For Authors: February 01, 2006 Issue [#862] |
For Authors
This week: Edited by: archgargoyle More Newsletters By This Editor
1. About this Newsletter 2. A Word from our Sponsor 3. Letter from the Editor 4. Editor's Picks 5. A Word from Writing.Com 6. Ask & Answer 7. Removal instructions
Metaphors have a way of holding the most truth in the least space. ~ Orson Scott Card
Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become. ~ C. S. Lewis
But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. ~ George Orwell |
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Recognizing Your Market
I know that we as authors tend to write a little bit of everything. Only very few of us are so set in our ways that we can’t see the quality we can put into other forms of authorship. No matter what we write, we have to choose what market we are going to try and become published in.
Choosing our market can be as simple as writing an article for a magazine we regularly subscribe to or a short story for Cup of Comfort or a periodical that publishes only short stories. However, I don’t write with a market in mind. I tend to write what is in my head and my heart, and then I’m really unsure of where to look to try and get it published.
I read a book by a humorist the other day (the name eludes me) and it was all about his tries to get published in certain periodicals. He would send in totally absurd stories to magazines that deal with specific subjects – like a story about his neighbor hanging out his underwear to a fencing magazine. I would love to believe that the people in this group are not that dense but it seems I’m falling into the same trap when I don’t realize it.
So, quickly, here are some tips for cornering your market:
Get a copy of the current Writer’s Market guide. Trust me – it may be expensive, but it’s helpful. Love is a Mommy (no foolin) I am about to go into one three ways so that we can all benefit from it.
Do an online search for the type of publisher you think your work may fit into. I found that even most publishers that put out novels are specific in what type they look for on their website.
Talk to people who have been published. They may know where to send something or which publishers to avoid.
Go to your local university library. They normally have a copy of every periodical, magazine, or annual published and it’s totally free to sit in the floor and look at them to see what they include.
Send a query to the publisher/periodical. Sometimes publishers (especially for magazines) may be willing to send you a free copy of a recent publication so that you can get a feel for what they are looking for.
Keep learning and ask lots of questions; from everyone and anyone. Don’t feel silly, you are asking for the group – just remember to come back and tell us what you learned.
And before we go – think about what you write and where it fits.
archgargoyle |
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Comments From Last Month:
If you could ask a publisher one question, what would it be?
Leger~ - Copyright confusion is common.
An interesting link to read:
http://www.writersweekly.com/this_weeks_article/001729_06232004.html
One question to ask a publisher (if they're publishing you) is WHEN? I believe if you have a timeline to work from, and know where your work is in the process, you are less likely to be anxious and feel "left out in the dark."
Lol, definitely a question we all would like answered and very true about one's own writing. Thanks for the article!
vivacious - One question I would ask a publisher:
"Will you please, please publish my book?"
Or is that too obvious?
How about: "Do you expect a manuscript to be perfect, or do you give a little leeway as to storyline, continuity, character development, etc, expecting those types of changes/fixes during the editing process?"
I'm definitely not a publisher, but from what I've heard, they are a little lenient when it comes to the sent in manuscript. Every author tends to go through many, many rewrites and edits before the final product is released. I think what really matters is how you present your manuscript and yourself as its author. Just my two cents on that.
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