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 Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Glimmer Train Monthly News
Posted by Jane
Glimmer Train has just chosen the winning stories for their September Fiction Open competition. This competition is held quarterly and is open to all writers for stories with a word count range between 2000-20,000. No theme restrictions. The next Fiction Open competition will take place in December. Glimmer Train’s monthly submission calendar may be viewed here.
First place: Carrie Brown (pictured above) of Sweet Briar, VA, wins $2000 for “Bomb.” Her story will be published in the Fall 2010 issue of Glimmer Train Stories, out in August 2010.
Second place: Ken Barris of Cape Town, South Africa, wins $1000 for “Life Underwater.” His story will also be published in an upcoming issue of Glimmer Train Stories.
Third place: Lydia Fitzpatrick of Brooklyn NY, wins $600 for “Ellijay.”
A PDF of the Top 25 winners can be found here.
Glimmer Train has also selected the 50 winning entries for their Best Start competition. Each wins $50 and makes Glimmer Train’s Best Start list.
Deadline soon approaching!
November Short Story Award for New Writers: November 30
This competition is held quarterly and is open to writers whose fiction has not appeared in a print publication with a circulation over 5,000. No theme restrictions. Word count should not exceed 12,000. (All shorter lengths welcome.) Click here for complete guidelines.
--
If
you didn't know, Writer's Digest partnered with Glimmer Train to
publish two compilation volumes of the best stuff from their Writers Ask newsletter.
Be sure to check them out.
 
General
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 4:51:52 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  Trackback
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Sunday, November 15, 2009
Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 11/13/09)
Posted by Jane
I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit each Sunday
for the week's best Tweets. If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments. Always
welcome your suggestions on improving this weekly feature.
Best of Best
Great post from an agent about why books are rejected
@BubbleCow
@RachelleGardner on when/how a book becomes profitable. Best thing I've read all week.
@ChuckSambuchino
3 Common Mistakes an editor is seeing in manuscripts
@ElizabethSCraig
Great post about what an agent looks for in a query letter
@BubbleCow
Annie Dillard's take-no-prisoners approach to writing (via @ContraryMag @catchingdays)
@DebraMarrs
Problem: Query letters have a lack of conflict
@inkyelbows
Stand Alone
Poets: build audience online and via live performances. Digitize everything, and think beyond text. Print = archive/souvenir/premium.
@glecharles
Nothing against the book, but too many poets see it as end game. Solo poetry books don't sell; think bigger.
@glecharles
Poets should be all over digital publishing: eChapbooks, podcasts, video, Kinetic Typography. Save "the book" for when you're dead.
@glecharles
If you want to know what you get done in a day, log not only your writing, but your procrastination tools, too. Amazing.
@Vanessaftw
Don't query me right after finishing the 1st draft of your novel. Or, you know, don't tell me that in your query.
@Ginger_Clark
Yes, it's true we [agents] Google you to see who you are. If you say you have a web presence, please provide specific URLs.
@sjaejones
Don't TELL me your ms is thrilling, suspenseful, and the absolute best. SHOW me within the query.
@MarleneStriner
Writers: Pretty much anything you do to get our attn in your query, besides a terrific blurb, is wasted effort.
@rachellegardner
Wasn't one of the ten commandments, "Thy e-mail font size shall be 10 or 12?" No? Moses, seriously, get on it.
@NathanBransford
Fiction = good. Novel = good. "Fiction novel" = redundant.
@NathanBransford
Best of Twitter
Sunday, November 15, 2009 10:41:15 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00) Trackback
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Sunday, November 08, 2009
Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 11/6/09)
Posted by Jane
I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit each Sunday
for the week's best Tweets. If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments. Always
welcome your suggestions on improving this weekly feature.
Best of Best
3 Questions To Better Understand Your Novel
@FictionMatters
3 Storytelling Exercises That Can Get You Published
@BubbleCow
Writing the perfect scene by Randy Ingermanson.
Thought-provoking article.
@mystorywriter
Stand Alone
Dear Querier, an agent is not going to steal your idea. In fact the only way to market your book is to share it.
@mattwagner
Fiction Writers, don't apologize for lack of credentials or degrees. The writing is all.
@MarleneStringer
21% of fiction book purchases in 2008 were based on online awareness. --Bowker Online
@FSBAssociates
Why do indie authors feel the need to vehemently defend their approach? Most readers don't care who the publisher is. Focus!
@glecharles
Getting Published, Agents/Editors
How long should you wait to hear [from an agent] about your book?
@BubbleCow
Craft & Technique
For fiction writers: First or Third? And How To Choose.
@KimsCraftBlog
How to create a satisfying ending by @annastanisz
@mystorywriter
Writers, should you outline or not? Yes.
@jamesscottbell
Publishing Biz, Trends, Future of Publishing
What Can Publishers [and Authors] Learn from @CoryDoctorow by Richard Curtis
@jafurtado
Sci-fi collective, including Ursula K Le Guin, skips publishers, goes DTC via Kindle, Sony, own website via @thebookseller
@glecharles
John Grisham interview [Today show video] on writing and the future of publishing
@benwhiting
What literature needs is not better publbishers, or agents, but CURATORS
@agnieszkasshoes
Marketing/Promotion
Valuable advice for authors on use of Twitter for book marketing
@BookBuzzr
The Savvy Author's Guide to Podcasting
(guest post by @EmApocalyptic)
@mariaschneider
8 Tips on Creating An Army Of People To Market Your Book
@tonyeldridge
Resources/ToolsFantastic info for writers interested in residencies/retreats/grants via @ @
The Writing LifeWSJ: prominent novelists describe their writing process
@shelhorowitz
John Irving: "If I were 27 and trying to publish my 1st novel.. I might be tempted to shoot myself." (video)
@WritersDigest
From Writer's Digest (or linking to Writer's Digest)
Download free story-building worksheets here--great for NaNoWriMo writers!
@
5 Ways to Start Your Memoir on the Right Foot
@WritersDigest
Successful Queries: Agent Joanna Stampfel-Volpe and "Sway"
@WritersDigest
Looking for more?
Best of Twitter
Sunday, November 08, 2009 1:55:20 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00) Trackback
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Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Marketing in a Digital Age
Posted by Jane
More than a year ago, I left a comment on the Booksquare blog by Kassia Krozser, on a post titled "Why Publishers Should Blog." Kassia argued that publishers needed to be more vocal about supporting the titles they publish. I responded:
Definitely agree, but I have to wonder if the lack of enthusiastic
comments direct from publishers is primarily due to lack of time (and
energy, sadly). If an editor (or whomever) is juggling dozens of
projects in a given year, accomplishing just the basics can be
enormously demanding. (Lean staffs!) The “friendly” online marketing or
buzz building has often been left to the authors, rightly or wrongly.
Kassia didn't agree with me then, and now I don't agree with me either.
However: I'm not convinced it's the publishers who need to market and promote as much as the individual people who work at the publisher. That's because Publishers speaking as Publishers may not be very interesting to listen to, and it's hard to develop a relationship or carry on a conversation with the corporate entity "Publisher" unless we're talking about an imprint known for a specific type of work (like Tor), or a publisher focused on a genre (like Harlequin). What is the "voice" or approach of a publisher if they have dozens and dozens of potential target audiences?
Maybe Publishers (as corporations) don't need to "blog," but an imprint and its community of editors must be involved in efforts to spread word to a community of readers, through whatever channels or tools make sense for a particular topic, since editors are unique in their position of knowing the content so intimately (and hopefully the audience too!)—not to mention very influential in how the book performs.
All this to say two things:
First, I'm participating in a free webinar hosted by Digital Book World, Marketing in the Digital Age: Batteries Not Included.
This webinar may not be specifically geared to aspiring writers, but the story I told above is an important one when you're considering who to publish with and what to expect.
Authority and influence no longer lie with traditional media outlets and traditional marketing techniques. The old buttons we all used to press don't work any more. And frankly, many of the new buttons don't work either, depending on how well you use them.
So this webinar promises to be a fascinating discussion about what it means to market books (or content or media) in a digital age. I'll be joined by Guy Gonzalez (Digital Book World), Diana Villibert (Marie Claire), Patrick Boegel (Media Logic), and Dan Blank (Reed Business).
It's an incredible honor to be included, and it's amazing to think how far my company F+W has come in its approach to publishing.
Which leads me to my second point: I recall in 2007 longingly reviewing the first Tools of Change Conference schedule, and wanting to be savvier and more forward-looking in my publishing approach. I recall hearing Mike Shatzkin speak that same year at BEA, and feeling the urgency of his message.
I don't think I would've believed it if God himself had told me: that my company would be hosting Digital Book World in January 2010 (with Shatzkin as program chair), and covering consumer publishing issues in a way that helps me keep Writer's Digest growing and profitable when so many things in the print-based business are changing (often diminishing).
Two sessions I am most looking forward to:
Back-Loaded Book Deals: No (and Low) Advance Contracts, Profit-Sharing and Other Innovative Business Models (with Robert Miller of HarperStudio, Rogert Cooper of Perseus Vanguard, and agent Susan Ginsburg of Writer's House)
New Business Models: Changing the Commercial Rules of Publishing (with Richard Nash, Eoin Purcell, Chris Morrow, and Diane Naughton)
In short, I don't have to be sad about not being able to attend TOC any more.
Conferences/Events | Digitization & New Technology | F+W Life | Industry News & Trends | Marketing & Self-Promotion
Tuesday, November 03, 2009 7:24:22 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00) Trackback
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Monday, November 02, 2009
Every Writer Needs a Little Salesperson Inside
Posted by Jane
It's not a natural thing for most creative people to sell their work, but when it comes time to publish, you have to know something about how to sell.
You have to put in the effort, make the calls, not get beat down by rejection. (It's why I love this Alec Baldwin video, and my advice based on it.)
I'm definitely not a salesperson by nature. But it didn't take long to learn some basic skills, since my first editorial job depended on convincing salespeople my ideas were worthwhile.
Most writers need a little help in understanding how to pitch their work effectively, and I love being the one to help craft and rework that pitch.
This week I'm teaching an online course that offers an extreme makeover on query letters. You get to submit your 1-page query ahead of time, then you'll see me (in a live session) dissect all the queries into good, OK, and needs revamped.
It's a fun and illuminating process, and you learn the essential principles of selling the story (fiction) or selling an idea (nonfiction).
My goal is that every writer leave this session with a little salesperson inside who can kick into high gear when it's query-writing time.
Go register here if you have a query letter that needs professional attention. The session is this Thurday, November 5, at 1p EDT.
Also:
Conferences/Events | General | Getting Published
Monday, November 02, 2009 6:16:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00) Trackback
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Writer's Digest Hits Top 10 Amazon List
Posted by Jane
Just got word that our recent release, And Here's the Kicker: Conversations With 21 Top Humor Writers on Their Craft by Mike Sacks, hit Amazon's Top 10 List of Best Entertainment Books in 2009.
Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review, and said, "Veteran journalist Sacks conducted dozens of interviews with the top humor writers of the last century, and the result is a whiz-bang collection of Q&As that will school readers just as often as it provokes laughter."
Read an excerpt: an interview with Stephen Merchant, co-creator of The Office.
(And go buy in our shop at Amazon-like pricing. Get an extra 10% off if you're a VIP.)
Craft & Technique | Fun | General | New Titles From Writer's Digest
Monday, November 02, 2009 5:55:04 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00) Trackback
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Sunday, November 01, 2009
Looking for Your Feedback: What Do Established Writers Need?
Posted by Jane
One of the biggest criticisms or complaints about Writer's Digest (usually the magazine) is that it's for wannabes, and that after a few years, the advice/information either becomes repetitive or irrelevant, especially for someone who works at the professional level.
I've been daydreaming about how to develop a new periodical that would offer information and insights for advanced, established, or professional writers/authors, and remain relevant even after achieving publication. (Just to be sure, such a periodical would not serve to replace the current magazine.)
But I need your help to get it right—or to ensure there's a need for it in the first place!
- What you would need or want in such a publication?
- What regular columns?
- What features?
- Whose viewpoints?
- What topics?
Leave your recommendations in the comments. (If it appears your comment doesn't stick the first time you submit it, try inputting the code again—your comment will still be in the field, waiting for verification.)
Or, click here to e-mail me.
Photo credit: Marvin (PA)
General | WD Magazine
Sunday, November 01, 2009 6:30:47 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00) Trackback
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Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 10/30/09)
Posted by Jane
Best of Twitter
Sunday, November 01, 2009 5:08:56 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00) Trackback
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Friday, October 30, 2009
The Battle of Resistance
Posted by Jane
This is a guest post from monthly contributor and storytelling genius Darrelyn Saloom. Follow her on Twitter. The photo above shows Darrelyn's youngest son, Jesse, emerging from battle to hand his mommy a pink crayon and a gardenia on his first birthday on May 28, 1987. (For more great stories from Darrelyn, click on "Guest Post" in the categories column to the left.)
Miserable, this past September, I perused Twitter in search of relief. And found it. Steven Pressfield was guest author for a literary chat called LitChat. Wow! Steven Pressfield, author of The Legend of Bagger Vance, Last of the Amazons, Tides of War, Gates of Fire, The Virtues of War, but also a jewel of a book I’d not yet discovered, The War of Art.
Writers on Twitter questioned Pressfield for an hour. I managed to contribute a tweet or two, but awestruck, I froze up. Fortunately, other writers had their wits about them and asked excellent questions. And the author’s answers cut to the core of my suffering. A former Marine, he said his service “taught him to be miserable—a crucial skill for a writer. Seriously, not to complain but to keep doing it.”
I’d been complaining to my husband for weeks. Maybe I better just shut up and get back to work. Good advice. And wouldn’t that make my husband happy. And then Pressfield explained Resistance, the subject of The War of Art: “Resistance is that negative force that tries to stop us from doing what we know we should—write, work out, etc.” Bingo! My problem exactly.
In misery, I’d found so many excuses not to write: I’m out of ideas; I don’t feel well (four rounds of antibiotics, two cortisone shots, and I was still sick). I’m in menopause and about to turn 54. Yikes! My pity pot was endless. Okay, so I’m not in the Marines. I’m not sitting in a foxhole, in the rain, dodging bullets. I have a chronic sinus infection for goodness sakes. I’m running out of hormones.
But illness was not the enemy. Resistance was the enemy and had found a petri dish to blossom in my neurotic thinking. As soon as LitChat concluded, I ordered The War of Art. Overnight delivery, please. This was an emergency. By the next day, I was armed with a Pressfield paperback and found more on the subject of art and misery and even the Marines. Pressfield writes:
The artist committing himself to his calling has volunteered for hell, whether he knows it or not. He will be dining for the duration on a diet of isolation, rejection, self-doubt, despair, ridicule, contempt, and humiliation.
The artist must be like that Marine. He has to know how to be miserable. He has to love being miserable. He has to take pride in being more miserable than any other soldier or swabbie or jet jockey. Because this is war, baby. And war is hell.
Hell, indeed. But so far so good, I had the misery part covered. Reading further, Pressfield named my enemy: Resistance. But he did more than name it. He defined its insidious personality, its wily disguises, its teaching abilities. That’s right, teaching abilities. Because the news here is not all bad, the infallible enemy is also a teacher:
Like a magnetized needle floating on a surface of oil, Resistance will unfailingly point to true North—meaning that calling or action it most wants to stop us from doing.
We can use this. We can use it as a compass. We can navigate by Resistance, letting it guide us to that calling or action that we must follow before all others.
Rule of thumb: The more important a call or action is to our soul’s evolution, the more Resistance we will feel toward pursuing it.
Well, my current memoir collaboration must be aligned with the stars. Never in my life have I battled such Resistance. And for anyone who’s in the midst of her own battle, who struggles to get down to work, doubts she is good enough, blows her nose a lot and stares blankly at a computer screen, wonders why she bothered to wake up, this is for you:
Resistance is directly proportional to love. If you’re feeling massive Resistance, the good news is, it means there’s tremendous love there too. If you didn’t love the project that is terrifying you, you wouldn’t feel anything. The opposite of love isn’t hate; it’s indifference.
The more Resistance you experience, the more important your unmanifested art/project/enterprise is to you—and the more gratification you will feel when you finally do it.
So take comfort in knowing you’re on the right track. But don’t let your guard down. Not for a minute. Arm yourself with a copy of Stephen Pressfield’s The War of Art; don your camouflaged helmet, your flak jacket and weapons. Battle Resistance every day, in spite of excuses, no matter what, by giving birth to the work you are meant to do.
General | Guest Post
Friday, October 30, 2009 9:15:02 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00) Trackback
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Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Day I Picked Up a Hitchhiker
Posted by Jane
Risk more than others think is safe.
Care more than others think is wise.
Dream more than others think is practical.
Expect more than others think is possible.
—Claude Bissell
There's a story I love to tell in the presence of The Conductor, because it upsets him so much (in a cute way).
When I was 17, I spent a summer working in northern rural Indiana, at a Kentucky Fried Chicken.
One day, on my way to work on a 2-lane country road, I spotted a male adult hitchhiker. He had a large metal lunch box, like what coal miners used to carry.
I stopped and told him I could take him 10 miles to the next town, where I worked. He was headed to the same town, so climbed in.
When we reached KFC, it turned out my female boss was an old friend of this hitchhiker. They had a brief chat, but immediately my boss pointed a finger at me and said, "Don't you EVER pick up a hitchhiker AGAIN!"
The man grinned and said while he was grateful for the ride, he agreed with my boss.
When I left KFC that summer for my first year of college, my boss gave me a going away present that included a key chain with pepper spray on it.
I think she knew I would not be playing it safe.
It's always more fun to take the risk—and more enjoyable to expect the best of people.
Photo credit: Photofarrell
Fun | General
Thursday, October 29, 2009 1:51:48 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00) Trackback
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