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mel boring
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A WARM WELCOME to the OPEN
FORUM, beginning in about two minutes!
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mel boring
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We will have TONS of GOOD NEWS
at the Open Forum today, and I am SO GLAD you're here!
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mel boring
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WELCOME to the Tuesday Open
Forum for September 20!
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mel boring
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I won't issue my
"standard paragraphs" today, but give help as needed as we go
along....
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mel boring
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An ESPECIALLY WARM WELCOME if
you're here for the first time!...
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mel boring
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Please remember NOT to just
type your questions into the slot at the bottom of your screen...
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mel boring
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because they will mix in with
the flow of answers....
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mel boring
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Instead, use the
ask-a-question feature of the software you're using....
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mel boring
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For most of you, that will
mean clicking on the little "thought cloud" in the middle of the
screen....
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mel boring
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Then type your question into
the box that opens...
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mel boring
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You MIGHT have to type a
little piece at a time, but don't worry,...
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mel boring
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I will "piece them back
together" gladly on this end!...
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mel boring
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Here are many GOOD NEWSes:
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mel boring
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Donna Marie West had TWO GOOD
NEWSes in one week: my article, "On Matters of the Sphinx" just
appeared in WHAT IF? so that's two good newses in a week!
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mel boring
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You may remember that Donna
let us know about...
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mel boring
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the article she had published
in HORSEPOWER last week....
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mel boring
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She has published MANY
articles there AND in WHAT IF?...
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mel boring
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CONGRATULATIONS, Donna Marie
West! Donna is an ICL grad who has done WELL in getting published.
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mel boring
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Here are two GOOD NEWSes of
different kinds:...
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mel boring
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A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY for YOU
from Lucie Antoniazzi, otherwise known as peanut: As you already know, I’m
senior editor at justformom.com for all of the articles that get published
on the site. I am not responsible for the recipes section of the site, as
well, and I am preparing the selection of favorite recipes for our Fall
2005 page. Can you put out a call for fall favorite recipes at the ICL
forum? If people are interested in contributing, they can send their
recipes enclosed within an e-mail to: recipes@justformom.com. If they
have a photograph of the completed recipe, they can attach that to the
e-mail in jpeg format. The deadline for fall recipes is September 30,
2005. If people want to check out the recipes section before they submit,
they can visit:
http://www.justformom.com/recipes/release-recipes.php
Thanks for your help, Mel!
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mel boring
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THANK YOU, Lucie, for this
opportunity for us!...
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mel boring
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I know that MANY of you have
tasty recipes, because I've tasted some of them!...
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mel boring
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So submit and be published in
JustForMom, one of the BEST online magazines I know of!
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Here's the BEST kind of GOOD
NEWS:...
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mel boring
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Charlotte Mayo sent us this
BEST kind of GOOD NEWS: Anyone wishing to help SCBWI (Society of Children's
Writers & Illustrators) send COMFORT KITS to the displaced children of
hurricane Katrina they can do the following. SCBWI will be placing--2 new
books, a flashlight, a toothbrush, toothpaste set, a new toy or stuffed
animal to each child. Buy new books (either hard or soft cover) new toy or
stuffed animal toys and send them to the address given at the SCBWI’s Web
Site at www.scbwi.org DEADLINE IS
SEPT 25 (all gifts must received by the SCBWI by then)
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mel boring
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THANK YOU, Charlotte, for
letting us know of this opportunity to give!...
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mel boring
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The SCBWI has responded this
way to MANY crises, and it is a GREAT opportunity for children's writers!
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Here is a GIFT from Kristi
Holl:...
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mel boring
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THANKS to Kristi Holl for
sending us info about downloading the free manuscript tracker from
Children's Book Insider. It is a freebie chart to track manuscripts, and
you can get it by going to their Web Site at:
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mel boring
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mel boring
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Someone asked very recently
about the
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manuscript itinerary,"
which is...
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mel boring
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this very kind of RECORD of
submitted manuscripts....
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mel boring
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This one from Children's Book
Insider is a GREAT one!...
Go to: http://write4kids.com/charts.html You will need the
Adobe Reader to read and display the tracker. Get it at:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
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mel boring
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While you're there at http://write4kids.com, you may want to
look over what's in the CHILDREN'S BOOK INSIDER, a MARVELOUS e-zine for
children's writers!
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mel boring
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One more item, to add to our
answer to the question of novel-writing software from LAST week:...
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mel boring
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Last week, RM asked about
novel-writing software, and I said that I've never used it, but would ask
you chatsters if you knew of any. AGAIN, I learned that all of us are
smarter than any of us, because caq mentioned Dramatica. Its Web Site is:
http://www.dramatica.com/
They have, not only a software program for writing
novels, but books, CDs, audio tapes and a discussion group by users of
Dramatica. They even have MP3s you can download from the Internet that
tell about their program. If anyone else knows of any OTHER novel-writing
software, please let me know and I will pass it on to chatsters. And
THANKS for asking, RM!
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rosez
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Mel, are you going to update us
on your good news this week?
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mel boring
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And thank YOU for asking,
rosez!...
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mel boring
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My good news is about the book
I wrote with Leslie Dendy,...
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mel boring
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GUINEA PIG SCIENTISTS: BOLD
SELF-EXPERIMENTERS IN SCIENCE AND MEDICINE:...
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mel boring
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Recently the book received a
STARRED review from BOOKLIST, the book review mag of the American Library
Association,...
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mel boring
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which also awards the Newbery
Medal and the Caldecott Medal....
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mel boring
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A STARRED review is very rare,
so Leslie and I are grateful!...
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mel boring
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ALSO, the book has been
nominated for the Young Adult Book of the Year (along with about 100
others)....
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mel boring
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The YA Book Award is ALSO
given by the American Library Association....
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mel boring
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The book came out this past
June, and Leslie and I feel VERY fortunate--and THANK YOU for asking,
rosez!
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mel boring
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/ Mel, I'm thrilled to announce
the September release of my preschool picture book, HOW WILL I EVER SLEEP
IN THIS BED? I just got my author copies and I *think* it should be in
bookstores any day now!
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mel boring
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CONGRATULATIONS to YOU,
dell!...
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mel boring
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That is marvelous news, a
picture book release. HOW WILL I EVER SLEEP IN THIS BED sounds like...
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brenbo
mel boring
ljp
|
I sent my first manuscript out -
only to get my first
rejection back in less than a
week. Then two more followed
in less than three weeks time. I
studied the market, too.
When publishers respond with a
reject that fast, what does
doest that mean? Since it was my
first submission, I was
realistic and expected to get
rejects, but not THAT fast!
I have to admit I was taken back
by that. Can you help me
make sense of it, especially the
one that I received back in
less than a week because that
makes me think they didn't
even take the time to read it.
I'm SORRY, brenbo, because I
KNOW how rejections hurt--especially THREE rejections!...
Quick rejections simply mean
that they were not too busy to respond right away....
But it does NOT mean they
didn't read it....
What happens at MOST magazines
and publishers is that they have "readers"...
who make the first reading of a submitted manuscript….
Those readers are fully
trained to know right away if the submission is just not appropriate for
THAT publication, brenbo…. And that MIGHT be the reason for the quick
returns. If a magazine specializes at all, there are certain kinds of
stories and articles.... that, though they may be WELL written, it's just
not their kind of piece....
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submission is just not
appropriate for THAT publication, brenbo....
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mel boring
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And that MIGHT be the reason
for the returns....I have gotten around 600 rejections of my writing
now…SOME of them came VERY quickly, and I too suspected they hadn’t read
the pieces….But I know NOW that they DO read everything, unless they are a
publisher who for…some reason doesn’t receive submisssions; and they will
TELL you that plainly….I hope you’ll go ON submitting, brenbo….and think of
each rejection as a STEPPING STONE toward your first ACCEPTANCE….Children’s
publishing is a TOUGH, COMPETITIVE business, so you must expect rejection,
friend….I received 144 rejections from 1969 to 1971 before I received my
first acceptance. YOUR first acceptance is OUT there, brenbo—keep trying
for it, and let us know when it happens, PLEASE!
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ljp
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This person wants to know
about the recipes wanted at JustForMom:...
do they want just recipes or an
article to go with?
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mel boring
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If peanut is here, she will
let us know, and I will pass the info on, ljp.
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inky
|
Here is an additional note about
the SCBWI's Katrina relief kit:...
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paige
|
The SCBWI welcome checks (the
cost for a kit) for the Katrina kids, for those who do not want to make up
a kit themselves.
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mel boring
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THANK YOU, paige, what a
NEEDED CLARIFIER you sent us!
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mel boring
cosmos
|
Here are some helpful
responses for brenbo:...
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Bren remember that it takes 100
rejections then hopefully publication. At least that's what most writers
have told me. I'm still working on those rejections myself.
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I just got a personal rejection
from the New Yorker...my BEST one ever!
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mel boring
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THANK YOU for that
encouragement, inky and cosmos!!!...
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dell
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And remember that when you're
collecting those 100 rejections (144 in my case!)...
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inky
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Here or there might be a
jotted handwritten note to ask you to submit to them again....
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spotslover2
|
And THAT is very encouraging,
brenbo. I don't think I could have continued in the face of 144 rejections
in 1969 to 1971 if I hadn't gotten a few of those VERY SHORT notes on the
rejection slips!
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rosehips
|
And here are some VERY
ENCOURAGING NOTES for me, said Mel with a blush:...
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gladys1
|
/ congratulations, Mel!!
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mewf
|
Impressive :-)
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mel boring
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Well done, Mel. That's
impressive!
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mel boring
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Wow Mel! We're proud of YOU!
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caq
|
way to go Mel
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caq
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CONGRATULATIONS TO MEL AND
LESLIE! WAY TO GO!
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caq
|
THANK YOU so MUCH, dell and
inky and spotslover2 and rosehips and gladys1 and mewf!!!...
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caq
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You can have NO idea how MUCH
your words mean to me, and I am misty in the eyes to read them!
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caq
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Mel, someone made this statement
on chat and I think...
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caq
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it is important to clear up: “I
don’t worry about my ...
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caq
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spelling and grammar. If the
publisher likes it he/she ...
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caq
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will take care of it.” Can you
give your opinion on this...
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mel boring
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just to let others know? I disagree
whole-heartedly. ...
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mel boring
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Good grammar and spelling is a
sign of professionalism ...
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mel boring
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isn’t it? They won’t even look
at your MS if your cover...
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mel boring
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letter is full of errors in most
cases, will they?
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mel boring
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You're absolutely right, caq,
that spelling and punctuation errors will turn editors off to your
writing....
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lisalisa
|
Their "rule of
thumb" is that after THREE spelling errors, they will stop reading a
piece.....
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mel boring
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It is true that they also
search every piece they publish for errors,...
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inky
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BUT it will mean less work for
THEM and a better impression of YOU if you fix EVERY spelling and
punctuation error....
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mel boring
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THANKS for bringing that up,
caq!
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mel boring
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Mel, was the review of your book
in the 9/1/05 Booklist?
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mel boring
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Yes, I think so, lisalisa.
Actually, a friend told me about it, and I don't subscribe to BOOKLIST
online or in hard copy, but it was about September 1 when my friend
mentioned it.
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mel boring
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Mel--LongRidge Writers Group is
also supposed to having a novel class. Mary Rosenblum was working on
writing the program.
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mel boring
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Yes, inky, The Long Ridge
Writers Group IS the adult writing course group of ICL....
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mel boring
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I don't know yet if Mary's
program is out, and I think they would've told me if it is....
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cosmos
|
Here's how to keep
checking:...
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mel boring
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Go to
www.institutechildrenslit.com
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mel boring
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and click on WRITING FOR
ADULTS on the left side of that home site...
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mel boring
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That will take you to the Long
Ridge site, and I'm sure Mary Rosenblum will announce her special novel
course when it's ready, inky. THANKS for asking@
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mel boring
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Mel, is there a market for an
article about genetically engineered foods? When I first submitted my
article, I was told by Highlights that it was too contraversial. I phoned a
scientist from Monsanto on the east coast as a basis of much of my article.
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mel boring
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Yes, there WOULD be a market
for such an article, cosmos,...
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gladys1
|
but HIGHLIGHTS would not want
to handle controversial subjects....
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caq
|
Look in your market guide for
children's magazines that...
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mel boring
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are about FOOD and NUTRITION,
and you're bound to find one that will handle that controversial subject.
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mel boring
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Here's more help about recipes
for the JustForMom Web Site:...
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bish
|
hi Mel I think a recipe alone is
okay but it would be advisable to check out the website.
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mel boring
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Mel can they get on the just for
moms web site and find out or ask them from there?
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mel boring
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THANKS, gladys1 and caq!...
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mel boring
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I will make it a point to find
out more specifics for next week's Open Forum, too.
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mel boring
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I'm sorry I came in late. What's
in the kit?
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inky
|
Let's see if I can remember;
The SCBWI is sending out to children who are victims of the Katrina
Hurricane....
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spotslover2
|
a kit with toothpaste, soap, a
toy, and a children's book....
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samscratch
|
I'll try to check back on the
e-mail I received from inky--or maybe YOU can let us know, inky, if that's
an accurate list! We'll have a game of MEMORY here!
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mel boring
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Here is HELPFUL info about
submitting to the JustForMom site:...
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mel boring
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mel just went to the justformom
website--they are requesting just recipe and if you want to send a photo
you may as an attachment. to receipe@justformom.com
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mel boring
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I just checked the Just for Mom
site and looked at the recipes they have already. All that's included is
the recipe, but include preparation and cooking time and any substitutions.
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mewf
|
How large of picture do they
want with the reipes?
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mel boring
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THANKS, inky and spotslover2!...
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mel boring
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and samscratch, they would
want a digital photo that wouldn't need to be very big...
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mel boring
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or a regular paper photo of,
say, 4 inches by 6 inches. I'll ask Lucie about that for next time, too.
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mel boring
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Mel, if a magazine say they take
'talk-abouts' or 'instructional articles' does that cover just about
anything, say from recipes to crafts?
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mel boring
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Yes, it could mean recipes to
crafts, mewf....
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mel boring
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But it also might mean a
regular article, say about PANDAS, if it was a nature magazine,...
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mel boring
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or a how-to article about how
to call up your boyfriend or girlfriend and ask for a date,...
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mel boring
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depending on the magazine, and
the age range they cover.
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mel boring
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EP asked us: I am working on a
story that involves a criminal trial, and I need to do some research. Do
you know of a good book or two I could for some ideas?
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mel boring
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I woiuld STRONGLY recommend TO
KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, EP....
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mel boring
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It is at least HALF trial,
that book...
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mel boring
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Also, most ANY book by John
Grisham, a former lawyer, will contain MUCH courtroom work....
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My FAVORITE of Grisham's is A
TIME TO DIE ( I THINK is the exact title)...
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mel boring
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That book is about a black man
accused of killing a white child, and was Grisham's first....
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mel boring
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It was rejected until he had
sold OTHER novels, but I think it is his BEST!
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mel boring
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palady needs to know: When a
publisher/agent asks for three (3) chapters, does the
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10 pages etc.
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mel boring
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No, the prologue is separate,
palady. And since a prologue must be SHORT,...
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mel boring
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an editor would find no
problems in receiving B OTH the prologue and the THREE chapters.
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mel boring
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palady also needs to find out:
Should the chapters of a novel be approximately the same
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mel boring
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your paragraphs are too
descriptive
|
No, they can be very varied,
palady, EXCEPT in "first books" for ages 4 to 6....
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mel boring
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In THAT case, they should be
consistent, and shorter...
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mel boring
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But for novels for, say, age
8-12's, they can be both long and short, of a good variety.
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mel boring
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iluv2write e-mailed to ask:
How descriptive should a children's book be? Is there
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mel boring
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mel boring
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A children's book should
generally be about HALF dialogue, iluv2write....
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mel boring
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and that means the other half
can be description, plus narration....
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a submission format--name,
etc?
|
The BEST TEST is to read your
description and...
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mel boring
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strike out EVERY word that is
not really necessary....
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mel boring
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Also, read it over and ask:
Will children be bored by this much description?
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mel boring
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Kenbo wants to find out: If
you are yet unpublished, do you include an entire article you have written
in submission format or just some paragraphs from several different
articles. And then would you put
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mel boring
|
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mel boring
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If you have an article that
is, say, three pages long, Kenbo,...
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that would be fine. But if you
are submitting MORE than ONE article sample, just use the first page of
each....
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Samples are to just give an
editor the flavor of your writing, and need not be complete....
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JB asks: What is the best way
to check verb tense?
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mel boring
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JB also asks: What is the past
tense of sneak?
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mel boring
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mel boring
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mel boring
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mel boring
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The best place to check verb
tense is in the dictionary entry for the word, JB....
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mel boring
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After the pronunciation, they
willl have sometning like:...
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mel boring
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"think, thought, have
thought" for the tenses of "think."...
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cosmos
|
and the present tense is given
first, then past tense, then the past perfect (the one with had or have in
it)....
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mel boring
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and the correct past tense of
"sneak" is...
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gladys1
|
SNEAKED or SNUCK, BOTH are
acceptable, JB.
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mel boring
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Here's a very HELPFUL word
about rejection from cosmos:...
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mel boring
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Rejections show effort and that
you're trying. I collect my rejections in a notebook. If you never give up
and you keep working hard to submit, you will find success. I think the
point is to NEVER GIVE UP!
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mel boring
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I say AWOMEN to that, cosmos!
THANK YOU!!!
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gladys1
|
Mel boy do I have a long way to
go I have only 14 rejections to 2 on line publications
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mel boring
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You are ON YOUR WAY,
gladys1!...
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cosmos
|
AND you've been published even
BEFORE 100 rejections!....
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mel boring
|
Also, I've read your online
publications, and they are top-rate, friend!!
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mel boring
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Mel that was the ones I kept
track of so the rejections may be more
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mel boring
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Go get 'em, gladys1!
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eggamy
|
Congratulations, Mel. We're
looking forward to reading your book!
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mel boring
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THANK YOU, cosmos, that is
VERY encouraging to me!...
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mel boring
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You may be able to sample a
few pages at amazon.com
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mel boring
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I haven't tried that yet, and
I will, though.
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mel boring
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is there information about the
Highlights wish list?
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cosmos
|
Hi, eggamy! Check the posting
of LAST WEEK's Open Forum, where the e-mail address is from which you can
get a copy via e-mail, friend.
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mel boring
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OOPS, I must go, since there
were no storms today, and I never got knocked off!...
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mel boring
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THANK YOU for taking the time
out of your day to join us!!!....
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And I wish QUICK PUBLICATION
to ALL of you children's writers!...
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Thanks so much, Mel. You're the
BEST!
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Thank YOU, cosmos, but I think
YOU ALL are the VERY BEST!
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Bye for this week!
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