| mel
boring |
Good afternoon! Welcome
to this Tuesday afternoon's "Open Forum" session. I'm your
moderator, Mel Boring, and the Web Editor for this site. We're back
for an informal time of answering any questions you might like to
ask, on any subject. So feel free to ask what's on your mind--and
I'll tell you what's on mine! First, please read these
announcements, then we'll get started.
|
| mel
boring |
IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS:
Send questions you'd like answered or discussed by using your "Ask a
Question" icon/button. (It looks like a thought bubble icon, RIGHT
NEXT TO THE RED QUESTION MARK.) The moderator (me, Mel Boring) will
post the questions one at a time in the chat room and do my best to
answer them. Also note: If you want to make it possible to ask the
longest question you can, first type "/ask" (without the quotation
marks), then leave one space after the end of "ask", then type as
many characters of your question as you can. If your question is not
complete, send the second part next, then if necessary the third,
etc.
|
| mel
boring |
WARNING: If you don't
post anything at all, SOME of you will be bounced off the system in
15 minutes. TO PREVENT THIS, type something (either a question to
the moderator or even a private message) every 15 minutes to stay
active and remain online.
|
| mel
boring |
SORRY to skid in so
late--but I had computer problems that popped up right on the
hour!...
|
| mel
boring |
I have a plethora
(that's your word for THIS Open Forum) of GOOD NEWS
today!...
|
| mel
boring |
Leslie Wyatt, a
contributor to our ICL Web Site, sent this GOOD NEWS last week: Just
wanted to share that my story "Time Capsule" is included in the new
edition of Rocking Chair Reader--Treasures from the Attic (An
anthology from Adams Media) And by the way, the editor says she's
looking for submissions for the next two in the series. Those
interested can look up the guidelines at
www.rockingchairreader.com
|
| mel
boring |
CONGRATULATIONS,
Leslie!!!...
|
| mel
boring |
Leslie was published on
our Web site just last year...
|
| mel
boring |
and not only publishes
with US, but with this anthology. WAY TO GO,
Leslie!
|
| mel
boring |
WriterX sent this GOOD
NEWS last week, but I wasn't able to post it till today: As of
February 16, I am an official graduate of the ICL course. I will be
receiving my diploma in the next few weeks. For me the most
encouraging news was what Paula Morrow (my instructor) wrote in my
final letter:
|
| the first three
chapters of your book...I was completely pulled into your tale!" To
add further, she said, "I would enthusiastically recommend you for
ICL's graduate course on book writing...in fact, I'm forwarding a
formal recommendation..." |
|
| journey has
ended...I am looking forward to new beginnings |
|
| mel
boring |
HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS,
WriterX!!!...
|
| mel
boring |
As a former ICL
Instructor, I KNOW what it takes to graduate--LOTS of work. Now we
wish you GOOD FORTUNE in your writing!!! And it sounds like you have
a BOOK in the works!
|
| mel
boring |
Diana/arnalda sent us
this GOOD NEWS last week: I'm so excited...and maybe it's a bit
premature...but I just got off the phone with a woman who runs a
homeschool catalogue book company. She saw my "Matching Mastery" art
game in the latest issue of "Heart and Mind Magazine" and asked if
she could publish it
|
| item in their
catalogue. She also asked if I could do other art-related work for
her. I should be receiving an official proposal soon. Did I mention
that I'm so excited?????!!!! :-) I'll keep you posted. |
|
|
|
| mel
boring |
NOT premature at ALL,
Diana/arnalda!...
|
| mel
boring |
CONGRATULATIONS on
being hired on the strength of your writing in "Matching
Mastery"!!!...
|
| mel
boring |
It OFTEN happens that
ONE mag editor will "shop" for writers in OTHER
magazines!
|
| mel
boring |
GOOD NEWS from Nancy
Walker: Editor Aileen Sox liked my stories previously for PRIMARY
TREASURE and OUR LITTLE FRIEND. (I've been published 8 times in
these magazines.) So I wrote a new story for her, the first since at
least 2 years. And when she accepted it, I, felt super. Now, I
haven't had any great news from any other publishers, but I do feel
better, and my productivity has increased
considerably!
|
| mel
boring |
Nancy is our special
writer friend in SWITZERLAND, and she's never able
to...
|
| mel
boring |
attend these Open
Forums, because they're sleeping in Switzerland right now--or about
to!...
|
| mel
boring |
CONGRATULATIONS, Nancy!
Nancy has also published picture books, and is very
experienced...
|
| mel
boring |
But you can see how
even BOOK writers benefit from magazine
publication.
|
| mel
boring |
Lucie Bouchard
Antoniazzi, better known to us in the chat room as "peanut," send
this GOOD NEWS: I just wanted to tell you that I just got a letter
from HIGHLIGHTS FOR
|
| recipe "Soft
Banana Cookies." I'm |
|
| first sale in the
Children's writing market |
|
| mel
boring |
Lucie, SPECIAL
CONGRATULATIONS!!!...
|
| mel
boring |
For your FIRST
children's market sale!!!...
|
| mel
boring |
And HIGHLIGHTS is a
MARVELOUS MAGAZINE to make your writing debut in, friend!
CONGRATULATIONS from ALL of US!!!
|
| mel
boring |
Rose Ross Zediker has
this GOOD NEWS: I have my first acceptance for 2005. It's from Bread
For God's Children. They reprinted my story, "Cindy's Choice," in
Issue 1 of 2005.
|
| mel
boring |
Rose Ross Zediker has
published on our ICL Web site, and we send our WARM CONGRATULATIONS
to you, Rose!...
|
| mel
boring |
Reprints are ESPECIALLY
SWEET because the manuscript is already basically
done...
|
| mel
boring |
Reprints are like
FROSTING on the CAKE!
|
| mel
boring |
A couple of items left
over from last week:...
|
| mel
boring |
T asked last week, but
clarified that GOOD question this week: I know from my ICL course
that we're only supposed to send correspondence to publishers by
regular mail, not by some special means that might appear
amateurish. In this case however, because it was Christmas, AND
there was an administrative postal strike here in Canada, the
possibility existed that a query sent by regular letter mail would
take longer than two weeks to reach CALLIOPE. I didn't want to miss
the submission deadline of January 8. Therefore, on December 24, I
sent the query by Priority Courier, Canada Post's courier service.
It's now the end of February, almost two months later to the day,
and I haven't even received my SASP back, indicating they got my
documentation? Would CALLIOPE automatically NOT open my submission
because it arrived in a courier? If they do open it, will it have
earned marks against it because it arrived in such an "amateurish"
fashion? There's no way I could have finished the query sooner. My
experts didn't get back to me until just before Christmas, and I
refused to send the query without knowing that I had expert input.
As I see it, I had no choice but to send it the way I did. But will
CALLIOPE?
|
| mel
boring |
You may remember that I
asked T for clarification on this one last week, as to the meaning
of "courier."...
|
| mel
boring |
Now that I see what it
means, YES, using a courier service was A-OK, T!...
|
| mel
boring |
A publisher will
understand a postal strike, and NOT MIND AT ALL that you used a
courier service....
|
| mel
boring |
As to hearing back from
them, I see at Calliope's Web site...
|
| mel
boring |
that they say "Unused
queries will be returned approximately three to four months prior to
publication date."...
|
| mel
boring |
So that MAY be why you
haven't heard yet, T....
|
| mel
boring |
You didn't say when the
pub date was, but even in USING your manuscript, CALLIOPE might just
be LATE, and not let you know till the very last minute. We wish you
GOOD FORTUNE with that submission, our Canadian
friend!!!
|
| mel
boring |
From last
week:...
|
| casey |
re pictures: I just read
Lois Lowry's "The Silent Boy". I wondered if it were true because
she has a photo with each chapter. But in her acknowledgements, she
admits to searching antique shops and others for photos. What a neat
way to write a story.
|
| mel
boring |
Yes, casey, that WAS a
NEAT way to write a story!...
|
| mel
boring |
What amazed me was the
way Lois used seemingly EVERY DETAIL in those old purchased pictures
in her story line!
|
| lizr |
Thanks for the Clicks and
Clacks on Mondays Mel !
|
| mel
boring |
You are WARMLY WELCOME,
lizr!...
|
| mel
boring |
and THANKS for letting
me know!
|
| mel
boring |
Here were some GOOD
responses last week to the "ergonomic" devices we talked about for
writers:...
|
| mewf |
A foot rest is very
advisable for the legs and helps to keep
|
| mel
boring |
THANKS,
mewf!
|
| mewf |
the circulation to the
feet going better.
|
| mel
boring |
From
caq:...
|
| caq |
My husband's office had
some ergonomic experts and they said it takes longer to recoup from
carpal tunnel surgery than an amputation, so take care of
yourselves.
|
| mel
boring |
From a writer VERY
experienced in ergonomic writing devices:...
|
| mbvoelker |
Before buying a natural
keyboard go to an office supply store and try your hands on various
models. I have small hands and have found that nothing Microsoft
fits but nearly everything Logitech does. IMO its important that
your keyboard and mouse fit your hands comfortably.
|
| mel
boring |
THANKS, Mary
Beth!
|
| mel
boring |
Here's another good tip
from industrious one:...
|
| industrious
one |
Someone mentioned a
Natuaral Keyboard for That is way too much!! I worked for a computer
company, and we sold them for about half that! Wal-Mart has a good
one for about
|
| mel
boring |
So try Wal-Mart
first!
|
| mel
boring |
I was the one who
mentioned , and the reason is...
|
| mel
boring |
that I ordered my
natural keyboard from Microsoft on the Internet, for
convenience--but they are always more expensive for most
things!
|
| thelpe |
For a replacement for a
mouse (and to eleviate back, arm and neck pain), try www.wacom.com.
They make WizardTablets that work wonders.
|
| mel
boring |
THANK YOU,
thelpe!
|
| delima-e |
Does anyone use "pen"
names these days
|
| mel
boring |
Yes, delima-e, but
usually ONLY if they're writing in...
|
| mel
boring |
different genres. For
example, if the same writer writes for children,..
|
| mel
boring |
and also writes steamy
adult romances, s/he will likely use a pen name for the romances, so
that parents won't say...
|
| mel
boring |
"Hey, I don't want my
kids reading children's books written by that steamy romance
writer!!!" (-:}
|
| lilysback |
Does writing a newsletter
qualify as previous writing experience?
|
| mel
boring |
YES, you BET,
lilysback! It is experience in which you wrote and REwrote, and
published!
|
| gracem |
Please review again
when/when not to include a cover letter.
|
| mel
boring |
Let's
see:...
|
| mel
boring |
I would NOT include a
cover letter if the publisher's listing does NOT mention
one,...
|
| mel
boring |
UNLESS I had some
expertise in the subject of my story or article....
|
| mel
boring |
Think of the editor's
time: They are HURRIED....
|
| mel
boring |
If they don't ASK for a
cover letter, it will just be "in the way" of their reading your
manuscript....
|
| mel
boring |
Remember, however, that
both Heather Delabre and Paula Morrow of the Cricket Group said they
LIKE cover letters, so as to get to know their
authors.
|
| mel
boring |
caq asks: Can you use a
sidebar in fiction to give a brief definition of something
|
|
|
| mel
boring |
Yes, you can, caq. Look
at THE MAGIC SCHOOLBUS books....
|
| mel
boring |
They incorporate facts,
but they are basically VERY fictional stories,...
|
| mel
boring |
about the school bus
going to Mars, and so on....
|
| mel
boring |
And if you check out
those books, you'll see OODLES of sidebars on every
page....
|
| mel
boring |
Kids LOVE sidebars, I
think because they can FINISH them quickly and easily, and have a
"complete understanding" of one small facet in the
sidebar.
|
| mel
boring |
NW needs to know: In
the cover letter of my second submission addressed to the same
editor, should I include the paragraph with my writing credits? The
thing is, I'm not sure if my letter (and story) will be read by the
editor to whom I've adressed them. But if it is read by the same
editor, and I include this paragraph, I don't want her/him to think
that I think she/he has a bad memory, or that I'm being repetetive,
thereby wasting her/his precious time!
|
| mel
boring |
Yes, I would ALWAYS
include the credit info, NW,...
|
| mel
boring |
BUT you can say
something like this if ...
|
| mel
boring |
you think the SAME
editor MIGHT read it:...
|
| mel
boring |
"As you may remember,
I've been published in..."...
|
| mel
boring |
That will include it if
needed, but also let the same editor know that you know you've told
her/him already.
|
| mel
boring |
EB has this research
question: I would have liked to interview one of NASA's experts
about Pluto, but
|
| do they offer
research assistance via email. Do you |
|
| now, my main
sources of information are from |
|
| think I need
stronger resources? One of the books |
|
| the information
about Pluto also came from the NASA |
|
| be much
appreciated, for I am gathering |
|
|
|
| mel
boring |
Not every expert you
use must be "among the top ten," EB....
|
| mel
boring |
So, I would PHONE NASA,
explain your project,...
|
| mel
boring |
and ASK them who might
be knowledgeable enough for you to interview....
|
| mel
boring |
Here's what I found on
a recent book:...
|
| mel
boring |
I had the name of the
person who is over ALL medical experiments that take place during
space flights....
|
| mel
boring |
I e-mailed him, but he
did not respond....
|
| mel
boring |
So I PHONED NASA--and
though it meant talking through a gaggle of people--I asked for and
GOT TO a person who could help me...
|
| mel
boring |
That person wasn't a
BIG NAME in NASA, but WAS very knowledgeable....
|
| mel
boring |
Your BOOK and MAGAZINE
sources will be excellent, especially if the publication dates of
them are recent, say within the last five years....
|
| mel
boring |
And the info you get
from the Web site will be excellent, too....
|
| mel
boring |
You can trust a Web
site like NASA's to be factual, dependable, respected by editors. WE
WISH YOU A GOOD FLIGHT with your Pluto
manuscript!!!
|
| mel
boring |
EB also wants to know
about bibliographies: What kind of format exactly are editors
looking for? I have all my sources listed, but I am not sure how to
format it or what else I should include.
|
| mel
boring |
Here is an EXCELLENT
source for bibliographies: ICL's 2005 BOOK MARKETS FOR
WRITERS,...
|
| mel
boring |
and 2005 MAGAZINE
MARKETS FOR CHILDREN''S WRITERS....
|
| mel
boring |
EACH of those books has
SAMPLE bibliographies, for both magazine biblios and book
biblios....
|
| mel
boring |
ANYone can buy those
two market listings....
|
| mel
boring |
If you go
to...
|
| mel
boring |
www.institutechildrenslit.com,...
|
| mel
boring |
and click on BOOKSTORE,
you'll find them....
|
| mel
boring |
I'm not here to sell
books, but those samples are MARVELOUS....
|
| mel
boring |
Here's a readier
answer, EB: You want to list BOOKS, MAGAZINE ARTICLES, PAMPHLETS,
WEB SITES, INTERVIEWS, and any other source....
|
| mel
boring |
Basically: Author's
name first, followed by the name of the book or title of the
article, followed by the publisher, the date, and with magazines,
the page numbers.
|
| mel
boring |
MORE GOOD
NEWS!!!
|
| dell |
I have some good news to
share, too. My poem "Laundry Time" appears in this month's issue of
Babybug. The illustrations are adorable!
|
| mel
boring |
CONGRATULATIONS,
dell!!!...
|
| mel
boring |
I think you could have
NO BETTER byline than in ANY of Paula Morrow's or Heather Delabre's
Cricket magazines....
|
| mel
boring |
Paula's BABYBUG and
LADYBUG are WELL respected by childhood experts....
|
| mel
boring |
So YOU have MADE THE
BIG TIME, dell!!!
|
| mel
boring |
DL wants to know: Can
you use brand names for your stories and books? (MCDONALDS, Hershey
Bar, etc.)
|
| mel
boring |
SOME you CAN and OTHERS
you can't, DL....
|
| mel
boring |
BEST is to write the
company and ASK....
|
| mel
boring |
I KNOW you cannot use
the DISNEY name....
|
| mel
boring |
But I THINK Hershey's
has been known to allow it....
|
| mel
boring |
But WRITE to them, DL,
and they'll let you know for sure....
|
| mel
boring |
MANY are PLEASED to get
mentioned in our stories and books!
|
| mel
boring |
I received a LOT of
answers to what "tintinnabulation" means this week, and I want to
share them:...
|
| mel
boring |
From Bernice:
"tintinnabulation," means ringing. I play handbells in a choir at
Trinity Methodist Church. I wanted to call our group
"Trintinnabulation" but was out voted. The rest of the group thought
it sounded too much like tinitis, a ringing in the ears. They only
wanted peoples' ears to ring while we were playing.
|
| mel
boring |
From arnalda: Whenever
this word comes up I "hear" Edgar Allen Poe's bell poem!
Tintinnabulation means the ringing or sound of bells.
:-)...
|
| mel
boring |
"...While the stars
that oversprinkle...
|
| mel
boring |
All the heavens, seem
to twinkle,...
|
| mel
boring |
With a crystalline
delight;...
|
| mel
boring |
Keeping time, time,
time,...
|
| mel
boring |
In a sort of Runic
rhyme,...
|
| mel
boring |
To the tintinnabulation
that so musically wells...
|
| mel
boring |
From the bells, bells,
bells, bells,...
|
| mel
boring |
Bells, bells,
bells,...
|
| mel
boring |
From the jingling and
the tinkling of the bells."
|
| mel
boring |
From
omalizzie:Tintinnabulation: The ringing of
bells....
|
| mel
boring |
From jercid: If I
remember correctly, tintinnabulation is the sound of bells.
Telephones, church bells, etc. Tintinnabulation at weddings,
Christmas time, a house full of teenagers(!), etc. We used it in our
Freshman Eng II online course last spring. It seems to me it was
used in connection with one of the terms we were studying in poetry.
I believe it is a form of onomatopoeia and/or auditory
imagery.
|
| mel
boring |
From S: the ring a ding
dong of bells
|
| mel
boring |
From Tolkienlvr: I was
glad you chose "Tintinnabulation" (to ring) as the word of the week
last time. It reminds me of Edgar Allen Poe's wonderful poem about
the tintinnabulation of the bells X 7. Anyone who hasn't read it --
should. You'll never forget the meaning of the word after
it!
|
| mel
boring |
Kathy Butler: The
ringing or sounding of bells
|
| mel
boring |
THANK YOU ALL for your
great answers, it made TINTINNABULTION in my ears and
HEART!
|
| remus |
Hello Mel! Long time no
see :-) I just received the 2005 Book Market Guide and I noticed
that in this issue there are a lot of publishers that do "self-,
subsidy-, co-venture, or co-op published matieral." Can you explain
the difference between these terms and clarify why a legitimite
publisher would offer selfpublishing? Thanks a
lot!.
|
| mel
boring |
Hi, remus--WELCOME
back!...
|
| mel
boring |
The "self-" and
"subsidy" mean that YOU pay them the cost of publishing the book,
remus....
|
| mel
boring |
"co-venture" and
"co-op" mean that YOU pay PART and THEY pay
PART....
|
| mel
boring |
Now that these new
kinds of publishing are coming into their own,...
|
| mel
boring |
there are LOTS of
creative ventures being offered....
|
| mel
boring |
Here's the "bottom
line," I think:...
|
| mel
boring |
If YOU pay ANY of the
publishing costs, it is NOT a TRADE PUBLISHER....
|
| mel
boring |
It IS a way to become
published, but NOT a traditional way....
|
| mel
boring |
When the PUBLISHER pays
the WHOLE COST of publishing, that is trade, or traditional
publishing....
|
| mel
boring |
Any other method is
self-publishing, even if you only pay PART of the cost,
remus.
|
| thelpe |
As you may remember, Mel,
I had my cover letter and bib accepted for use in ICL's student
manual. I like to keep copies of all my published stuff. How can I
get a copy of this?
|
| mel
boring |
CONGRATULATIONS,
thelpe! YES, I DO remember!...
|
| mel
boring |
What to do is to write
and ask them. They will find it among all the prepared materials and
return it to you. I did that when they used one of mine a LONG time
ago.
|
| ckm |
Does the Delacorte
contest send back mss. as they rejectthe
|
| mel
boring |
I'm not SURE, ckm, but
I don't THINK so. They just notify you if you are the winners, or if
you're not. But if you find out they DO send back the mss, PLEASE
let me know, OK?
|
| writermom |
Mel I got two
solicitations this week for freelance writing opportunities. One is
a devotional online ezine for moms called Inspired Moms and the
second is a Christian magazine that's main readership is prisoners
who want to share the word of God called the Encourager. I already
submitted my devotional to Inspired MOms and it will be posted this
month
|
| mel
boring |
CONGRATULATIONS,
writermom!...
|
| mel
boring |
writermom is BOTH
editor and writer of GREAT repute!
|
| gladys1 |
Mel can getting 10B back
take longer than usual or wil it be about the same length of
time
|
| mel
boring |
HELLO, friend! Yes it
WELL can, gladys1!
|
| mel
boring |
It's because it's
a...
|
| mel
boring |
BOOK project, the final
one, and it can take a LOOOONG time, as I remember from being an
instructor.
|
| ccollier |
Mel, do you still submit
to magazines?
|
| mel
boring |
Yes, I do,
"semioccasionally," ccollier....
|
| mel
boring |
The problem is that
there isn't the time....
|
| mel
boring |
I would LIKE to submit,
but right now there isn't time....
|
| mel
boring |
MY idea of being "fully
published" would be to publish BOOKS, but ALSO to be published in
the likes of HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN and the CRICKET GROUP,
ccollier.
|
| mel
boring |
I WISH I had the
time....
|
| mel
boring |
BUT I am also a very
S-L-O-W writer, believe me....
|
| mel
boring |
very deliberate,
careful, methodical....
|
| mel
boring |
If I could work faster,
smarter, I'd be able to publish in magazines as
well.
|
| mel
boring |
Here's another good tip
about ergonomic keyboards:...
|
| caq |
Mel, you can buy
inexpensive keyboards, but you have to watch out for the "touch"
also. If the spring is hard you can damage your finger joints from
the keys hitting too hard. YOu have to take that into consideration
also.
|
| mel
boring |
DL also wants to know:
How much checking does the editor do from Bio? Do we have to supply
the material used ourselves or does an editor look everything up
too? When interviews are done, is a typewritten report enough for
editor? As a new writer I didn't realize that an interview should be
taped and I just have short answers to my short questions. Should I
include the interview in Bio?
|
| mel
boring |
I THINK DL meant
BIBLIO, not BIO, but I'll talk about both....
|
| mel
boring |
First, an editor will
check up on any publications listed in your BIO....
|
| mel
boring |
SO they will see what
you've published, when and where....
|
| mel
boring |
As for BIBLIO, every
editor I've worked with CHECKED MY BIBLIOs over VERY
CAREFULLY....
|
| mel
boring |
They want to make sure
they publish accurate info,...
|
| mel
boring |
So if you've listed a
book in your biblio published in, say, 1923, it better be a
"classic" of a book....
|
| mel
boring |
Editors LIKE to see
books and magazines from no earlier than FIVE years past in pub
date.
|
| mel
boring |
DL also asked: Are
there articles on how to and rules for rewriting nursery rhymes into
a story?
|
| mel
boring |
NONE that I know of,
DL,..
|
| mel
boring |
but nursery rhymes are
in the public domain, because they're so old,...
|
| mel
boring |
so you don't have to
worry about rewriting or quoting them, friend.
|
| mel
boring |
KM sent this question:
How does one make an annotated bibliography? Also a general question
about bibliographies: Does
|
| the resources
read for research, or only the ones that were actually used to write
the article? |
|
|
|
| mel
boring |
A biblio includes ALL
the resources that YOU read and studied for the project,
KM....
|
| mel
boring |
ALso, an annotated
biblio simply gives a brief description of the source, if
needed....
|
| mel
boring |
You might have, for
example: Jenkins, Lee. THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE. Doubleweek, New York,
2004: A list of live plants around the world from which remedies and
medications are taken."
|
| mel
boring |
That last 16 words are
an annotation. Usually you don't annotate, but SOME circumstances
may demand it.
|
| remus |
Hello Mel, Have you
forgotten my question I sent you about an hour ago? It was about the
coop and subsidy publishers. Just want to check
(:-)
|
| mel
boring |
I THINK I answered it,
remus, but check the posting after forum is over. If I inadvertently
skipped it, I WILL cover it next week, friend.
|
| lisalisa |
An editor at Turtle mag
has had one of my pieces for a long
|
| lisalisa |
time. I even sent a
status query letter with SASP two
|
| lisalisa |
months ago. Is there a
next step? Do I assume they don't
|
| lisalisa |
want to use it? That they
don't have it? I've gotten pretty
|
| lisalisa |
quick responses before
from the same editor. I've even
|
| lisalisa |
received things back from
other editors in that group since
|
| lisalisa |
my status
check.
|
| mel
boring |
Hi,
lisalisa!...
|
| mel
boring |
No, don't assume they
don't want to use it....
|
| mel
boring |
First is to find out if
they DID receive it...
|
| mel
boring |
You could call their
number and the receptionist can probably find out for
you....
|
| mel
boring |
EVEN if you've gotten
speedy responses before, lisalisa,...
|
| mel
boring |
there could be PRESENT
reasons why you haven't,...
|
| mel
boring |
such as the editor is
involved in some special project the magazine...
|
| mel
boring |
is doing--as I know
that Heather Delabre and Paula Morrow are constantly involved
it---...
|
| mel
boring |
but find out FIRST if
they got it....
|
| mel
boring |
ANd if they DID, I
would take it as a POSITIVE sign that they're really CONSIDERING it,
my friend!
|
| mel
boring |
S asked us: I
understand reputable agents will not ask for upfront fees, but will
they charge you a fee for the time it took to place your manuscript,
or a fee if your manuscript is not placed?
|
| mel
boring |
NO, not in ANY case
with reputable agents will they charge ANYthing,
S....
|
| mel
boring |
with this ONE
exception: If they incur postage or phone charges in the course of
selling your books, they may charge you for
those--minimal.
|
| mel
boring |
S asked, too: When
listing your experience for whatever reason, does it look "bad" to
publishers if some of your work has been published by print
on-demand-publishers even if you didnt pay anything for it to be
printed? (and I'm not knocking anyone who has been published by POD
publishers because I sure took advantage of the
opportunity.)
|
| mel
boring |
It depends on the
particular publisher, S....
|
| mel
boring |
My OWN feeling would be
that I would NOT mention it,...
|
| mel
boring |
for the chance of
telling it to an exceptional editor who might have a prejudice
against POD publishing.
|
| mel
boring |
WWW E-mailed to ask:
When writing a letter for research information, how much of - if any
- do you tell about the book you need the information for. Do you
give them a brief overview of the whole story or just the parts
pertaining to that research information?
|
| mel
boring |
Give them a brief,
ONE-SENTENCE summary, WWW....
|
| mel
boring |
Such as: I am writing a
book about people who experimented on their own bodies through
history, but only because they had to.
|
| mel
boring |
WWW also would like to
ask: Can you use a part of a real historical event for you character
to become involved with - e.g. A real organization helping children
to get to safety in another country?
|
| mel
boring |
Yes, you can, WWW. If
you had a story about building houses for needy people, you could
mention Habitat For Humanity, for example.
|
| mel
boring |
History Writer asked
this research question: I have a question: I want to write an
article about exploring old cemeteries with a focus on the meanings
behind the interesting artwork on tombstones of the 19th century. I
took pictures in Williamsburg, VA, this summer-can I use those along
with the name of the church yard where they're located, or do I need
permission? The pictures are mine.
|
| mel
boring |
No permission needed,
History Writer....
|
| mel
boring |
They are YOUR pictures;
you took them in a PUBLIC place, no people in them (at least not
live people (-:}), so they are YOURS to USE!
|
| mel
boring |
RZ has a question: I
had a story accepted and was given a publication date of November
23, 2003. I have never received my contributor copies. Is it
appropriate to write to the publication and ask if the story was
published in that issue? (Fortunately it was a pay on acceptance
publication!)
|
| mel
boring |
YES, VERY appropriate,
RZ! YOu must be a VERY patient person to have waited so
long....
|
| mel
boring |
Write to them and ask.
Things like sample copies are usually of LOWEST PRIORITY on a
publisher's things to do, so you need to ask. They'll EXPECT you to
ask, friend, so go ahead!
|
| mel
boring |
I must go, I'm WAY
overtime! It's been SO GOOD...
|
| mel
boring |
to be with you and just
talk writing....
|
| mel
boring |
If you asked a question
(or sent on in, tolkienlvr), I'll cover it next Tuesday or in the
Monday announcement....
|
| mel
boring |
We'll have Karen
O'Connor as our Chat Guest this Thursday
evening....
|
| mel
boring |
Karen knows how to use
your writing time wisely, and take care of family as
well,..
|
| mel
boring |
like NO ONE ELSE I
know. She is SO GOOD at it. I hope you can come out THursday
evening. THANK YOU for being here
today!
|