A Cappela Publishing How To Write and Get Published

A Cappela Newsletter for Writers January/February 2006

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:

*The Editor’s View         Think outside the box
*Pat’s Picks                     Increase your distribution
*Writing Tip                      Timing your magazine submissions
*Markets                           Love is in the air!
*Contests                         Fifteen contests this month!
*Media Contacts             Get reviewed; interviewed. Promote your book.
*Writing Q&A                   Watch what you quote from emails!
*Wordplay                        New words for 2006
*Quote of the Month        Insults by the masters

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Please consider nominating Acapppela.com for Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites of 2006. If you like this site, its newslettter or any of it's products, send comments/nominations to:
E-mail: writersdig@fwpubs.com with "101 Sites" in the subject line

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

It’s a new year and time for a new outlook on marketing what you write. With that in mind, I’d like to share with you how Joan S. Isom ( http://www.jsisom.com) Managed to think outside the box and increase her book sales.

When her book about van Gogh for young readers, The First Starry Night (Whispering Coyote 1998), was published, Joan did the usual book signings and readings, but then thought of something else that helped market the book:

“Researching via the Internet for galleries and museums that were exhibiting van Gogh's work or planning to do so, Joan sent emails to the gift shops and suggested that they include her book on their children's book tables.

Many responded positively, in the U.S. and in Europe. Later, Charlesbridge Books, a larger, more established company, purchased Whispering Coyote, but Joan knew she couldn’t rely on the publisher alone to publicize her book. The First Starry Night is now available in paperback and has been translated into Korean by a company in that country.

Now Joan has launch her gift book, Offerings in the Snow: a Christmas Story (Foxmoor 2005). Too late to get the book into gift shops and bookstores, Joan tried to make up for lost time by working all the regional angles she could think of. “I made flyers, printed silver foil labels with the words, 'Setting is Central Arkansas 1936,' and stuck one on the outside of each flyer, hoping to stay the recipient's gaze for a few seconds, thus enticing them to open and read before they tossed.

“Again, thinking regionally, I contacted publications with an interest in Americana, history and nostalgia, and told them about Offerings in the Snow, promising to send review copies. I blitzed the small towns mentioned in the book with flyers and offers to do readings and book signings. But I didn't stop there. Since the book featured a couple of beloved puppies, I contacted animal shelters and offered to do benefit readings, splitting my profits from sales.”

Joan says it's too early to gauge the effect of her promotion, but her efforts right before the holidays are commendable.

Nominations are now being accepted for Writer's Digest's Top 101 Websites for Writers. To nominate A Cappela Publishing ( http://www.acappela.com ) for the 2006 list, e-mail writersdig@fwpubs.com with "101 Sites" as the subject line. Thanks for your support.

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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)

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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)

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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 620 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.

Get Reviewed - Paul Meyerscough, Sr. Editor - London Review of Books edit@lrb.co.uk
28 Little Russell St., London, Wcla2hn,
United Kingdom P 44 2072091101

Get Interviewed - American Life TV (cable network reaching 24 million Baby Boomers)

Interviews authors who can discuss natural ways of living the good life.

Pitch by email: Linda Flores, booker for Alive & Well, at media@aliveandwell.tv

Promote your book - MySpace.com ( http://www.myspace.com/michelledunn ). a place to network and advertise your business for free

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Enjoying this newsletter?
If you're benefitting from this newsletter, please forward it to three other writers who might find it helpful. (We'd like to hit 10,000 subscribers by next summer.) Thank you!

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PAT’S PICKS:

NEED A DISTRIBUTOR? One man who couldn’t get a distributor to work with him found about 95 sales reps through www.rephunter.net. They now include his book in their line of products when they sell to bookstores and gift shops. He says it’s worked out well for him.

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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

This is the time to be thinking long term for publicity that will fit in with the springtime themes for 2006. Most monthly magazines work six months or more out so if your title has an angle that fits with Dads, Grads, Easter, or Moms, NOW is the right time to send out queries.

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MARKETS

Nonfiction

Love is a money-maker! Here are three forums looking for articles about love:

~BEING SINGLE MAGAZINE- Targets single men and women of adult age to improve existing relationships and support living a fulfilling, single life. Topics include single parenting, combining love and careers, and divine principles. E-mail Beingsinglemag@msn.com

~TRUE CONFESSIONS- Monthly magazine for working class women, looks for pieces with strong romantic interest and moral tone. E-mail Trueconfessions@sterlingmacfadden.com

~TODAY'S BLACK WOMAN MAGAZINE uses commentary pieces on love, relationships, and improving communications for single and married women.

E-mail Kferguson@todaysblackwoman.com

Fiction

~Walking Bones Magazine (www.walkingbones.com ) accepts short story and poem submissions in the following genres: sci-fi, horror, fatansy, etc.

~Safe Treasures publishes stories monthly about Christians in the genres of adventure, drama, fantasy, mystery, science fiction, comedy, and suspense.Publisher: Josh Bingham.

E-mail submissions ok: hourglass.sf@juno.com

~The Atlantic Monthly (www.theatlantic.com) is interested in fiction for an educated readership with broad cultural interests. Though this market is extremely competitive, the editors do choose fiction based on the writing, not the writer. The editor, "seeks fiction that is clear, tightly written with strong sense of 'story' and well-defined characters."

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CONTESTS

Deadline January 15th, 2006 THE WRITERS NOTES 2006 BOOK AWARDS

(www.WritersNotes.com) Each year, independent publishers release extraordinary books to little or no recognition. Writers Notes Magazine recognizes excellence in publishing with the Writers Notes Book Awards. Entry Fee $40. 11 Categories, $100 First Prize for EACH CATEGORY; Honorable Mentions for Every Category; Coverage in Writers Notes Magazine and Gold Seal Certificates; Worldwide Exposure. Awards are open to academic, independent, small press, and self-published books released or copyrighted in the last 2 years, including unique books with small print runs. (Books over 2 years enter the LEGACY category.) For each entry, submit the book, entry form and $40 fee (check or money order) to Hopewell Publications, LLC, PO Box 11, Titusville, NJ 08560. Be certain to specify award category. All entrants will be notified of winners, after March 31, 2006.

Deadline January 15, 2006. SOUTH CAROLINA FICTION PROJECT (http://www.state.sc.us/arts//fictionproject/guidelines.htm No Entry Fee. This annual writing competition calls for previously unpublished short stories of 2,500 words or less. The stories do not need to be Southern, nor do they need to be set in South Carolina. Up to 12 short stories will be selected for publication; each writer whose work is selected will receive $500 from The Post and Courier, which purchases first publication rights. Stories will also be published electronically by putting them on both The Post and Courier’s website and the Arts Commission’s web site. Must be 18 and a legal resident of SC.

Deadline January 15, 2006 FOREWARD MAGAZINE BOOK OF THE YEAR
(http://www.forewordmagazine.com/awards) $60 entry fee. Established to bring increased attention from librarians and booksellers to the literary achievements of independent publishers and their authors. A jury of librarians, booksellers and reviewers are selected to judge the categories for entry, and they select winners and finalists based on editorial excellence and professional production as well as the originality of the narrative and the value the book adds to its genre.First, second, and third place winners will be awarded in each category. A $1,500 cash prize will also be awarded to Best Fiction and Best Nonfiction as determined by the editors of ForeWord Magazine

Deadline is January 15, 2006. CONSTANCE SALTONSTALL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS (http://www.saltonstall.org/grants/index.php) The Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts annually awards grants of $5,000 to writers and visual artists who live in the central and western counties of New York state.

Deadline January 15, 2006. WILLIAM ALLEN CREATIVE NONFICTION PRIZE
( http://english.osu.edu/journals/the_journal/WilliamAllenContest.html ) $10 ENTRY FEE Offers $500 and publication of the winning essay in the upcoming issue of The Journal. The maximum word count is 6500 words.

Deadline January20, 2006 Robert F. Kennedy Book Award. $2,500 grand prize for the book (fiction or non-fiction)which most faithfully and forcefully reflects Robert Kennedy’s purposes: concern for the poor and powerless, his struggle for honest and even-handed justice, his conviction that a decent society must asdure young people a fair change, and his faith that in a free democracy. Details: www.rfkmemorial.org

Deadline January 30, 2006 No entry fee. The Lulu Blooker Prize is the world's first literary prize devoted to "blooks": books based on blogs or websites. Awarded in three categories: Fiction • Nonfiction • Comics.The Lulu Blooker Prize is open to any "blook" — here defined as a bound and printed book based on either a blog or website — that has been published. by the entry deadline. The term "based on" is here defined as having content that was developed in a significant way from material originally presented on a blog or website. This can include the themes, ideas, characters or outline of the material eventually published as a printed book. Entries are accepted from any country, but all blooks entered must be printed in English. Only one qualified entry per family or household will be allowed. E-books are not eligible; only printed books can be submitted. The winner in each category will receive US $1,000 and a blurb or quote from one of the selecting judges for use in future promotion of their book. The overall or "grand" winner will receive US $2,000 (instead of the $1,000 he or she would have received as a category winner). The overall prize money total is US $4,000 — or slightly over £2,000 sterling..

Deadline is January 31, 2006. SOUTHERN HUM'S FIRST CHAPBOOK COMPETITION!
(http://www.southernhum.com) $3 entry fee / $2 subsequent entries. Send us 16-32 pages of your best fiction or poetry. One winner will be chosen from each category and will receive 25 copies.
The chapbook will also be available to purchase on the Southern Hum Press site. Entries do not
need to be "southern."

Deadline January 31, 2006. HAPPYNEWS.COM is sponsoring an essay contest. We want to know
your thoughts on the subject of "Why I am optimistic about the future." What is it that gives you hope that tomorrow will be a better day? What trend do you see? We want to share everyone's optimism of a better tomorrow with the world through the HappyNews.com site. First prize $1,000. Length 200-2,000 words. Submit via e-mail. No Entry Fee

Deadline: February 1, 2006 GHOST ROAD PRESS WRITING COMPETITION
(http://www.ghostroadpress.com/contest.htm) $15 entry fee - one story - three poems.
First PRIZES for Poetry and Creative Nonfiction: : 1st Prize: $500 & 5 copies Open Windows 2006

Deadline February 15, 2006 WE ARE FEARLESS CONTEST
( http://www.wearefearless.com/about fearless/literary contest.htm)

Entry Fees $15 - $30. Cash prizes of $400/$100 each: short stories, poems, and essays.Entries judged by award-winning published authors/poets and posted in the Book Shelf section of WeAreFearless.com. Winners will announced in the April 2006 WeAreFearless.com. Winning entrants will receive a personalized critique of their submission sent directly to them by a judge.

Deadline February 15^th $10 Entry Fee. Inkwell Literary Services invites submissions to the annual Predator Press Chapbook Competitions. The Poetry Chapbook The winning writer will also receive $400 and 25 copies.

Deadline February 28, 2006 MIDICI BOOKS CONTEST (http://www.midicibooks.net/ )---
No Entry Fee To celebrate the launch of its new website, Midici Books is offering a $1,000 prize for the best short story submitted between now and February 28, 2006.Winning story will be published in our next book; also, all other entries will be considered for inclusion as well. We will make available space sufficient for 501 short stories of up to 1,000 words each. All mainstream genres are welcome. This is a wonderful opportunity for aspiring authors to showcase their literary talents as we will be sending 100 books to selected literary agents.

Deadline: February 28, 2006 THE HOME OFFICE FROM HELL CONTEST
(http://offices2share.com/contest) You could win up to a year's free rent on one of the available
rental properties offered on the Offices2Share.com website. Award one year’s rent (up to $12,000 total) paid directly on the winner’s behalf to an office rental property of the winner’s choice that was listed on the Offices2Share.com website. You describe "The Top 10 Reasons Why I Have to Escape The Home Office From Hell" -- these reasons can be sensible, funny and/or zany, like: My home office seems like a closet -- because it is a closet! or My kitchen has only enough room for
a refrigerator or an employee -- I can't decide which one I need more. or I have to meet all my clients at Starbucks and the caffeine is making me jumpy.

Deadline February 28, 2006 KENNESAW REVIEW CONTEST
$15 Entry Fee (3-5 poems). 2006 Don Russ
Poetry Prize of $500 for the single best poem submitted to the competition. $500 prize for one winning poem, to be published in Spring 2006 of KR.

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WRITING Q&A

Q: How do Copyrights apply to email?

A: According to our legal advisor, original stories, poems and quotes are all copyrighted materials, whether they exist on a piece of paper or a computer screen. If you don't get permission from the people who hold the rights, then you're stealing their material.

Using text from a chat room is risky--it's hard to determine whether comments made by someone using a screen name are truthful. You don't know if the person on the other end of the chat is a 53-year-old man with a background in your topic, or an 14-year-old girl repeating something she heard on 'Dr. Phil.'"

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Wordplay: New Words for 2006

Essential additions for the workplace vocabulary but fun even if we no longer occupy that workplace.

MOUSE POTATO: The on-line, wired generation's answer to the couch potato.

SITCOMs: Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage. What yuppies turn into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids or what the woman becomes after they get divorced .

STRESS PUPPY: A person who seems to thrive on being stressed out and whiny.

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Quote of the Month: Literary Insults

"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary." -William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)

"Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?" -Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)

"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." -Clarence Darrow

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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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