Ezine Receive monthly updates from the site. News of competitions, sites, and more.
Looking Over The Writer's Shoulder: "The storyteller becomes bound by his own decisions; he must follow one chosen route from beginning to end." A new article by Paul Grainger looks at the writing process from the perspective of the writer and the reader.
Things to do to Avoid Writing: Katie Gould takes a wry look at the things authors find to do to avoid writing.
Our 'Writer in Residence' Paul Saevig considers how to tackle writing advice: 'Choosing Your Training as a Writer': or 'How To Evaluate Teachings on Writing For Your Own Best Interest', looks at the problems the plethora of guidance can create.
California Literary Review: Insightful, irreverent book reviews, thought provoking essays, and interviews with talented authors.
How To Write A Book: Information on how to write a book including book writing tips, how to write a fiction book, writing childrens books, writing fantasy books, writing a book proposal, book writing software, format for writing a book, and books on writing.
Self Publishing: Information on self publishing including self publishing books, self publishing presses, self publishing printing, self publishing software, self publishing services, self publishing children's book, self publishing comparison, self publishing sites, and childrens self publishing.
GodSeed: Promoter of the Sci_Fi and Fantasy Author. Our members post their books to our library and bookstore. Enter short story contests. Member book reviews.
Dynamic Fiction: was developed to establish an online presence for amateur writing. Our goal is to provide a central internet location for users to read and comment on fictional stories, book reviews, essays, poems and more. Dynamic Fiction's content is rooted in the idea that group effort yields higher quality material, so we encourage you to give us feedback and and we wish to entertain each and every user by doing so.
Man In The Moon: a website for poetry written by children. Here you can read lots and lots of brilliant poems, read all about children's poet Michael Rosen and play some games. You can also pick up some tips for writing your own poetry, learn a few toe-curling jokes and e-mail us your poems.
hagsharlotsheroines: Hagsharlotsheroines is a vibrant new story telling site, filled with tales of raging demons, pioneering physicians, infamous pickpockets, fickle goddesses, heroic fighter pilots, inspirational artists, chariot riding warriors, pretenders to the throne, witches, writers, murderers, revolutionaries, spies. and all women; members of the so called "weaker" sex. We welcome submissions from our members and provide a valuable writer's tool kit for aspiring writers. Access to the site requires registration - but membership is free. We also send out a monthly newsletter to members containing our Story of the Month.
Appalachian Authors' Guild: The AAG is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to provide avenues of support and networking to Appalachian authors by assisting our members in marketing and selling their products.
Articles
E-MAIL ETIQUETTE, OR: MASTERING THE FINE ART OF FORMAL INFORMALITY
By Rusty Fischer
The editor of The Buzz On series reveals how to face, keep and stick to an editor's demanding deadline
Ah, e-mail. No postage. No dead trees. No paper cuts-on your tongue! It's instant communication, instant gratification, and, occasionally instant rejection. Nonetheless, e-mail is here to stay. But what to do when you're e-mailing an editor? After all, this isn't Aunt Suzie or your sweetheart we're talking about. This is your, for lack of a better word, temporary boss! Here's some advice:
Never Assume
For you fellow Bad News Bears fans, you know what I mean. For instance, since I occasionally list my name with an online call for submissions, I just as occasionally receive an e-mail heading that says: "Dear Madam," because, I assume, many women, of the red-haired variety, natch, are called Rusty.
And like those "Madam" freelancers from my "Made an Ass Out of You and Me" file, you never want to give an editor any cause for pause, let alone in the first two words of your query letter! Do you think there was anything else memorable about those query letters? Who knows? I certainly don't remember anything else. Unfair? Maybe. But true.
Actually, the assumptions I'm talking about here have more to do with time than an editor's sex. For instance, while I do have a great sense of humor and happen to enjoy laughter, don't assume that in your very first e-mail. If you're pitching an editor with an article on funerals, you don't want to start off with a joke about undertakers.
Unless your article is for Mad magazine, that is.
Formal Informality
The best e-mail queries I received contained what I like to call "formal informality." Usually, this is a combination of snail mail properness and e-mail whimsiness. I don't know, there's just something about reading e-mail that's less stodgy than reading snail mail, but oftentimes freelancers mistake this frisky feeling for a chance to buddy up with an editor and shoot the breeze, neither of which most editors come by easily.
For instance, a formal query letter usually sounds something like this:
"Dear Sir or Madam,
Forthwith, please findeth my curriculum vitae and several stodgy samples with which I hopeth to impresseth you post haste . . ."
Or something like that. On the other hand, an informal letter usually goes something like this:
"Yo, How they hanging? Do I have a story for you? Well, actually, I got the idea after reading Danielle Steel late last night, but I can change the words around and make it sound not so plagiaristic, or whatever that word is? So, waddya think?"
Or something to that effect. What does a "formally informal" e-mail sound like:
"Dear Rusty,
Thanks for the opportunity to read The Buzz On samples you enclosed in your last e-mail. They were a riot! (I especially loved the one about KISSING 101. I'll have to share that with my boyfriend!) Please consider me for the following sections you listed as being open in The Buzz On Travel outline:
o Cruisin' for a Bruisin'
o Restroom Reflections
o The Coaster's Clear
As an avid cruise ship fan, I've been on numerous cruises and would love to relate fun and frisky how-to tips for future cruisers. Also, having been on numerous road trips across this great land of ours, I'd be perfect for writing 'Restroom Reflections.' My boyfriend is an avid roller coaster fan, and has dragged me to numerous theme parks for the thrill of fast fear and fresh vomit. Sign me up!
Thanks again for this wonderful opportunity and I look forward to a long and prosperous working relationship.
BUZZ ON, Freda Freelancer"
While some of the editors I've worked with would be appalled at the casual tone of this e-mail, I found it quite refreshing and professional. It's a very new world, this web-based writing, and the work that this freelancer did for me was first-rate. If I had snobbishly refused to read her stuff based on an innocently charming e-mail, I'd be graced with three less sections of The Buzz On Travel.
My loss . . .
*****
Rusty Fischer is the author of FREEDOM TO FREELANCE: The Editor of The Buzz On Series Reveals How To FIND, GET and KEEP Your Next Freelance Job, available for sale as an eBook from www.athinapublishing.com/fischer.htm.
If you would like to send us an article, email: beth@author-network.com
This web site is Copyright © 2000-2011, Author-Network.com.
contact: beth@author-network.com
Please send us links, details of competitions, news, etc., to post on site.
We are always looking for well-written material for the site, but we are only interested in articles, essays, and columns on writing related issues. We DO NOT pay for contributions, but are more than happy to list a short bio, credits and links. See submission guidelines.
News Publishing news and updates from booktrade.info.
Looking for somewhere to send your book for review?
Authors: Due to popular demand we have started an 'authors' page. If you are an author send us a short bio, including any appropriate links, and details of one book you have written and we will post it on site. See also The e-authors Directory.
Promotion
Reviews
Toot Your Horn
Checklist Critique
rejectioncollection.com: The writer's online source for misery, commiseration and inspiration? Postings are anonymous, laughs and catharsis are free.
Creative Novel Writing: Roselle Angwin runs a year-round programme, which ranges from retreats on the Isle of Iona to a nine-month novel writing course (based on her book CREATIVE NOVEL WRITING, [Robert Hale, 1999, 2002]) which was featured in The Guardian - and many more. Roselle is an author and poet, and Director of the Fire in the Head creative writing programme.
WhenTeensWrite: Copyrighting Services, Writing Tips, Teen Chat, Poetry, and Much More - When Teens Write, The One Stop Source For Any Aspiring Writer.
Learning Curve: Offer a range of innovative courses in Creative Writing, Fiction Writing, Freelance Journalism. Writing for Television, Radio and Chidren. They help students to rediscover their creative abilities, as well as developing their writing skills - their tutors are experienced editors, writers, publishers and producers.
Burning Leaf: is a literary website featuring original fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, critical essays, photography and art.
The Italian-American Press: posts literature by Italian-Americans and other self-published authors whose books all too often go unnoticed or are ignored by the media. This service is free.
RITRO.com:Volunteer based e-zine with new content daily. They publish and accept submissions in poetry and articles in many departments. There are also message boards, online diaries, and voting polls. Checking submission guidelines is a must before sending in any work.
www.freelance-tips.com: Free newsletter offering tips on marketing, niche marketing, negotiating a contract, getting referrals, pricing your work, building your portfolio and more...
www.writersarena.com: is an international website for aspiring writers. Offering information, advice and showcasing.
The Handy Little Book for Writers by Lynne Hackles is packed with hints and tips for all writers of all genres at all levels. There is something in it to inspire everyone. It's all packed into a 44-page A6 booklet with a distinctive purple cover. The book was published in September by NAWG Publications. It costs a mere £2.99 (with 50p towards cost of post and packing - cheques payable to NAWG). You can order the book from The Handy Little Book for Writers, 40 Burstall Hill, Bridlington, East Yorkshire YO16 7GA.
IWanthatBook: Online Bookshop for difficult to find reference books. IWanthatBook aims to be the place for academics and students alike to order the books they want - simply, securely and cost-effectively.
Freelancers In The UK
The UK's most comprehensive list of freelance writers and copywriting information!
Resourceaid: Resource site for everything to do with the arts. Full of newsletters, articles, links and other resources - ALL FREE - in one easy to navigate site to save time and money.
Today's Woman: A community for men and women over 18, where writers, poets & columnists meet and exchange ideas, contest, rate and review and help each other succeed in the writing industry.
thefictionwritersjourney.com: articles on writing, prompts, exercises from novelist and writing coach, Emily Hanlon. Writing.Com: An online community for writers of all ages, interests and skill levels. Anyone may create a free portfolio and exchange feedback with other writers. We were amongst Writer's Digest's 101 "Best Websites For Writers, 2005" and have thousands of writers within our community.
Today's Writer: a community for men and women over 18, where writers, poets & columnists meet and exchange ideas, contest, rate and review and help each other succeed in the writing industry.
The Argotist Online: is devoted to poetry and poetics. It publishes non-mainstream poetry, and features essays and interviews sympathetic to it. Currently it has interviews with Charles Bernstein, Marjorie Perloff, Ron Silliman, Rupert Loydell; and poems by Sheila E Murphy, Annabelle Clippinger, and Hank Lazer among others.