A Cappela Newsletter for Writers                         Nov/Dec 2003

 

NEWS & VIEWS YOU CAN USE

Your monthly newsletter from Patrika, your Author’s Advocate™

Visit her, send an email, at www.acappela.com

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

 

NEW COLUMN: MEDIA CONTACTS

*Pat’s Picks

*Markets

*Contests

*Media Contacts

*Writing Q&A

*Wordplay

*Quote of the Month

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LET’S GET PERSONAL

I’ve been sending out this newsletter for years, assuming you were all very busy people who just wanted the info, not a lot of palaver — but hey, I’ve been missing the opportunity to talk to you.

I won’t take up much of your time, but from now on I will be starting each newsletter with a brief "note," letting you know what’s new around here. I’d like to hear from you, too, so if you’ve got a comment or question, email it to our Q&A and read your answers in this newsletter.

Send to: acappub@aol.com, Subject: Q&A. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Patrika

 

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR:

I can’t believe the holidays are almost here. Instead of the usual rush/rush, I’ve decided to celebrate this year’s holiday season by remembering all that I’m grateful for. My New Year’s Resolutions this year will be aimed at other wonderful things I want to draw into my life. One of these will be to devote more time to quality writing. That means I’m resolving to set aside more time for improving my craft.

Like me, you take your writing seriously, but have only so much time and money to spend on it. You know you have more to learn to become a published writer. Maybe you've taken a course or two, but you’re not yet ready to be one of the new voices in the new century.

My holiday gift to you is a special discount on classes, to help you get there. Receive a $5.00 discount on any of the any of A Cappela's classes, workshops and seminars. Click here for details: http://www.acappela.com/classes.htm

This offer is good for November and December only, so ACT NOW! (and with the Holidays coming, you might consider gifting the writers on your list with a class, or book. And don’t forget our audiobooks. Write Your Own Life Story is the perfect gift for parents or grandparents.)

 

 

SELF QUIZ ABOUT YOUR WRITING......

Here’s a little self-quiz to help you figure out just where you are, and to point you toward where you want to go. The links following each question will lead you to some answers. For more information, email me: acappub@aol.com

Where are you?

1) have an idea but haven’t written anything (link to WP&M, Consult; Writing Coaching)

2) got started, but bogged down (link to Classes, Writing Coaching, WP&M)

3) have first draft, but don’t know if it’s any good (link to Critique)

 

Where do you want to go?

1) improve my writing skills (WP&M, audiobooks, Classes)

2) edit what I’ve got into something publishable (Editing, Book Doctoring)

3) have a great piece of writing, and need to get it published (link to Stalking the Markets; Book Promotion; Self-Pub; Selling to Ims; eLitAgent)

 

DON’T MAIL THAT MANUSCRIPT

without a professional review from A Cappela

Before you mail out that manuscript or query, make sure it’s as polished and professional as possible. Send your work to A Cappela Publishing and get the specific tailored advice you need to get an extra edge on the competition — and make all your manuscripts more marketable.

After a thorough evaluation of your submission, one of our published, professional staff writers will give you detailed feedback and recommendations. You’ll learn what is and isn’t working in your writing, and how to fix it.

Your Critique includes:

 

*Genre-specific Advice: Whether your writing is a novel or a nonfiction book, an article or short story, a query letter or book proposal, you can be sure that your work will be evaluated by a pro who has personal experience with the same kind of writing.

 

*Grammar and Style Suggestions: Your personal reviewer will evaluate your writing to point out common grammatical, structural and stylistic mistakes — mistakes that can mean the difference between a rejection and a sale.

 

*Market Recommendations: If your manuscript is marketable as is, or with slight revision, you’ll get recommendations for marketing your work — including how to identify the publishers which buy your kind of writing.

For complete information, including submission guidelines and rates, visit

http://www.acappela.com/critiques.htm

*****

Writers! Protect your original work and important documents in minutes! Instantly establish the date and time-of-creation of all your files, including screenplays, proposals, Web pages, treatments, inventions, lyrics and ideas. Register and protect your original work online at ProtectRite.com. ($18.95 (US dollars) for 10-year registration)Go to: http://www.protectrite.com/default.asp?SessID=318256989&AffID=9jlw0RTAF8

Also:Writers Guild of America, West online Registration Service - for concepts, documentaries, manuscripts, lyrics, etc. ($20)

 

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TELL A FRIEND - Any writing friends who would be interested in this newsletter? Send them this link with your suggestion to sign up: http://www.acappela.com

 

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

This new column is for those of you looking for ways to get your writings reviewed, to get a radio or TV interview, or in some other way promote your writing.

1) Newsworthy writing:

Get it on ABC NEWS.COM Contact Edward Mazza, Producer, ABCNEWS.COM, 7 West 66th Street, New York, New York 10023

2) Get a review:

Cindy Schwalk, Magazine Editor, Bookclub Magazine, 55 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

3) Land an interview:

Contact Carol Story, Planning Producer, CBS, The Early Show, 524 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10112

*****

 

PAT’S PICKS:

 

What's the biggest mistake new writers make?

I can’t do better than to quote Marcela Landres of Simon & Schuster, who recently had this to say to anyone who wants to publish a book: "The number one mistake most writers make, even published ones, is thinking that their only job is to be the best writer they can, and that everything else--the boring marketing/publicity/sales part--is the publisher's job. Writers who think this way tend to be either unpublished or unhappily published because they are abdicating responsibility for their own success."

Need to know about marketing/publicity/sales? Try the online course, Book Promotion, at www.acappela.com/classes.htm

How to Become an EXPERT in Your Field

Write a book! Here’s why:

* Authoring a book will help you gain instant credibility and differentiates you from your competition.

* People will listen to you and respect you because a book proclaims you as an expert.

* Your book will introduce you to new, more affluent clients.

* It will open the door for interviews on radio, TV and in newspapers, and a book review gives you FREE advertising.

Need help writing your book? See http://www.acappela.com/AH.htm

_____

Writing and Selling Your First Book? If you've ever dreamed of writing a book, now is the time to start. With Write Publish & Market Your Book (www.acappela.com/books.htm) you'll get all the information you need to get started, as well as learn what to do when you're finished writing!

Here's a peek inside: * Discover 10 easy ways to get past writer’s block * Learn the nuts and bolts of writing your opening

* Find out how to pace your novel like a pro * Get the inside scoop on what editors really want * Discover 25 tips for publishing success * And of course, pages and pages of information on how to choose the markets that are best for you!

****

 

Donate $5 to the A Cappela Newsletter for Writers and receive a free copy of the e-book, The Manual of Book Signings and Other Promotional Techniques****

Your donation helps in keeping this publication free for all writers!

click here to Donate
and receive your FREE eBook

 

 

 

*****

MARKETS

Nonfiction

~Ephemera Needs: Fresh, interesting, original satirical slogans about pop culture, current events and political causes, job attitudes, coffee, food, aging, etc. Pays $50 per slogan. Slogans are then used on novelty buttons, magnets, and stickers. The editors say, "Ephemera has a reputation for coming up with the most irreverent, provocative, and outrageously funny material on the market. We encourage you to be as weird, twisted, or rude as you like. We want humor that makes us laugh out loud." mail@ephemera-inc.com. www.ephemera-inc.com.

 

 

~Family Fun. Pay: $1-$1.25/word. Guidelines:http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/guidelines.doc

 

 

~Good Old Days (www.goodolddaysonline.com) is a monthly magazine of first-person nostalgia, 1935-1960. Looking for strong narratives showing life as it was in the first half of the 20th century. Readership: nostalgia buffs, history enthusiasts, people who lived and grew up in this era. Pay: $15-$75. Guidelines: http://www.goodolddaysonline.com/pages/magazineinfo.html Submit manuscripts to Ken@GoodOldDays.com

 

Fiction/Poetry

~Dreams and Visions Needs: Metafiction, science fiction, humor, fantasy, magic realism, as well as stories of a contemporary or inspirational nature. Pay: $0.01 per word. Guidelines: ~Fate Magazine Needs: True reports of the strange and unknown, mystical experiences and book reviews Pay: $0.10 per word; pays after publication.

~GreenPrints Needs: Articles about the human side of gardening -- joy, humor, frustration Pay: up to $100. Guidelines: http://greenprints.com/wguidelines.html

~Home Cooking Magazine Needs: Recipes and articles for its "Kitchen Know-How," "Pinch of Sage" and "Tidbits" departments. Pay: $20-$300; pays within 45 days after receipt of contract Guidelines: http://www.homecookingmagazine.com

book publisher who accept poetry: Oolichan Books hails from Canada and was established in 1974. They pay royalty on retail price, and "are one of the few small literary presses in Canada that still publishes poetry. We try to include 2 or 3 poetry titles each year. We try to balance our list between emerging and established poets." Recent titles include Love Songs for a Tender God, by Hiro Boga, and Riverbook & Ocean, by W.H. New. oolichan@island.net www.oolichan.com

*****

 

CONTESTS

 

Fiction/Nonfiction

~Deadline November 14th - WriteSpot Publishers’ Spring 2003 Short Story Competition. Open to any age group, on any topic, as long as the manuscript is less than 5,000 words. First-, second- and third- place receive $750, $250 and $100 relatively. The editor's choice winner receives $50 and there's a Young Achiever's prize (under 18) of $50. Entry fees: $8 single entry, two for $12 or $5 each for three or more (if submitted together). For more details: frontdesk@writersspot.com

 

~Deadline November 30th - Christian Essay Writing Contest No entry fee, or length requirements. Five winning essays will be chosen for publication on our website for a finite period of time, with each winning writer receiving a cash award of $50. Submit a maximum of three essays.

 

 

~Deadline November 30 - Nob Hill Branch - Soul-Making Literary Competition Entry fee: $5. Details: http://www.soulmakingcontest.us ~Deadline December 1st - George Bennett Fellowship offers a $10,000 stipend, room and board to a writer not yet published by a major publisher. The annual award is designed for the Fellow and family "to provide time and freedom from material considerations to a person seriously contemplating or pursuing a career as a writer." No entry fee,

Phillips Exeter Academy 20 Main St., Exeter, NH 03833-2460. Website: 

Deadline December 1st -Phoebe Winter Fiction Contest. Entries should include one story, not to exceed twenty-five pages. Novel excerpts and non-fiction will not knowingly be considered. All entries should include a cover letter with name, address, the title of the story to be considered, and a brief biography. Your name and address should not appear anywhere on the story. Entry fee: $12; make check payable to "Phoebe/GMU"Prize: $1,000 + Publication in the Fall issue of Phoebe Send entries to: Phoebe Winter Fiction Contest, Phoebe MSN 2D6, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax VA 22030.

 

~Deadline December 1st - Writer’s Digest 4th Annual Short Story Compeittion Looking for ficiton that’s bold, brilliant and brief (1,500 words or less). Prizes: $2,000, $1,000, $500 and $100. Entry fee $10 per ms.Details: http

 

~Deadline December 15 - Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards. Grand Prize of $2,500, plus promo and marketing advice, plus reviews. Nine 1st-place winners: $500 and promo in Writer’s Digest. Fees: $100 first entry, $50 additional entries. See www.writersdigest.com for details.

~Deadline December 31 - National Writers Association Nonfiction Contest is offered annually "to encourage writers in this creative form and to recognize those who excel in nonfiction writing." 1st place winner receives $200.Contact: Sandy Whelchel, director, sandywrter@aol.com

 

~Deadline: January 1, 2004-Brick & Mortar Review Biannual Poetry Contest Entry fee: $5 Details: http://www.bmreview.com

 

*****

Writing Q&A Q: Are there any opportunities for teen poets to begin publishing; and if so where do I begin? A: Today more than ever, anybody can get published. It just takes a little elbow grease. Begin by publishing an eBook and then maybe a Print on Demand book of your poetry. The eBook will cost nothing and Print on Demand is usually very reasonable. Then you might consider entering some local poetry contests through local libraries and even getting printed in some anthologies. You’ll find contests listed in Writer’s Market and Literary MarketPlace, and through search engines.


*****

Wordplay

Here’s another website of interest for all you wordophiles:

http://aspell.sourceforge.net/suggest/ - The Web site goal is to help out all the bad spellers on the Net by doing a really good job of coming up with suggestions for misspelled words.

1 -. Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.

2 -Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent

3 - Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.

4 . Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.


*****

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart." -- Maya Angelou

*****

Don’t forget to send in your suggestions, feedback and your writing questions. And check out the writing resources page at http://www.acappela.com

Happy holidays to you, and a successful and satisfying 2004!

                                                  Patrika

TELL A FRIEND - Any writing friends who would be interested in this newsletter? Send them this link with your suggestion to sign up: http://www.acappela.com

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