialling fortnightly issues. I’d love to hear your feedback. Did you find the last newsletter easier to cope with? Was it easier to read all the articles because of the shorter issue? Let me know – this is your newsletter, and it needs to work for you. Today we have two articles. Jodi M. Webb has found some terrific children’s magazines which pay up to $1 per word, and Cheryl C. Malandrinos discusses distractions – how they eat into our writing time, and ways to prevent that happening. Okay, time to sit back and enjoy this issue! Til next time…
Cheryl p.s. I've added a magazine writing mini-ecourse to the list of fr^ee courses. Go here to check it out. p.p.s. This newsletter can also be read online by going to: http://www.writer2writer.com/Newsletter_October2007.htm If you missed the last issue, you'll find it here: |
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How To Make A Hot-Selling E-book In 8 Easy Steps includes step-by-step videos, motivating assignments, and printable worksheets. Click here now for details. |
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To avoid non-delivery of your newsletter, please whitelist cheryl@writer2writer.com - otherwise your spa^m filters may reject any correspondence sent. |
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Quote of the Month:
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Copyright Cheryl C. Malandrinos - All Rights Reserved.
Last month we talked about Back to School Season and how it was the perfect time to set up a writing schedule. But no schedule is worth creating if we allow distractions to pull us away from our writing time. Distractions come in many forms--family and friends who see you being at home as a sign you’re available to attend to their needs, unexpected errands, household chores, telephone calls, emails, and Internet surfing. Here are some ways you can avoid the pitfall of letting distractions steal your writing time:
Planning out your day and setting priorities will help keep you on schedule, but equally important is your attitude and determination. When working from home, train yourself to operate as if you were at an outside office.
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Writer2Writer University:
Check out our extensive list of classes that will assist in your quest for publication. A wide variety of courses and workshops are available, and are suitable for beginners to more experienced. You would be hard-pressed not to find something
suitable for your specific needs. |
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Back to School and Your Writing Schedule Getting Ready to Write About Christmas by Allison Whitehead 5 Ways to Write for Money - by David Goldsmith Sample Christmas Feature Ideas by Allison Whitehead 5 Types of Article You Can Write - by David Goldsmith
How To
Sell An Article On Dreams To A Nudist Magazine
Setting as a Character - By Timothy Hallinan Character Emotions - by Lexi Jewlgia
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Market Round-Up October 2007 © Jodi M. Webb – All Rights Reserved
Just like their adult counterparts, children’s magazines are available in every specialty: girls, boys, crafts, science, history, Christian, environment…the list goes on and on. Too many writers dismiss children’s magazines as markets for beginning writers. Anyone who has attempted to capture the attention of an energy-packed child for longer than two minutes knows that children’s markets demand as much expertise as any adult magazine (if not more—try making the academia talk of a botanist interesting to a 12 year old girl who has decided science isn’t ‘cool’). Another myth, that they pay peanuts, is also untrue. Just like adult magazines the pay ranges from pennies a word to $1.00 a word for the most elite children’s magazines.
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Grab your FR^EE copy of
Income Boosting Ideas- written and produced by Cheryl Wright. |
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FREE STUFF FOR WRITERS These sites are giving away heaps of stuff for writers. I've checked them out, and even downloaded some of this stuff. The majority is good stuff, not rubbish. You need to sign up for their magazine, but that's it. I have no idea how long this will last, so don't delay in grabbing yours! Motivation Software - go here now (before they change their minds!) The Writer's Giveaway Site - Over US$3,700 worth of products at absolutely no charge!!
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Resources4Writers.com - grab your discounted membership. Save US$20 just for being a Writer to Writer subscriber! More information here. |
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Subscriber News:
Dear Cheryl,
Subscriber Grace Tierney (www.gracetierney.com) has just launched "The Writing Contest Expert's Guide to Fiction Contests" (http://www.lulu.com/content/1222711), her book of more than 200 contests listed under categories as diverse as flash, short fiction, genre, novels, short fiction collections, and even humor and personal essays. It's based on five years as Contest Correspondent for "Writer Online". She's also running a free fiction writing contest at www.gracetierney.com/contest.htm.
Kind regards,
Grace Congratulations Grace. Sounds like a valuable resource for writers. **If you have any news, please send it along. (Don’t be shy – we won’t bite!)
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Contests: The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to everyone whether experienced or not. This competition is open to all and anyone who loves to arrange words into beautiful art or to write a short story that is worth telling everyone. And to all who have the ability to dream. Write your best short story or poem for a chance to win cash prizes. All works must be original.
Guidelines: Or(2) Write a short story five pages maximum, single or double line spacing, on any subject or theme, creative writing, fiction or non-fiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries and screenwriting). Must also be neatly hand printed or typed.
Multiple poem and story entries are accepted.
Writing Contest First Prize is $500. Second Prize is $250. Third
Prize $100.
Poetry & Writing Contest
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Call for Inspiring True Stories
This is a paying market:
The bestselling A Cup of Comfort book series is now seeking submissions for these six new anthologies. Stories must be true, original, positive, narrative essays (creation nonfiction), and 1,000-2,000 words. Entrants pay no fees. Writers' guidelines: http://www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm.
A Cup of Comfort for Loved Ones of People with Alzheimer’s <<last call>>
What happens when the person who raised you or the person with whom you raised your children slowly becomes a child who doesn’t know you? What if that loved one changes so drastically that he or she is virtually a stranger to you? What if that person is difficult to deal with and requires substantial assistance? How will the reality of having a spouse or parent with Alzheimer’s affect you and your family—emotionally, financially, physically, socially, personally, professionally? The inspiring stories in this collection will answer those questions and more—and will show how love prevails and how lives thrive when a spouse or parent has Alzheimer’s. Submission deadline: October 1, 2007 <<but will accept stories through Oct. 10>> $500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy of book
A Cup of Comfort for Divorced Women
Divorce in the 21st century should come with an instruction manual, a release valve, and a support system. This anthology will serve essentially those three purposes, in the form of comforting, insightful, and inspirational stories about surviving and thriving during and after divorce. We seek uplifting, contemporary stories on a wide range of topics of importance to divorced women—including but not limited to: dating, children, relationship with ex, in-laws, finances, friends, solitude, personal transformation, healing, revenge, mending fences, the ex’s new wife or lover, empowerment, rediscovery of self. Most, if not all, of the stories published in the book will be written by women who are or have been divorced. Stories can be poignant, irreverent, humorous, witty, or wise. Submission deadline: November 10, 2007 <<extended>> $500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy of book
A Cup of Comfort for Breast Cancer Survivors <<with Redbook Magazine>>
It has been said that “stories are medicine” and that “one of the most valuable things we can do to heal one another is to share our stories.” This collection will include inspiring and uplifting personal essays about the experiences and emotions of living with—and living after—breast cancer. Possible story themes include but are not limited to: diagnosis, treatment, emotional impact, support systems, healthy lifestyle practices, emotional healing, coping mechanisms, impact on loved ones, effect on friendships, effect on career/work, effect on romance/intimacy, life lessons learned, personal transformation, silver linings, gratitude, triumph over trials, body image, and more. All themes and writing styles considered, as long as the story is positive. Submission deadline: December 31, 2007 <<sooner is better>>
**Exclusively for the Breast Cancer Survivor volume, the Cup of Comfort publisher, Adams Media, is working in partnership with Redbook Magazine and will award a $5,000 grand prize, $5,000 donation to the Susan G. Fomen Breast Cancer Foundation in the grand prize winner’s name, and a bonus prize to each of three runner-up stories. An announcement about the Redbook/Cup of Comfort contest appears in the October 2007 issue of Redbook.**
A Cup of Comfort for Military Families <<new>>
It has been said that military life is “not for the faint of heart.” But neither is it without its benefits and blessings. One thing is certain: it is an experience like no other—for both the soldiers and their families. For this book, we want positive stories about how military life affects the personal lives of service men and women (enlisted and officers), how family affects soldiers’ on the job, and how military life affects family members (primarily spouses, children, and parents but also siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts/uncles, fiancés, etc.). Any situation or subject that is significant and/or unique to military personnel and their loved ones is acceptable. Our goal is to compile a collection of inspiring or uplifting stories that cover a wide range of topics and reveal a variety of perspectives, experiences, and emotions specific to military families. Stories may be written by the service man or woman or a close family member; military service may be current, recent, or past. Submission deadline: March 1, 2008 $500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy of book
A Cup of Comfort for New Mothers <<new>>
Few experiences bring forth as many anxieties, blessings, challenges, wonders, and changes as having a baby—whether it’s your first child or fifth, your birth child or adopted child. And nothing is as miraculous as giving birth to or witnessing the birth of your baby. This heartwarming anthology will be filled with birth stories and newborn homecoming stories as well as a wide range of stories about the various experiences, emotions, and concerns involved in adding a new baby to one’s life and family. Potential topics include but are not limited to: nursing (or not), caring for a newborn, bonding/falling in love with infant, lack of sleep, relationship with spouse, how siblings respond, returning to work, balancing responsibilities, post-partum depression, self transformation, unexpected joys, life lessons, small miracles, etc. The majority of the stories will be about birth children, but the book will likely include a couple adoptive stories as well. Likewise, most of the stories will be written from the new mother’s perspective, but we are open to including a few stories written from the spouse’s or a very close family member’s perspective. All stories will be uplifting and positive, no matter how difficult the situation portrayed in the story might be. We do not want stories that simply recount misfortunes and sorrows and that do not clearly reveal a positive outcome or redeeming result (silver lining). Submission deadline: April 1, 2008 $500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy of book
A Cup of Comfort for Adoptive Families <<new>>
The primary purpose of this book is to celebrate adoptive families and to recognize the extraordinary and challenging experiences that are unique to “chosen children” and their families. We are most interested in stories written by adult adoptive children and their adoptive parents and siblings, but the book will also likely include some stories written by members of the extended adoptive family (grandparent, aunt/uncle, cousin), close friends of the adoptive family (i.e. godparent), and birth family members. Virtually any topic relevant to adopted children and their adoptive parents is acceptable—as long as it is authentic, positive, insightful, and uplifting or inspiring. We do not want heartbreaking stories about adoptive parents or birth families that regret the adoption; there is a place for stories of that ilk, but this book is not that place. All of the stories in this collection must show a positive aspect of adoption and must bring comfort or joy or inspiration to those who have been adopted and/or to the families who adopted them—no matter how difficult the experience and emotions portrayed in the story might be. Submission deadline: June 15, 2008 $500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy of book
Copyright 2007, Adams Media Corporation, an F+W Publications Company
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How Do I? No questions this month. If you have a writing-related question,
send it here. |
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FEEDBACK: If you have any feedback about this newsletter; comments, criticisms, (praise!) sections you'd like to see added, tell me Submissions: We are a paying market. Full guidelines are available here, along with current needs. *Note: We are again open for submissions. Disclaimer: Inclusion of a market, contest, anthology or similar is not necessarily an endorsement. It is strongly suggested that you do your own legwork in checking out any markets etc you decide to approach. If you feel wary or uncomfortable, there's probably a reason! Advertising: Guidelines for advertising, and ad rates can be found here Legal stuff: This ezine is commercial in nature, and by subscribing you consent to receiving the advertisements contained herein, and any additional 'solo' advertisements that may be forwarded to you. You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed - it is never sent unsolicited. My privacy statement: I will never, ever, (even under torture, threat of eating seafood or having my chocolate supply revoked) give-away, sell or divulge your details. All portions of this newsletter are copyrighted, but should you wish to reproduce any article/s, please contact the appropriate author/s for details. Subscribe & Unsubscribe: Please feel free to forward "Writer to Writer" to your friends, associates, even enemies, provided it is forwarded intact. If you have received this email because someone has forwarded it to you, and you would like to receive your own copy each month, go to http://www.writer2writer.com to painlessly subscribe. (And grab your free gifts) To change your email address, you will need to unsubscribe, then re-subscribe with the correct details. |
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