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.

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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.

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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

First, I have two "homework assignments" of mine I wanted to report on....

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I mentioned someone last week who had submitted manuscripts for our ICL web site,...

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in which the manuscripts did NOT have their format upset....

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I'm SORRY, but they were submitted with ATTACHMENTS in Word format--no wonder they were "perfect."...

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But of course we want you to submit them IN the body of the e-mail, not as attachments...

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because attachments are VIRUS-prone.

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Second assignment: I checked out www.poetry.com, or the World of Poetry,...

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and it IS, as someone said, a poetry scam, where they want you to buy the book with YOUR poetry in it....

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I saw the figure bandied about on sites that had appraised www.poetry.com....

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ALSO, thanks to Mary Beth, I investigated the sites she listed for us last week,...

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which will warn you about poetry.com and OTHER sites that are "scamish."...

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For the warning about poetry.com, go here and read:...

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http://www.writersweekly.com/warnings/poetry.html

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Here is also a presubmitted question:...

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BB: My question is: If an editor responds to a query and asks to read my manuscript, is it good or not so good an idea to send it by REGISTERED MAIL?

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It will cost extra to send it by Registered Mail, BB,...

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and the only thing it accomplishes is to give YOU reassurance....

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So I wouldn't do it myself. But if you want the assurance that it got there,

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it isn't a bad idea!...

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Also, for about 60 cents nowadays, the Post Office will give you a...

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sticker with the number of your envelop or package....

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and you can TRACE that number on the USPS site, and find out EXACTLY when it's delivered....

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This is NOT Registered Mail. I have done it a half-dozen times with manuscripts now, and it is SUPER!

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Here's a good word about submitting articles to us:...

mbvoelker2

I have gotten good results pasting .rtf files into html email IF the recipient is also using html email.

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MB, could you tell us what the ".rtf" file is? I'll pass it on.

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Here's another good word from cup about the registered mail:...

cup

An editor told me not to send registered mail. They have

cup

..to sign it and that takes more of their time.

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I agree, that's how editors would feel....

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and if you send it with the "sticker confirmation" I spoke of, it WON'T require ANYthing of the receiving editor.

kathyann

When and "if" you receive notice that a publisher is interested in publishing your book, do you receive payment with this notice? Or what should I expect to happen?

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The notice about publishing your book may come by phone, kathyann,...

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or it may come by snailmail...

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but it most likely WON'T have payment with it....

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The payment comes AFTER you have signed the book CONTRACT....

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The terms of the payment are spelled out in the contract....

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Here's how it might happen. You are paid in a two-way system for books, Advance and Royalties....

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The advance is a lump-sum payment that is actually an advance on royalties....

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I have received advances of and up, and it is not uncommon for "big name children's writers" to receive...

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ten thousand dollars advance and up....

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The royalty is a percentage, and you might get a 10% royalty, which is usually 10% of the NET price--or "wholesale," kind of....

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So your book has to "sell out its advance" before you get royalties....

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Then you get a royalty check every six months, after June 30 and December 31....

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But it's usually at least January before the Dec 31 royalty is paid, and July for the June 30.

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Here's more about what an ".rtf" file is, THANKS, MB!...

mbvoelker2

An .rtf file is a Rich Text File. If my antique Word 6.0 has it I expect that most word processors do too. :-) Its not perfect, but works for me more often than Word's .doc files do.

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Yes, the newer WORD programs than 6.0 DO have Rich Text files--and MOST processing programs, I think...

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I am going to look back now at articles Mary Beth has submitted to see how they came out when I put them into my Word Program for editing. I'll let you know!

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Here are two CONGRATULATORIES I know you'd want to know:...

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kplano I interviewed my dad about his experiences in the 1933 California earthquake. He was 16 at that time. I did some extra research and wrote an article and submitted it to the Southern California Historical and Genealogical Society. They are going to publish it in their publication, "The Searcher" in October.

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CONGRATULATIONS, kplano!!!

ccollier

Mel, My middle grade chapter book, Adventure on Apple Orchar

ccollier

Road is reviewed this month at Wee Ones under Wee Teach

ccollier

Book of the Month by Jennifer Reed

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CONGRATULATIONS, ccollier!!!

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ccollier has been published on our web site many times,...

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and I have read her ADVENTURE ON APPLE ORCHARD ROAD, and it is a really GOOD story! CONGRATULATIONS again!

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I always second guess myself. The "what if it's not any good" or "I don't have time right now" voice gets the best of me. I have great stories in my head and the ones I've made up with my children (that they really enjoy) but how do I start? More importantly, how do I ACUALLY FINISH what I start?

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This is a presubmitted question, and here is my prepared answer:...

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GOOD question, ZB! Job #1 is to turn off that voice that says you're not good or don't have time. You can do that by first, WRITING DOWN one of the BEST stories you've made up with your children. Getting it into writing will help convince you that you ARE GOOD, and HAVE TIME. That will be your START. When that typing it out is done, stop for the time being, if you feel like you want to. Then promise you'll come back to it for ONLY TEN MINUTES the very next day. Work on it again that new day, and gradually increase your writing time. And THUMPING GOOD LUCK to you!

amadillo

If a publisher has accepted a story but won't print it until a year later, can I list this publisher as credit in a query letter? And if yes, what would I write, since I can't say "My stories have been published in...."

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Yes, amadillo, but here is how to list them....

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You would say "I have a story to be published in ______ Magazine next year,"...

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or in March, 2005, or whenever, if you KNOW the publication date....

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Editors understand that things are scheduled ahead,...

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so that will be just as good a credit for you as an already-published story....

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In fact, it may be an even BETTER credit, because it is VERY CURRENT! (-:}

mrsmouse

Do I need to notify anyone besides my instructor if I am ...

mrsmouse

going to be a week late with my assignment? Thanks Mel.

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No, mrsmouse, you don't. In fact,...

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when you notify your instructor, some of the support staff at ICL will see the notification, and they will know, too.

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It's very comforting to know someone ELSE is late, mrsmouse, thanks! (-:}

nkk

Using italics, should the punctuation at the end be in italics?

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GOOD question that I've NEVER heard asked before, nkk, though I've gone through that myself....

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The answer is YES, any sentence that is italicized should also have it's ending punctuation italicized. THANKS for asking!

paige

Mel, Is there any way we can diplomatically ask our guest speaker from the Carus Group on Thursday about missing manuscripts? A friend and I have both received letters saying that the Cricket group receives so many mss that in effect it "loses" some when they are sent out to first readers. Apparently, the mss are not numbered or recorded when they are received.

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EXCELLENT question, paige! Before I comment, I want to mention that...

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our Chat Guest this COMING Thursday will be Paula Morrow of the Cricket Group, editor of BABYBUG and LADYBUG....

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Yes, and I think you SHOULD ask Paula Morrow that, paige....

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Of course I know you won't pinpoint a specific manuscript for her, which she wouldn't be able to answer at the time,...

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but ask her that same general question about lost manuscripts, for sure....

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Paula is a VERY relaxed and receptive person, the reason why we've had her back so much. And she will respond to that question and not feel it is "undiplomatic" to ask.

nkk

is there a genuine site listing story/poetry contests?

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I'm not sure, nkk, but I'm THINKing that some of the "warning" sites would also list the LEGITIMATE poetry places. Do you know about that, MB? Let me know and I'll pass it on.

kay kay

I am writing a story using specific places, etc. Is it bad taste to use specific organizations' names, and the like?

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No, kay kay, it's not bad taste, but you might run into copyright or trademark infringement problems....

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For example, if you had kids going to "Pizza Hut" (DON'T tell Pizza Hut I used their name here! :)

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they might not want that, although you'd THINK they'd like the "advertising" of it for free....

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Instead, what most writers do is have something close like "Pizza House" or some such, to avoid problems....

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The same thing is true about mentioning "M & M's," for example. THAT would be GOOD taste, in my opinion, but it might also infringe on their trademark name, kay kay....

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I know that the Disney organization has a staff of lawyers who sniff out any infringement of titles or trademarks.

kay kay

I submitted an article to a magazine who's response time was 6 mo. Almost immediately they wrote back and said they were putting in their "hold" file. It has been their six months time now, with no word. Do I continue to let them hold it, or should I notify them that I will be sending it elsewhere?

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First, I would write them and ask about the manuscript, now that six months are up, kay kay....

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THEN, if you don't hear a response from them in, say, a month, I would notify them that you are sending it elsewhere...

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The truth is that while magazines would LIKE to respond more quickly, so MANY things keep them from doing that....

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So, they won't mind if you joggle their memory by asking about it; and if they don't respond this time, then I'd just send them notification that you're submitting it elsewhere.

lizr

to piggyback on the question of listing a credit although the sory isn't published yet -- What if you have an acceptance? should you wait to mention it in any coverletters etc., until you have a contract?

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No, as soon as you have an acceptance, lizr, then you can tell about it in cover letters and queries.

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Here's more about poetry.com, thanks to Mary Beth!...

mbvoelker2

www.writingworld.com has a poetry area. I've never looked at it because I don't write poetry though.

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By the way, I meant to mention that, though poetry.com wants you to buy books,...

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they also have an on-line rhyming dictionary you can use for free. (I played with it for five minutes while there! (-:})

mbvoelker2

There's a thing called "mention permission" but I don't know how it works. Tom Clancy and Janet Evanovitch have their work well sprinkled with brand names.

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THANKS again, MB! I haven't heard about "mention permission," though...

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I'm wondering if it's given to the likes of Tom Clancy and Janet Evanovitch and not us mortals?...

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I've just made myself a note to try to find out about it for next time!

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By the by, that brings me to mention that, for the next THREE Tuesdays, I will be gone....

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Carol and I are going on another honeymoon (to British Columbia, Canada), then I also have some legal work to do....

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But when I'm gone on September 9, September 16 and September 23, Kristi Holl will be here with you....

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She was glad to do it, as I was glad to have her. So look for Kristi for the next three Tuesdays. I'll be here for the Guest Chats September 4 and 18, though.

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For those of you who joined us after we started, this is an "Open Forum" session where you are free to ask any writing and publishing questions you have, and your moderator (Mel Boring) will do his best to answer them--the sky isn't even the limit!

nkk

can I submit assignment 3 before I recv back assgn 2?

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No, nkk, not a good idea, because your instructor's feedback on 2,...

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will help you with your 3. So I'd advise wait till you get 2 back....

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I KNOW how hard it is to wait, especially if it gets to be a loooong time, but do wait--it'll be worth the wait, nkk.

gira

I understand editors do not want the mss put together with

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I've been waiting for the rest of this question...

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but I THINK it would say "put together with paper clips or staples, or such....

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The reason they don't want ANY FASTENING used on manuscripts is that they want to be able to hurry through the read as much as possible,....

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and ANY paperclips or such will slow them down. DO put your name and an abbreviated form of the ms title on EVERY page, so they don't get lost, but DON'T fasten the pages together.

nkk

www.winningwriters.com has a genuine list of paid contests

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THANK YOU SO MUCH, nkk! There is the positive list we were looking for!

nkk

Red Hen Press is holding a poetry contest ddline:30 Sept

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THANKS again, nkk!

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The URL for Red Hen Press, I'm guessing, is prolly www.redhenpress.com :)

imhopeful

An editor critiqued my pic book manuscript at a conference.

imhopeful

Now, I'm stumped when following her suggestions. This

imhopeful

age group is hard for me. Should I give this up

imhopeful

for older kids' stories?

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The editor MIGHT be willing to shed more light on it for you, imhopeful,...

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if she gave you her card at the conference--usually a "You can contact me once" sign....

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If not, I would suggest you put the ms away for a while, maybe not give it up completely....

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But the truth is that the YOUNGER books are harder for MOST of us to write than older kids' stories,...

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so yes, go on to one of those while your picture book is "on hold."

mbvoelker2

Have fun on your trip!

nkk

Have a good holiday, Mel!

paige

Mel, If you are planning to drive through the Interior of B.C. check for road closures. Many forest fires still burning up there.

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THANKS for the tip, paige! We're going to be driven around by our friends who are hosting us, and I'll make sure they know, thanks!...

ccollier

Congratulations Mel, is it a special anniversary!

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Carol and I had our 28th Anniversary June 21, and this isn't that. It's just a trip that we promised ourselves....

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You know how, with children, you seldom get away by yourselves, so we ARE now!

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THANK you ALL for your good wishes!

kay kay

In reference to the specific name question...I mean names such as and Indian Pueblo, a school, etc.

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No, there wouldn't be any problem with something like "Hopi Indian Pueblo," kay kay, or "Homestead School."

lizr

what about mentioning names of towns or mentioning the make of a car -- can you do that in a story ?

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Yes, I would certainly do that, lizr....

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Towns are real sites, and not commercial businesses....

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And the cars, like Ford, Chevy and so on, probably WOULD appreciate the "free advertising.

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Besides, something like Ford has been around so long, it's almost "public domain."

amadillo

I just finished my first novel (middle grade fiction). Now some people say that it is too long but others say it is not too long (see Harry Potter) The wordcount is 49 000 words. Would a publisher not even request the ms if he/she saw that the wordcount is above average?

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Here's the rest of the manuscript fastening question--thanks, gira!...

gira

sorry got cut off---clips or staples, what is best way to

gira

keep it together, other than page numbers?

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You've given the BEST answer, gira, page numbers ARE the best way to keep it together!...

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MANY children's editors take HOME our manuscripts--some of them ONLY read mss at home. So they want to be able to relax, and just leaf through the pages,...

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or to shuffle back to a previous page....

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And NOT fastening them together is the best way to help them do that.

mbvoelker2

www.writingworld.com is my second favorite writing website and my favorite non-specialized one. There's a regular writing for kids column.

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THANKS, mbvoelker2, I'll have to send that out as a LIKEABLE LINK in the next Writer's News!

t green

is that poetry contest at Red Hen for Children's poetry?

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Yes, I THINK so, tgreen, and here's the URL:...

nkk

www.redhen.org/contest.htm

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Check it out, and let us know next week for sure, will you, please?

kathyann

Regarding the question on not putting your manuscripts together? You just submit them as "let's say a stack of paper"?

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Yes, just a stack of paper, kathyann....

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If the stack gets REALLY HIGH, say more than an inch, you may want to do this:...

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put cardboard on the top and bottom, and put 2 rubber bands on that, one vertical and one horizontal.

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amadillo, I'm SORRY I got sidetracked by the paperclips, and didn't answer your wordcount question,...

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If your wordcount is 49,000 words, amadillo, that may be long for a FIRST novel....

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My experience is that an editor will be more likely to take a chance on a new writer with a manuscript of about 25,000 words....

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It is true that J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books MIGHT make a difference, but I don't think so....

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You're better off to try for about 25,000 words at FIRST....

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But I also have to tell you this caveat:...

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To some editors, length does not make ANY difference....

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So with that in mind, you might want to try your novel at 49,000, amadillo,...

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then if it isn't accepted in, say, a dozen submissions, try paring it down to about 25,000 words.

silverdove

Me, is it correct that sayings/affirmations canNOT be .....

silverdove

put under copyrights?

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Yes, silverdove, sayings and affirmations are not put under copyrights....

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So you are free to quote them, as I do, and it's a GOOD idea to mention the author of the saying or affirmation.

nkk

Red Hen: any type of poetry

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I must stop now, and THANK YOU ALL for coming! The next three Tuesdays, Kristi Holl will be here....

kathyann

Have a wonerful time Mel! It's great to get away alone!

windy

Your wife is a lucky women, have a romantic time

lizr

have a GREAT time -- I hope the legal .'stuff ' goes smoothly for you Mel.

mel boring

THANK YOU ALL! Yes, Carol and I are two romantics! (-:} I'll see you Thursday evening!