I love these; and as they clearly state at the bottom, we are free to recirculate them. I will be reading memoirs and poetry of Afghani women at the Afghan Women's Writing Project. Events like these are crucial to all of us finding, and keeping a writer's voice. Long live Free Speech!
W R I T I N G W O R L D
A World of Writing Information - For Writers Around the World
http://www.writing-world.com/
Issue 11:16 12,722 subscribers August 18, 2011
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MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION: See the bottom of this newsletter for
details on how to subscribe, unsubscribe, or contact the editors.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
=================================================================
THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR'S DESK: To Content Write, or Not To Content
Write, by Dawn Copeman
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK, by Moira Allen
THE WRITING DESK: Pseudonyms, by Moira Allen
NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF WRITING
FEATURE: How to Tell - and Sell - Your Ancestor's Life Story,
by Susie Yakowicz
THE WRITE SITES -- Online Resources for Writers
WRITING CONTESTS WITH NO ENTRY FEES
The Author's Bookshelf
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WRITERSCOLLEGE.COM has 57 online courses. Prices are low. If you
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BECOME A FICTION WRITER. Get published. Get paid.
Create manuscripts that are ready to submit to editors and
publishers. Learn the techniques from an experienced professional
writer - online or by mail. Free Writing Test offered.
http://www.breakintoprint.com/W1646
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You CAN Make a Great Full-Time Living As a Writer!
Once you know the simple secrets of writing for this little-known
lucrative market. You can work from home, be in control of your
schedule and earn an average of $75-$150 an hour.
http://www.thewriterslife.com/a63/full-time-living
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THOUSANDS OF WRITERS USE FANSTORY.COM FOR:
* Feedback. Get feedback for every poem and story that you write.
* Contests. Over 40 contests are always open and free to enter.
* Rankings. Statistics will show you how your writing is doing.
http://www.fanstory.com/index1.jsp?at=38
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FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR'S DESK
=================================================================
To Content Write, or Not To Content Write?
------------------------------------------
Okay, I'm a bit Shakespeared out at the moment. Just saw David
Tennant and Catherine Tate in "Much Ado About Nothing" with my
nine-year-old daughter and it was fantastic! She'd never read the
play before and she loved it and understood it all. Not bad for
'hard' Shakespearian dialogue.
That said, she's already watched Hamlet (in three one-hour
segments) and neither of us can get the lyrics of 'Shakespearian
Pie' by Robert Lund out of our heads - hence today's title. (If
you haven't heard Shakespearian Pie, you can listen to it here:
http://www.thefump.com/fump.php?id=1014)
So, yet another editorial on content writing, you're thinking.
Well, yes, we've had lots of e-mails on this topic so it's
obviously one that is important to you.
Many of you are livid that we've even mentioned the subject. Yet
it is a fact of modern writing life and it won't just go away if we
ignore it. What we can do is advise people on the potential
bonuses and pitfalls of this type of writing. Plus, many writers DO
make some money at this.
There are some good content writing sites out there. There are
some that a new writer will find particularly useful in helping to
learn the craft, that give good editorial feedback and teach a
writer how to structure nonfiction work.
I've found one that I find useful to use as a writing warm-up each
day, a way to get my writing muscles moving. I have to write a
short 350 - 440 word nonfiction article on a topic of my choice and
do so as quickly as possible. The fact that I can earn some money
for this is a bonus. It really works those writing muscles and
warms me up for better paying, longer pieces of work.
But if you do choose to write content pieces, then at least make
sure you know the reasons why you are doing so. Don't get caught
writing for them to the exclusion of potentially higher paying
work. Keep the balance right and don't think just because you
write for them now that this is all you will ever be able to do.
So, yes, whilst I am aware that there is a petition to stop writing
for low-paying markets, http://grou.ps/writerspetition, I'm not
going to tell writers what to do. We each have the right to make
our own way in this writing world and what works for some won't
work for others. But isn't that the way it's always been?
-- Dawn Copeman, Newsletter Editor
*****************************************************************
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK: AN ANNOUNCEMENT
=================================================================
Newsflash! Writing-World.com now features book reviews. Beginning
August 2011, we will consider writing-related books for review. We
hope to review one book per month. Check out our first review, of
Philip Martin's "How to Write Your Best Story: Advice for Writers
on Spinning an Enchanting Tale," on our front page or at
http://www.writing-world.com/reviews/story.shtml
We will consider commercially published books, self-published
books, POD and e-books. We will only publish reviews of books that
offer seriously useful information for writers.
Please note that this is a review section for WRITING BOOKS ONLY.
This is not for general-interest books, fiction, etc. For
information on how to submit a book for review, visit
http://www.writing-world.com/reviews/submit.shtml
-- Moira Allen, Editor
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CHILDREN'S WRITERS
Over 1,000 children's editors have it delivered to their desk each
month. You can too - and get your first two issues FREE.
http://www.thechildrenswriter.com/AK072
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The Writing Desk: Pseudonyms
=================================================================
By Moira Allen
How do I copyright my pseudonym?
--------------------------------
Q: I write under a pseudonym. I am currently unpublished. In the
event that I do become published, I want to know what steps I
should take just simply copyrighting my pseudonym. How do I assure
that my pseudonym, merely the name I write under, can only be used
by me? I want to own the rights to my pseudonym.
A: As far as I know, you cannot actually "copyright" a pseudonym.
Copyright is the wrong term; it applies only to a "created work"
such as an article, story, poem, song, etc. It does not apply to
names, ideas, or "information" (data).
I believe the only way you could actually protect your pseudonym so
that no one else uses it would be to obtain a trademark. However,
that is extremely difficult, and you would need to be able to show
that your pseudonym is already a recognized name -- i.e., that you
have already published under that name sufficiently to justify its
protection.
For example, the name "V.C. Andrews" is trademarked. V.C. Andrews
herself died many years ago; the books written under her name are
written by ghostwriters, and the name is owned by the publisher.
However, this name could not have been trademarked until it was,
itself, considered sufficiently recognizable as the "producer" of a
particular type of product to merit the trademark. (In other
words, trademarks aren't just given out for the asking.)
If I may venture an opinion in another direction, I think perhaps
you are focusing on the wrong issues just now. If you are a young
writer, as yet unpublished, your primary focus should be on
developing your craft and skill. Worrying about pseudonyms at this
point is like worrying about what color ribbon to tie around an
empty package. Work on the writing side. Work toward publication.
Work toward building your name -- whatever name you choose -- into
a name that will be recognized for the quality of your work.
To be blunt, as long as you are an unknown, unpublished writer,
your name means nothing -- trademarked or not. However, once you
become a known writer, your name will take on the meaning that I
suspect you seek -- and it really won't matter, at that point, if
someone else happens to have or use the same name, because your
name will always be associated with your work. And by the time you
reach that point of recognition and expertise, you will also have
(I suspect) a different view of what matters in the writing
profession.
What do I have to do, legally, to use a pen name?
-------------------------------------------------
Q: Is there something I have to do legally to use a pen name? How
do I find out if it is already being used or is someone's name?
A: You don't have to do anything "legally" (e.g., go to court, file
a form, etc.) to use a pen name. Nor is a pen name something that
can be copyrighted (though in rare instances it can be
trademarked), so it doesn't actually matter whether someone else is
using it or not. Technically, you could call yourself "Stephen
King" if you wanted to, though I wouldn't recommend it. You can't,
however, call yourself "V.C. Andrews," because that pen name
actually IS trademarked by the publisher of V.C. Andrews's books.
If you want to write under a pen name, it's usually best to let the
publisher know your real name, but ask to have the pen name used as
your byline. This is so that you can receive checks in the correct
name, which is linked to your social security number. If you don't
even want the publisher to know your real name, you may have to
develop a "business" identity ("doing business as" or "dba") so
that you can get paid properly, because publishers have to have
your correct social security number for tax purposes. To link a
pen name to your SSN, I believe you'd have to do something like the
above, which is complicated and really not worth the effort.
Copyright 2011 Moira Allen
****************************************************************
BEGINNERS! LEARN THE BASICS of writing for magazines and online
publishers FREE from an experienced freelancer. Learn how to find
ideas & markets, write queries that sell and get paid for your
writing. Sign-up for free weekly writing tips.
http://www.freelance-write-now.com/
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NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF WRITING
=================================================================
Four First Time Novelists Make the Booker Shortlist
---------------------------------------------------
There is much excitement and anticipation amongst the judges of
this year's Man Booker prize as four first time novelists make the
long list. Small and independent publishers are also well
represented in the list. The short list will be announced in
September. For more on this story visit: http://tinyurl.com/3vyzdf4
Transworld Produces Game App
----------------------------
Publisher Transworld Digital, together with Distinctive
Developments, has developed a game based on Lee Child's character
Jack Reacher. Lee Child has sold over 50 million copies worldwide
of his books featuring Jack Reacher. In the game, 'I am Reacher',
the reader has the chance to act as Child's hero. For more
information visit: http://www.distinctivegames.com/?p=566
Journalists Attacked in London Riots
------------------------------------
Journalists and reporters were attacked in several parts of London.
In scenes not normally seen outside of war zones, London
journalists found themselves under attack for doing their job,
especially any who were seen to be taking photographs or filming
the rioters. For more on this story visit:
http://tinyurl.com/3zv7mee
*****************************************************************
EVERYHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SETTING FREELANCE FEES! Find out
how to negotiate agreements, choose pricing strategies, define
tasks, deal with difficult customers, and much more in "What
to Charge: Pricing Strategies for Freelancers and Consultants"
(2nd Edition) by Laurie Lewis. In print and Kindle from Amazon
at http://tinyurl.com/setyourfees
***************************************************************
Writing Jobs and Opportunities
=================================================================
Call for Horror Submissions
---------------------------
Hellicious Horrors(TM) Epublishing, the epublishing company devoted
solely to horror e-books starring preteens through young adults, is
looking for fresh, imaginative young writer/new authors. Anyone
submitting *must* have a finished novel (40,000 words or more).
Though we prioritize the young writer/new authors, we encourage ALL
to send in submissions and welcome inquiries. Please see the
submissions guidelines on our website for more information.
http://www.hellicioushorrors.com/
Bull Men's Fiction
------------------
Bull is looking for good stories that address men's issues, span
male perspectives, or otherwise appeal to a male audience. They
want interesting and engaging, acute and insightful.
If you think men would appreciate your stuff, they want to check it
out. Open to male or female authors.
Note: "BULL respects the days when editors were editors, that is,
someone who will work with a writer for the sake of a great story.
Which means you'll see quality, cared-for fiction on this site, and
means your submission might kick off a fulfilling and congenial
editorial dialogue." http://bullmensfiction.com/submit.html
*****************************************************************
HOW TO WRITE YOUR BEST STORY
This inspiring, practical new book will help you write
your best story and improve your chances to get published.
These are the most durable, successful, and time-tested tips,
techniques and examples of best practices used by great writers.
http://www.crickhollowbooks.com/write_your_best_story.html
***************************************************************
FEATURE: How to Tell - and Sell - Your Ancestor's Life Story
===============================================================
By Susie Yakowicz
Did your ancestor live during an exciting time in history and share
the experience? Maybe he or she made a noteworthy contribution to
the community or society as a whole. If you think your ancestor has
an interesting life story, now might be the time to tell it.
Writing about a past family member can be one of the most rewarding
and enjoyable projects for any writer. It can also be one of the
most difficult to sell. Not only does your ancestor's story have to
interest people besides you and your family, it has to be told in
an interesting way. The good news is that pulling this off might be
easier than you think. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
1. Use family and public resources for research.
-------------------------------------------------
No matter how well you think you know your ancestor's life story,
you will need to do a reasonable amount of research before you
begin writing. Researching your ancestor's life will not only help
you corroborate the facts, it will uncover new information that
might be useful to you -- and interesting to readers. Where do you
look for information? In the family, for starters. Take advantage
of your living relatives -- especially the older generations -- and
ask them to provide you with anything related to your ancestor.
Some useful resources include scrapbooks, photo albums, family
papers, journals, and diaries. Look for unique details, like quirky
personality traits, unusual hobbies, and newsworthy anecdotes. But
don't stop there. Get your relatives to talk. Find out everything
they remember about your ancestor, and don't take anything for
granted. Even the smallest detail may have a place in your story.
An interview with a relative may lead to more contacts --
neighbors, friends, or other acquaintances who know something about
your ancestor. Follow up on those leads, too.
Besides researching your ancestor within the family, take advantage
of all public resources that may have something to offer.
Researching an ancestor's life requires some basic genealogy work.
Historical libraries and government agencies can provide you with
all kinds of factual information, including census records, church
records, and birth and death certificates. Or, try The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (http://www.lds.org/), where a
large collection of genealogy records can be found. Archived
newspapers from the town where your ancestor lived are also a good
resource. They can provide information on births, deaths,
marriages, and interesting events that helped shape your ancestor's
life.
2. Decide whether a book or an article is best.
------------------------------------------------
Once you've gathered and studied your research, you'll have to
decide what's the best format for delivering your story -- a book
or an article? An important thing to consider is your audience.
Although writing a book about an ancestor is an admirable
undertaking, it may not be a practical one for targeting readers
outside the family. Even if your ancestor lived a full life that
included many achievements and honors, that may not all be
captivating enough to hold the public's attention page after page.
An article, on the other hand, allows you to focus on the most
fascinating details of your ancestor's life and create a tighter,
more enjoyable story for everyone.
Of course, if there's plenty to tell about your ancestor that would
keep your audience interested through many chapters, a book, such
as a biography or memoir, is the way to go. Biographies usually
cover an entire life, whereas a memoir might focus on a certain
aspect or time frame of the subject's life. Family history books
are also popular formats; however, family histories usually include
several generations of people and don't always attract public
interest.
Whether you decide on a book or article, it's a good idea to
research a number of magazine, newspaper, or book publishers that
might be good prospects for your ancestor's story. Browse their
websites, review their writer's guidelines, and study their works
for style and structure. If you're writing a book, you have the
option to self publish, which means you can write the book however
you want. Just make sure you understand all the pros and cons of
doing it yourself.
3. Write an actual story, from beginning to end.
------------------------------------------------
Some writers prefer to work off an outline; others don't. Either
way, your ancestor's story will have a better chance of interesting
readers if it's organized and written like an actual story -- with
an engaging beginning, middle, and end. Not sure how to begin? Try
NOT at the beginning. One way to draw in the reader is to get right
to an exciting part of your ancestor's story. Open with a scene of
conflict or suspense, for example. Then continue to engage the
reader and bring the history to life with lively dialogue, vivid
details, and action.
Fictionalizing, or adding imaginary details, may be necessary when
writing your ancestor's story and can be a useful technique. Many
biographers fictionalize parts of their stories to give them better
readability and fill in gaps. But understand that made-up material
still needs to be credible. Details that contradict the facts and
dialect that doesn't jive with the time and place will give the
reader reason to pause and question the validity of the story.
Just as fictionalizing can make a nonfiction piece more interesting
and enjoyable to read, so can clear, error-free writing. Take the
time and effort to check for proper spelling, grammar, and word
usage. And watch out for clutter -- words and phrases that are
redundant and don't add anything new to the narrative. Finally,
avoid using the passive voice. Like clutter, the passive voice can
make a good story drag on or fall flat for the reader.
4. Write without bias.
-----------------------
One important word of caution -- and this is probably the hardest
part about writing a family piece: If you want your ancestor's
story to interest the public, it's going to have to be written
without bias. A story riddled with favoritism or opinion can raise
the amateur red flag -- and likely kill your chances of a sale.
How can you tell if your writing sounds biased or not? You probably
can't, so ask a nonfamily member, preferably a distant acquaintance
whose judgment you respect (another writer, historian, or educator
perhaps), to read your first draft and give you some feedback. If
you receive a comment like, "I can tell you're very proud of your
great-great-aunt," well, maybe it's time to rethink (and rewrite)
the piece. But keep in mind that writing without bias doesn't mean
you can't write with feeling. Successful writers do both.
5. Gather interesting images.
-----------------------------
Pictures can speak a thousand words -- and help sell manuscripts.
Although your descriptions may be thorough and vivid, they won't
take the place of an actual image for the reader. And editors tend
to be more interested in manuscripts that have accompanying photos
than those that don't. But your images don't have to be limited to
photographs. Diary excerpts, sketches, handwritten letters, and
maps, for example, can all help tell your ancestor's story. Dig
deep and be selective with your choices. Several good images will
be more valuable than many poor quality ones.
When it comes to gathering images, the family collection isn't the
only place to look. Check out history centers, local museums, and
town libraries for photos, too. And don't forget to look online --
you never know what might show up. But before using an image, take
care to follow copyright and reproduction policies. Most family
photos require no special permissions or fees to reprint, however
images from historical societies, online sources, or other public
information centers often do.
Now that you know the basics of writing a sellable family story,
it's time to get started. Writing about an ancestor is the perfect
way to create an exciting tale that's unique and near and dear to
the heart. And by following a few simple tips, you can interest an
audience that extends way beyond the family.
>>--------------------------------------------------<<
Susie Yakowicz writes for children and adults on a number of
topics. She especially enjoys researching and writing about her
ancestors. To learn more about her work, please visit her website
at http://www.susieyakowicz.com/.
Copyright 2011 Susie Yakowicz
For more information on writing family history visit:
http://www.writing-world.com/freelance/famhist.shtml
****************************************************************
EBOOK SELF-PUBLISHING EXPLAINED
An epublishing revolution is sweeping the industry. We explain what
is happening and show you how to self-publish your own ebooks.
http://www.publishyourownebooks.com/
*****************************************************************
THE WRITE SITES
=================================================================
52/250
------
This was a yearlong project to produce flash fiction stories of 250
words or less every week for a year. If you love flash fiction or
want to start writing it, this is a great place to visit.
http://52250flash.wordpress.com/
Editorial Department
--------------------
This site contains a wealth of information for writers of fiction
and nonfiction alike. Check out their resources and in particular
the First 50, where they look at what made fifty books publishable.
http://www.editorialdepartment.com/
MicroHorror.com
---------------
Here is a site to hone your flash and horror writing skills. This
site accepts horror stories of 666 words or less. For some short
but spine tingling stories, check this site out.
http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/
TOTALLY AWESOME BLOG OF THE MONTH:
Ghostwriter Dad, by Sean Platt
------------------------------
Don't let the title fool you! This blog covers topics of interest
to any professional writer, not just ghostwriters. And there are
lots of tips here! Recent posts have covered grammar, writing
tweets, social media, and ways to earn more money.
http://ghostwriterdad.com/
****************************************************************
WIN PRIZES AND GET PUBLISHED! Find out how to submit your stories,
poetry, articles and books to hundreds of writing contests in the
US and internationally. Newly updated for 2010, WRITING TO WIN by
Moira Allen is the one-stop resource you need for contests and
contest tips. Visit Writing-WorldCom's bookstore for details:
http://www.writing-world.com/bookstore/index.shtml
*****************************************************************
WRITING CONTESTS
=================================================================
This section lists contests that charge no entry fees. Unless
otherwise indicated, competitions are open to all adult writers.
For a guide to more than 1000 writing contests throughout the
world, see Moira Allen's book, "Writing to Win: The Colossal
Guide to Writing Contests"
(http://www.writing-world.com/bookstore/index.shtml).
BO'S CAFE LIFE FICTION CONTEST!
-------------------------------
DEADLINE: August 31, 2011
GENRE: Short Stories
DETAILS: 1000-word story inspired by cafe life. Wayne E. Pollard,
creator of Bo's Cafe Life, and Regina Williams, publisher of The
Storyteller magazine, will judge.
PRIZE: A copy of the Bo's Cafe Life collection "I'm Not Out of
Work...I'm a Writer!!" and publication in The Storyteller
Magazine.
URL: http://boscafelife.wordpress.com/bos-cafe-life-contests/
HELEN SCHAIBLE SHAKESPEAREAN/PETRARCHAN SONNET CONTEST
------------------------------------------------------
DEADLINE: September 1, 2011
GENRE: Poetry
DETAILS: One 14-line traditional form sonnet
PRIZES: $50, $35, $15
URL: http://poetsandpatrons.net/Schaibel11.html
FAMILY CIRCLE FICTION CONTEST
-----------------------------
DEADLINE: September 9, 2011
GENRE: Short stories
OPEN TO: US residents only aged 18+.
DETAILS: Submit a maximum of two stories, 2500 words each.
PRIZE: $750, Possible publication in Family Circle, a gift
certificate to one mediabistro.com course of his or her choice (up
to a value of $610), a one-year mediabistro.com AvantGuild
membership (valued at $55), and a one-year mediabistro.com On
Demand Videos membership (valued at $147)
URL: http://tinyurl.com/3hnrpr8
ATLAS SHRUGGED ESSAY CONTEST FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
-------------------------------------------------
DEADLINE: September 17, 2011
GENRE: Young Writers
OPEN TO: High school seniors, college students, and graduate
students
DETAILS: 800-1,600 words essay in answer to one of the questions
on the website about Rand's novel "Atlas Shrugged.".
PRIZE: $10,000, Three 2nd Prizes of $2,000, five 3rd Prizes of
$1,000, 25 finalist prizes of $100, 50 semifinalists of $50
URL: http://tinyurl.com/423xry8
ANDERBO SEEKS NOVELIST CONTEST
------------------------------
DEADLINE: September 21, 2011
GENRE: Books
DETAILS: Submit first 36 pages, 9000 words of your novel to
Anderbo by email.
PRIZE: $500 and publication of your extract on the literary
website for six months.
URL: http://www.anderbo.com/anderbo1/andernovelcontest-02.html
*****************************************************************
AUTHOR'S BOOKSHELF: Books by Our Readers
=================================================================
Lady Father, by Susan Bowman
Find these and more great books at
http://www.writing-world.com/books/index.shtml
Have you just had a book published? If so, let our readers know:
just click on the link below to list your book.
http://www.writing-world.com/books/listyours.shtml
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on how to reach more than 100,000 writers a month with your
product, service or book title, visit
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Writing World is a publication of Writing-World.com
http://www.writing-world.com/
Editor and Publisher: MOIRA ALLEN (editors@writing-world.com)
Newsletter Editor: DAWN COPEMAN (editorial@writing-world.com)
Copyright 2011 Moira Allen
Individual articles copyrighted by their authors.
Back issues archived at
http://www.writing-world.com/newsletter/index.shtml
Writing World is hosted by Aweber.com
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