| guestspeaker |
It
would!
|
| janfields |
Okay...I gotta dash, my
hubby is giving me the look.
|
| janfields |
Thanks again...and
um...checks in the mail.
|
| guestspeaker |
Okay, I'm outta here!
Bye for real!
|
| janfields |
Bye
|
| janfields |
August 14, Open Forum
Chat will begin in five minutes with your moderator, Jan Fields.
This chat is open topic so I hope you'll share an hour with me and
ask all the writing questions that are nagging you! In five
minutes.
|
| janfields |
August 14, Open Forum
Chat will begin in two minutes. I hope you've got questions because
I'm raring to pontificate! In two minutes.
|
| janfields |
August 14, WELCOME to
Open Forum Chat. I'm your host...hostess...wow, makes me sound like
a twinkie. I'm you're head pontificator, Jan Fields, and I'm looking
forward to seeing what writing questions are plaguing y'all
today.
|
| janfields |
Oh dang, spelled your
wrong.
|
| janfields |
Um pretend I can type,
okay?
|
| janfields |
First, I want to say
that I bought a copy of the Children's Writers and Illustrators
Market
|
| janfields |
just so I
could...um...well, dang...look at my interview
|
| janfields |
Okay, so I just wanted
to say that I'm also going to get a free copy of the 2008 Childen's
Writers and Illustrators Market
|
| janfields |
Which I will be giving
away
|
| janfields |
In a drawing...probably
on Kidmagwriters.com
|
| janfields |
So do watch for
that.
|
| janfields |
Okay, ccollier has
something in the Writer's Journal this month, on page
14.
|
| janfields |
Is it an article?
What's the title and I'll put it in this transcript
|
| janfields |
Article: Poetry: The
Scheme of Things...sounds super cool.
|
| janfields |
Okay...I'm sitting with
a sad lack of questions.
|
| janfields |
So...hmmm...I'll ask
myself one.
|
| janfields |
So, jan, what are some
ways we can study markets without spending money...
|
| janfields |
being as how we're
writers and poorer than dirt.
|
| janfields |
Okay...here's how I do
it.
|
| janfields |
First, one really great
way to do a lot of market study is to use the
internet.
|
| janfields |
For example, I agreed
to review books for myshelf.com
|
| janfields |
Which has like...zero
clout as a publishing credit
|
| janfields |
but does mean they send
me brand new books before anyone else sees them.
|
| janfields |
Thus, I get to study
what's coming out...and it's free.
|
| janfields |
Also, I spend a lot of
time on websites.
|
| janfields |
Most publishers have
sites designed to sell books
|
| janfields |
Or to gather
subscribers.
|
| janfields |
That means they WANT to
tell you about their content and their books.
|
| janfields |
So you can read
excerpts...and see what those tell you about tone
|
| janfields |
voice
|
| janfields |
pacing
|
| janfields |
dialogue.
|
| janfields |
It's amazing how much
you can get from those little bits.
|
| janfields |
Kinds like Survivorman
sucking tree roots...it's doesn't seem like much but it's surprising
what you get.
|
| craftymama |
Is there a quick or easy
way to remember which spelling of too to use? Too or
to?
|
| janfields |
Too is only used to
mean "also" or "in excess"
|
| janfields |
So think of it as
getting an extra "o" for ALSO
|
| janfields |
I want to come
too
|
| janfields |
I ate too much...too
has too many "o"s
|
| janfields |
Get
it?
|
| janfields |
In every other case,
you'll use to
|
| jan_fields |
bethie: Quotations, if
you are quoting only the last word of the sentence, where do you
place the period?
|
| janfields |
In US publishing, the
punctuation ALWAYS comes inside the quotation
marks.
|
| janfields |
Joey said Julie was
just too "needy."
|
| janfields |
In UK publishing and
Candian, the punctuation goes inside the quote only if it is part of
the quote
|
| janfields |
Joey said, "Julie, you
are too needy."
|
| janfields |
but
|
| janfields |
Joey said Julie was
just too "needy".
|
| janfields |
You never ever ever see
that punctuation in US publishing houses
|
| janfields |
In the US, the
punctuation is consistently inside the quotes.
|
| jitterbug |
when places want samples,
what are you suppose to send?
|
| janfields |
If a publisher asks for
samples
|
| janfields |
They want something
written that has NEVER been published
|
| janfields |
A sample is not the
same as a clip.
|
| janfields |
However, some new
publishers...don't always know what a word means.
|
| janfields |
So they might say
"sample" when they mean "clip"
|
| janfields |
but
still
|
| janfields |
A sample is something
written to demonstrate that you can do the type of writing they
want.
|
| janfields |
For
example
|
| janfields |
I sent samples with
resumes to packagers
|
| janfields |
I looked at what the
packager published
|
| janfields |
Then wrote
something...about a page long...for each age group the publisher
covered
|
| janfields |
and if the publisher
did nonfiction, I wrote nonfiction.
|
| janfields |
Now, you can use
something published for a sample
|
| janfields |
But you need to return
to your unedited manuscript
|
| janfields |
So they can see what
your actual writing is like...not what it's like after an editor is
done with you.
|
| chippy |
What demand is there for
humorous farm life style stories? I am thinking James Herriott type
books. I know these are adult books but I am sure enjoyed by
all
|
| janfields |
There are still a few
of these types of things being published...
|
| janfields |
much more in magazines
than books, actually.
|
| janfields |
I think farm life is
still pretty exotic for most kids.
|
| janfields |
But there's still a
market -- if you write them really well.
|
| janfields |
An editor would be
looking for something very fresh, not sounding like Harriott
(because we already have Harriott) but instead with a very new
voice.
|
| janfields |
And humor always
scores...every editor I have ever met said humor is gold as long as
it's well written and funny.
|
| ccollier |
Jan, when does the 2008
magazine market guide come out
|
| janfields |
I don't actually
know...alas. I know I don't have one yet so that means it's not out
yet.
|
| janfields |
I'll ask and let you
know.
|
| craftymama |
On assignment 6 I am
suppose to put the two parts of assignment 5 together into one story
or just use the main character I created for assignment five in a
new story for assignment 6?
|
| janfields |
Okay, you can use the
main character from Assignment 5
|
| janfields |
Or you can create a
whole new character.
|
| janfields |
And you create a story
for the character you create.
|
| janfields |
Mostly focus on writing
a good story because that's what your instructor is supposed to
focus on
|
| janfields |
So, be sure your main
character (either the Assignment 5 creation or a new one) is in
charge of the story action
|
| janfields |
Has a strong story
problem that is resolved through the main character's
actions.
|
| janfields |
And that the main
character undergoes some kind of inner change as a result of the
plot.
|
| janfields |
And you'll make your
instructor giddy with glee.
|
| janfields |
Most
instructors...well, me anyway, are mostly focused on growth...are
you getting closer and closer to being able to handle the things you
need to get published.
|
| janfields |
The way the course is
set up is designed to help you do that...but if you kinda "march to
a different drummer" but still are progressing.
|
| janfields |
Most instructors will
be incredibly happy.
|
| janfields |
We just wanna see you
get published.
|
| chippy |
Jan in the "Beyond the
Basics" course they show some proofreader marks. Have these changed
over the years, and are they the same
internationally?
|
| janfields |
Wow, this falls under
the heading of "I have no idea."
|
| janfields |
I still sometimes get
manuscripts that have been copyedited where I'm supposed to proof
them
|
| janfields |
And I don't always know
what the marks the copyeditor is using means.
|
| janfields |
I don't think they are
as set in stone as we might like.
|
| janfields |
I think the key is to
convey the change accurately.
|
| janfields |
So if you know the ones
from the course, you'll be pretty well off.
|
| janfields |
But you'll still
sometimes see weird marks.
|
| janfields |
But I don't know how
international they are.
|
| janfields |
I'm not exactly an
internationally coveted writer.
|
| janfields |
Yup...stump the jan
prize to chippy.
|
| janfields |
Though you'll notice I
pontificated anyway...so clearly I can pontificate even when I don't
know much.
|
| peggyw |
Any ideahow fast
Appleseeds pays?My articlewas in May's issu
|
| janfields |
I have sad news, peggy
w. Appleseeds is owned by Carus now which means they pay slow slow
slow
|
| janfields |
Folks published by
Carus magazines in March still have not seen
checks.
|
| janfields |
I would go ahead and
send them an invoice...see if that stirs anything
|
| janfields |
But I suspect they're
just going to drag along until "shazam" a check in the mail...like
being visited by publishers clearinghouse.
|
| piperpan |
When I'm sending an
unsolicited ms, should I include in my
|
| piperpan |
cover letter that I'm an
ICL student?
|
| janfields |
Nope, an editor doesn't
care.
|
| janfields |
When you come right
down to it, all an editor cares about in an unsolicited manuscript
is the manuscript.
|
| janfields |
The cover letter is
just to convince the editor in about one paragraph that your
manuscript is going to be lively/fun and
meaningful.
|
| janfields |
So the editor will read
it, but some editors jump right to the manuscript and judge totally
from that.
|
| janfields |
If it's well written
and suits the editor's need -- you make the sale.
|
| janfields |
If it's not what the
editor is looking for...alas.
|
| janfields |
The only time the
letter counts for much is in queries...
|
| janfields |
even then though, you
need to focus on the PRODUCT you have to sell...
|
| janfields |
the manuscript you want
the editor to let you send.
|
| cathie |
Jan, for a non-fiction
article, I want to include sidebars. How do I show them or is that
up to the editor?
|
| janfields |
When I write something
with sidebars, I mention them in the cover
letter...
|
| janfields |
"A Day With Penguins"
includes two sidebars of penguin facts and myths"
|
| janfields |
I then break out the
word count on the top of the manuscript
|
| janfields |
Word Count: 550
words/Sidebar 1 50 words/Sidebar 2 100 words -- total 700
words
|
| janfields |
Then I have the
manuscript...normal formatting
|
| janfields |
Followed by each
sidebar...the sidebar looks just like a normal
manuscript
|
| janfields |
But the title of the
sidebar look like this:
|
| janfields |
Sidebar 1: Peering at
Penguins
|
| janfields |
That way the editor
knows whether she is holding sidebar or manuscript
|
| janfields |
And the whole thing in
numbered successively -- the sidebars don't get their own page
numbers (but that's way minor, you won't get rejected for having
different page numbers)
|
| janfields |
So the first page of
sidebar 1 might be page 5, for example.
|
| janfields |
Again, the page
numbering is way minor so don't reprint it for
that.
|
| ccollier |
Is your book still coming
out in January Jan
|
| janfields |
As best I
know
|
| janfields |
Just for the
record...book packagers don't always feel like they need to let you
know stuff
|
| janfields |
since they don't
usually count on your promotional efforts at all
|
| janfields |
and you've already been
paid.
|
| janfields |
So publication can be
kind of a suprise...surprise, have some books!
Yippee!
|
| chippy |
Thanks for trying to
answer for me jan. Wearing the dunces cap for the rest of the open
forum!!! lol
|
| janfields |
Ha! Everyone here knows
how nicely the dunce cap fits me by now!
|
| janfields |
Heck, no, chippy...you
get extra points for stumping the jan
|
| phenixlily |
Hi Jan! Nice being here
again. :) When sending a ms, does it
|
| phenixlily |
matter if you send it to
only or several agent? Shall you
|
| phenixlily |
indicte if you sent it to
two others for example? Thanks.
|
| janfields |
Hi phenixlily, always
nice to see you :-)
|
| janfields |
When sending out
MANUSCRIPTS, you need to let agents and publishers know if they are
not the only one getting the manuscript.
|
| janfields |
You can just put it in
the bottom paragraph: This is an exclusive
submission.
|
| janfields |
Or: This is not an
exclusive submission.
|
| janfields |
When sending QUERY
LETTERS, which some agents/publishers request
|
| janfields |
You DO NOT have to tell
them if they are the only one being queried.
|
| janfields |
Query letters are not
submissions...just questions.
|
| janfields |
So you
don
|
| janfields |
don't need to say
anything
|
| janfields |
about who else is
seeing the query.
|
| janfields |
If you are sending a
PARTIAL...a query with a synopsis and a sample of the
manuscript...it's really up to you.
|
| janfields |
The agent/editor would
kind of like to know
|
| janfields |
But it's still not
considered something you MUST tell.
|
| craftymama |
I know we are learning to
write for children but a possible opportunity to write a (very)
adult novel. Should I use a pen name so children's publishers don't
think it is strange I want to write for kids too?
|
| janfields |
Only if it's
erotica
|
| janfields |
As long as your adult
novel wouldn't be something that makes an editor/reader think --
ewww...I wouldn't want her writing for my kid
|
| janfields |
then you can use the
same name.
|
| janfields |
So if I were writing
really gruesome thriller with sex in it...I might use a pen
name
|
| janfields |
especially if my kid
stuff was for middle grade
|
| janfields |
You don't want a middle
grade kid looking for more books by you and ending up with "Slasher
Slayer Strikes"
|
| janfields |
But if you're writing
something like a mild romance, or chick lit, or a cosy mystery or
police procedural
|
| janfields |
You really don't need
to change your name.
|
| janfields |
In fact, if the adult
novel sells buckets, you'll be MORE sought after as a children's
writer.
|
| janfields |
After all James
Patterson wrote a picture book
|
| janfields |
And his adult novels
aren't exactly yum yum the bun bun
|
| janfields |
Of course, his picture
book kinda stunk, but that's beside the point.
|
| craftymama |
Is is a habit of all
editors not to stay in closer contact than that? It is annoying,
lol
|
| janfields |
Normal publishing
houses generally keep you in the loop for when a book is coming
out
|
| janfields |
because you need time
to set up your promo.
|
| janfields |
Some educational
publishers don't bother...if their sales a mainly school/library
market
|
| janfields |
because your promo
doesn't matter much.
|
| janfields |
And packagers can have
unexpected delays which again...they don't tell you because you
don't have a "need to know" that really helps the
publisher.
|
| janfields |
But if you're with a
NORMAL commerical publisher, they will definitely keep you informed
of when it's coming out
|
| janfields |
Because they are hoping
you're doing things to help get the word out.
|
| piperpan |
For Non-Fiction, if I can
supply photos's do I send them
|
| janfields |
Yes, if you have good
photos of the type the magazine uses.
|
| janfields |
Then you send
them.
|
| janfields |
Now, if we're talking
about a BOOK nonfiction, then you don't send the photos with the
manuscript.
|
| janfields |
You can send ONE..as an
example to show the quality
|
| janfields |
But the photos are
going to get mangled through submission
|
| janfields |
and that's
costly
|
| janfields |
So with a book
nonfiction, you send one and say, "I am sending a sample of the
photos I have available for this manuscript"
|
| janfields |
And you can mention
some of the contents of other photos if it's a selling
point.
|
| janfields |
For magazines, you just
go ahead and send with the packet because you can be pretty sure of
exactly what photos they'll need.
|
| janfields |
Be sure to send the
photos safely...secured between cardboard (at the least) and don't
write on them.
|
| craftymama |
the actual photos
themselves or copies?
|
| janfields |
Well, I'm assuming you
have the negatives and are taking the photos.
|
| janfields |
If, in fact, we're
talking about irreplaceable photos
|
| janfields |
Like archival
photos
|
| janfields |
Then just send a photo
copy (full color if the photo is full color)
|
| janfields |
showing the photo...and
say they are available.
|
| janfields |
Never send
one-of-a-kind photos until you have a strong commitment to
publish
|
| janfields |
And you won't send them
through the postal service usually.
|
| janfields |
Art departments often
have specific ways they want to received one-of-kind
art
|
| chippy |
Talking pen names, how do
you choose a pen name & do you have to only use one name or can
you change your pen name?
|
| cathie |
what's the scoop on using
a psuedo? Do you just say, I want to write under this name? Is it
frowned upon? My whole name is a mouthful and not too easy to
remember, but a chopped version would work better.
|
| janfields |
Okay...a pen
name.
|
| janfields |
You can have all the
pen names you want
|
| janfields |
Only that lets you
build ZERO readership loyalty so
|
| janfields |
don't use pen names if
you don't need to.
|
| janfields |
But when you do use
one.
|
| janfields |
For books, you deal
with that AFTER the offer is made on the book.
|
| janfields |
When the editor makes
an offer, you talk about the name you want the book released
under.
|
| janfields |
Sometimes an editor
will even suggest...hey, you're name will be hard for kids to
remember, why not use this short form...
|
| janfields |
Or if you have a
"girlie" name but are writing middle grade boy's
adventure
|
| janfields |
the editor may suggest
writing under initials.
|
| janfields |
Stuff like that
happens.
|
| janfields |
But that's all worked
out with the publisher, and your checks come to you with your real
name
|
| janfields |
And your real name is
the one on the contracts.
|
| janfields |
Now, if you want to use
a pen name for magazine work for some reason
|
| janfields |
You just use your real
name in all the contact info
|
| janfields |
and write "Written
under the name Jan the Magnificant" in the byline spot on the
manuscript...under the title.
|
| janfields |
And mention in the
cover letter that you want to use the name ...blah blah...for the
byline.
|
| janfields |
And then you just
really hope the magazine gets it right.
|
| janfields |
I have been published
under a number of interesting names...none of which were my
idea.
|
| janfields |
My maiden name was
Janis Waldrop...so I've been published under Jonis, Jonas, Janet,
Janiss, and Jenis...with the last name of Waltrip, Waldrip, Wallrop,
and Walden
|
| janfields |
But kids magazines seem
to get it right more often.
|
| janfields |
Okay...we're past
three...so I'm getting finger cramps.
|
| janfields |
Thanks guys, I'm glad
you found this
helpful.
|
