By Jean Wise
Do you know what today is? As I write in on November 10th, it is National Area Code Day. National Gingerbread House Day is also celebrated on this date. In addition, this date honors Marine Corp Day.
Did you know this was World Kindness Week? And the entire month of November claims groups from the National Peanut Butter Lovers Month to the National Alzheimer’s Disease Month to even Celebrate Empty Nesters Month!
In the United States we enjoy over ten official governmental holidays, yet other special day recognitions occur each day, week, and month. With the move to more of a global society, a rich collection of other country’s holidays await to be discovered.
Ideas abound in the calendar for writers! Let’s set a G.O. A. L. (gather, organize, approach and links) to write ‘round the calendar next year.
G – Gather
In 2009 I plan to create my own holiday idea calendar. Researching daily, weekly and monthly recognized dates, I plan to list those which I think have possibilities for articles. Of course I will have to narrow the number down to a reasonable amount, but think this calendar will be a valuable source of ideas for next year. I imagine that this resource will also open up new markets that I haven’t thought of before as a writer.
The major holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas are fast approaching. Carry a notebook with you as you attend parties, shop, watch television, talk with friends and family or scan magazines. Make a list about what you realize you do NOT know and want to learn more about and use that as a basis for an article for the 2009 holiday season. Is there a new phrase or word or trend you’ve noticed that could be featured? Record your emotions during this time. Much has been written about holiday stress but perhaps your overwhelming feeling is joy and wonder.
O-Organize
After I list the dates that light my writer’s muse, the next step is planning ahead. Most magazines have a lead of a minimum of three months with a full six months much more realistic. My query letters need to be timely.
For example, July 30 is National Father-in-law Day, so that letter should be sent early in the year.
Newspapers work with a shorter advance time yet if I plan to present an idea for a feature article on fathers-in-law, I better plan on talking with the editor at least by spring.
A – Approach
As writers trying to find a unique approach to any topic is always a challenge. Picking a bizarre or unusual holiday provides an immediate distinction. Ideas such as Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month, World Rattlesnake Round up Week, Stupid Guy Thing Day, and Napping Day (the day after the time change in spring) sends my imagination in all sorts of directions.
Do any holidays tie into current and local issues? The economy and the energy crisis are hot topics right now. How could we as writers incorporate these issues into National Biodiesel Day in March or August’s Simplify Your Life Week?
Can you connect a local event to a national recognition? I noticed last month several of our local towns had chili cook-off competitions. I later discovered that October is National Chili Month.
Do you have a special passion that tugs at your heart? Write an article about National Domestic Violence Prevention Month, National Day of Prayer or Safe Kids Week.
Tie a special day to a vacation destination. When we traveled out west this summer to many of our national parks, the story of John Muir and his passion to protect the land fascinated me. I recently found out that John Muir Day is April 21st.
L – Links
Internet search engines can lead the writer to many holiday ideas and details. Here are a few sites I found: www.brownielocks.com, www.earthcalendar.net and www.holidayinsights.com.
To find information about what happen on this day in history, check out the history channel at www.history.com. On November 10, 1969 Sesame Street first debuted on television. They will be celebrating 40 years of exciting children programming in 2009 and a great possibility for an article.
So let’s get our creative juices rolling and plan at least one holiday feature in 2009. Writing ‘round the calendar opens our minds to new ideas and markets and serves as a rich resource of possibilities.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
LETTER OF INQUIRY
by Clella Camp
The letter of inquiry is one of the first and perhaps most important contact with an editor. It is here that as authors we make our first impression on the editor. Come travel with me in thought and deed as I write a letter of inqury to an editor.
ADDRESS AND EDITOR’S NAME: I have to be very careful about this. It must be exactly correct. I cannot be lazy and use “To whom it may concern” or “Dear Editor.” Perhaps I can research on line or use Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’Market Guide to find the name of the acquisitions editor. Sometimes I think I know, but they do change positions quickly in the publishing world so I will try to be sure about this.
THE HOOK: Well, this is the most difficult part for me. If I don’t catch them now, they may not finish my letter. At this point, I am not so well-known that my name can catch the editor.(maybe somedayJ) So I struggle with my first few sentences. Should I use a statistic, a bizarre statement, a question, a narrative that relates to my topic, or an introduction? I want to introduce my topic here also, but a declarative statement of fact will certainly not “hook” the editor.
THE BODY/INFO: Here is the easy part, but still I must put my idea in as few words as possible and yet make my point very clear. I will tell the editor my idea and then I will give my qualifications for writing this particular article. I don’t need to gloss things, but I do need to honestly list my qualifications and experience. If I have books or other articles that have been published about this topic, I should certainly indicate that. Also, I want to tell the editor when the material will be available and that I am certainly willing to edit my work.
CLOSING: As I close I want to leave a good impression. I will thank the editor for considering my proposal, and I will be absolutely sure that all the information they need to contact me is in the letter.
I will proof read carefully. I will not depend on spell check but will edit myself and then will send to my kindredheartswriters that they may also edit and make suggestions. I will make many of the corrections they suggest. After I have decided this is my best effort, I will pray, place it in envelope or send e-mail ( I have already looked at writers’ guidelines so I know which method this editor wants me to use to contact him.)
AND THEN I WAIT…AND I WAIT…AND I WAIT.
Still Waiting,
Clella
For an excellent example of a letter of inquiry click here. Mary De Muth’s link www.relevantprose.com/speaking.php?view=freestuff
The letter of inquiry is one of the first and perhaps most important contact with an editor. It is here that as authors we make our first impression on the editor. Come travel with me in thought and deed as I write a letter of inqury to an editor.
ADDRESS AND EDITOR’S NAME: I have to be very careful about this. It must be exactly correct. I cannot be lazy and use “To whom it may concern” or “Dear Editor.” Perhaps I can research on line or use Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’Market Guide to find the name of the acquisitions editor. Sometimes I think I know, but they do change positions quickly in the publishing world so I will try to be sure about this.
THE HOOK: Well, this is the most difficult part for me. If I don’t catch them now, they may not finish my letter. At this point, I am not so well-known that my name can catch the editor.(maybe somedayJ) So I struggle with my first few sentences. Should I use a statistic, a bizarre statement, a question, a narrative that relates to my topic, or an introduction? I want to introduce my topic here also, but a declarative statement of fact will certainly not “hook” the editor.
THE BODY/INFO: Here is the easy part, but still I must put my idea in as few words as possible and yet make my point very clear. I will tell the editor my idea and then I will give my qualifications for writing this particular article. I don’t need to gloss things, but I do need to honestly list my qualifications and experience. If I have books or other articles that have been published about this topic, I should certainly indicate that. Also, I want to tell the editor when the material will be available and that I am certainly willing to edit my work.
CLOSING: As I close I want to leave a good impression. I will thank the editor for considering my proposal, and I will be absolutely sure that all the information they need to contact me is in the letter.
I will proof read carefully. I will not depend on spell check but will edit myself and then will send to my kindredheartswriters that they may also edit and make suggestions. I will make many of the corrections they suggest. After I have decided this is my best effort, I will pray, place it in envelope or send e-mail ( I have already looked at writers’ guidelines so I know which method this editor wants me to use to contact him.)
AND THEN I WAIT…AND I WAIT…AND I WAIT.
Still Waiting,
Clella
For an excellent example of a letter of inquiry click here. Mary De Muth’s link www.relevantprose.com/speaking.php?view=freestuff
WHAT TO BRING TO A WRITERS' CONFERENCE
by Karen Evans
I consider this list a must for a successful Writers Conference experience. This anagram spells COACH, which is the equivalent of what conference does for your writing. A conference gives information, helps your performance, motivates you to work harder and allows you to make contact with a variety of professional and lay writers. So strap on your practice uniforms and let’s get ready.
COURAGE-to go, especially for first-timers. I was shaking in my cleats my first time. Courage to bring a manuscript, query letter, ideas and present them to editors, agents, authors for advice and hopefully publication. If you are a first time participant and/or do not have anything written, be courageous and ask as many questions as you can. Meet and make friends, you might find some you will like for life, and some you’d rather not.
COME loaded with pens and paper to take notes and phone numbers, emails….yes, do the geek thing. I have seen some people come with laptops to take notes. Can you believe it?
ONE-minute sales pitch. Rehearse a one minute sales pitch about your manuscript to present to an editor or agent. It is commonly known as the elevator speech, because that is about how long you have to present your idea. But me, I don’t talk to strangers in an elevator.
OPEN your mind and take classes in areas you haven’t thought about to expand your horizons and mental muscles. Just don’t ask me about my physical muscles.
OPEN a tote bag and gather all the available free material. It’s rather like stealing the other team’s play book. Oh, and please pay for the ones that aren’t free.
ATTITUDE-be an eager willing student. Each conference will bring new ideas, opportunities, interviews and possible publishing. If a piece is rejected have the spunk to rewrite or change the material. Get up, brush the dirt off and regroup.
ANTICIPATE that something wonderful might happen in your writing, life, or new relationships because of your excitement. If a team didn’t think it would ever win, why would they play?
CHECK-out the speakers, faculty and staff attending. This will be crucial to know who and how to present your material. Many publishers and agents have websites with information and what they currently seek for their market. You must know the other teams strengths to strategize your game plan.
HYGIENE-last but not least, this is important especially if you are staying overnight. Bring your toothbrush to have a winning smile as you speak to editors. Oh, and don’t forget clean underwear. But if you are playing a sport and want to distract your opponent, don’t bother with these.
HOME again. Take a few days, then dig in and arrange your notes, materials, ideas into some sort of organized form for future use. My friends always help me with this. Your coach, in a way, comes home with you if you have been attentive in class and gathered your materials. It also helps if you have friends to be accountable to.
So get your gear ready, get set, and hut, hut to a writer’s conference. Coach is ready when you are.
I consider this list a must for a successful Writers Conference experience. This anagram spells COACH, which is the equivalent of what conference does for your writing. A conference gives information, helps your performance, motivates you to work harder and allows you to make contact with a variety of professional and lay writers. So strap on your practice uniforms and let’s get ready.
COURAGE-to go, especially for first-timers. I was shaking in my cleats my first time. Courage to bring a manuscript, query letter, ideas and present them to editors, agents, authors for advice and hopefully publication. If you are a first time participant and/or do not have anything written, be courageous and ask as many questions as you can. Meet and make friends, you might find some you will like for life, and some you’d rather not.
COME loaded with pens and paper to take notes and phone numbers, emails….yes, do the geek thing. I have seen some people come with laptops to take notes. Can you believe it?
ONE-minute sales pitch. Rehearse a one minute sales pitch about your manuscript to present to an editor or agent. It is commonly known as the elevator speech, because that is about how long you have to present your idea. But me, I don’t talk to strangers in an elevator.
OPEN your mind and take classes in areas you haven’t thought about to expand your horizons and mental muscles. Just don’t ask me about my physical muscles.
OPEN a tote bag and gather all the available free material. It’s rather like stealing the other team’s play book. Oh, and please pay for the ones that aren’t free.
ATTITUDE-be an eager willing student. Each conference will bring new ideas, opportunities, interviews and possible publishing. If a piece is rejected have the spunk to rewrite or change the material. Get up, brush the dirt off and regroup.
ANTICIPATE that something wonderful might happen in your writing, life, or new relationships because of your excitement. If a team didn’t think it would ever win, why would they play?
CHECK-out the speakers, faculty and staff attending. This will be crucial to know who and how to present your material. Many publishers and agents have websites with information and what they currently seek for their market. You must know the other teams strengths to strategize your game plan.
HYGIENE-last but not least, this is important especially if you are staying overnight. Bring your toothbrush to have a winning smile as you speak to editors. Oh, and don’t forget clean underwear. But if you are playing a sport and want to distract your opponent, don’t bother with these.
HOME again. Take a few days, then dig in and arrange your notes, materials, ideas into some sort of organized form for future use. My friends always help me with this. Your coach, in a way, comes home with you if you have been attentive in class and gathered your materials. It also helps if you have friends to be accountable to.
So get your gear ready, get set, and hut, hut to a writer’s conference. Coach is ready when you are.
ORGANIZING THE WRITER'S OFFICE SPACE:PORTABLE SOLUTIONS
by Johnnie Donley
When it comes to organizing your writing space, keep the KISS acronym in mind: keep it simple, sweetie! The more complicated your organizational system, the less likely it is to work. As a writer, you have specific needs beyond that of the typical office. How are you going to organize sample magazines, writers' guidelines, and writing projects? Whether you have a room to call your own, claimed the dining room table, or carved out a little corner nook, portable KISS solutions will keep you organized.
Once upon a time, I placed every magazine I could find in its own labeled folder along with guidelines (when I had them). But you know what happened? Most never saw the light of day again. In fact, I recently found one of those filing crates in the garage. Hanging folders neatly held neatly labeled file folders. Each folder held a pristine magazine. Dating back to the last century.
When I did take magazines out of their folders, I wouldn't take the time to re-file them. Instead I piled them. And piled them. And piled them.
Now I skip the filing step and purposely pile magazines in canvas tote bags. You know, the ones you can get for about a dollar at Wal-Mart and the grocery stores. They stack neatly in a closet when not in use. And when I want to look through the magazines, I haul the bag to the family room couch for leisurely study. When I'm done, the magazines go back in the bag and the bag goes back in the closet. No re-filing required. And no taking up needed space in a filing cabinet.
I don't file writers' guidelines anymore, either. Instead, I slip them in sheet protectors and keep them, alphabetized, in a large three-ring binder. It's so easy to open the notebook and flip through the pages. No more labeling file folders. No more re-filing (or, worse, piling). When I'm done, I just close the binder and put it back on the bookshelf.
Three-ring notebooks and sheet protectors are great for organizing other items, too. I have one with a section for a section for tracking submissions and queries. It also contains favorite motivational articles. My career goals are in the front section where I can refer to them often.
The notes, research, and drafts of a writing project can become overwhelming and cumbersome. When two or more projects compete for desk space, items can get misplaced or forgotten. There are several solutions, depending on the size of the project.
A file folder may be enough for a personal story that will be submitted to an anthology. A three-ring binder can organize interviews, notes, and drafts for articles. A filing crate, like the one I found in my garage, are great for organizing book projects. Prolific novelist Carole Gift Paige uses these crates for each of her works-in-progress. File folders hold drafts and notes for each separate chapter. Relevant books and other research materials get stashed behind the folders. The crate can be hidden away when not in use and easily brought out when needed.
When it comes to organizing magazines, writers' guidelines, and writing projects, remember KISS. Canvas bags, three-ring notebooks, and filing crates provide portability that you just don't get with a filing cabinet. Best of all, there's no need for re-filing. Or needless piling.
When it comes to organizing your writing space, keep the KISS acronym in mind: keep it simple, sweetie! The more complicated your organizational system, the less likely it is to work. As a writer, you have specific needs beyond that of the typical office. How are you going to organize sample magazines, writers' guidelines, and writing projects? Whether you have a room to call your own, claimed the dining room table, or carved out a little corner nook, portable KISS solutions will keep you organized.
Once upon a time, I placed every magazine I could find in its own labeled folder along with guidelines (when I had them). But you know what happened? Most never saw the light of day again. In fact, I recently found one of those filing crates in the garage. Hanging folders neatly held neatly labeled file folders. Each folder held a pristine magazine. Dating back to the last century.
When I did take magazines out of their folders, I wouldn't take the time to re-file them. Instead I piled them. And piled them. And piled them.
Now I skip the filing step and purposely pile magazines in canvas tote bags. You know, the ones you can get for about a dollar at Wal-Mart and the grocery stores. They stack neatly in a closet when not in use. And when I want to look through the magazines, I haul the bag to the family room couch for leisurely study. When I'm done, the magazines go back in the bag and the bag goes back in the closet. No re-filing required. And no taking up needed space in a filing cabinet.
I don't file writers' guidelines anymore, either. Instead, I slip them in sheet protectors and keep them, alphabetized, in a large three-ring binder. It's so easy to open the notebook and flip through the pages. No more labeling file folders. No more re-filing (or, worse, piling). When I'm done, I just close the binder and put it back on the bookshelf.
Three-ring notebooks and sheet protectors are great for organizing other items, too. I have one with a section for a section for tracking submissions and queries. It also contains favorite motivational articles. My career goals are in the front section where I can refer to them often.
The notes, research, and drafts of a writing project can become overwhelming and cumbersome. When two or more projects compete for desk space, items can get misplaced or forgotten. There are several solutions, depending on the size of the project.
A file folder may be enough for a personal story that will be submitted to an anthology. A three-ring binder can organize interviews, notes, and drafts for articles. A filing crate, like the one I found in my garage, are great for organizing book projects. Prolific novelist Carole Gift Paige uses these crates for each of her works-in-progress. File folders hold drafts and notes for each separate chapter. Relevant books and other research materials get stashed behind the folders. The crate can be hidden away when not in use and easily brought out when needed.
When it comes to organizing magazines, writers' guidelines, and writing projects, remember KISS. Canvas bags, three-ring notebooks, and filing crates provide portability that you just don't get with a filing cabinet. Best of all, there's no need for re-filing. Or needless piling.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
WRITING PITFALLS
by Laura Groves
Watch out for these Pitfalls!
It’s possible to commit any number of writing errors, but below are six errors that make an editor cringe. Read on and learn how to avoid these common blunders.
1. “YOUR POINT IS?” THE EDITOR BARKED.
The use of empty adverbs is, quite frankly, just rather empty. Take a look at a sentence that uses the word “actually” or “totally.”
Kate was totally enraged when she realized she had been tricked.
(Can one be partially enraged?)
After weeks in a wheelchair, Sam was actually walking on his own power.
(Is there a chance the reader thinks Sam lives in a virtual world?)
If words like hopefully, incredibly, completely don’t really say anything in your sentence, banish them!
2. IT WORKS FOR WILL, BUT YOU SHOULD AVOID PASSIVITY.
“To be or not to be” works for Will Shakespeare, but the buck stops there. The use of “being” verbs like is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been can be so unimaginative.
It was a crisp, fall day.
(Autumn exploded in a frenzy of color while the leaves crunched under my toasty boots.)
There was a black cat lying on the doorstep.
(Shimmering like polished onyx, the black cat slithered over to the doorstep and carefully wound herself in a lazy semicircle.)
Those being verbs are used in passive constructions as well, so stay away from sentences like “The watch was stolen by Jim.” To avoid passivity, search and destroy those being verbs and replace them with vivid, active, engaging verbs! Perhaps “The stolen watch, pilfered by sticky-fingers Jim, jangled in his pocket.”
3. YOUR EDITOR READ IT THE FIRST TIME, AND THE SECOND, AND…
We all have favorite words, but break out that thesaurus! Find another way to say it. Repeating words distracts the reader and makes the author seem derivative. Even repeated sentence structure can blindside you, if you’re not careful.
“It’s a worthy project,” agreed Kirsten.
“Yes, but it’s also a costly project. What do you project in terms of cost?”
Enough said.
4. DON’T JUST TELL…USE IMAGERY.
We’ve all heard, “Show, don’t tell.” And we’ve all been guilty of that at one time or another. The best way to avoid telling? Use the senses! It’s what we English teachers call imagery: the use of sensory detail that evokes a reaction from the reader. Imagery gets a reader involved; he is no longer simply digesting a combination of words and trying to comprehend their meaning, he is relating to the work. We’ve told our reader something without “telling” him. When we show Ali surrounded by loving children, reveling in their laughter and capturing their chubby little hands in hers, the reader knows that Ali adores children. We don’t have to say, blandly “Ali just loved children.” The reader sees it and knows it.
5. RESUSCITATE YOUR WRITING WITH IMAGERY.
Flat, boring writing may get the plot from the first point to the second, but that’s all it accomplishes. Here’s an example:
After picking up his son at school, Brett stopped to get gas before heading toward home.
If you do that once and it appears in the midst of interesting sentences, it’s not so bad. A constant diet of this, however, will require the crash cart!
If you need help on this one, re-read numbers 2 and 4 above. Kill two birds with one stone -- use vivid verbs and imagery while communicating plot details.
6. COMMAS GONE BAD OBSCURE YOUR MEANING.
Commas make sentences understandable to the reader. Without them, you risk confusing your reader. Here’s a simple example.
Mary my sister is coming.
(Are you speaking to Mary? If so: Mary, my sister is coming.)
(Is Mary your sister? If so: Mary, my sister, is coming.)
If confusion can reign in such a simplistic sentence, you can imagine how misleading a complex sentence can be without clarifying commas. There are a number of important comma rules. I am an English teacher by trade and you really don’t want to get me started on the rules. Suffice it to say, if you don’t know the rules, pick up a book and learn them!
Watch out for these Pitfalls!
It’s possible to commit any number of writing errors, but below are six errors that make an editor cringe. Read on and learn how to avoid these common blunders.
1. “YOUR POINT IS?” THE EDITOR BARKED.
The use of empty adverbs is, quite frankly, just rather empty. Take a look at a sentence that uses the word “actually” or “totally.”
Kate was totally enraged when she realized she had been tricked.
(Can one be partially enraged?)
After weeks in a wheelchair, Sam was actually walking on his own power.
(Is there a chance the reader thinks Sam lives in a virtual world?)
If words like hopefully, incredibly, completely don’t really say anything in your sentence, banish them!
2. IT WORKS FOR WILL, BUT YOU SHOULD AVOID PASSIVITY.
“To be or not to be” works for Will Shakespeare, but the buck stops there. The use of “being” verbs like is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been can be so unimaginative.
It was a crisp, fall day.
(Autumn exploded in a frenzy of color while the leaves crunched under my toasty boots.)
There was a black cat lying on the doorstep.
(Shimmering like polished onyx, the black cat slithered over to the doorstep and carefully wound herself in a lazy semicircle.)
Those being verbs are used in passive constructions as well, so stay away from sentences like “The watch was stolen by Jim.” To avoid passivity, search and destroy those being verbs and replace them with vivid, active, engaging verbs! Perhaps “The stolen watch, pilfered by sticky-fingers Jim, jangled in his pocket.”
3. YOUR EDITOR READ IT THE FIRST TIME, AND THE SECOND, AND…
We all have favorite words, but break out that thesaurus! Find another way to say it. Repeating words distracts the reader and makes the author seem derivative. Even repeated sentence structure can blindside you, if you’re not careful.
“It’s a worthy project,” agreed Kirsten.
“Yes, but it’s also a costly project. What do you project in terms of cost?”
Enough said.
4. DON’T JUST TELL…USE IMAGERY.
We’ve all heard, “Show, don’t tell.” And we’ve all been guilty of that at one time or another. The best way to avoid telling? Use the senses! It’s what we English teachers call imagery: the use of sensory detail that evokes a reaction from the reader. Imagery gets a reader involved; he is no longer simply digesting a combination of words and trying to comprehend their meaning, he is relating to the work. We’ve told our reader something without “telling” him. When we show Ali surrounded by loving children, reveling in their laughter and capturing their chubby little hands in hers, the reader knows that Ali adores children. We don’t have to say, blandly “Ali just loved children.” The reader sees it and knows it.
5. RESUSCITATE YOUR WRITING WITH IMAGERY.
Flat, boring writing may get the plot from the first point to the second, but that’s all it accomplishes. Here’s an example:
After picking up his son at school, Brett stopped to get gas before heading toward home.
If you do that once and it appears in the midst of interesting sentences, it’s not so bad. A constant diet of this, however, will require the crash cart!
If you need help on this one, re-read numbers 2 and 4 above. Kill two birds with one stone -- use vivid verbs and imagery while communicating plot details.
6. COMMAS GONE BAD OBSCURE YOUR MEANING.
Commas make sentences understandable to the reader. Without them, you risk confusing your reader. Here’s a simple example.
Mary my sister is coming.
(Are you speaking to Mary? If so: Mary, my sister is coming.)
(Is Mary your sister? If so: Mary, my sister, is coming.)
If confusion can reign in such a simplistic sentence, you can imagine how misleading a complex sentence can be without clarifying commas. There are a number of important comma rules. I am an English teacher by trade and you really don’t want to get me started on the rules. Suffice it to say, if you don’t know the rules, pick up a book and learn them!
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