| mel
boring |
Join us this afternoon
in the AUDITORIUM-Scheduled Events Room for an "Open Forum" with Web
Editor Mel Boring. Mel has published some 25 magazine articles and
stories, as well as eight books for the young readers market. He
taught writing for 18 years, while being home husband and parent to
two of his four children, and doing his own writing. He welcomes
your questions on time management, getting started, writer's block,
marketing, writing rights, writing earnings, or anything else you'd
like to discuss. Bring your QUESTIONS to this open
forum.
|
| mel
boring |
The Tuesday afternoon
"Open Forum" will begin promptly at 4 Atlantic/CANADA, 3 p.m.
Eastern, 2 p.m. Central, 1 p.m. Mountain, and noon Pacific. While
you wait for the "Open Forum" to start, feel free to use your ASK A
QUESTION button RIGHT BETWEEN THE YELLOW "MAP" AND THE RED QUESTION
MARK IN ICHAT to post some questions for the discussion
group.
|
| 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.
|
| 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 |
Hello, Chatsters! I've
just returned from taking my wife out for her birthday (it's
tomorrow) dinner...
|
| mel
boring |
and I'm rarin' to go
with questions!...
|
| mel
boring |
First of all, I have
these two follow-ups to questions from last
week:...
|
| mel
boring |
GDG: Here's my comment
to the question about ICL instructors from last week: I had one ICL
instructor and she urged me to start sending mss when I had reached
my fourth assignment; she also recommended me for the advanced
|
| basic course. I
guess it's subjective. But perhaps some "students" have stronger
writing skills from the beginning of the course and some develop
them with more help from the wonderfully helpful instructors at ICL.
The course is useful in helping us decide whether we are indeed cut
out for writing. It is not always the case, and we (ICL students)
should approach it without illusory hopes, but
realistically |
|
| mel
boring |
From izzy: I just
finished reading the open forum chat notes from 11/11 and noted that
a student asked for information on the book course. Well, I'm
enrolled in this book course and I just want to share. I'm on
assignment 2. It is very very very very hard, at least for me. But I
am learning about synopsis, character development, structure, theme,
plot, and a hole bunch of stuff...and it's only assignment 2. I have
a deadline and a whole lot of reading and a bunch of things on my
plate that I must do in order to keep this deadline. And I managed
to complete two freelance assignments at the same time and take a
nap. The important thing is that I am learning. My instructor, Rita
Ritchie, gave me some excellent advice in her letter to me from
Assignment 1. She hit on things I didn't realize about myself and my
work habits, and I was glad that I was so honest in my bio.
|
|
|
| fiction YA novel.
It is hard work. I am nervous and scared and I worry that what I am
doing will not work. I have no way of knowing if it will as I have
never ever done anything like this before in my life. And I am a
slow learner who must read and re-read the same instructions again
and again and again. Sometimes 4 times before it sinks into my
brain. But the important part is that I am learning. And I truly
believe that if I stick with it and if I eat my elephant one bite at
a time, I will master this recipe on how to write a book and
remember it for the next one and the one after that and the one
after that and that and that. |
|
|
|
| to be taken
lightly and it is not for everyone. Only a writer, with the help and
encouragement of her teacher, can decide. But I am glad I took the
plunge and will take it one day at a time |
|
| mel
boring |
We also have this
CELEBRATIONAL item from Patricia Weaver:...
|
| mel
boring |
From Patricia Weaver:
Doing a dance around the house. Went to the mailbox and there was a
contract from Abbey Press for the Friendship Doll idea and verse I
proposed over two years ago. I had no idea they had accepted it. I
had given them permission to hold it and to tell the truth I was
about to pull it back. Yea, yea, yea!
|
| mel
boring |
CONGRATULATIONS,
Patricia--and MANY HAPPY RETURNS!...
|
| mel
boring |
I also know that one of
our chatsters (whose initials are MBV (-:}) received some very good
news this past week, and perhaps she will share that with us via a
message later....
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| mollymeg |
And a celebration from
Molly Caldwell - and hon. mention
|
| mel
boring |
CONGRATULATIONS on that
honorable mention, Molly Caldwell!!! THANKS for sharing that with
us!
|
| izzy |
Happy Birthday, Mrs.
Boring!
|
| mel
boring |
THANK YOU, izzy, I'll
pass that on to Carol!
|
| grandy1983 |
Hi, Mel! Is it alright to
use real places, cities, street...
|
| grandy1983 |
....names in a story? I
want my story to be authentic by....
|
| grandy1983 |
....using real places and
town names.
|
| mel
boring |
You can certainly use
real cities and town names, grandy1983...
|
| mel
boring |
as long as you don't
put specific street ADDRESSES or NAMES at an address in
it....
|
| mel
boring |
By ALL means, it DOES
make a story or book authentic to mention real
places....
|
| mel
boring |
Check out novels that
do; it gives them a strong "sense of place," which is important in
fiction.
|
| remus |
Hello Mel. I haven't been
in the chatroom for a while. I hope I didn't miss too much (:-) I
was wondering about writing book series. When you have planned a
serie of books and a publisher is interested in this series, after
having read the first book, how detailed does the summary for the
other books has to be? Would the publisher request a summary for all
the other books at once? What if you haven't even plotted them out
yet?
|
| mel
boring |
WELCOME BACK, remus,
I've missed you!...
|
| mel
boring |
First of all, it's best
to let the idea for a SERIES come from the
editor/publisher....
|
| mel
boring |
The idea is to write a
STRONG first book, then either the editor will suggest a series
based on the selling strength of the first book,...
|
| mel
boring |
or YOU can suggest the
series then....
|
| mel
boring |
And the summaries for
the successive books of the series does not have to be as
detailed....
|
| mel
boring |
The idea then is that
the editor KNOW what the book will be like, having published the
first of the series....
|
| mel
boring |
Then you would
distinguish each new volume of the series in your summary, tell how
it will be the same, yet distinctive. And yes, the editor MIGHT want
a summary of all the books....
|
| mel
boring |
But if you tell the
editor they aren't all mapped out yet, s/he will understand, and
it's not a problem, remus.
|
| mel
boring |
Here's the report on
MB's GOOD news:...
|
| mbvoelker |
Thank you, Mel. My good
news was a rejection from Realms of Fantasy. It included a
handwritten note complimenting my style and my world and asking,
"Perhaps a different story in the same setting?" It happened that
the story I withdrew from Black Gate fit the bill so I put that in
the mailbox yesterday marked "requested
submission."
|
| mel
boring |
CONGRATULATIONS, Mary
Beth--that's a GIANT step toward publication!
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| mel
boring |
CC wonders: When I send
material to editors and it is rejected, I noticed that they send
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| not the cover
letter. Do they throw them away or file them for reference if the
writer submits more material, especially if they may have had an
interest in the material, but were just not able to use it at the
time |
|
| mel
boring |
CC, editors DON'T throw
away the cover letters....
|
| mel
boring |
They FILE them, as they
would any correspondence....
|
| mel
boring |
And they can refer back
to those cover letters if a writer says they submitted once at such
and such a date....
|
| mel
boring |
That's also why they
don't return the cover letter to you, but file it so they have a
record of your submission, even if they reject it. THANKS for
asking--GOOD question!
|
| mel
boring |
mollymeg, could you
share with us more information about your honorable mention, please?
Send it to me and I'll share it with all.
|
| katiebug |
I was wondering why some
magazines ask for your social
|
| katiebug |
security numbers on
submissions
|
| mel
boring |
GOOD question, too,
katiebug! And there is another similar question pre-submitted that
I'll share shortly....
|
| mel
boring |
They ask for your
Social Security number so they can be ready with it if they buy the
piece you submitted....
|
| mel
boring |
That is, they can just
zip it off to the payroll department without going back and asking
you for it, delaying things. But here's another related question,
katiebug:...
|
| mel
boring |
KM is asking: Why do
some magazines want our social security number on our submissions? I
feel a little uncomfortable doing that, but if there is a good
reason, maybe you could tell me.
|
| mel
boring |
They want your SS# to
speed up payment operations, as I mentioned....
|
| mel
boring |
BUT you don't have to
put it on your manuscript--and in fact I would recommend that you
DON'T put it on your ms....
|
| mel
boring |
Just be ready to ship
your SS# off to them when they accept your manuscript. That'll be in
PLENTY of time for payment....
|
| mel
boring |
And you might want to
PHONE your SS# in to them so it doesn't have to go through e-mail,
or even snailmail.
|
| remus |
When writing numbers, at
what point would you not spell them out anymore? You would write
"twenty-five" ? But would you write "two hundred and twenty-five" or
would you use the numbers in this case? What is the cut-off
number?
|
| mel
boring |
Here are the details
about mollymeg's MARVELOUS HONORABLE MENTION:...
|
| mollymeg |
My picture book text To
the dance hall, Y'all! got 15th
|
| mollymeg |
place in the 72nd annual
WD contest in the children's fict
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| mollymeg |
in the children's fiction
category
|
| mel
boring |
That IS marvelous news,
mollymeg--CONGRATULATIONS times a zillion!
|
| mel
boring |
dawgprint1 wants to
know: In Young Adult fiction is it possible to write books the kids
will read without putting in all that trash? Will a mild word
content sell?
|
| mel
boring |
YES, it IS possible,
and most often PREFERRED, dawgprint1....
|
| mel
boring |
You will find VERY FEW
trash words in the YA fiction from most publishing
houses....
|
| mel
boring |
First of all, they know
that many adults will censor trash, and they'd rather not fight that
battle....
|
| mel
boring |
But MOST of all, I
think publishers realize NON-trash is in just plain good
taste....
|
| mel
boring |
Read some of the YA
fiction, such as Gary Paulsen's, and you'll find it nearly
trashless....
|
| mel
boring |
Also, read other novels
from mainstream publishing houses, and you'll find they're pretty
clean, dawgprint1--so WRITE ON!
|
| mel
boring |
LW asks: I participated
in the forum on Thursday. Heather Delabre said she prefers to
receive cover letters if for no other reason than for her to get a
better idea of who you are. She doesn't want a summary of your
manuscript. She likes a list of pieces previously published
elsewhere. She also says she looks for typos mostly. Question: I
haven't been published. Would it make sense to even send a cover
letter to her?
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| a cover letter
with a summary of the manuscript with a copy of the manuscript? I
just don't know what I can say if I don't summarize my manuscripts
in a cover letter since I've never been published |
|
| mel
boring |
By the way, folks, my
question window seems to be down. I'll get it back up soon as I can.
This is a pre-submitted question....
|
| mel
boring |
LW, a cover letter,
even for Heather Delabre, shouldn't contain a summary of your
manuscript....
|
| mel
boring |
It SHOULD contain a
"teaser" for your manuscript....
|
| mel
boring |
That's not a summary,
but telling a little bit that will entice the editor--and ultimately
young readers--into reading the book....
|
| mel
boring |
Think of what you write
in a cover letter about your book as being copy on the dust
jacket....
|
| mel
boring |
The copy there is to
lure readers in, by telling them enough to get them in, but
certainly not a summary of the whole manuscript....
|
| mel
boring |
So YES, ALWAYS send a
cover letter to every editor. And Heather and other editors DO get
to know you that way....
|
| mel
boring |
They will see your
writing style, for one thing. AND I've never heard a comment like
the one Heather made about typos, but it makes GOOD
SENSE....
|
| mel
boring |
If there are no typos,
an editor knows you HAVE done all your homework in
rewriting!
|
| mel
boring |
P.S., LW: DON'T worry
about listing credits if you have none. Editors simply don't expect
credits. So, nothing published, nothing said. LET an editor THINK
you've been published! (-:}
|
| mel
boring |
Folks, my question
screen still isn't working, so I'm going to duck out for a
second--I'll BE RIGHT BACK!
|
| mel
boring |
I'm
back!...
|
| mel
boring |
and my question window
is back--THANKS for waiting!...
|
| rite
1 |
Are the B and the O
capitalized in Baltimore Oriole?
|
| mel
boring |
The "B" IS capitalized,
rite 1, but NOT the "o" in oriole....
|
| mel
boring |
It's because Baltimore
is a PROPER NOUN, but oriole is just "any old oriole."
(-:}
|
| mollymeg |
What do you do when
another writer "borrows" your idea?
|
| mel
boring |
BEST way to guard
against that, mollymeg, which doesn't happen very
often...
|
| mel
boring |
is to put the "c" in a
circle for "copyright," followed by your name and the
year...
|
| mel
boring |
in the UPPER RIGHT
corner of page 1 of each manuscript....
|
| mel
boring |
THEN, when you finish
the manuscript, MAIL a copy to yourself....
|
| mel
boring |
And DON'T OPEN IT when
it arrives....
|
| mel
boring |
The postmark will
establish the date....
|
| mel
boring |
and if it ever comes to
needing proof, someone else can open the envelop and see
it.
|
| remus |
What about using names of
famous toon characters. For exampled: Could I say, "He walked like
Donald Duck" or would I get into trouble from Disney for using
Donald Duck?
|
| mel
boring |
Yes you could get in
trouble with Disney, remus, because...
|
| mel
boring |
they have a FULL-TIME
cadre of lawyers who do NOTHING but track trademark violations. So
don't do it, and you don't really need to, I
think....
|
| mel
boring |
I would just say "He
walked like a duck"--and that would be close
enough....
|
| mel
boring |
Remember, you can give
the names of real-life towns and cities--they are not copyrighted or
trademarked....
|
| mel
boring |
But things like Donald
Duck and Mickey Mouse are trademarked, registered and protected from
copying.
|
| mel
boring |
I want to give you
something I promised the person last week who asked about learning
cartooning....
|
| mel
boring |
It's the name and
address of the CORRESPONDENCE art school where Charles Schultz
studied....
|
| mel
boring |
The address
is:...
|
| mel
boring |
Art Instruction
Schools
|
| mel
boring |
3309 Broadway Street
NE
|
| mel
boring |
Minneapolis MN
55413
|
| mel
boring |
Their Web address
is:...
|
| mel
boring |
www.artists-ais.com
|
| mel
boring |
They send you a talent
test to draw something, then you send it in,...
|
| mel
boring |
and they send you info
about their courses, some in cartooning.
|
| rite
1 |
Sentence: With that, they
broke out into roaring laughter.
|
| rite
1 |
Is that a good sentence?
Punctuation ok?
|
| mel
boring |
YES, rite 1, it IS a
good sentence, and the punctuation is OK!
|
| mel
boring |
It is a complete
sentence because it has a subject AND a verb.
|
| lizr |
What is the 'heirarchy'
of editors in publishing? is an associate editor like a beginner -
they haven't yet edited a book - so they are usually 'first readers'
and actually read the 'slush pile' or does an assistant editor do
that primarily?
|
| mel
boring |
GOOD QUESTION,
lizr!...
|
| mel
boring |
It is an ASSISTANT
EDITOR who is a "beginner."...
|
| mel
boring |
The title ASSOCIATE
EDITOR usually designates one of two or more editors who are
essentially equals, though they may have differing
responsibilities....
|
| mel
boring |
But ASSISTANT EDITORS
are a step WAY up from FIRST READERS, lizr....
|
| mel
boring |
The first readers are
likely to be recent college graduates taking on the "slush
pile."...
|
| mel
boring |
An Assistant Editor
works under a person usually called a Senior
Editor,...
|
| mel
boring |
and the Assistant
Editor does about everything a senior editor does, except for
decision making....
|
| mel
boring |
In many publishing
houses, there is someone ABOVE ALL the editors, and that person is
called the PUBLISHER, a title...
|
| mel
boring |
And a PUBLISHER is the
TOP of the hierarchy, except for the owners of the publishing house,
of course.
|
| mel
boring |
LBA wants to know: How
do I indicate an interviewee in the bibliography of sources? I have
2 e-mail interviews that I want to
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| bibliographic
sources. Can you please let me know how to do this? |
|
|
|
| company, e-mail
address, street address, phone no., fax |
|
| sure what to
include as info and how to set it up to |
|
|
|
| mel
boring |
Here is how an entry
for an E-MAIL interview would be given, LBA:...
|
| mel
boring |
Smith, Dr. George,
Curator of Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural Science, E-Mail
Interview, September 27-29, 2003.
|
| mel
boring |
You begin with the
person's name--last name first, and alphabetized in the
Bibliography....
|
| mel
boring |
Then you give their
position, the fact that it was via e-mail, and the date(s) of the
e-mail(s)....
|
| mel
boring |
Here is how you would
list an Internet Web site, from an ACTUAL
bibliography:...
|
| mel
boring |
http://www.westegg.com/einstein/ Lists MANY Einstein
biographies, plus articles about him. About 100 links to various
sites such as Princeton, NJ, plus scientific
information.
|
| mel
boring |
It gives the URL, then
something about it....
|
| mel
boring |
If you interview IN
PERSON, it would look like this:...
|
| mel
boring |
Jones, Helen, Private
Investigator, Interview in her office, November 5,
2003.
|
| mel
boring |
Of course, you would
have references to the data you received in the interview in the
body of your article or book.
|
| mel
boring |
Here's a chuckle from
izzy:...
|
| izzy |
my personal opinion is
that it is dangerous to volunteer my
|
| izzy |
ss
|
| izzy |
you can tell I'm from
NY
|
| mel
boring |
WhereEVER you're from,
izzy, it's not a good idea to volunteer your Social Security number.
Better to PHONE it in.
|
| t
green |
since you submit ms's
with your e-mail, why don't editors
|
| t
green |
just e-mail you with the
social security no. question?
|
| t
green |
or phone
you?
|
| mel
boring |
They WILL e-mail you or
phone you when the sale of your work comes about, t
green,...
|
| mel
boring |
and it's best to wait
till then. But DON'T send it via e-mail. Ask WHAT NUMBER you can
phone it on on!
|
| remus |
Mel, I was wondering what
to do with a rejection I got from Highlights. Ms. Robinson wrote me
personally and said that the topic is very good and the affection of
the characters is appealing but the end doesn't really make sense.
She also explained why and stated "Please try us again." Does that
mean I should rewrite the story and resubmit it or should I send
them a new story?
|
| dolly |
Hi Mel, I have good
news.. my book Pasquale's Journey
|
| dolly |
is now posted at
iUniverse
|
| mel
boring |
SORRY, got two things
at once there!....
|
| mel
boring |
I will get to remus'
question,...
|
| mel
boring |
but I want to say
CONGRATULATIONS to you dolly!!!
|
| mel
boring |
remus, about your
rejection from HIGHLIGHTS,...
|
| mel
boring |
Yes, DO REWRITE the
same story and fix the ending!...
|
| mel
boring |
That's a very cautious
"come again" from Marileta....
|
| mel
boring |
So get that SAME story
back to her right away with a fixed ending!
|
| mbvoelker |
I'd like to comment on
the SS# issue. Your SS# is the key to your identity. DH is a
salesman for a debt collection company and you wouldn't believe what
people can do and can find out if they have that number. IMO you
can't be too careful and can put the SS# on the contract, not the
manuscript. :-)
|
| mel
boring |
EVEN at the grocery
store, if your SS# is on your driver's license, keep that number
concealed. SS# fraud can happen ANYwhere! THANKS, mbvoelker--yes, we
should wait for the CONTRACT. They don't need your SS# until
THEN.
|
| noodle |
I'm new to writing and
already two stories that I've read to
|
| noodle |
my critics (my kiddos)
have been done before. I understand
|
| noodle |
there are only so many
stories, but I can't help but want to
|
| noodle |
quit the story I'm
writing. Comments, please? Thanks, Mel
|
| mel
boring |
I would follow your OWN
judgment and quit the story, noodle....
|
| mel
boring |
Because if you know
they've been "done before," editors will feel the same way. So quit
the story you're writing and do a FRESH story!
|
| mel
boring |
SC sent this question:
A few weeks ago mbvoelker made a suggestion that we do a Google
search on our own name. I did, and was surprised to find a poem of
mine on two websites that had not purchased any rights to publish
it, nor had I given them permission to use it. On both sites my name
appears on the poem. What would be the best way to approach this
matter? Can I request payment (or at least an
honorarium)?
|
| mel
boring |
The FIRST thing to do
is contact them, SC, and...
|
| mel
boring |
ask then HOW and WHY
they came to using YOUR poem without getting your
permission....
|
| mel
boring |
Then you can go from
there. If they say, oh, we're sorry, then you can ask them to ante
up whatever rate they pay any writer....
|
| mel
boring |
If they DON'T answer at
all--and this is more than possible--you may have to go further, by,
say, contacting a lawyer if you want to go in that deep. But first
contact them, and give them a chance.
|
| mel
boring |
thesnail has asked: I
sent my first manuscript to a magazine and the assistant editor sent
it back along with a note stating that she would read it again if I
would rewrite it as straight non-fiction (the first version was
written with fictional characters and surroundings). I rewrote it
and received a postcard from the assistant editor saying she gave it
to the senior editor of history and world culture to screen (I
thought at this point it made the first cut, and was sent to the
senior editor to check the facts). I eventually received the
manuscript back from the senior editor with a note for me to review
back issues for style, direction and tone. I did review past issues
prior to submitting, and paid special attention to the style and
tone. Why didn't the assistant editor reject it first if the tone
and style was not right for the magazine? Please give me your
opinion of the situation.
|
| mel
boring |
Because the ASSISTANT
Editor would not be as concerned about style and tone as the Senior
Editor, thesnail....
|
| mel
boring |
That is the AE knows
about it, and was made aware by you that you attended to it. But the
Senior Editor takes over then, and it's often like dealing with a
whole new publishing house. Don't let it stop you, just tell the
Senior Editor about your attendance to matters of tone and style.
And let us know when it's published, will you?
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| mel
boring |
joyfulsunrise asked us:
How does a writer handle accents, such as an Australian accent, when
the fact is crucial to the story, but indecipherable in
print?
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| mel
boring |
Very LIGHTLY,
joyfulsunrise, not as heavily as you think....
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| mel
boring |
For instance, just
something like, "What do you think of that, mate?" can give the
Australian flavor, and still be readable by every English-reading
child....
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| mel
boring |
And a few clipped
words, but not many. JUST GIVE A FLAVOR, like salt, sparingly, and
you'll come out jolly well!
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| mel
boring |
Pnkn294 sent this
question: On August 10, 2003, I sent a nonfiction piece, complete
with a bibliography, and directions for a party and craft to go
along with it, to KID ZONE. Checking back on everything, as far as I
can tell, I did everything correctly. They state that they will
respond within one month, but it has now been three and a half
months. Should I contact them and try to find out the status of my
work, or just blow it off? Can this be done by e-mail, or would
snail-mail be best?
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| mel
boring |
DON'T "blow it off,"
Pnkn294, DO follow it up NOW. If they dealt with you by e-mail,
e-mail them....
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| mel
boring |
If you worked with them
by snailmail, then snailmail them--but do it right
away!
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| mel
boring |
Betsy would like to
know: I received info about the ICL book writing course, but when I
called to find out what percentage of people who took the course
actually sold a book, they had no information. How can I tell
whether any course is worth the money?
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| mel
boring |
How many students
published books is a statistic not kept by ICL,
Betsy....
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| mel
boring |
It would take a lot of
time to track that. And I know from teaching the book course that
some of my students published,...
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| mel
boring |
who NEVER told me, but
I just ran across their books by accident....
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| mel
boring |
I suspect that if you
asked any correspondence school, like perhaps the WRITER'S DIGEST
school, they would answer the same way, that they don't keep track
of that number....
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| mel
boring |
The BEST way to find
out if the ICL course is worth it is to take it ON THEIR MONEY-BACK
GUARANTEE,...
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| mel
boring |
which I KNOW they stand
behind. THey will refund all or part of your payment, depending on
how much of the course you take. They are very GOOD about
that
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| mel
boring |
LDD wants to know: When
writing an historical Young Adult book is it okay to have a
two-sentence prologue? Or must I write it as a short chapter? It is
important for me to lead my reader to an historical event in a
different land.
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| mel
boring |
YES, just a
two-sentence prologue would be a prologue and not a chapter,
LDD....
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| mel
boring |
Any prologue should be
SHORT, is the rule of the day, and two sentences would be short,
indeed!
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| mel
boring |
ajay wrote to ask: In
Children's stories, what are the rules re titles of songs and names
of items such as he set his "Big Ben" alarm clock, and the radio
played "The Star Spangled Banner." Should quotation marks be used?
Italics? Is this used differently in children's books and adult
stories?
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| mel
boring |
As for songs, ajay, you
CAN use them, and in quotes....
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| mel
boring |
But for any product,
like Big Ben Clocks, you need to write the manufacturer and check
with them. THey PROBABLY will let you mention it, but they MIGHT
not.
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| mel
boring |
Catherine e-mailed this
question: I submitted a picture book manuscript to some book
publishers about a month ago and included a SASP to acknowledge
receipt. I received some back, but how long should I wait for the
others before I contact them to see if my manuscript was
received?
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| mel
boring |
IF you QUERIED those
publishers, and DIDN'T send the entire manuscript, you don't have to
wait at all, just go on querying to others....
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| mel
boring |
If you SUBMITTED the
manuscript instead of just querying, then do contact them and ask
about the status of your manuscript.
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| mel
boring |
GOODNESS, look at me,
I've gone overtime, way overtime! I must quit now. THANK YOU for
being here! See you next Tuesday at the next Open
Forum!
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