3 Questions...and Answers

Meet…author Zane Grey

2008-08-19T22:12:00.006-04:00

Who is Zane Grey?

In the early 20th century, one-time dentist Zane Grey transformed the western novel from pulp fiction into a literary genre. Of his catalog of nearly 90 books, two-thirds of them are westerns. He popularized concepts like the Code of The West, the tormented gunslinger, and the strong-willed and independent women of the frontier.

Born in 1872 in the town of Zanesville, OH, which was founded by his great-grandfather, Grey and his brothers were avid outdoorsmen. Throughout his life, Grey pursued his love of fishing, hunting and horseback riding, as well as canoeing and sailing. He went to the University of Pennsylvania on a baseball scholarship, where he studied dentistry. He later played minor league baseball in New York after college.

Initially, he wrote and published articles and stories about his hobbies. His interest in the Old West began on an expedition with Colonel Charles Jesse "Buffalo" Jones, an adventurer and "plainsman" credited with helping to preserve the American Bison in the last half of the 19th century. He regaled Grey with stories of his life on the plains frontier and became the inspiration for Grey's first western novel, The Last Plainsmen, 1908.

He married Lina "Dolly" Roth in 1905 and had three children. His wife not only supported his career, tolerating is frequent and extensive absences, but she also often edited his manuscripts and helped to broker his deals with the publishers.

Did Grey only write western novels?

His first book, Betty Zane, self-published in 1904, recounted the life of his great aunt who was a heroine of the Revolutionary War. Based on stories he had heard from his grandmother, Grey wrote two books about his illustrious aunt, publishing The Spirit of the Border the next year. He also wrote novels about baseball (The Young Pitcher), nonfiction books about fishing (Tales of Swordfish and Tuna) and the South Seas (The Reef Girl published posthumously). He published various articles, essays and short stories. He also established Zane Grey Productions in 1918, which later became Paramount Pictures and directed and produced the documentary South Seas Adventures in 1932 about a deep-sea fishing trip off the coast of California.

But it was the western that made Grey a bestseller for much of the 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s. Heritage in the Desert (1910) was his breakout novel and first bestseller, but Riders of the Purple Sage (1912) put Grey on the literary map. The book was widely acclaimed by critics and the public and became the author's best-known work. It has been adapted for film and TV numerous times, the latest in 1996 starring Ed Harris and Amy Madigan.

Grey's work is said to have sparked the rise in the western genre's enormous popularity on film and TV in the 1940s and 1950s. More than 100 films (theatrical and TV) have been adapted from Grey's books or stories, according to the International Movie Database (imdb.com).

Can you still find Grey's books available?

Yes, many of Grey's books are still in print, including Riders of the Purple Sage. I found both new and older editions of several titles on Alibris.com. Several of his movies have been collected on DVD as well.

Grey was an influential and prolific writer. He wrote until his death in 1939 from heart failure, with several manuscripts published posthumously. The TV show "M*A*S*H" introduced Grey to a new generation when Colonel Sherman Potter (played by Harry Morgan), an avid Zane Grey fan, joined the show in 1975.

Sources: The Literary Network, Pegasos, Zane Grey's West Society

Picture This…Publishing Your Picture Book

2008-08-18T19:50:00.001-04:00

How hard is it to write a picture book?

Depending on the target age, a picture book should be as short as 300 words to as long as 1200 words. The language has to be simple, but vivid and active. There are no throwaway words. Every one has to describe an action, a scene or a feeling so a child can understand. Some picture books rhyme. Not only must the story engage the child, but a picture book must also entertain the adult who will have to read it over and over.

Characters and situations must be universal enough for the child to understand and relate to them, but unique so he will be interested in what these characters are doing and what will happen next. A child will quickly abandon a predictable book, but give him one that surprises him during the first reading and he'll want to read it over and over, surprising himself or setting up different readers for surprises.

What are some "no-nos" in picture books?

Different publishers don't want different things. Editors don’t favor stories with talking animals anymore or stories about the arrival of a baby sibling. These have both been done so often that they are clichés.

Editors don't want illustrations or mock ups either unless you're an artist yourself. They usually will want to choose the illustrator themselves once they have the completed manuscript. You can inform the editor that you are an artist in your cover letter then ask if you can send samples.

Even though the word count is low, be sure you tell a complete story. Even picture books need a beginning, a middle and an end that flow together seamlessly. The characters must change and grow. There must be a problem that is solved by the end.

What should you double-check in the publishers' guidelines?

The first thing to double-check when you look at the guidelines for a children's book publisher is that the company does indeed publish picture books. Some children's book publishers do not publish picture books. I can't tell you why, but some don't. So double-check.

Next, look for the publisher's age target for picture books. Some list 4 to 8 years old, others 4 to 10. Some others say 3 to 5. The target age will influence the word count so double-check that, too.

Some publishers want only fiction. Some want nonfiction. One publisher listed below wants "fiction with non-fiction facts woven into the story." How's that for covering all the bases?

Always, no matter what kind of book you're selling, look at the publisher's market. Is it educational, Christian or general/mainstream? Which will be most receptive to your book?

Below are a dozen children's publishers that will consider unsolicited picture books. Click the publisher's name to go to the guidelines page.

Bloomsbury Children's Books - send the complete manuscript for picture books, but NO e-submissions, will respond ONLY if the book is accepted.
Flashlight Press - target ages are 4 to 8 years old, word count: 1000 words, NO illustrations, send an e-query ONLY, NO attachments.
Front Street Books - Boyds Mills Press - submit complete manuscript, include a mock-up dummy if you have illustrations, NO e-submissions.
Immedium - target ages are 4 to 8 or 6 to 10, seeks a proposal package with the complete picture book manuscript, illustrations samples OK.
The Overmountain Press - seeks books focused on the Southern Appalachian area, authors must find an illustrator, OMP can provide a list but does not recommend or pay the illustrator.
Pemmican Publications - has a "mandate to publish books by Métis authors and illustrators" but does not say that is exclusive, books must be culturally relevant, NO e-queries or submissions.
Piñata Books - Arte Público Press - accepts submissions in Spanish or English, seeks books that explore US Hispanic culture and customs, NO e-submissions or queries.
Polychrome Books - seeks multicultural books set in the US, both fiction and nonfiction, illustrations only when the author is the artist, NO e-queries or submissions.
Sylvan Dell Publishing - the above-mentioned publisher, e-submissions ONLY, seeks fictional picture books with educational themes about animals, nature, the environment and science, less than 1500 words.
Tradewind Books - Canadian with offices in US and England, picture books must be sent to Canadian office, REQUIRES authors to have read at least three of their books before their work is accepted.
Walker & Company - seeks "well-pace picture book manuscripts for both pre-school and early elementary age levels," NO e-submissions or queries.
Woodbine House - seeks picture books for or about children with disabilities, word count: 1200 or less, illustration samples OK with submission packet, NO e-submissions.

Workshops & Retreats…Arvon

2008-08-17T20:00:00.009-04:00

This column briefly profiles writers' workshops, retreats, seminars and conferences. Inclusion in this column is not an endorsement.

What is Arvon?

Founded in 1968, Arvon is an institution in the creative writing world. Offering both residential writing courses and writing retreats, Arvon gives writers an inspirational setting free of daily distractions, a supportive writing community and encouragement of the creative spirit with which to work.

Arvon uses four historic houses spread across the United Kingdom for its courses and retreats. The participants live family-style, sharing a bathroom and sometimes a bedroom. Each participant prepares one of the meals during the week, using menus provided by Arvon. The faculty includes two professional, published writers per workshop plus a guest writer. The writers on faculty live with the participants so there is plenty of time for casual discussions or specific questions. The guest writer comes about midweek to read and share with the participants.

What kind of courses does Arvon offer?

From "Starting to Write" to "Screenwriting (Film & TV)", pick any genre, any field, and there's a good chance that it is in the list of courses offered by Arvon. In a course, your day will begin with an instructive session as a group with one or both of the faculty (also called tutors). The afternoons are open for you to pursue your own work or schedule some one-on-one time with a tutor. There are readings for the participants in the evenings as well.

On the retreats, there are no tutors. You still live family-style with other writers and you're still required to cook one meal during the week, but when you write and where is up to you. On some retreats, the writers have set up reading sessions to get feedback from each other, but there is no formal schedule.

Both the courses and the retreats begin Monday morning and end at noon Saturday.

What does this cost?

The rate is all-inclusive and there are a limited number of grants available as well. Cost for writing courses with a single room is £550. Sharing a room drops the tuition to £499. Writers Retreats are £385. Currently, it takes $1.86 US to match a British pound sterling.

You can check availability and book your course or retreat week online.

The Details:

Arvon - a 40-year-old organization that offers 5-1/2 day writing courses and writers' retreats
Tuition - includes all meals and lodging - Courses: £550/single room, £499/shared room; Retreats: £385, a limited number of grants are available.
Lodging - Courses/Retreats are held in four historic houses scattered in the English countryside.

Photos from the Arvon Writing Houses Gallery

Interview...author/columnist Celia Rivenbark

2008-08-14T22:23:00.008-04:00

"It never occurred to me to publish a book," columnist and author Celia Rivenbark explains. "I had quit work and was staying home with my newborn baby girl when a very small local publisher called to ask if I'd like to compile some of my favorite newspaper columns into a book for regional distribution. I said, 'Sure, why not?'"

Bless Your Heart, Tramp was released by Coastal Carolina Press in 2000 and became a Southeastern Book Sellers Association best-seller before being nominated for the James Thurber Prize for American Humor in 2001. Not bad for a book Rivenbark claims to have sold out of the trunk of her car.

Three more books followed. In the latest, Belle Weather: Mostly Sunny with a Chance of Scatter Hissy Fits, due out on Tuesday from St. Martin's Press, Rivenbark takes on home improvement, Britney Spears and little girl beauty pageants.

How does Rivenbark decide what goes in her books?

"The columns form the framework for the books," says Rivenbark. She writes a weekly column, syndicated by McClatchy-Tribune Media Services, that typically revolves around the subjects of kids, men, pop culture and the south so her chapters often set themselves.

"Some essays are completely new; others are so tweaked you’d never recognize them from their (much-tamer) newspaper selves."

About midway through the process, a dominant theme or section emerges. In Belle Weather, it's home improvement as Rivenbark writes about buying and renovating their house. On the other hand, Stop Dressing Your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank highlights children and parenting. Re-released by St. Martin's two years ago, Bless Your Heart, Tramp's largest section is entitled "The South" but We're Just Like You, Only Prettier is more evenly split with sections like "The Southern Family," "Couples Therapy, Southern Style," "The Southern Woman" and more.

It takes her a year to a year and a half to complete a book, then another year before it's released from the publisher.

Is humor hard?

In her bio on her website, Rivenbark says writing a humor column is the fulfillment of "her lifelong dream of being paid to be a smart ass." She's good at it, too. Her column has won numerous press awards and We're Just Like You, Only Prettier, her second book published in 2004 by St. Martin's Press, won the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Nonfiction Book of the Year and became a finalist for the James Thurber Prize for American Humor.

"Funny stuff is happening in this world all the time. And by world, I mean the Bush White House," she quips. She admits to having at least one topic she won't touch, but refuses to name it. "If I told you, that would be touching it, now wouldn't it?"

To look at the contents of her books, you'd be hard-pressed to find it. She lampoons everything from couple baby showers to plasma TVs to school fundraisers.

Her brand of southern humor has a wide appeal. Rivenbark column appears in papers from South Carolina to Washington State. A Celia Rivenbark fan club on Facebook has a member from Australia.

"Southerners are weird and crazy and they love language," she says, "We are just a colorful bunch of folks with long stories to tell and, thank God, people like to hear ‘em."

Is it hard for a woman to make a living writing humor?

Rivenbark has been compared to Dave Barry, Jeff Foxworthy and Erma Bombeck but with an edgier, more biting wit. She says she realized that she was funny when Bless Your Heart, Tramp started selling and We're Just Like You, Only Prettier won the SIBA nonfiction book award. "That blew me away."

"I don’t know that it’s harder for a woman than a man," she says, "I do know that, while I’m doing OK, I certainly don’t want my husband to quit his day job anytime soon!"

Nor does she think there's a difference between the genders when it comes to pushing the humor envelope, citing David Sedaris, Lewis Black, Jon Stewart and others.

"It's about even as far as I can tell," she says. "I like to write edgy stuff but I certainly respect the humor greats like Bombeck, who was far from edgy but was very, very funny and relatable."

"That’s the beauty of humor. You can laugh at Bombeck or you can laugh at Kathy Griffin."

Read reviews of Belle Weather at Dew on the Kudzu and Genre Go Round Reviews. St. Martin's Press has an audio excerpt read by Rivenbark.

To learn more about Celia Rivenbark and read some of her columns, visit her website.

More Websites Seeking Writers…

2008-08-13T19:57:00.006-04:00

Last month 3 Questions…and Answers published an article about eHow.com seeking freelance writers of how-to articles. Since then, we have found several other websites that use freelancers to provide articles on all kinds of topic categories from do-it-yourself auto repair to cleaning your jewelry at home. We're going to compare four that have come to our attention: Suite101.com, HowStuffWorks.com, About.com and Knol.Google.com.

Are the writers screened or evaluated by the sites' editors?

Three out of the four sites do require that a writer apply before he starts posting content. HowStuffWorks wants to see a resume and published and unpublished samples as an application. The editors will respond to the writers they accept.

About.com writers are "Guides" and there's a two-step process to become one. First, you have to apply with an email detailing what topic you want to guide and why you would be the best guide for that subject. Your expertise and you writing skills will be evaluated. If the editors think you are qualified you'll go into the Prep program, which is a 17-day self-guided online training program with all the things you'll need to know to be a Guide. One task will be to build a sample "GuideSite" that the editors will evaluate and decide if you have what it takes to be a Guide.

Suite101 also requires you to apply for acceptance. The application includes areas like your field of expertise, if you've been published and where and why you want to write for Suite101. You also must include writing samples. The management will evaluate your application and offer a contract within 48 hours if they like you.

Google's Knol project is not evaluated professionally. The readers decide what is good or bad. In fact on Knol's FAQ page, it states, " The Knol site allows anyone to write and manage knols through a browser on any computer.…We don't edit knols nor do we try to enforce any particular viewpoint."

Will you get paid for writing for these sites?

Again it breaks down to three out of the four sites you will be paid something. Google's Knol project is the odd man out. Since there is no evaluation process, it stands to reason that there is no payment for articles published through Google's Knol project.

HowStuffWorks pays once an article is accepted. They assign the article to you and if they like it, they buy it. It is a work-for-hire contract. This means that HowStuffWorks owns the copyright, not you, so make sure this isn't an article you think you could place elsewhere before submitting.

Suite101's pay system is similar to eHow in that it is based on a ranking system. However, an added feature is that Suite101 contracts with Google AdSense to publish ads on all the stories. The contributing writers get a portion of the ad commissions. Suite101 says it averages among all their contributors to be an earning of approximately $4.15 per page viewed.

About.com compensates their Guides, too. Compensation is based on the number of views to your GuideSite or page. Each year, the editors look at your "page view growth" to set the compensation rate for the next year. If you have more views than the last year, your compensation rate increases. New Guides are guaranteed $725 per month. Some Guides make over $100,000 per year.

What do the editors expect from their writers?

About.com requires its Guides to publish two full-length articles every 14 days and to blog one to three times a week. The website didn't defined full-length article. On the web in general, articles average about 650-700 words.

Suite101's contract for contributing writers requires the writer to publish 10 articles every three months. The articles must be 400-600 words. You may publish more than that but since the editors are looking for detailed and well-researched articles, 10 articles in 12 weeks will likely keep you booked.

HowStuffWorks doesn't list a minimum publishing requirement for its readers. The site does state it seeks writers who can "finish assignments in a timely manner (typically two weeks from assignment to completion)" and who can "adapt to the HowStuffWorks voice and article structure."

Google's Knol project has no expectations of its writers.

You may ask if it is worth it to sign on with one or all of these sites. (I saw no mention of exclusivity being required.) The web is growing and changing like no other market on earth. With the exception of Google's Knol project, these companies have spent 10 or more years providing information to web readers. If you have the expertise, the time and the inclination to meet their publishing demands, then you should give them a try. You have nothing to lose.

3 Sets of 4…Assorted Contests

2008-08-12T21:39:00.010-04:00

We've discussed the value of entering writing contests before. First, entering a writing contest guarantees your work is read by a professional. Second, even if you don't win the contest, you may catch someone's attention with a strong second, third or honorable mention showing. Third, contests always have prizes. Sometimes the prize is cash, while other times it is publication or production. (all the contest listed here have cash prizes.) Whichever it is, entering a contest can only benefit a writer.

Very few writers write in one form and only one form. So here is an assortment of contests for the assorted writers within you. Click the contest name to get the full guidelines.

Good luck!

Are you the dramatic type?

3rd Annual 10-Minute Play Contest - Magnolia Arts Center - Deadline: August 31 - Prize: $50 Grand Prize, possible finalists prizes - Entry Fee: $3/mail, $5/online. - Each entry is subject to the fee, but writers may submit more than one entry. NO musicals or adaptations. Plays must be unpublished/unproduced. Can submit online.
The David Calicchio Emerging Playwright Prize - Marin Theatre Company - Deadline: August 31 - Prize: two public staged readings plus $2500 and travel/lodging for rehearsal period - Established in 2007 to honor David Calicchio's career as a playwright and "in support of the Marin Theatre Company's commitment to the discovery and development of new and emerging American playwrights." Open to full-length comedies, dramas or musicals that have not had a full-scale professional production. Elaborate guidelines/submission policy.
Palm Beach Dramaworks - Deadline: August 31 - Prize: public readings - Submit only one full-length play. NO collection of one-acts or musicals. Plays must be unpublished/unproduced and not previously submitted.
The Sky Cooper New American Play Prize - Marin Theatre Company - Deadline: August 31 - Prize: full production by MTC plus $10,000 and travel/lodging for rehearsal period - Established in 2007 to "celebrate the work of the American playwright and to encourage the creation of bold, powerful new voices and plays for the American stage." Open to full-length comedies, dramas or musicals that have not had a full-scale professional production. Elaborate guidelines/submission policy.

Can you tell me a story?

12th Annual Short Fiction Contest - Zeotrope: All-Story - Deadline: October 1 - Prizes: $1000/1st, $500/2nd, $250/3rd - Entry Fee: $15 - Open to all genres of literary fiction up to 5000 words or less. Entries must be unpublished.
16th Annual Short-Story Contest - Boston Review - Deadline: October 1 - Prize: $1500 plus publication - Entry Fee: $20/US entry, $30/international entry - Submit original, unpublished stories of 4000 words or less.
2009 Short Story Prize - Ruminate Magazine - Deadline: October 15, Prizes: $300 plus publication/Grand Prize, $150/Runner-Up - Entry Fee: $15 - Submit one story per fee of 5000 words or less. Submission form and payment option online. Multiple submissions OK.
Family Matters Short Story Contest - Glimmer Train Magazine - Deadline: October 31* - Prizes: $1200, publication and copies/1st, $500/2nd, $300/3rd - Entry Fee: $15 - Submit unpublished, original stories about family of 12,000 words or less. NO creative nonfiction or personal narratives. Submit using a form online. (*This contest runs multiple times during the year. This is the next deadline.)

Have you renewed your poetic license?

Anderbo Poetry Prize - Anderbo.com - Deadline: November 1 - Prize: $500 - Entry Fee: $10 - Open to poets who have NOT published on Anderbo.com. Submit up to six poems per poet and entry fee.
Award for Poetry - Fourth River - Deadline: November 15 - Prize: $500 plus publication - Entry fee: $5 - Submit up to three unpublished poems "that capture the places - natural, built and imagined, urban, rural or wild - where humans and nature converge and collide." Multiple submissions OK with fee. Creative Nonfiction Award also offered in conjunction.
Milton Kessler Memorial Prize for Poetry - Harpur Palate - Deadline: November 1 - Prize: $500 plus publication - Entry Fee: $15 - Established to honor Milton Kessler and "his dedication to the development of writers." Open to original, unpublished poems no more than three pages long. Send up to five poems in a single envelope and with a single fee. Multiple submissions OK if mailed separately. All entries will be considered for publication.
Poetry Contest for New & Emerging Poets - The Teacher's Voice - Deadline: November 7 - Prizes: $150 Book Award/1st, $100 Book Award/2nd, $50 Book Award/3rd - Open to unpublished poets ONLY. Submit up to three poems that "reflect on teaching and/or education in the United States or abroad." All submissions will be considered for publication.

Call for Submissions…Renewed

2008-08-11T20:04:00.004-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, 3 Questions…and Answers put out a call for submissions. Since the deadline is only two weeks away, we'd like to renew that call.

How did the 9/11 attacks affect you and your writing?

I didn't write an original word for nine months. A friend of mine told me later she probably filled about 10 or 12 journals during that same nine months. She couldn't stop writing.

The events of that day affected us all differently and we'd like to hear from you as to how it affected you as a writer. The top 15 submissions (three per day) will be published here from Sunday, September 7 to Thursday, September 11, 2008.

We're sorry but we cannot pay to publish your piece, but we will give you a byline and a link to your website as well as a photo. Your website will also be permanently linked to the 3 Questions homepage.

Guidelines are:

1 - 250 words or less, nonfiction or poetry ONLY.
2 - All submissions must be written in English.
3 - Submissions may be previously published but you must own the copyright and note where/when it was published.
4 - NO gratuitous profanity, fictional accounts or graphics.
5- Submit to AmyM3QA(at)gmail(dot)com ONLY. You may embed the text in the body of the email or attach a MS Word file, a RTF file or a plain text file. Submissions posted to the 3 Questions' comment section will be deleted. Write "3 Questions" on the subject line of the email or it will be deleted unopened.
6 - Include: a headshot photo in a JPG or JPEG file, your first and last name, city and state and your web address. If you'd rather not have your name and location published, suggest an alternative like initials or first name only.
7 - DEADLINE: all submissions must be received by 6:00 p.m. EDT on Monday, August 25, 2008.
8 - If there are less than 15 submissions, 10 will be chosen for publication. If there are less than 10 submissions, five will be chosen for publication. If there are less than five submissions, they will be published on 9/11 only.

We hope to hear from you soon.

3 Questions will not distribute any contact information, including email addresses, to any other party. Nor will we spam you. If you'd like to join our e-mailing list, please use the box on the right.

Looking for a Day Job?...Jobs for Editors

2008-08-10T21:16:00.008-04:00

I've searched Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, TheBiz.com and HotJobs.com for editor positions posted within the last three to five days. There's something for everyone from magazine work to web editing. Click the job title to go to the listing.

See yourself as a magazine editor?

Associate Editor - Woodcraft Magazine: you need knowledge of woodworking s well as research, writing and editing skills for this job, must also have a bachelor's degree, HotJobs ID# - 13517, posted 8/10.
Copy Editor - Soap Opera Digest: responsibilities include managing assigned articles, edititng copy for the magazine and the website, bachelor's degree in Journalism, English or related field, one to two years experience, QPS and Mac experience, interest in soap operas and daytime TV, posted 8/8.
Freelance Copy Editor - Ziff Davies Media: needed for Electronic Gaming Monthly and 1UP.com, responsibilities include editing content for both magazine and website, proof-reading and fact-checking, BA degree, experience with InDesign, AP and Chicago style guides, HotJobs ID# - CE-VP, posted 8/8.
Managing Editor - Brides.com: this website supports three national magazines and 16 local ones and is technically a web position, however, the responsibilities are very much like a magazine editor's. Qualities sought in a candidate include writing, editing and organization skills, experience with html and other web tools, supervisory or managerial experience, posted 8/7.

How about a newspaper job?

Anchorage Daily News is currently advertising three positions: familiarity with Alaska required in all positions, posted 8/10.

Assistant Section Editor II: weekly entertainment magazine, responsible for assigning stories, editing freelance, staff and wire copy, newspaper or magazine experience, blogging experience, and bachelor's degree.
Copy Editor: responsible for editing copy, designing pages, choosing wire stories and posting to the web, bachelor's degree and daily newspaper experience.
On-Call Copy Editor: part time position, responsible for editing copy and writing headlines, page layout and design experience, daily newspaper experience.

Sports Copy Editor - North Jersey Media Group: company publishes daily and weekly papers throughout northern New Jersey, part time position, responsible for editing staff and wire copy, daily newspaper experience, reporting experience and the ability to work under deadlines, posted 8/10.

Got anything else?

Communications Specialist/Writer/Editor - BET Network: this is primarily a communications/PR position, but also responsible for ghostwriting a book with a senior VP, BA degree in journalism or English, published writing experience, book proposal experience, HotJobs ID# 7086021, posted 8/9.
Features Editor - SearchStorage.com: responsibilities include working closely with site editor, assigning stories, edit content, plan editorial calendar, writing articles of other print publications, content and copy editing experience, experience with online tools, technical writing experience, experience with Word, Excel, html and alternative media preferred, posted 8/10.
Technical Writer/Editor -WritingCrossing: responsible for research, writing, editing publications and technical documents, Masters degree preferred, experience in editing, researching and producing documents, knowledge of issues "impacting the operational environment of the counterterrorism community," HotJobs ID# - 7110330, posted 8/9.
Web Content Editor - Volt Workforce Solutions: game publisher and developer studio, responsible for creating character descriptions, story elements, news articles, game info, videos, responsible for playing and understanding assigned games, plan, write and edit content, two years web experience, html, xml and VO script experience, bachelor's degree in Journalism, English or Technical Communications or related work experience, posted 8/8.

Interview…with ThomasMax Publishing's Lee Clevenger and R. Preston Ward

2008-08-07T22:33:00.001-04:00

R. Preston Ward and Lee Clevenger (photo: l-r) founded ThomasMax Publishing in 2004 as a means to re-release Clevenger's children's novel Incrediboy: Be Careful What You Wish. The book's original publisher had folded and Clevenger had been dismayed by the lack of creative control he had with that company and by the lack of marketing by the company. Named for their fathers, ThomasMax Publishing tries to stand out in the ever-growing industry of Print-On-Demand publishing (POD). Ward and Clevenger offer insight into the POD and self-publishing.

What's the difference between self-publishing and POD publishing?

"POD, or print-on-demand, is a technique used by most publishers in the book industry today, not just those who cater to the self-publishing market," Clevenger explains.

POD technically means that the product is printed when it’s ordered or sold as opposed to traditional printing or print-on-speculation where books are printed in quantity for cost-saving purposes in hopes of selling enough of them to be profitable. The ability to print small quantities of reasonably priced books has led to a boon in the self-publishing business. If, however, someone has the means to invest in a large quantity of books (5000 or more), it would be more cost efficient to go through a printer.

"Of course, said self-publisher will have to go through the exercises of acquiring an ISBN number and arranging for the book to be available through distributors," adds Ward, which are services most POD publishers offer. They are, in fact, part of ThomasMax's publishing package.

ThomasMax only requires authors to buy 250 copies of their book up front. Included in that purchase is a host of services that will help the author with the sale of the book, including an ISBN number and barcode, which has the price integrated so stores can scan it for sale. They also list all their books with distributors like Baker & Taylor and Ingram. The printer they use sells to Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com.

When submitting a manuscript, ThomasMax requires it to be in a word processor file like MS Word and they require it to be professionally edited. The author may hire their own editor or may use ThomasMax's editing service.

"Our contract states that graphic design for covers is not included, but, fortunately, so far we’ve never had to charge for that," says Ward. "But if a customer ever rejected a dozen ideas without telling us why or giving us direction as to what is acceptable, we reserve the right to charge."

Other charges may be incurred by the author, but usually those are for unique or extraordinary demands.

When should an author consider POD publishing?

"Niche-market books are ideal POD candidates," says Clevenger. "Public speakers should consider self-publishing POD books because they have a built-in clientele at their speaking engagements."

Time is another consideration. Three of ThomasMax's clients are 80 years old or older. It can take a year or more after your book is accepted by a traditional publisher for it to reach the shelves. With POD publishing, you can have your book in hand in weeks, not years.

You should also consider your marketing strategy for your book. "Our rule of thumb is that if you don’t think you can sell your initial 250 copies, you probably don’t have any business self-publishing," Clevenger continues. "If you think you can sell them, you can make money by publishing them yourself."

There are some advantages to self-publishing, including creative control over things like the title, and the book jacket. "And, at least with our company, you have input into the selling price and the royalties you will receive on a per-book basis," adds Clevenger.

There's the time factor already mentioned and the profit you can make. In self-publishing, you buy the book at below wholesale. And there are no rejection letters.

Of course, there are disadvantages. Chain bookstores rarely carry self-published or POD books. Traditionally, the bookstores order books from the distributors on a 90-day trail. After 90 days, the stores can return the unsold books. POD publishers don't usually offer that return policy so the chains won't order them for their physical stores. They will, however, consider them for their online stores.

Another disadvantage is pricing. "Whereas a mass-market paperback might sell for $7.99 or $8.99, a trade-paperback POD title of similar length might sell for $13.95 to $16.95," explains Clevenger. Yes, it is a better-looking, higher quality book, but it is a harder sell for the stores.

One might say that having to market your own book might be a disadvantage in POD publishing. In today's publishing industry, authors must be more responsible for the marketing of their own books, even if the books are with traditional publishing houses. (see Promoting Your Book…Whose Responsibility Is It?) So if you're going to be a writer, you have to be a marketing master as well.

"What we’re missing in the industry is a service that screens self-published books," says Ward, adding, "a review service that doesn’t randomly endorse everything and legitimately separates the milk from the cream. That will come, in time. Barnes and Noble has a program where new authors can submit their works now, although it’s more of a contest-type format than a review system"

How does POD fit in today's publishing industry and in the future?

"POD is the fastest-growing segment of the publishing industry. While the major players are busy merging and, accordingly, decreasing the number of opportunities for writers, POD is going the other way," Ward says, "And self-published works may not be in demand sales-wise now, but that will change. Who could have predicted, for example, the success of blogging, a form of self-publishing on a smaller level?"

"Our opinion is that POD is the future of the book business," adds Clevenger. "The day will come – not so far in the distant future, either – when you’ll be able to go into the corner convenience store and walk up to a printing machine, key in an ISBN number, swipe your credit card, and watch as the machine prints and binds the book."

Their best advice for finding the right publisher for you: Interview a publisher like you’d interview any other professional you might hire. Communicate with their clients and if the publisher has no references to give, take that as a “buyer-beware” statement.

You can learn more about ThomasMax Publishing on the web site. Book jackets are titles from ThomasMax's catalog.

To learn more about self-publishing, "How Self-Publishing Works" by Tom Harris on howstuffworks.com.

3 Tips for Searching for Magazine Markets…and 10 Travel-Related Markets

2008-08-06T21:43:00.008-04:00

When you're a freelance writer, you have to constantly search for more markets, better paying markets and markets that offer you more and better exposure. Knowing how to conduct a thorough market search is key to a freelancer's survival. Here are a few tips I've picked up from my own experiences and from other writers.

Why not mix it up?

Writers, especially beginners, write their words then look for the perfect spot for them. That works, but don’t forget to reverse the flow. Looking for a magazine where you would like to publish can open your mind to hoards of ideas and you never know when an editor might be waiting for you to come along. So when you find a magazine you like, drop an introductory email to the editor. If you have a story idea, include it briefly - one or two sentences - but if you don't, give a short list of appropriate credits. The editor could have a story waiting for a writer, but if he doesn't, you've opened a door for future queries and potential sales.

You read it, but can you write for it?

Never neglect your own favorite magazines when you're doing a market search. You already know who the target audience is. You know the tone and style and you know what's been covered before. A perfect match, don't you think? Of course, you can't convince an editor that you're right for his magazine just because you subscribe, but it will help to mention it along with your stellar bylines and sample clippings. He'll see the benefit in hiring a writer completely familiar with his readers.

How do you find guidelines online?

You should always go to a magazine's website directly to find the most up to date guidelines. Sometimes the editors spell out current needs or post an editorial calendar. So even if you use a directory like WritersMarket.com to find your list of magazines and a write up for each title, remember most directories update once a year, maybe twice and rarely quarterly. They can't afford to do it more often so your best bet for current information is on the magazine's own website.

Some magazines will make your life easy and put a button or a menu item saying "guidelines" or "submissions" on the front page. Others want you to prove you really want them and hide the guidelines somewhere in the depths of the web. If there is no front-page button or menu item, look for the FAQ page. The link to the FAQ page is usually on the front page or connected to the "Customer Service" page. I have found links on the "About Us" page. Often the "How do I write for (blank) magazine?" is listed with the answer either being the guidelines or having a link to the guidelines page. Another place to check is the "Contact Us" page. If you don't find full guidelines there, the magazine will often say something like "For submissions, contact…" and list an editor's email address.

Finally if you've checked all those pages and found nothing, see if there's a "site map" link on the front page. The link is either at the very top or at the very bottom of the page. Often magazines that are part of a publishing firm that publishes multiple titles will have one set of guidelines for all the magazines on its corporate website. The site map will show you how to access the corporate site and even where the guidelines page is on that site.

Many of the websites for the following travel-related magazines made me "prove" that I wanted their guidelines, but better me than you, right? Click the titles to go to the magazines' guidelines pages.

Adirondack Life - query only with clippings, break in point for new writers is the departments (1200-2500 words).
Alaska Magazine - e-queries preferred with detailed story ideas, all stories must be connected to Alaska and there are many topics and departments seeking content.
Backpacker Magazine - prefers e-queries with attachments or web links, lists different editors and emails for different departments, departments (100-1200 words) are a good break in point for new writers.
Internationally Living - seeks content for both website and magazine, focus is on living abroad at least part-time, seeks "postcards" for site, magazine seeks features 1500-2500 words, e-submissions preferred.
Lake Country Journal - seriously prefers e-queries and submissions, "we will work with 'hard copy' but will deduct re-typing costs from the contributor's payment," seeks a variety of articles but must be tied to the lake country region of the Midwest.
National Parks Magazine - query by mail with an SASE, seeks stories about threats to parks and wildlife, new trends in park use and others related to the national park system.
Northwest Regional Magazines - includes Oregon Coast and Northwest Travel, query by mail or email, new writers include clippings, no more than three story ideas at a time.
Transitions Abroad - seeks articles for its new webzine, including "the working traveler," study abroad, student travel, long term travel and budget travel, check out the site and guidelines for an extensive "do and don't list."
Travel + Leisure Magazine - query only by mail or through online form with no more than three story ideas at once.
Western RV News - an RV newspaper, lead time 9-12 months, query first through form online ONLY, currently seeking shorts (300 words or less) on RV events, destinations or "finds right off the freeway on their way to where they are going."

Remember: the deadline for "How did 9/11 affect your writing?" is Monday, August 25. See full guidelines here.

Virtual Book Tour…author Bill Frederick

2008-08-05T22:14:00.008-04:00

In June, author Bill Frederick accepted the challenge to set up a 10-stop/10-day virtual book tour in just five days, using the system outlined in his new book, My Virtual Book Tour Secrets. He asked 3 Questions to be one of his tour stops and last week readers had an opportunity to ask Frederick questions about his book, virtual book tours and anything else they wanted to know, including did he meet his challenge. Here are his responses in the order that the questions were posted:

What's so difficult about setting up a Virtual Book Tour that you need a book to tell you how?

It's relatively easy to do. You contact blog owners to do an interview or a guest post and you set up a date and you're pretty much done. There's a lot of blogs out there. According to Technorati, there's about 1.4 new blogs worldwide every 30 seconds, roughly 70 million new blogs each year. For an author to sift through those 70 million blogs to see which one will be the best fit with your book takes a lot of time. How do you pick which ones to contact? There's some good and some better ones for your book, finding those are difficult.

And virtual book tours are more than just selecting blogs and providing content. What you do after the tour is just as important as what you do before the tour, building the buzz and promoting the book. After the tour it is important to update your own blog to reflect the archive the blogs that hosted your tour. A lot of people don't realize you can generate a lot of buzz for your book by going back to the blogs and looking in the comments and answering right there in the comments about what the readers are curious about, concerned about and just following up. A lot of authors don't realize there's just as much work after the tour than during the tour and when setting it up and I cover that in my book.

Do you really reach enough people online to impact sales in comparison to traditional book tours?

Yeah, yeah I think you do. If you set it up correctly, you're contacting blogs that are targeted to the topic of your book, that have a high readership, you can actually do better than with the brick and mortar type book tours, going to the cafes or the Barnes and Noble doing the readings and things like that.

For instance author Tom Dolby with his book The Troubled Boy was able to reach 70,000 readers with his virtual book tour. You're not going to be able to touch that in a brick and mortar book tour going to Barnes and Noble where half a dozen people show up. That's going to be a lot of Barnes and Noble stops you're going to have to make to reach 70,000 readers. He didn't have to leave his home to reach 70,000 readers and those were targeted readers so his annual figures reflected that.

Why did you choose to publish an e-book instead of a real book?

For this book I thought an e-book was a better idea than a traditional book. I've got several books on my shelf here that are great books but after some time I pull down one of them and the weblinks in there are not up to date. They were up to date when the book was published but with the Internet being so changing and dynamic that a lot of time the links that they publish in their book are no longer accurate. An e-book allows me to go back through and add or update very easily. I can update links, change links, add new technology, publish it and I can contact my customers, send them a brief email and say "I made some changes to my book. Go get it here." I don't have to worry about the print run or links being outdated because I can actually update it as things change, then I can let my customers know and they can get it when it's convenient and everything is working and up to date.

How does someone buy an e-book?

You purchase an e-book the way you would purchase any book online. If you go to Amazon, you select your book and you click purchase and fill out all your information and hit submit. Then they'll send you an email saying that your book is being shipped. With an e-book, they instead send you to a page where you can download your book immediately any time of day or night.

Earlier it was announced that you were challenged to book a 10-day/10-stop tour in 5 days using your system. Did you meet the challenge?

I knew that question was going to come up. This is a yes and no answer here. This was really fun, but one of the challenges that I faced was that I went on vacation immediately following the challenge. So Friday I was done and Saturday morning I was heading up to Massachusetts to spend some time with my family and kick back and relax. The problem I ran into up there was that my wireless Internet connection would not work. I was hoping to be able to touch base with some of the bloggers I had contacted to confirm times and dates, but I was away for a whole week without Internet so I couldn’t do that. I did set up 10 stops but it's over a 15-day window so it's a 10-stop/15-day Virtual Book Tour and I was able to set that up within that 5-day challenge time. I did set the tour up but because I didn't have the Internet to confirm some dates, it's over 15 days instead of 10.

How beneficial are virtual book tours?

In creating a buzz for book, and it goes back to selecting the appropriate blogs to host your tour, they're very beneficial. Whether you're doing a guest posting or an interview or if someone will review your book on their site those are archived and any reader (the blog) may acquire later can go back through and read about your virtual book tour so they're very beneficial in creating long term buzz with people talking about your book. You'll see a little spike in the interest of your book, and then it will get real steady because all those postings are archived and available for people to read for a long time. So they're very beneficial for getting people talking about your book.

Amazon's Kindle

Can they really increase your sales?

Like I said earlier about Tom Dolby, his Amazon numbers jumped 1000%. Even with this book, I’m very pleased with the sales.

How did you set the price?

Market research, looking at what other people are doing with their books. There are a couple of similar books out there. And over-delivering - giving more content for the money. You don't want to set your price too high or set it too low. For a nonfiction book especially an e-book, you're paying more for what you can get out of it. A better question might be what's it worth not what's it cost. If you can compare the value of the content to the price of the book, most people will think it's a good investment. You have to look at this as an investment as an author promoting your book. How many books will you have to sell to break even? What kind of profit do you want to make?

How does one publish an e-book?

I basically created a text document in Microsoft Word and then I edited it, formatted it, and got it looking how I wanted it. Then I purchased an Adobe software program to create the pdf file. I used that format because it could be read on pretty much any computer. There are places online that will convert your text files into Adobe pdf files for free.

How many book tours, virtual or otherwise have you done?

I'm not exactly sure how many. I owned a company called Apogee Publishing. It was an online book publisher and we were selling books as pdf files. I started out doing books for other people, not myself. I've done a lot of book promotion for other people. This is actually the first one I've done for myself. It's very exciting.

Sony's The Reader Digital Book

What made you write this book?

I've got two books coming out later this year that will be self-published but traditional paperback books. And after I had gone through the printing and all, there wasn't a whole lot of money left for me to promote them. So I had to look for a way to promote these books once they were printed and I got the physical book in my hand, and I needed to do that on a pretty limited, almost zero dollar budget. I started doing some research and talking to other authors and I learned about virtual book tours. So I started setting stuff up for a couple of other authors and I liked the results I was getting so I decided to write a book about it.

What do you think of devices like Amazon's Kindle and Sony's The Reader Digital Book?

I like them. I don't own one but I've played with them a couple of times. I like their size and portability, the ability to take your e-books with you wherever you go just like your paperbacks or hardbacks. It's hard to carry your PCs with your e-books on them. Printing them out and putting them in a 3-ring binder sort of defeats the purpose of e-books so these electronic readers are nice. I think they'll become more popular as technology improves - better screens, more memory and things like that. You store all your e-books on one of these readers and take them with you wherever you go. I think they will have a lot to do in the future of reading and things like that.

Will I need one of the to read your book?

No. You can read my book on your computer. Each reader has its own software and some of they might have their own formats but I'm not too familiar with all that.

I have purchased test-prep e-books online to assist in my studies for various standardized tests (GRE and the like), but I have never seen any "reading for pleasure" books (fiction/non-fiction) offered as e-books. Do you know of any?

Oh there are lots out there. There are a few publishers that specialize in that. My own Apogee (books)...a lot of them were fiction books; you know stories, westerns, children's books in e-book format. Even Amazon is branching out into the electronic book field. There are a lot out there. Booklocker.com is a (rapidly) growing e-book publisher and they do a lot of nonfiction and I think they have some fiction you can download.

Have you published any?

All my books have been nonfiction.

Would you consider e-books as sort of the "wave of the future?"

I see them supplementing traditional publishing. I don't see them taking over the role that of a print or hardback book. I do see them as very useful because they're portable. Like if you take the Amazon Kindle, you can put a lot of books in a small package, a small bundle, and take it with you. I see that as very useful. And I see things like the Ginsberg Project that's taking public domain, copyright-free books, a lot of classics and things, and turning them into e-books. People can go online and read them for free. So I see it as a way to supplement traditional publishing but I don't see it replacing traditional publishing.

I asked him what would he do differently for his next tour?

I'm already thinking about my next tour. I will give myself more than five days and I will not go on vacation shortly after setting things up. Take your time and evaluate more blogs, that's very important. Set up email alerts to receive email notices every time someone writes about a topic close to my subject and evaluate them more closely try to get more targeted traffic that way.

What was the hardest thing?

Coming up with key words. In the book, I say you should come up with a list of key words. It was hard to come up with a whole list of 20 with this book but I think with the fiction books it will be a little easier because you can be a little broader.

Who is your target market? Who could benefit from purchasing your book?

Self published authors, authors with a small publisher that have little or no money for marketing. Any author who wants to learn how to promote his book on the web.

If you have further questions for Frederick, he has set up a website just for you: "Ask Me a Question."

My Virtual Book Tour Secrets sells for $29.97 and comes with Tips and Insights from Best-Selling Authors, My Complete Virtual Book Tour Checklist, the list of 40 Blogs that Host Virtual Book Tours and the 30-plus Press Release Resource. Frederick does offer a money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with the book for any reason within the first six months, Frederick will refund your full purchase price.

Bill Frederick has been a writer and editor for over 10 years. You can follow is virtual book tour on his blog and you can order My Virtual Book Tour Secrets here.

Want to Write Full Time?…3 Questions You Need to Answer

2008-08-04T20:23:00.003-04:00

Whether pounding out the Great American Novel or traveling the world to report on the people and the happenings of the day or redefining the classic Hollywood blockbuster, all writers dream of quitting their day jobs to write full time. If you're pondering this dream, make sure your eyes are wide open before turning in your two weeks notice.

How much money do you need?

Yes, the image of the starving artist might be romantic, but how many of us really want to starve for our art? If you're going to quit you full-time job, make sure you have enough money to live for a year. Average your monthly bills for the last six months to a year. See what you can change, such as exchanging a $20 movie night to a $3 rental and a bowl of microwave popcorn. Realize that you will automatically reduce or eliminate expenses like gas and transportation costs or dry cleaning when you work from home, but things like health insurance premiums go up when you have to buy a private policy.

Research what freelance writers charge in your area and set your prices accordingly. "Getting Paid…How Much is Enough," published here in April, can get you started. Don't feel bad if it looks like a part-time job might help make the transition to full-time writer smoother. Everybody has to pay the bills and it won't be forever.

Are you a salesman?

The biggest challenge for a writer is selling himself and his work. Whether you're a novelist, poet or freelancer, you have to convince someone to pay you to write. The first step to making a sale is making contact. A market search will help you decide whom to contact and when.

The second step is to learn how to pitch everything from an article idea to a book proposal. "First Impressions…The Article Memo" offers a technique for pitching magazine article ideas, while "Promoting Your Book…Whose Responsibility is It?" looks at book marketing.

The third step is to stay organized. Sites like WritersMarket.com, WordHustler.com and Duotrope'sDigest.com all have features to help you keep track of your market contacts and your submissions so you don't flood one market while neglecting another.

How do you feel about diversity?

Writing and publishing a novel or producing a screenplay can take years so you must be able to make money with your writing in various ways.

The most obvious way to make money writing is in the magazine and newspaper market. This market has the advantage of being large. There are literally thousands of periodicals published daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly. The editors seek a variety of topics. If you can think it up, chances are there is a magazine or newspaper that will print it.

Another way to use your writing is in publicity or public relations for businesses or organizations. Typical uses for a freelancer are for press releases, brochures, newsletters and marketing plans. You may be able to use your contacts from your former job to secure these kinds of assignments.

Speech writing, tutoring, editing, and grant writing (for yourself or others) are other ways that a writer can make money with his writing, while working on his masterpiece.

Writing full time is not like taking a long, happy vacation. Juggling assignments so the bills will get paid takes skill, determination and discipline. It is a job and it isn't always easy. Are you up for the challenge?

ED. NOTE: Thank you to Cec Murphey for suggesting this topic.