| janfields |
December 22, OPEN FORUM
CHAT with web editor Jan Fields begins in five minutes in the
Auditorium. This is open topic, so drop in and feel free to ask any
writing related question -- what's on your mind
today?
|
| janfields |
December 22, OPEN FORUM
CHAT begins in 2 minutes. Join us in the Auditorium to ask questions
of web editor Jan Fields. With over twenty years of experience
writing and selling, Jan is ready to tackle most of your writing
questions.
|
| janfields |
And it's show
time...thank y'all so much for taking a break from the holiday
festivities to hang out with me.
|
| janfields |
Welcome to Open
Forum.
|
| janfields |
I have exactly one
pre-sent question...so I hope y'all are feeling quizical...or
um...we'll all be heading off to bed early.
|
| janfields |
So...hear we
go...
|
| janfields |
postgirl: Is it okay to
submit the same manuscript for different writing contests that occur
at the same time, or do I need to write a different story for each
contest I want to enter?
|
| janfields |
It
depends.
|
| janfields |
Most of the time with
short stories...you can submit elsewhere.
|
| janfields |
Most of the time with
book manuscripts...it's better if you don't.
|
| janfields |
The key is in how the
contest is run.
|
| janfields |
For many, publication
is part of the "prize
|
| janfields |
so the publication
rights for the piece needs to be not tied up
elsewhere.
|
| janfields |
So if you submit to
other places, and make a sale...you'll have to withdraw the
manuscript from most contests.
|
| janfields |
But really...most
contest guidelines do mention whether the piece can be in
submission
|
| janfields |
elsewhere so it's
always a good idea to ask.
|
| janfields |
Ummm...that was the
pre-sent question...anyone wanna know what I got for
Christmas?
|
| coloradokate |
Tell us more about
contests--which are the good ones?
|
| janfields |
Well...for magazines I
like Highlights and Pockets because they are linked
to
|
| janfields |
really good
publications.
|
| janfields |
For books...I'm more
flexible.
|
| janfields |
I've entered regional
contests...and gotten finalist positions.
|
| janfields |
And that's an ego
boost...though probably not much else.
|
| janfields |
I've entered the
Writer's Digest contests...they're okay...though they cost
money
|
| janfields |
And I'm basically
cheap.
|
| janfields |
Kovac asks if contests
are a good idea or a waste of effort and time?
|
| janfields |
I think they can be a
nice way to break into a magazine like Pockets...
|
| janfields |
because the contest
entry doesn't have to be related to a theme.
|
| janfields |
Which is good...and
I've made sales to the magazine from contest
entries.
|
| janfields |
Same with
Highlights.
|
| janfields |
Though I've never
won.
|
| janfields |
Book
contests...well...if you're not the winner...
|
| janfields |
and I never have
been...
|
| janfields |
being a finalist is ego
boosting...and does carry some cache
|
| janfields |
Plus, a contest can be
a good incentive
|
| janfields |
for folks who have
trouble getting their stuff out of the house.
|
| janfields |
It's a
deadline
|
| janfields |
And it seems less scary
than a submission to some people
|
| janfields |
Since you don't get
"rejected" per se.
|
| janfields |
Personally, if you
don't find it fun...I would recommend not really going for
it.
|
| janfields |
Though...it can also be
a good way to get a manuscript into a closed
house...
|
| janfields |
when the house has a
contest.
|
| janfields |
So you have to weigh a
lot of things.
|
| coloradokate |
Are those book contests
for already published books, or for manuscripts?
|
| janfields |
There are contest like
the Delacorte...for unpublished.
|
| janfields |
And there are contest
also for books in publication...where you compete for the best book
in print.
|
| janfields |
But mostly the second
kind are submitted by the publisher...not the
writer.
|
| janfields |
Though the writer may
have to nudge the publisher.
|
| janfields |
Regional arts councils
sometimes have contests for unpublished writers
(un-book-published)
|
| janfields |
And those can be
...again...a great way to get folks into
submitting.
|
| janfields |
And can be a good ego
boost.
|
| dell |
When an editor makes an
offer on a book, do they *expect* the author to negotiate the terms?
How much wiggle room is there with advance, and royalty percentages,
particularly if they're based on net. thanks for any negotiating
tips...I *may* have news to announce soon. :)
|
| janfields |
Hi Dell...first,
editors don't really care ...they would give you the
moon.
|
| janfields |
They don't get to make
the decisions on your terms.
|
| janfields |
It's passed to others
to make final "terms" decisions.
|
| janfields |
But...the publisher
would like to change NOTHING.
|
| janfields |
That's their
goal.
|
| janfields |
Writers never really
embrace that goal.
|
| janfields |
So publishers do expect
some negotiation.
|
| janfields |
Unfortunately, that's
not been something I've encountered a lot.
|
| janfields |
I did just do a book
for a packager -- which is one of the LEAST negotiable places on
earth.
|
| janfields |
Packagers lay things
out like they're in concrete.
|
| janfields |
And I simply told them
the terms were unacceptable and told them what I
wanted.
|
| janfields |
You can do that with a
book publisher too.
|
| janfields |
The packager caved to
everything I asked for at that point.
|
| janfields |
Though hasn't gone for
things since that point...alas.
|
| janfields |
But look at what they
offer as really truly what they want...then ask yourself...what do I
really and truly want?
|
| janfields |
And what do other folks
at my point of career seem to be getting.
|
| janfields |
Then ask for
it.
|
| janfields |
I've been amazed at how
often folks in different publishing areas have said, oh,
ok.
|
| janfields |
It's good to come in
armed with info from other authors at about your career point
though.
|
| stretch |
what's this about book
contests? I missed something...
|
| janfields |
Hi stretch...you can
catch it in the transcript, but someone wanted to know about
contests in general.
|
| janfields |
And from there we
talked about book contests.
|
| janfields |
Book contests were
instituted by publishers, by and large,
|
| janfields |
to give them their cake
and eat it too
|
| janfields |
They want to have a
closed house.
|
| janfields |
Because it cuts back on
expenses.
|
| janfields |
But they don't want to
miss out on possible new writers who are really
good.
|
| janfields |
So they have a
contest...and that's their way of accepting slush.
|
| janfields |
They (many times) don't
actually intend to let anyone WIN...not really...
|
| janfields |
not unless they get a
writer who just blows them away.
|
| janfields |
Because they are
getting plenty of good stuff through agents.
|
| janfields |
Unfortunately, contests
where no one wins really tick writers off.
|
| janfields |
So publishers are still
working on that whole thing...is it worth the
grief.
|
| stretch |
entering contests is a
good place to test your assignments, and a measure if they can sell,
right?
|
| janfields |
They can
be...especially magazine contests...because publishers often buy a
number of entrants...not just the winner.
|
| janfields |
Regional book contests
don't automatically award books that would actually
sell.
|
| janfields |
I went to an awards
ceremony at a regional art's council's book
contest.
|
| janfields |
The winner picture book
was...well...um...not going to sell anywhere.
|
| janfields |
But regionals are great
ways to get your name in front of arts movers and shakers in your
area.
|
| janfields |
which will come in very
handy when you do sell a book and need to make contacts for
promotion.
|
| rainchain |
Where would you get info
about others at your career point?
|
| janfields |
Go to conferences, join
SCBWI and ask general questions like...
|
| janfields |
What kinds of wiggle
room can you normally find in a contract for your first/second/third
picture book contract.
|
| janfields |
Hang out at
VerlaKay.com's discussion board.
|
| janfields |
That place has lots of
folks with experience.
|
| janfields |
Read writer
blogs...writers spill their guts an amazing amount in
blogs.
|
| janfields |
Something that has
gotten some in real trouble.
|
| coloradokate |
Highlights bought one of
my entries, and Pockets is holding my entry (fingers crossed) right
now.
|
| janfields |
Whoa, you go girl. I
can't sell much to Highlights...my voice doesn't match theirs (other
than crafts and action rhymes and such).
|
| janfields |
So I'm always impressed
by sales to Highlights
|
| janfields |
Yeah
Kate!
|
| janfields |
I hope you get good
news from Pockets too.
|
| janfields |
They are a surprisingly
good magazine.
|
| janfields |
Oh, yeah, I
agree...I've made several sales from entering
contests.
|
| janfields |
But they can be helpful
even when you don't make the sale.
|
| janfields |
It's always good to
keep the momentum going.
|
| beyond
words |
Can you tell us more
about Children's Writers YA contest?
|
| janfields |
Surely.
|
| janfields |
It's nonfiction...but
needs to written in first person.
|
| janfields |
That means you can
write the nonfiction, totally true, story of a teen whom you know or
interview.
|
| janfields |
Or you can write a
nonfiction, totally true story from your own teen
years.
|
| janfields |
I know some folks have
been confused about the mention of how well the "character" comes
through.
|
| janfields |
That just means they
want a sense of the teen...a teen voice.
|
| janfields |
A sense of
personality.
|
| janfields |
Not just a dull recital
of facts.
|
| janfields |
It can be tough to get
a teen to open up a lot on a subject that's a little
touchy.
|
| janfields |
And almost anything can
be a little touchy for a teen.
|
| janfields |
It helps to talk on the
phone...and talk several times.
|
| janfields |
So the teen can become
comfortable with you
|
| janfields |
And you can get a
feeling for how that person thinks, talks, and feels about all kind
of things.
|
| janfields |
Because you're trying
to be the "voice" of that teen.
|
| janfields |
So you need to make the
piece very alive.
|
| janfields |
If you don't connect
really really really well with teens...it's probably not going to be
the best contest to enter.
|
| janfields |
You can also tell a
story from your teens.
|
| janfields |
But you need to still
tell it as if you're a teen...not (in my case) a 45-year-old
woman.
|
| janfields |
That doesn't mean
lie...it just means starting with something like...
|
| janfields |
When I was 16, I met
Tony. He totally blew me away. blah blah...
|
| janfields |
You don't say...hey,
I'm still a teen
|
| janfields |
But you write it like a
teen because you're talking about your teen-ness.
|
| beyond
words |
so does that mean in
story form vs. factual article
|
| janfields |
You can do it in a very
story form (still has to be factual...no made up stuff, but you can
recreate dialogue since you didn't carry a tape player to record
your whole 16th year).
|
| janfields |
Sweet 16 has actually
run a lot of nonfiction by adults remembering their teen
years.
|
| janfields |
And writing as if they
were still in it.
|
| janfields |
You can always spot an
adult written story because it's more "story-like"
|
| janfields |
while the teen stories
are more...oh, my gosh, she did this...and then I nearly did
this...and then she did this.
|
| beyond
words |
thanks, Jan. That helps a
lot.
|
| janfields |
I aim to
please.
|
| janfields |
Now, back to my
Christmas presents...I got Sims Pets....I love
Sims.
|
| janfields |
And some nifty mock
turtle sweaters..oh, a question.
|
| rainchain |
I remember you said to
use a cover letter for contests what
|
| rainchain |
do you put in that kind
of cover letter
|
| janfields |
I always use a cover
letter for everything..makes you seem friendly and
polite
|
| janfields |
And it's good practice
even if they probably don't read it.
|
| janfields |
But in a nonfiction
contest...like this one for ICL...you can include information about
how you conducted the interview
|
| janfields |
Or (respectively)
elaborate a bit more on the "story" from your teen
years.
|
| janfields |
It gives credibility
which is important to that kind of contest.
|
| janfields |
In magazine contest
entries, I write them a lot like regular cover letters because I'm
shooting for publication
|
| janfields |
Even if I don't win the
contest.
|
| janfields |
For regional
contests...or book contests...again, I try to add a little something
to the story
|
| janfields |
Something about
research done
|
| janfields |
(but nothing about how
my kid liked it or anything similar)
|
| janfields |
Something about how the
story came about
|
| janfields |
Really, most of the
time contest covers aren't read so consider it practice
:-)
|
| beyond
words |
I recently heard that a
writer should send a thank you note
|
| beyond
words |
upon receiving an
acceptance
|
| janfields |
Ummm...if I get
accepted by email...I'll send a thanks.
|
| janfields |
Because email is so
iffy...it lets the editor know you got the thing.
|
| janfields |
But, honestly, I don't
send thank you notes EXCEPT to thank them while doing something
else.
|
| janfields |
"Thank you...and I
thought you might like to see this too"
|
| janfields |
Thank you...and I
wondered if you'd like a quiz with that?"
|
| janfields |
I don't waste postage
on thanks...because I'm cheap...and probably not really all that
nice.
|
| janfields |
But I do know folks who
do...who send thank yous
|
| janfields |
And I know editors who
thought it was sweet.
|
| janfields |
By the way...those
editors were all WOMEN
|
| janfields |
Men think thank yous
are a little silly...or at least the male editors I've heard talk
about it said so.
|
| rainchain |
I'm having trouble with
short, scene transitions in PB any
|
| rainchain |
advice? Transitions can't
be longer than the scenes lol
|
| janfields |
I transition ONLY with
either time or place.
|
| janfields |
And I try to keep it to
a sentence...or less (mostly less)
|
| janfields |
Later, Joey trotted to
the kitchen <-- one word time transition, and the rest place
transition.
|
| janfields |
The next day, Mandy
searched for her best friend on the bus. <-- two word time
transition, and the rest for place.
|
| janfields |
If you feel like you're
skipping a lot of events.
|
| janfields |
Odds are one of two
things are happening...
|
| janfields |
Your story is too big
for your format.
|
| janfields |
Many picture books
(editors say VERY MANY) are really short stories or
novels.
|
| janfields |
Squished down
awkwardly
|
| janfields |
And that can create
brutal transition issues.
|
| janfields |
Another problem can
happen when you're plot is too loose...since that also tends to lead
to sprawl.
|
| lily
li |
How could you get the
regional contests information?
|
| janfields |
Look for arts councils
in your area...they are often in the phone book
|
| janfields |
Or you can GOOGLE "arts
council" plus your state.
|
| janfields |
Then look for the arts
council itself online
|
| janfields |
If they do a writing
contest...it's probably mentioned on their website.
|
| janfields |
You might not get a lot
of useful details about it.
|
| janfields |
They always want you to
call.
|
| janfields |
But you'll know, at
least, that one exists.
|
| janfields |
Oh...back to my
presents...I also got this really cool sketch for my living room
wall.
|
| janfields |
My husband daughter and
me.
|
| janfields |
And..we opened presents
today because we're getting on an airplane in ...
|
| janfields |
6
hours
|
| janfields |
to spend christmas far
from home.
|
| janfields |
Naw, not Denver...just
the midwest.
|
| stretch |
Cool, Jan, could you take
a dig pic of your new living room sketch and let us see
it?
|
| janfields |
Hmmm...actually that
would be a copyright violation...or I would.
|
| janfields |
Um...I could maybe just
show it to a couple people...you know..um..if they asked in
email.
|
| janfields |
If I only showed it to
a couple people..that would be fair use.
|
| janfields |
Oh yeah, taking a photo
of art that is under copyright...and disseminating it is a copyright
violation.
|
| janfields |
Nope...you would have
to give him MONEY...credit is not enough.
|
| janfields |
It's as if I made a
digital print of his art.
|
| janfields |
And he is the only one
who can authorize that under US copyright law and in most Berne
conventions.
|
| janfields |
You would need
permission to publish photos of their art...for
sure.
|
| janfields |
Photo
releases.
|
| janfields |
Often if the photo is
not really clear
|
| janfields |
Like you take a picture
of a painter painting.
|
| janfields |
The painting isn't
really a focal point
|
| janfields |
And it's not clear
enough to count as a reproduction
|
| janfields |
Then it's not a
copyright violation.
|
| janfields |
It's very fuzzy ground
in art.
|
| rainchain |
With themed magazines how
heavily must the theme be in
|
| rainchain |
the
story?
|
| janfields |
It depends upon the
magazine...because Pockets has run stuff I thought was a pretty far
stretch
|
| janfields |
Ultimately, the editor
decides if it "feels" like it fits the theme
|
| janfields |
With a nonfiction
magazine...the theme is more central
|
| janfields |
And it's good to think
of the theme like an octopus
|
| janfields |
You don't have to write
about the whole octopus
|
| janfields |
You could write about
an arm...or even a sucker.
|
| janfields |
But it's still going to
be part of it.
|
| just
ducky |
Hi Jan, I am new to ICL
just submitted my 2nd assignment
|
| just
ducky |
any advice for someone
who's just starting out?
|
| janfields |
Hi
ducky....yes.
|
| janfields |
Write your instructor
notes.
|
| janfields |
Ask
questions
|
| janfields |
Tell her/him what you
think, how you feel about the critique...ask whenever you're
confused.
|
| janfields |
Talk about the market
research your doing
|
| janfields |
Or what you found in
the market guides.
|
| janfields |
Asking questions is the
backbone of getting the most possible from the
instructor.
|
| janfields |
Second...read a lot of
everything related to what you want to write.
|
| janfields |
If you're writing
magazine stories, set aside the grown up novels and read kids
magazines.
|
| janfields |
Our minds are learning
machines.
|
| janfields |
If we feed them adult
writing
|
| janfields |
they will produce
writing for adults.
|
| janfields |
And the course will get
harder for you than it needs to.
|
| janfields |
Reading kid lit is
magic for the writing brain.
|
| janfields |
Okay, I'm going to wrap
up because I need to catch a few zzzzzzs before the
plane.
|
| janfields |
I am so grateful for
y'all coming out tonight.
|
| janfields |
Great
questions.
|
| janfields |
And I wuf you to
pieces...I hope your holidays are super terrific.
|
| janfields |
Going to
Indiana.
|
| janfields |
And to all...a good
night
|
