THE BEST OF 2005
We’re happy to offer you this free newsletter for writers. I’d appreciate your help in spreading the word, by nominating us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites of 2005.
Please send your nomination, along with our webname (A Cappela Publishing) and our URL ( http://www.acappela.com ) to: writersdig@fwpubs.com  Subject "101 Sites"
Send me a copy, please, at Acappub@aol.com . Thanks!


LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Are the dog days of summer putting you in a writing slump? Don’t let the heat ruin your momentum. Either crank up the air conditioning or go sit in a cool creek to get your creative juices flowing again. Best of all, renew your commitment by signing a contract with yourself that you will write every day, even if it’s only for 15 minutes. You won’t notice the loss of a quarter hour from your daily routine and those short writing increments will add up faster than you could imagine.
Here’s to summer breezes, ice cream, cool showers – and your writing success!
Patrika

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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 are some great new resources that will provide that much needed help:
Take the following 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, WP&M, Writing Coaching)
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

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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)


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
 

Media Contacts

HOW TO GET ON TV MAJOR NATIONAL SHOWS
Each requires a different approach. Here are some clues:

TODAY: Pitch ideas that are tied to a current news trend or recent event.

LIVE w/REGIS: Pitch your ideas on Monday or Tuesday rather than later in the week, since all show decisions are made at the beginning of the week – and you’ve got to be funny.
THE TONIGHT SHOW (Jay Leno) You have to do something off-the-wall or wacky to land on this show. Having a celebrity spokesperson for your product or service also helps.
LARRY KING LIVE; It’s difficult to get on this show if you’re not a celebrity, unless you’re very qualified to discuss something that’s in the news
GOOD MORNING AMERICA: Do something visual and use props. For example, the authors of a relationship book who talked on the air about common couples’ arguments brought a “Gripe Bag” containing a remote control, a checkbook, car keys and other to get on.
THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW: - The holy grail of publicity, Susan Harrow, author of The Ultimate Guide to Getting Booked on Oprah, suggests offering to solve a problem for Oprah Winfrey and her audience. Also, don’t pitch ideas during sweeps week or summer hiatus (they’re too busy concocting ratings-boosting blockbuster shows) and don’t suggest topics that involve sex, psychics or diets.


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    
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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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WRITING TIP

Why have others read/critique your work? Because every writer has her personal writing tics--mistakes (s)he makes over and over again. She doesn't see them because they've become habitual, and she doesn't truly realize they're wrong.

This is where a reading partner – another author who reviews your work in return for your review of his -- comes in handy. This person can become familiar with your writing style, including those quirks or tics, and will tend to spot them more readily than you would. Find yourself such a partner and listen to what he says.

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MARKETS

Two literary magazines:
~ Ploughshares (www.pshares.org) is a triquarterly magazine for "readers of serious contemporary literature." Often featuring some of the best writing in the literary world, the editor says, "Our mission is to present dynamic, contrasting views on what is valid and important in contemporary literature, and to discover and advance significant literary talent."

~ Tin House (www.tinhouse.com) is young, but it also has a high circulation and pays good rates.
So be warned: This is a competitive market--but also one interested in finding new voices. The editor says, "Our watchword is quality." Recent pieces include "End of the Line," a short story by Aimee Bender; "Dead Man's Wallet," a poem by Erik Campbell; and an interview with George
Saunders by James Schiff.

~ Write Words, Incorporated (http://www.ebooksonthe.net) is looking for submissions. They do both electronic and print.

Comedy sketches needed. Ex-pat comedy group Axarcomedy is seeking comedy sketches from writers around the world, submitted via the internet. Chosen sketches will be performed in the group's new monthly show, "Virtually Hilarious", on the Costa del Sol in 2005. The show will be recorded and a downloadable version will be available on the group's website, allowing writers to see their work performed, and the audience's reaction to it. Details: www.axarcomedy.com


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CONTESTS

(ongoing: no deadline), three issues per year. Writers -- submit the impossible -- stories of fiction, exactly 69 words long! Each issue we'll print the best of the lot, and it's up to our readers to choose the number one story."One random voter each contest issue will receive a prize plus a year's free subscription to NFG. Prize: $69 CN No entry fee: URL: http://nfg.ca/

Flash Fiction
(ongoing: no deadline) Brady Magazine is looking for original plot lines and stellar character development. 1000 words or less; any fiction genre. No violent, racist or otherwise offensive stories accepted. Entry fee $2, payable through PayPal. $5000 Annual Grand Prize. New & Previously Published Short Story Contests. $1000/500/250 prizes quarterly. 25 Stories published per issue http://www.Stonemarkpublishing.com/contests.cfm . See www.bradymagazine.com/contests/vol1iss10.lhtml


~ Deadline August 1st Best Private Eye Novel Contest. Private Eye Writes of America & St. Martin’s Press annual offer: for unpublished, book-length ms. In the Private Eye genre. Open to all authors who have not published a mystery novel. $10,000 advance on future royalties & publication by St. Artin’s Press. Guidelines for SASE. No entry fee. Contact Toni Plummer, www.stmartins.com
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WRITING Q&A

Q. How do I get published in major magazines?
A: If you don't have a stellar bio and great clips of former published articles, major magazine editors aren't likely to trust you with a long feature assignment right away. Instead, build your credibility by aiming for the short articles in the front of the magazine and stay on the lookout for appropriate ideas you can flesh out in a few hundred words or less. For truly short articles, you can skip the query and just write the entire thing if you prefer--it usually requires about the same amount of effort.


Wordplay

NEW WORDS FOR 2005: Essential additions for the workplace vocabulary but fun even if we no longer occupy that workplace.

BLAMESTORMING: Sitting around in a group, discussing why a deadline
was missed or a project failed and who was responsible.

SEAGULL MANAGER: A manager, who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps
on everything, then leaves.

ASSMOSIS: The process by which some people seem to absorb success and
advancement by kissing up to the boss rather than working hard.
 

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Quote of the Month

"The most ordinary word, when put into place, suddenly acquires brilliance. That is the brilliance with which your images must shine." -- Robert Bresson

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