A Cappela Newsletter for Writers July/August 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
IN THIS ISSUE:
NEW COLUMN:WRITING TIP
NEW COLUMN: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
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
We're already halfway through this year. How close are you to achieving your
writing goals? As a writer, it's important to set goals and work toward them
everyday. If you have trouble doing this, try making a contract with yourself.
Write down what you are working on; how much time each day you can devote to
this writing (even 15 minutes will work, if you’re consistent about it); the
time of day (i.e., from 9:00 am to 10:00 am) you’ll do it – and then tell family
and friends that you won’t be available during that period of time. Try it: it
works!
Patrika
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 (WP&M,
Consult; Writing Coaching)
2) got started, but bogged down (Classes,
Writing Coaching,
WP&M)
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 (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 (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)
.
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 560 writers. Won't you help this ezine grow? Tell your friends to subscribe
at http://www.acappela.com
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
John Phelps, Reporter Book Review International 1946 S. Barrington Avenue Los
Angeles, ca 90025 P (310)445-1105 john@mymediachannel.com
2) Get Mentioned in Print
Thom Geier, Senior Editor Entertainment Weekly 1675 Broadway New York, Ny 10019
fritz.lanham@chron.com 3) Get Interviewed on NPR
Larry Mantle, Host/executive Producer KPCC-FM (NPR) 1570 E Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, Ca 91106
PAT’S PICKS:
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 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!
*****
WRITING TIP
Stick to your point of view (POV). If your Main Character is narrating the
story, don’t then tell readers something that character doesn’t know (which
would be shifting to Omniscient Narrator).
Never ever narrate information that is outside the knowledge of your narrator.
(For more on this, see the online class, Seven Common Writing Problems (www.acappela.com/problems)
MARKETS
Book Publishers
Arte Publico Press (www.arte.uh.edu) University of Houston, 452 Cullen,
Performance Hall, Houston TX. . Publishes hardcover originals and reprints.
Needs: Ethnic, literary, mainstream/contemporary. Lark, Sterling Publishing (www.larkbooks.com)
67 Broadway, Asheville NC 28801.. Publishes hardcover and trade paperback
originals and reprints. Needs: Children's/juvenile, coffee table book, how-to,
illustrated book.
Magazines ~Quintessence (http://quintessence-encouraginggreatwriting.com) a new
literary magazine focused on sharing diverse voices and the beauty of the
written word. Needs: flash fiction (under 1000 words); short stories (under
10000 words); essays (under 3,000 words); poems (under 250 lines); screenplays
(the first 10ish pages). Phone: 805-482-7389. 277 E. Loop Drive
Camarillo, CA 93012. Email submissions OK: info@quintessence-encouraginggreatwriting.com
~Student Bylines ( http://www.studentbylines.com) Teen lit mag prints all kinds
of artwork and writing by students 13-19 years old. Our next deadline is coming
up soon. We offer a free critique service. We are also looking for volunteers
for various tasks: spreading the word on Student Bylines, helping to critique
work , soliciting submissions, etc. For more information email Seth@studentbylines.com
or visit our website:
Newsletters/Websites
~Penny Pinching Moms ( http://pennypinchingmoms.com) a website and weekly
newsletter of interest to frugal moms. Offers info on freebies, coupons,
contests & bargains. Guidelines:
http://pennypinchingmoms.com/guidelines.html or 6440 S. Kimberlee Way
Chandler, AZ 85249. Phone:480-664-0147. Email: owner@pennypinchingmoms.com
*****
CONTESTS
Scripts
Deadline Oct. 30th 9th Annual Fade In awards: scripts and short stories: comedy,
action/adventure/triller, drama, film noir, family. Grand price: iMac computer.
Ist, 2nd, 3rd, each category: $750, $500, $250. Www.fadeinonline.com/contests
Poetry Deadline September 1st Free Lunch will award a $200 prize to the best
poem on the subject of Italian cuisine to appear in Free Lunch during 2004. How
about a pasta, pizza or primavera poem? Submit up to four poems with a SASE. No
entry fee. Translations not eligible. Mark submission envelope “Contest Poem.”
Send to: Free Lunch, PO Box 717, Genview, IL 60025-0717
Fiction/Nonfiction
Writer’s Digest monthly Chronicles contest.Guidelines online at:
http://www.writersdigest.com/contests/your_chronicle_display.asp
2004 SPUR AWARDS Since 1953, the nonprofit Western Writers of America has
promoted and honored the best in Western literature with the annual Spur Awards.
Awards are for material published last year, and are given for works best
representing the reality and spirit of the American West. For more information:
http://www.westernwriters.org.
Deadline July 30th The Santa Fe Writers Project’s 2004 Literary Awards Program.
Prizes total $6000 and feature spots on the online journal. The judge is
award-winning author Richard Currey. Visit http://www.sfwp.com or email
submissions@sfwp.com to learn more!
Deadline August 30th Skyline Magazine Short Story Contest. Cash prizes & print
publication. $10 entry fee. Details: www.skylinemagazines.com
Deadline August 31st Faith-based, nonfiction writing contest titled "What's in
Your Head?"
Judges will select the top five entries: Grand prize is $1,000 cash and a trip
to the Zondervan headquarters to discuss publishing the submission; one
runner-up will receive $500 cash and $100 in free Zondervan products; and third,
fourth and fifth places will receive $100 in free Zondervan products. Entries
must be 50,000-75,000 words, original, unpublished work that has not been
accepted by any other publisher at the time of submission. Contest rules and
guidelines :
www.WhatsInYourHead.com.
Deadline Sept. 1st Larnette Phillips is sponsoring two contests for submissions
to the books Women and Success (a book about and for women--their stories of
pain, triumph, overcoming adversity & obstacles) and Dogwood Days (a collection
of short stories about yesterday, Christmases past, childhood memories, family
values & tradition). $10.00 fee per entry. Guidelines& price information:
KatieBrewer2004@hotmail.com. Subject: "Submission Guidelines Request" State name
of the contest you are requesting guidelines for.
*****
WRITING Q&A
Q: Can I get sued for using real people in my fiction?. A: Remember that anybody
can file a lawsuit. In order for a suit to be won, however, proof must be
presented that the author somehow harmed the person bringing suit. You can get
sued for what’s called invasion of privacy --the disclosure of a private fact
about a living, identifiable person, which is offensive or embarrassing.
Unfortunately, the law does not provide a clear-cut definition of 'offensive,'
so use common sense. Would your best friend or co-worker be offended by the
facts you want to publish? Celebrities are usually fair game, in that they are
considered to be, to some extent, “public property.” To avoid an invasion of
privacy suit, stick to using facts commonly known or available in public
records, and/or of legitimate public concern. Think twice before disclosing
matters that might be highly embarrassing, especially about private citizens.
*****
Wordplay
Once again, The Washington Post published its yearly
contest in which readers
are asked to supply alternate meanings for various
words. And the winners
are...
1. Coffee (n.), a person who is coughed upon.
2. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much
weight you have gained.
3. Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having
a flat stomach.
Quote of the Month
"A writer writes not because he is educated but because he is driven by the need
to communicate. Behind the need to communicate is the need to share. Behind the
need to share is the need to be understood. The writer wants to be understood
much more than he wants to be respected or praised or even loved. And that
perhaps, is what makes him different from others." -- Leo Rosten
"I think to understand an idea you have to wade in, write your way through it,
and throw away big hunks until you get it right. ... I think of a story not as a
part of myself on a page, but as a thing that can be better or worse depending
on what I do to it. I really do think of it as a thing to be shaped, made, and
perfected." --Lee Smith, author of ME AND MY BABY VIEW THE ECLIPSE
"Writing fiction has developed in me an abiding respect for the unknown in a
human lifetime and a sense of where to look for the threads, how to follow, how
to connect, find in the thick of the tangle what clear line persists." -- Eudora
Welty
“A book must be the ax for the frozen sea within us.” Franz Kafka
"The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes." --Agatha
Christie
"Poetry is like fish. If it's fresh, it's good; if it's stale, it's bad; and if
you're not certain, try it on the cat." - Osbert Sitwell
"Creativity is allowing oneself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to
keep." --Scott Adams, The Dilbert Principle
"There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately,no one knows what they
are." --W. Somerset Maugham
"The most ordinary word, when put into place, suddenly acquires brilliance. That
is the brilliance with which your images must shine." -- Robert Bresson
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