A Cappela Newsletter for Writers              Holiday Issue, 2004


NEWS & VIEWS YOU CAN USE

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

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


Recipient of the
Certificate of Merit
Writer’s Digest
2001 Zine Publishing Competition


IN THIS ISSUE:

*Writing Tip
*Letters to the Editor
*Pat’s Picks
*Writing Tip
*Markets
*Contests
*Media Contacts
*Writing Q&A
*Wordplay   
*Quote of the Month

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 I’d like to hear from you, 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

 

Here’s one that just came in: Thanks Patrika,the book I've been working for 3 years on comes out in the spring 2005. ...all of your info and newsletters have been very helpful..thanks so much, Vicki

HAVE YOU BEEN FORWARDED THIS E-ZINE? Subscribe to your own address now by

 

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

 It's easy to get caught up in the festivities surrounding Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, and football bowls galore, but remember that your writing deserves just as much attention. While others are celebrating the holidays, take advantage of some of that spare time to work on your writing.

Persistence is the key. Even half an hour each day will add up to completed works before you know it! And while you’re in the holiday mood, don’t forget to gift yourself and your wiritng friends with tools to improve their craft. These are gifts that last all year long and, since many of them can be ordered online, you could convert those shopping hours into hours for writing! Our holiday gift to you is a 10% discount on any of our books, audiobooks, tapes, CDs or online classes. Just mention this newsletter when you order, at www.acapela.com

Happy Holidays to you, from me and the entire staff at A Cappela.

                                                                                                            Patrika


Forget the ties and slippers - give the gift that lasts all year long!

10% off any of our books, audiobooks, tapes, CDs or online classes (Gift Certificates available)


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NEED HELP GETTING PUBLISHED?For many writers, writing is the easiest part of getting
published. After all, writers love writing, and they love words. But when it comes to the business of the publishing industry, they often need a hand. Here’s a great new resources that will provide that much needed help:www.elitagent.com

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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 (How To Write Publish & Market Your Book - Classes - Audio Books)

2) got started, but bogged down (Stalking The Markets  - Book Promotion - International Markets -  
                                                    eLitAgent - Self-publishing)

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

Where do you want to go?

1) improve my writing skills (How To Write Publish & Market Your Book - Classes - Audio Books)

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

3) have a great piece of writing, and need to get it published (Stalking The Markets  - Book Promotion - International Markets -  eLitAgent - Self-publishing)

 

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DON’T MAIL THAT MANUSCRIPT without a professional review.

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

 

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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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This newsletter is sent by subscription only. Please pass this newsletter along to people you feel may benefit by this information. This issue has been sent out to 520 writers. Won't you help this ezine grow? Tell your friends to subscribe at 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) Get Your Book Reviewed
Fritz Lanham, Books Editor

Houston Chronicle

801 Texas Avenue

Houston, TX 77002

fritz.lanham@chron.com

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2) Get Mentioned in Print

Hardy Green, Books Editor

Business Week  
1221 Avenue of the Americas  
New York, NY 10020                                                                                                                         

 

3) Get Interviewed
Robin Hommel, Producer 
Montel Williams Show 
433 W 53rd Street 
New York, NY 16019                                                                                                                         

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PAT’S PICKS:

Christmas Gifts for Mom and Dad:

Always wanted to know more about that uncle who ran away from home? About Mom’s boyfriend before she and Dad got together? About where you lived when you were first born?

Have them write their life stories! With the help of How to Write Your Own Life Story (or Your Family’s Saga, they can do it - even if they’ve never written before. www.acappela.com/writeown.htm (And don’t forget your 10% holiday discount. Just mention this newsletter when you order.)

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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

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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 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!

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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!                                                                                                    


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WRITING TIP

 

I try to get in half an hour on my exercise bike each day and find this is a great time to work on my writing. With my hands on the handlebars and my eyes closed, I think about what I’m working on. Being in motion seems to free up my mind: ideas flow. Usually I jot down these ideas at the end of the session, but if it’s something really good, I stop and make a note as it comes to me. Then I get back on the bike and continue riding and thinking.

 

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MARKETS

NEW MARKETS :

 *The journal "fresh boiled peanuts" is looking for stories, poems, essays, creative nonfiction, cartoons, comics, photos and more for our inaugural issue in fall 2004.
Send your submissions and SASE to "fresh boiled peanuts," P.O. Box 43194, Cincinnati, OH 45243-0194. E-mail us at:contact@freshboiledpeanuts.com. Or check it out online:

 

* Citizen Culture: magazine for new writers launched: Aimed at "the young intellectual," the new magazine aims to publish work by up-and-coming writers. Jonathon Scott Feit, editor-in-chief.

 

* Ghost!: paranormal magazine launches: Based on the website, www.ghostmag.com, Ghost! is a quarterly print publication for paranormal enthusiasts.

_______________________

Book publishers who accept horror novels


Ad Lib Books, LLC, publishes 12 titles a year. Established in 2004, this publisher is very open to new and emerging writers, and pays 7% royalty on wholesale price. The editors prefer writers to query with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.(info@adlibbooks.com)


Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc., publishes 208 romance titles a year--95% from unagented writers. This publisher of trade paperback and electronic originals and reprints pays 8-40% royalty on net receipts. Horror novels must have erotic content. Recent titles include Forever Midnight, by
Elizabeth Jewell, and Vampire Mythe, by Shiloh Walker. (Submissions@ellorascave.com)


Leisure Books publishes 240 titles a year. Leisure publishes mass market paperback originals and reprints, including romance, western, horror, young adult, chick lit, and thriller. The editors say, "Horrors and westerns are growing." Recent titles include The Devil in Gray, by Graham
Masterton, and Hallows Eve, by Al Sarrantonio.


Medallion Press, Inc., publishes 30 titles a year--80% from first-time authors. This publisher pays 6-8% royalty and offers an advance. The editors say their, "audience is general mainstream adults and young adults." Recent titles include Disconnection, by Erin Samiloglu, and Breeding Evil,
by Liz Wolfe


Nonfiction

“Small Miracles” the national best-selling series, is seeking stories for its 6th volume, “Small Miracles for Families: Extraordinary Coincidences that Reaffirm our Deepest Ties.” Stories should be true, original, previously unpublished, and contain an inspiring magical or heartwarming coincidence that affects at elast two family members (i.e., parent/child, siblings, in-laws, grandparent/grandchild, cousins, etc.) Stories should be 2-10 pages in length. Payment is $50-$100, depending on length. Strongly advised that you familiarize yourself with at least one Small Miracles book before submitting stories so that you understand our concept, style and format.Submit to YMYE@aol.com. Yitta Halberstam, co-author.

 

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CONTESTS 

Deadline November 30th. Mary Roberts Rinehart Fund is offered annually for authors "who, in order to finish projected work, need financial assistance otherwise unavailable." There are 3 grants awarded at $2,000 each. English Department, MSN 3E4, George Mason University, Fairfax VA 22030-4444. Phone (703)993-1180 E-Mail writing@gmu.edu                                      Website: www.gmu.edu/departments/writing/rinehart.htm    
                                                                

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: www.exeter.edu


Deadline December 31st. Steve Manchester, screenwriter, poet and author of the Rockin' Chair, www.jacobevans.com, is soliciting entries for a poetry anthology, Whispers of Inspiration.            
Submitted poems (up to 60 lines) should cover such topics as birth, death and all the human wonders experienced in between: Love, Faith, Grieving, Hope, Acceptance. The ultimate goal is to gather the finest voices in one collection of modern American poetry. Send your finest poetry in the body of an e-mail (NO ATTACHMENTS) to Paula1271@comcast.net (One poem per email, please.) Also include your contact information and a brief author bio (no more than 50 words).                                                                                                                          
Upon publication with The Sun Rising Poetry Press, selected contributions will be compensated commensurate with that deal. The press is interested in first rights, worldwide and does not want    previously published material or simultaneous submissions. You will be free to republish your contribution, in English, elsewhere in the future, but the press will retain rights for any and all future printings and translations of the collection


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

 

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WRITING Q&A

 

Q: HOW IMPORTANT IS PERFECT GRAMMAR?

A: Forget what your ancient high school textbook told you about sentence structure, such as never beginning a sentence with 'and' or 'but.' People do it all the time in conversation, and written English has always tended to follow the lead of popular discourse. To follow outdated rules is to appear stilted and old-fashioned - which is fine if you're writing an epistolary novel set in 17th C. London. But otherwise you'll come off as a prig. And no one has ever explained to anyone's satisfaction why the rule was drafted in the first place.

 

*****


WORDPLAY

Once again, The Washington Post’s contest winners who supplied alternate meanings for various words:
 

Esplanade (v.) to attempt an explanation while drunk.

 

Willy-nilly (adj.) Impotent.

 

Negligent (adj.) Describes a condition in which you absent-mindedly answer the door in your nightgown.

*****

Quote of the Month
 

“ A book must be the ax for the frozen sea within us,” Frankz Kafka

 

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

                                                                                                Patrika

 

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