LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Getting published is about more than being a great writer. Every author, whether self-published or published by an existing publishing house, needs to promote his/her book. If your goal is to see your work commercially published, you need to know how to approach editors and agents -- professionally and effectively. Even experienced writers agree that marketing your work may be the most
difficult writing you'll ever have to do. That's why A Cappela Publishing ( http://www.acappela.com )
offers four courses to help you present your work in the best possible light -- and make sure it catches an editor's or agent's eye! In each, you'll get individualized feedback from a published,

 professional author. Check them out at www.acappela.com/classes.htm

Here’s an innovative marketing idea I ran across last month that I want to share with you:

Kat Martin's publisher, Mira Books, is sponsoring a contest in celebration of her new book, THE DEVIL'S NECKLACE, and the grand prize is an $8,000.00 custom made Fortunoff pearl necklace very much like the one described in the novel! The details on how to enter are in the back of THE DEVIL'S NECKLACE and should be available at http://www.mirabooks.com and

 http://www.fortunoff.com

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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)


NEED HELP GETTING PUBLISHED?

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

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.

Get an Agent

For nonfiction books about popular culture: Richard Curtis Associates, Inc., represents more than 100 clients. While most of this agency's writers are well established, it does accept some new writers each year. If accepted, Curtis is one of the leading author advocates in the publishing industry--selling more than 150 titles in the past year.

Get Reviewed

National newspaper contacts are available at: http://www.pubinsider.com/

Get Interviewed

Have a newsworthy book? Contact Newsweek, 252 W. 57^th St., New York, New York 10019. Phone (212)445-4000 x 212-445-5068

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PAT’S PICKS:

Authors share their book marketing expertise with web visitors – free

The book industry reports that 78% of the titles published come from small/self-publishers. With combined annual revenues of less than $50 million, these publishers have limited publicity budgets and their authors are expected to do their own promotion. Where can they turn and learn? Now authors with books to promote may ask questions of nearly 150 author experts whose specialties run the gamut from romance to foot surgery. The “Ask the Experts” link is on the left side of Maureen’s Moonspinners Writer’s Page, http://www.maureenmcmahon.com . Once at the Expert Site, visitors may ask a book marketing question of any of the experts. Responses will be emailed back to the inquirer within 3-5 working days.

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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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WRITING TIP

How to grab an editor’s attention in 10 seconds or less:

Editors are busy people, who receive hundreds of emails and letters each day. You have to get their attention FAST if you want your manuscript to be considered. So start your query/proposal with a grabber...something that will get an editor’s attention in that very first sentence. Is your story about a serial killer? Consider opening your letter with “I’m not a serial killer by my main character is.” Writing something historical? Try “The past is screaming in our ears, pointing the way to the future.” You get the idea.

Follow up this attention-grabber opening sentence with a brief description of your work (one paragraph), then give a very brief bio telling why you are the best person to write this. Try out several opening sentences, finding one that sets the best tone for introducing your work.

MARKETS

For Young Writers:

Stone Soup “The New Yorker of the 8-to-11 set.” Budding writers and artists are invited to send their best work to this beautiful literary magazine by children. Stories, poems, book reviews, artwork. www.stonesoup.com

Teen Voices Written by and for teen women: analysis of pressing social issues, women’s perspectives; guidance for surviving adolescence. www.teenvoices.com

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firstwritermagazine accepts stories of up to 3000 words in any genre or style, and on any subject. Only one story may be submitted per issue.

 Apex Science Fiction Digest & Horror Quarterly magazine for science fiction & horror
http://www.writerswrite.net/pubdisp.cfm?market=119489789

- Mother Devoted is a bi-monthly publication for Christian mothers.
http://www.writerswrite.net/pubdisp.cfm?market=917555308
http://www.writerswrite.net/pubdisp.cfm?market=211

- Orion is a forum for thoughtful and creative ideas and practical examples of how we might live justly, wisely, and artfully on Earth.http://www.writerswrite.net/pubdisp.cfm?market=120

~School Arts Magazine Monthly serving the arts and craft education profession, this magazine accepts nonfiction manuscripts of 600 to 1,400 words. Topics include articles on art and craft activities in schools.

~Quality Digest A monthly coverig quality improvements, this magazine accepts nonfiction manuscripts of 800 to 3,000 words. Topics and forms include book excrpts, how-to, interview/profile and opinions.

~Spanish Speaking writer needed Spanish speaking writer-scriptwriter-translator required to translate screenplay from English to Spanish. This is for initial contacting and getting to know you first. Scriptscriber@hotmail.com

~Portal Publications bought 100 ideas last year. Established in 1954, 25% of this company’s cards are freelance written. Portal pays on publication and also creates calendars and posters. Wants “upscale, cute, alternative, humorous cards for bookstores, card stores, chain stores and college bookstores.”

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