| janfields |
May 25th, Night Open
Forum will begin in five minutes -- it's open topic so feel free to
ask any writing questions you may have...in five minutes in the
auditorium.
|
| janfields |
May 25th Night Open
Forum begins in two minutes in the Auditorium with webeditor Jan
Fields. It's open topic so settle in and ask any writing questions
you may have, in two minutes
|
| janfields |
Welcome to Open Forum
chat with web editor Jan Fields -- with twenty years experience in
writing for publication, I'll do my best to answer any questions you
may have. What do you want to know tonight?
|
| coloradokate |
Before you ever wrote a
book, did you ever wonder if you could/would actually finish
one?
|
| janfields |
Before I ever wrote a
book, I assumed I couldn't finish one. I thought books were
for...those other people.
|
| janfields |
I thought maybe a
picture book...cause they're short.
|
| janfields |
But unfortunately, I
sorta stink at picture books...but I'm better with
novels.
|
| janfields |
Still, my experience in
magazines tends to make me write a bit short because I'm so used to
being concise.
|
| jan_fields |
Gonewest: What's the best
way to write an article proposal?
|
| janfields |
In magazine proposals,
editors are looking for these things...
|
| janfields |
Do you have enough meat
to build a solid article.
|
| janfields |
Do you have the
organizational skills to build a solid article.
|
| janfields |
Do you have actualy
sources for your information.
|
| janfields |
Will kids think it's
cool (if it's for adults...it's more like, how will you capture the
reader's attention)?
|
| janfields |
And finally...why will
the reader feel the article was worthwhile to read.
|
| janfields |
So, they'll be looking
for something like a longish synopsis of your
article.
|
| janfields |
Not exactly like the
article you plan to do but showing the structure, the paragraph
topics, and the way you'll be utilizing your
sources.
|
| janfields |
So, suppose I'm doing
an article on the state of the magazine industry (which I
am)
|
| janfields |
And they want to know
how I'm going to approach it (which they don't...but we'll
pretend).
|
| janfields |
I would start by
writing my hook as I intend to do it for the article -- they want to
see your real hook because that shows how your're going to grab the
readers.
|
| janfields |
Then I'm going to go
paragraph by paragraph and show my organization.
|
| janfields |
With the state of the
industry -- I might say that I'll begin by looking at the new
magazines that have opened this year
|
| janfields |
What do they show about
the industry>
|
| janfields |
What trends are in
place.
|
| janfields |
And I'll tell them that
I intend to include quotes from several editors -- some of which I
have already gathered.
|
| janfields |
So, it's not exactly a
draft...not exactly a rough version of exactly what the article will
read.
|
| janfields |
But it does include
everything I intend to do in the article
|
| janfields |
I haven't done much of
that with nonfiction...but I've had to do something very similar
with the workforhire novels.
|
| janfields |
And I had to do
something similar for an Enslow book that I was considering
writing.
|
| janfields |
I mentioned right in
the draft about sources too.
|
| janfields |
With stuff like: "Here
I'll include figures from Mr. Magazine about how magazine revenue is
declining"
|
| coloradokate |
At ICL, we're taught to
be so concise, for short pieces, that I feel like my longer stuff
lacks enough detail--how do I get out of the habit of writing so
very tight, without getting wordy?
|
| janfields |
For me, I go ahead and
write like I write for my novel
|
| janfields |
Then I revise one
chapter before moving on to the next.
|
| janfields |
And I look for places
where I can beef up the setting (without it feeling like
padding).
|
| janfields |
Where I can make longer
time transitions to make them feel smoother.
|
| janfields |
And where I can expand
on the action...putting in more specific detail.
|
| janfields |
For example, I had a
scene where I had two bears, and two girls, and a blood-sucking
plant (and it really doesn't read as stupid as it
sounds)
|
| janfields |
I wrote the first
scene...and it worked but didn't have enough
detail.
|
| janfields |
So I actually blocked
it out using my husband as one bear..and my daughter as the
girl...and um...me as the other bear.
|
| janfields |
So I could see what it
would be like physically and could put in more accurate
detail.
|
| janfields |
With novels, you can do
that kind of blocking and detail...but I ordinarily don't in
magazines because there's no space.
|
| janfields |
I know a lot of people
don't revise chapter by chapter
|
| janfields |
but I have
to
|
| janfields |
Otherwise I lose my
"feel" for the scene by the time I come back to it.
|
| janfields |
And it's a lot harder
to make the detail feel right
|
| janfields |
But I also revise after
I finish writing everything
|
| janfields |
And then I revise again
with the editors...for the novel coming out in July (knock wood) I
actually had to write a new ending scene
|
| janfields |
To make it more action
oriented and scarier.
|
| janfields |
So, you gotta embrace
revision...ewww.
|
| lily
li |
What tense would be good
for a middle grade story? I’m tryin
|
| janfields |
Most
novels
|
| janfields |
Middle grade OR
YA
|
| janfields |
are written in past
tense
|
| janfields |
That feels like the
writerly tense and it's what we've read the most so it tends to be
what we handle the best.
|
| janfields |
BUT if you're writing
and present just seems to fit better
|
| janfields |
(And present is often
used in literary novels)
|
| janfields |
Then there is nothing
wrong with that.
|
| janfields |
I read a present tense
YA recently called...hmmm....DRAWING THE OCEAN
|
| janfields |
And the present tense
made the pacing a lot slower.
|
| janfields |
But it made the whole
sound different...it gave it a kind of inner life that you don't
find in past tense first person.
|
| janfields |
I don't see present
tense as often in middle grade as in YA
|
| janfields |
But I think that isn't
a "rule" -- just a matter of what folks are doing.
|
| janfields |
You have to keep in
mind that present tense does tend to make it more literary which can
affect a lot of other choices you might make.
|
| janfields |
Oh...steppone...thanks
for asking.
|
| janfields |
My novel (right now) is
called Wellspring of Magic.
|
| janfields |
Hopefully, it's the
first in a series.
|
| janfields |
I'll bore everyone to
death about it as soon as it comes out, I promise.
|
| janfields |
Ahh...Wellspring of
Magic is about a group of girls
|
| janfields |
whose families all move
into an eerie neighborhood...all the homes are incredibly
old
|
| janfields |
and owned by a
foundation
|
| janfields |
They've been maintained
but not lived in for more than a generation.
|
| janfields |
But suddenly, they're
all sold to families with girls about the same age.
|
| janfields |
Shortly thereafter, the
girls receive mysterious packages in the mail
|
| janfields |
that contain on odd
metal triangular disc...which later turns out to be a key to open a
portal
|
| janfields |
to a magical world,
where the girls are expected to save the world.
|
| janfields |
Not overly unique...but
lots of adventure.
|
| janfields |
Ahhh...I've had a
request to pontificate on revisions with editors.
|
| janfields |
Okay...the first thing
I do when I get a revision request is sulk.
|
| janfields |
I mutter darkly about
how they just don't get it.
|
| janfields |
I stomp around a
little
|
| janfields |
And eat
chocolate.
|
| janfields |
That can take from an
hour to a couple days depending on how much they're asking me to
change.
|
| janfields |
Then, if I don't
understand something...or I just don't agree
|
| janfields |
I usually call the
editor (sometimes with magazines, you can't do this...they wanna do
all editing via postal...ick)
|
| janfields |
If I have to do
postal...I will really really study the revision
suggestions.
|
| janfields |
Compare them to what
I've written.
|
| janfields |
And compare them to the
other things put out by the publisher.
|
| janfields |
And see how much of it
becomes obvious...a lot of it does if I take some
time.
|
| janfields |
Then I write back,
going through the revisions point by point -- kind of, stating them
back...to see if I really do understand all the
points.
|
| janfields |
And if there are still
things I'm hazy one...I'll say, I didn't quite understand "blah
blah" can you elaborate?
|
| janfields |
It's easier if you can
talk on the phone.
|
| janfields |
The funny thing about
rewriting the ending of the novel
|
| janfields |
Is that I called the
editor and totally talked her out of it.
|
| janfields |
Had her completely
agreeing with my original version.
|
| janfields |
Then I remembered
something Linda Sue Park had said about revision suggestions, she
tells herself, Just try it!
|
| janfields |
So I did, I just tried
the revision suggestion...and dang if the editor wasn't right in the
first place.
|
| janfields |
So I polished the scene
and sent it and she said it gave her goosebumps.
|
| janfields |
But in all my revision
discussion, I try to be very calm, very clear...and make sure I have
a valid point of disagreement (if I disagree)
|
| janfields |
and not just bruised
ego (I bruise so easily)
|
| janfields |
Editors aren't trying
to make you crazy
|
| janfields |
And ultimately they
really really want you to be happy
|
| janfields |
But they also want the
best possible book...and sometime that means doing the JUST TRY IT
thing
|
| lily
li |
Could I send a story to
several magazines at the same time?
|
| janfields |
Sure, as long as they
are all comfortable with simultaneous submissions.
|
| janfields |
You have to keep really
really good records if you submit simultaneously
|
| janfields |
Because really, YOU are
obligated to let all the markets know as soon as someone buys the
piece.
|
| janfields |
So that means you have
to know who is still looking at it.
|
| janfields |
Honestly, my record
keeping is really lousy...so I never send to more than one market at
a time
|
| janfields |
Because I hate feeling
like I'm backtracking when it sells to find out who all has
it.
|
| janfields |
And if you don't tell
an editor that it was bought, and they see it in a magazing when
it's still on their desk, they get really crabby.
|
| lily
li |
I think that would be
efficient, right?
|
| janfields |
The folks I know who do
it, feel like it's very efficient.
|
| janfields |
But they're efficient
people...I'm not, so it doesn't work for me.
|
| janfields |
I don't want to keep up
with who all accepts sim subs
|
| janfields |
I don't want to track
down the folks who have a manuscript on their desk.
|
| janfields |
And I always wanna
believe the first market I send to is going to buy
it.
|
| janfields |
I'm an unbalanced
optimist that way.
|
| gonewest |
do you tell the mag. that
you are sending it out to other ma
|
| gonewest |
magazines for
consideration?
|
| janfields |
Oh yeah, that's
required to maintain a professional relationship.
|
| janfields |
If you don't tell, but
then have to go back and pull the manuscript.
|
| janfields |
Or you don't tell
because they don't really accept sim sub, and go back and pull the
manuscript.
|
| janfields |
That editor will
remember you if she's spent time reading the
manuscript.
|
| janfields |
And it won't be a nice
memory.
|
| janfields |
I know folks who sim
sub without notifying all the parties...and I know editors who say
they feel like that's the worst kind of rude.
|
| janfields |
If I'm going to do
something really rude...I want it at least to be
funny.
|
| janfields |
Like...you
know...noises.
|
| janfields |
Not secret sim
subs.
|
| gonewest |
How do you word that
you're sending it out to others?
|
| janfields |
You can say, "This
manuscript is being seen by other editors."
|
| janfields |
Or you can say, "This
manuscript is being seen by two other editors" (which shows you
don't shot gun...editors really hate writers who
shotgun.)
|
| janfields |
They want to feel like
you're sending it to them because you picked them.
|
| janfields |
Or at least included
them in your two three.
|
| janfields |
Otherwise...editors say
it makes them feel like the author is saying, "I couldn't be
bothered figuring out if your house/magazine is right for this so
I'm just sending it to everyone."
|
| janfields |
And some editors won't
even read sim subs unless they get the feeling its to a very limited
number of markets.
|
| lily
li |
How to do market research
efficiently?
|
| janfields |
I dunno...I find market
research time consuming.
|
| janfields |
But I figure it's like
lots of icky things in my life that take too much time...like
cooking and laundry
|
| janfields |
It's a necessary
evil.
|
| janfields |
I spend a lot of time
on market research.
|
| janfields |
On the up side, I also
get paid specifically for knowing so much about a specific segment
of the market -- childrne's magazines.
|
| janfields |
So ultimately...I make
it pay for itself...but it took a lot of hours to do
that.
|
| jan_fields |
jitterbug When you send
in a submission what all are you supposed to send, are you supposed
to tell them what theme you are writing for?
|
| janfields |
Okay, if you're sending
to a themed magazine that takes manuscripts...
|
| janfields |
You send a cover letter
(whick includes mention of what theme you are
targetting)
|
| janfields |
And you send the
manuscript.
|
| janfields |
And if it's an article,
you send a bibliography with enough detail so the editor can FIND
and VERIFY all your sources.
|
| janfields |
That means don't just
give them a rough list...give them publisher names and copyright
dates for the books...volume numbers for magazines...phone numbers
for your interview subjects.
|
| janfields |
For most
magazines...you want to include as few Internet sources as
possible.
|
| janfields |
And only those tied to
(1) experts in the field
|
| janfields |
(2) a university -- and
make sure it's actually part of the university, not a site set up by
Joe Student about his hobby.
|
| janfields |
(3) a major museum or
historical society
|
| janfields |
(4) the
government
|
| janfields |
In otherwords, make
sure there is a bone fide, no mess around, verifiable, get the name,
expert behind any site you use.
|
| janfields |
Never use an online
encyclopedia as a source
|
| janfields |
Never use
wikipedia.
|
| janfields |
And I dunno...I never
heard of the power library.
|
| janfields |
If you can cite the
sources behind the information...maybe
|
| janfields |
I use the Internet
mainly to find the sources behind the site.
|
| janfields |
And then I go to those
sources directly.
|
| janfields |
So it is INCREDIBLY
rare for me to site an internet source.
|
| janfields |
Unless it's an online
copy of a print source (like I get a Washington Post article from
online instead of buying the newspaper)
|
| janfields |
If you're writing for a
magazine that give kids URLS...
|
| janfields |
and some of the tween
magazines do that.
|
| janfields |
I've seen them in
Discovery Girls.
|
| janfields |
They might have a
collection, for example, of cool websites about
pets.
|
| janfields |
And for that, you just
include sites that look like fun.
|
| janfields |
But that's different
from a bibliography.
|
| gonewest |
What if the non-fiction
piece is written and you are the only source of it's authenticity?
Is that acceptable?
|
| janfields |
As long as it's
personal experience.
|
| janfields |
For example...my
harvester butterfly article is coming out in the June
Cricket
|
| janfields |
Now, I've seen
Harvesters for years.
|
| janfields |
And I happen to know
that if you're walking in shady damp woods in the
south
|
| janfields |
and you disturb a
Harverster...it'll fly erratically and end up in your face about
half the time.
|
| janfields |
I've had the dratted
things practically end up up my nose.
|
| janfields |
It's like being
divebombed by 1inch butterflies.
|
| janfields |
And I wanted to mention
something about "attacking butterflies" in the
article.
|
| janfields |
But since it wasn't
personal experience
|
| janfields |
And I didn't have a
source outside of my own repeated personal
experience
|
| janfields |
They wouldn't let me
use it.
|
| janfields |
So if you want to use
your own experience soley...you kind of have to put yourself in the
article.
|
| janfields |
I had to pair my really
funny butterfly joke into a lame sentence about how harvesters have
an erratic fly pattern.
|
| janfields |
yawn.
|
| janfields |
Jitterbug wants to know
about cover letters...and then I'm going to have to trundle off to
bed.
|
| janfields |
In cover letters, the
goal is two-fold
|
| janfields |
Show why readers will
want to read your article
|
| janfields |
or
story
|
| janfields |
And second, show why
they'll benefit from it.
|
| janfields |
That doesn't mean...how
it will fix them...it means how the reader will feel
benefited.
|
| janfields |
Anyway...so I look for
the coolest, most fun, exciting thing and tell something about that
in the cover.
|
| janfields |
Then I mention benefit
-- in fiction, that means touching on theme.
|
| janfields |
In nonfiction, it just
means benefit -- for example, the harvester article took something
kids thought they knew all about....butterflies
|
| janfields |
And turned it on it's
head -- hey some of them are blood suckers as
babies.
|
| janfields |
Not human blood...but
aphid blood
|
| janfields |
So...kids would thinks
that's cool
|
| janfields |
And it might spark a
unique book report since it was targetting the natural history
obsessed age group.
|
| janfields |
report...uh...science
report, not book report.
|
| janfields |
I'm clearly getting
tired.
|
| janfields |
Okay, that's it for the
transcript for tonight...thanks so much for coming.
|
| janfields |
I was thinking I might
be so lonely being a holiday
weekend.
|
