| janfields |
December 4, Afternoon
Forum begins in five minutes -- it's open topic so all writing
related questions are welcome.
|
| janfields |
December 4, Afternoon
Forum begins in two minutes -- it's open topic so all writing
related questions are welome. You don't have to wait until chat
begins to post your question via the 'ask a question'
button.
|
| janfields |
Welcome to Afternoon
Open Forum for December 4. I'm Jan Fields, web editor for the
Institute and I'm eager for some pontificating.
|
| janfields |
If you want to ask a
question and be sure it has a chance to be posted, you'll need to
use either the "ask a question" button on the bar across the middle
of your screen. OR type /ask...then space once and type your
question. That passes the question to me and I can post it for
answer. If you type the question in the bar at the bottom of your
screen, I may not see it.
|
| jan_fields |
mk1: I notice that a lot
of mags want photos with nonfiction. What's the best way to get
photos?
|
| janfields |
Well, you can take
them...of course. Many of the magazines that require writer produce
the photos run only black and white, so if you do take your own
photos, make sure they look good in black and
white.
|
| janfields |
You can see if you can
find similar photos on the web and then contact the
photographer.
|
| janfields |
A couple times, I've
been able to get amateur photographers to offer a photo for use in a
kid's magazine
|
| janfields |
They like the idea of
helping kids
|
| janfields |
And it's
publicity.
|
| janfields |
Professional
photographers generally won't go for it though since there is no
money.
|
| janfields |
You can send color
photograph prints, the magazine can convert
|
| janfields |
But if AT ALL possible,
you should see how the photo looks in black and
white
|
| janfields |
I used to scan color
prints and then convert to black and white on my
computer
|
| janfields |
Just to see if it was
going to still look good.
|
| janfields |
Sometimes a photo is
murky or confused without the color.
|
| janfields |
But I would still
submit the color, I just did it with the confidence of knowing it
would work in black and white.
|
| janfields |
There are also some
places to get free photos -- generally connected to the
government...but I've never used them and know less about
them.
|
| janfields |
If you see a photo on
the internet and the photographer is NOT stated with the
photograph.
|
| janfields |
Then chances are it's
not available
|
| janfields |
A lot of photos online
are being used illegally.
|
| janfields |
A LOT of
them.
|
| janfields |
So unless you're
working from a site where the site owner SAYS, I took these photos,
then you probably won't find the photographer.
|
| janfields |
Also, sometimes you can
get photos from places who have good reason to want
publicity
|
| janfields |
Tourist related
companies...they will often allow free use of
photos.
|
| janfields |
You cannot print a
photo FROM the web and send it
|
| janfields |
Web photos online are
no nearly publication quality.
|
| janfields |
You must contact the
person who took the photo.
|
| janfields |
Tell them you are
working on an article about blah, blah for blah
blah
|
| janfields |
and ask if they have a
high resolution copy of the photo from their site
|
| janfields |
that they would be
willing to allow the magazine to use.
|
| janfields |
Web photos are not good
enough quality for a print publication.
|
| janfields |
Personally, I tend to
avoid magazines that insist on photos.
|
| janfields |
It's a lot of effort
and not usually much pay.
|
| janfields |
But I do know folks who
have done very well securing photos online.
|
| janfields |
And I have sometimes
let editors know about a reallly good photo I found and where I
found it.
|
| janfields |
And then the magazine
can track down the permissions and mag quality
copies.
|
| soleil03 |
What is your advice on
overseas publishers?
|
| janfields |
I don't sell outside
the US, personally...cause I'm really cheap.
|
| janfields |
But I know folks who do
and do regularly.
|
| janfields |
Generally, they don't
pay postage to get their whole manuscript back -- too
pricey.
|
| janfields |
So they just send
enough postage to cover a long-business sized envelope and a single
page letter.
|
| janfields |
And magazines HATE HATE
HATE IRC coupons.
|
| janfields |
So if you can't trade
stamps with someone in the country
|
| janfields |
Or buy stamps
online.
|
| janfields |
Then, really, I would
just ask for reply via email.
|
| janfields |
If they want the
material you offer -- they will find a way to contact
you.
|
| janfields |
If they don't and they
don't want to reply...you'll never hear.
|
| janfields |
So if I'm submitting
outside the country, I'm going to put a "deadline" on the
submission.
|
| janfields |
Editors would totally
understand if you said: To simplify reply outside the US, please
contact me via email blah@blahblah.com -- I will assume you are not
interested if I don't hear back by blah blah date.
|
| janfields |
Now that is ONLY for
outside country subs.
|
| janfields |
Editors don't want you
to be cute if it would be easy to use the mail.
|
| janfields |
And make sure your date
is well outside the publishers normal response time from their
guidelines.
|
| monkee |
What's wrong with
IRC's?
|
| janfields |
They are hard to find
and they fall out of submissions and get lost.
|
| soleil03 |
Is it hard to get a piece
published that has two authors?
|
| janfields |
No, as long as both
authors sign the cover letter and are noted in the
byline.
|
| janfields |
Publishers are not
bothered by more than one author.
|
| soleil03 |
Should cover letters be
short or long...which is preferred?
|
| janfields |
Short is always
preferrered -- no more than one page.
|
| janfields |
And mine rarely run
more than one-third to one-half.
|
| c and
h |
I need a specific example
of writing samples that magazines keep asking for. All I can find is
brief and vague desciptions. Please and Thank you.
|
| janfields |
It depends on the
magazine
|
| janfields |
If they are asking for
samples...go to your sample copy of the magazine
|
| janfields |
read all the
articles.
|
| janfields |
Note the style, length,
voice, etc.
|
| janfields |
Then write about a
different subject with the magazine's preferences in
mind.
|
| janfields |
That's the kind of
sample they want.
|
| janfields |
They don't usually mean
published samples, they just want to know that you can write
about
|
| janfields |
the subjects they
buy
|
| janfields |
at the length and style
they need.
|
| janfields |
You can't find a
"one-size" answer to sample articles...it's very specific to the
magazine.
|
| janfields |
Most of the magazines
asking for sample stuff these days
|
| janfields |
also have websites,
which sometimes have published articles and stories
|
| janfields |
to lure
subscribers...so if you don't have a sample issue
|
| janfields |
(and if you really want
to sell to them, you should)
|
| janfields |
you can use the stuff
online to get you oriented to what they run.
|
| jan_fields |
Clara: I'm on Assignment
4 and need to write a nf piece. Could you tell me what are the most
popular nf article types?
|
| janfields |
For teens, the most
popular article type is the profile.
|
| janfields |
You find a teen with a
unique personal story
|
| janfields |
You interview
her
|
| janfields |
You write about her
experience using her voice
|
| janfields |
In shorter stuff for
teens -- quizzes are always in demand
|
| janfields |
be
funny
|
| janfields |
For younger kids,
science from areas outside natural science are very
popular
|
| janfields |
Informational quizzes
are hot, especially with a humorous twist.
|
| janfields |
Technology and ecology
short pieces (under 150 words) have a huge number of
markets.
|
| janfields |
The least easy to sell
stuff is animal nonfiction -- yes, kids love it but you'll have the
most competition in this area
|
| janfields |
Because EVERYONE is
writing it.
|
| jan_fields |
Boomer: If I write a
story about Christmas now, when should I be sending it to
magazines?
|
| janfields |
It depends on the
magazines -- some, like POCKETS like to see the piece a year
ahead.
|
| janfields |
So writing about
Christmas now means sending it now.
|
| janfields |
Others like the Cricket
group and Highlights buy that stuff all year round, so send it
anytime.
|
| janfields |
Others, smaller
magazines especially, but also magazines like American
Girl
|
| janfields |
Buy about 6 months
ahead...so you'll hold it for a while.
|
| janfields |
The smaller the
magazine, the closer you can wait to the holiday
usually.
|
| soleil03 |
How can I get a
pseudonym? Can it be used by 2 authors in 1
|
| janfields |
Sure, for something
like that, you'll need to explain it in the cover
letter.
|
| janfields |
If it's a book,
publishers will like it better.
|
| janfields |
Splitting the teeny bit
of money from magazines is a pain.
|
| janfields |
But you'll need to put
both names on the contract
|
| janfields |
And you'll need to
explain the situation in the cover letter...not at long length,
editors have seen it all before.
|
| janfields |
Just say something
like: As a writing team, our byline will be Jane Doe -- it's simple
and just makes things clear
|
| janfields |
Also, put your real
names in the header of the manuscript
|
| janfields |
But put "writing under
the name of Jane Doe" on the cover sheet (for a long manuscript) or
the byline (for a short one)
|
| janfields |
There is virtually
nothing you can do that editors haven't seen.
|
| janfields |
Am I
back?
|
| janfields |
Ahhh...I
am
|
| janfields |
Okay, let me jump back
into your room too.
|
| soleil03 |
Should you submit
illustrations with text if available?
|
| janfields |
If you are a
professional level illustrator, then you can send illustrations with
text...I think there are directions for how to do that in a number
of spots online.
|
| janfields |
But if you aren't at a
professional level, then you will actually lessen your chance of a
sale by sending illustrations.
|
| janfields |
Publishers would prefer
to work with their own illustratiors (for the most
part)
|
| janfields |
Some smaller publishers
will be more open than the bigger houses.
|
| janfields |
But you do really need
to be good and to know how illustration works in publication -- so
there is a lot of self-educating you'll need to do.
|
| monkee |
What constitutes a
professional level?
|
| janfields |
It means is your art as
good and as consistent as that seen in publication.
|
| janfields |
Consistent is actually
as important as good.
|
| janfields |
I've seen some nice
fine artists try illustrating for friends, but they can't be
consistent
|
| janfields |
Every illustrations is
nice...but doesn't have a unity across the book.
|
| janfields |
Also, you need to know
the mechanics of illustration and laying text on a
page.
|
| janfields |
Art may be subjective
but illustration isn't.
|
| janfields |
There are mechanical
considerations that put heavy demands on
illustrators.
|
| janfields |
And they need to know
how book illustration works.
|
| janfields |
So you're looking at
doing some study about how to illustrate, even if you already know
how to draw/paint/sculpt/etc.
|
| janfields |
So, say, for a single
book, the color for every illustration needs to be
consistent.
|
| janfields |
The character needs to
have the same face, and style, and movement
quality.
|
| janfields |
Often color is a real
issue for those trying to illustrate without
experience.
|
| janfields |
But style is too...a
character at rest will be a different style than a character in
motion...w
|
| janfields |
If you had a chance to
compare a group of self-published picture books to several done by
commerical publishers, you would see the problem
instantly.
|
| janfields |
Also scale...I've seen
serious scale issues. There are so many things to keep in mind when
illustrating a picture book.
|
| janfields |
I've sold art for
illustration myself -- but it was strictly one-offs -- one
illustrations to go with the whole piece.
|
| janfields |
As soon as you get into
multi-illustration, it's a whole different animal.
|
| soleil03 |
Any advice on board book
publication?
|
| janfields |
Actually I saw an
editor talking about this recently...can't remember who right off
hand
|
| janfields |
But because of how
board books are done these days, the only way to get a board book
deal
|
| janfields |
is to pitch the book as
a picture book -- without mentioning board book.
|
| janfields |
And let the publisher
decide to do it in board format
|
| janfields |
The costs of board
books is astronomical so they are almost always generated by
publisher whim
|
| janfields |
Not
submission.
|
| mk1 |
Can picture books B
comprised of photos rather than art?
|
| janfields |
Oh, yeah, you have the
same issues with consistency.
|
| janfields |
Usually with light ...
and scale
|
| janfields |
But it is some easier
since a dog (for example) will always be the same
dog.
|
| janfields |
Not a lot of these get
published because they're hard to do.
|
| janfields |
But when done well,
they tend to really take off.
|
| monkee |
When are the Institute's
Christmas holidays?
|
| janfields |
I haven't the faintest
idea...I work all the time, they issued me some desk chains with the
job.
|
| janfields |
But I am pretty sure
they're off a few days around Christmas and again around New
Years.
|
| janfields |
Specific instructors
may take more time...and handle their load around their holiday
needs.
|
| janfields |
But I don't think the
institute itself is closed all that long
|
| janfields |
You may experience some
delays in getting an assignment back if it comes in during your
instructor's holiday time.
|
| janfields |
But it shouldn't be
outrageous.
|
| janfields |
Well, that's the last
of our questions today so I'm going to wrap up the
transcript...hopefully it worked considering it dumped me out of the
chat.
|
| janfields |
If you want to ask a
question and be sure it has a chance to be posted, you'll need to
use either the "ask a question" button on the bar across the middle
of your screen. OR type /ask...then space once and type your
question. That passes the question to me and I can post it for
answer. If you type the question in the bar at the bottom of your
screen, I may not see
it.
|
