| mel
boring |
Good afternoon! Welcome
to this Tuesday afternoon's "Open Forum" session. I'm your
moderator, Mel Boring, and the Web Editor for this site. We're back
for an informal time of answering any questions you might like to
ask, on any subject. So feel free to ask what's on your mind--and
I'll tell you what's on mine! First, please read these
announcements, then we'll get started….
|
| mel
boring |
IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS:
Send questions you'd like answered or discussed by using your "Ask a
Question" icon/button. (It looks like a thought bubble icon, RIGHT
NEXT TO THE RED QUESTION MARK.) The moderator (me, Mel Boring) will
post the questions one at a time in the chat room and do my best to
answer them. Also note: If you want to make it possible to ask the
longest question you can, first type "/ask" (without the quotation
marks), then leave one space after the end of "ask", then type as
many characters of your question as you can. If your question is not
complete, send the second part next, then if necessary the third,
etc…
|
| mel
boring |
WARNING: If you don't
post anything at all, SOME of you will be bounced off the system in
15 minutes. TO PREVENT THIS, type something (either a question to
the moderator or even a private message) every 15 minutes to stay
active and remain online....
|
| mel
boring |
Our Tasty Word of the
Forum is: "terpsichore." Let me know what it means, if you
know.
|
| mel
boring |
While you're thinking
about "terpsichore," we have GOOD GOOD NEWS!...
|
| mel
boring |
This GOOD NEWS from
Karen McCoy: It finally happened! My craft, "Puzzle Magnets," was
accepted for publication in HIGHLIGHTS. This is my first paid
acceptance and it's such an honor that it's with
HIGHLIGHTS!
|
| mel
boring |
CONGRATULATIONS,
Karen!!! It couldn't happen to a nicer writer!...
|
| mel
boring |
To be published in
HIGHLIGHTS for your first paid acceptance is HONOR INDEED--and we
APPLAUD you, friend!....
|
| mel
boring |
Karen McCoy has had a
DOUBLE BATCH of GOOD NEWS this week, and here's her SECOND GOOD
NEWS: I just received an e-mail from KIDMAGAZINE WRITERS and they
are going to publish my article "Me? Published?" on January 1, 2006.
I am so excited!
|
| mel
boring |
A DOUBLE BATCH of
CONGRATULATIONS, Karen!!!...
|
| mel
boring |
THIS was YOUR week,
friend! KIDMAGAZINE WRITERS is a CLASSY newsletter for children's
writers. Our hats are off to you, Karen, AGAIN!!!
|
| mel
boring |
Marcia Berneger sent
this GOOD NEWS: HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN Magazine accepted my craft
project! I sent the signed contract back last week! This is my first
paid publication! Yeah!!
|
| mel
boring |
THIS is the WEEK for
our chatsters and HIGHLIGHTS--HIGHCONGRATULATIONS to you,
Marcia!!!...
|
| mel
boring |
YOUR first paid
publication, too, that is TERRIFIC, and we ALL CHEER you on,
Marcia!!! WAY TO WRITE RIGHT!
|
| mel
boring |
Julie Crabtree e-mailed
with this GOOD NEWS: I have a piece of good news...GREEN PRINTS, the
"Weeder's Digest" (it's a gardening magazine that merges philosophy
and humor with gardening) has purchased a short story I wrote. And
they pay well to boot! (I guess any paying gig is "good money"
though, eh?!). This is my third sale in the last few months, which,
of course, makes me very happy.
|
| mel
boring |
CORNGRATULATIONS, Julie
(I said THAT because it's a gardening magazine!
(-:})...
|
| mel
boring |
SERIOUS CONGRATULATIONS
to you, Julie!...
|
| mel
boring |
You have the ability to
publish for adults, too, and MY hat is off to you,
friend!!!...
|
| mel
boring |
Confession time: When I
FIRST began writing in 1969, I was going to write for children
FIRST...
|
| mel
boring |
to learn how to write
for ADULTS--which I figured was much harder...
|
| mel
boring |
What a surprise I got,
that children's writing is hard enough...
|
| mel
boring |
and I've never been
able to publish (much) for adults....
|
| mel
boring |
So you see why my
writer's hat is off to YOU, Julie Crabtree!!!
|
| mel
boring |
Vickey Stamps sent the
GOOD NEWS that her Christmas story, “The Forever Tree,” was
published in LIFE IN THE OZARKS (a monthly three-year-old
publication) newpaper.
|
| mel
boring |
CONGRATULATIONS,
Vickey!!!...
|
| mel
boring |
Vickey Stamps is a
writer of MANY genres, including cowboy stories, I'm
told....
|
| mel
boring |
I've read "The Forever
Tree"--Vickey sent me a copy--and it's GOOD Christmas story! Way to
write, Vickey, and way to publish!
|
| mel
boring |
Now to that Tasty Word
of the Forum:...
|
| caq |
Terpischore - to delight
in a dance. With me only if you wear steel toed
shoes.
|
| omalizzie |
how fitting a name for a
muse of poetry and rhythm
|
| mel
boring |
You've got it TOGETHER,
caq and omalizzie!...
|
| mel
boring |
Here is the
pronunciation:...
|
| mel
boring |
tirp-SICK-er-ee...
|
| mel
boring |
It's a NOUN, and the
general definition is:...
|
| mel
boring |
the Greek Muse of
dancing and choral song...
|
| mel
boring |
Special THANKS again to
Suzyn Jackson for sending us this Tasty Word!
|
| mel
boring |
YUM, a TASTY
word!!!
|
| caq |
Mel, have you heard of
this address http://www.associatedcontent.com/ ? A person was on
earlier and said to submit to admin@assoc.content (Connectied with
web address). They auction your writing. Sounds fishy to me. Can't
figure it out.
|
| mel
boring |
No, I haven't heard of
it, caq...
|
| mel
boring |
But I WILL explore it
for next week, OK?...
|
| mel
boring |
Yes, it DOES sound
fishy!...
|
| mel
boring |
I recall Paula Morrow
telling me about a very...
|
| mel
boring |
legitimate Web site for
a charity...
|
| mel
boring |
where a manuscript
critique BY PAULA was being...
|
| mel
boring |
auctioned off, but it
was a very legit church organization. I'll check out the one you
mentioned--and thanks!
|
| caq |
With that other question
about the auction house, what happens with rights? This person said
they pay you and you can then sell it again, but if they sell it
what rights do they sell?
|
| mel
boring |
I'm only GUESSing that
THEY take First Rights, caq,...
|
| mel
boring |
like so many nowadays
who are not exactly on the up-and-up....
|
| mel
boring |
And IF they use First
Rights wherever they publish it,...
|
| mel
boring |
your First Rights are
no longer available to offer...
|
| mel
boring |
But MAYBE they use only
ONLINE Rights. I'll check into it for you!
|
| mel
boring |
Here's a happy tidbit
more about terpsichore:...
|
| writersblock |
lol the pronunciation
reads like a bird call . . . maybe a sick and dying bird.
(smile)
|
| mel
boring |
RIGHT you ARE,
writersblock--and a RICH sense of humor you always have,
friend!
|
| lizr |
My good news is that I
started working as a book reviewer = I review children's books -
picture books, wriiten in Spanish
|
| mel
boring |
CONGRATULATIONS,
lizr!!!...
|
| mel
boring |
It would take a rather
brilliant writer to do that,...
|
| mel
boring |
and I KNOW that YOU are
that brilliant a writer!...
|
| mel
boring |
I'm back--sorry I got
kicked off!
|
| mel
boring |
As I was saying,
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
|
| lizr |
Speaking of Paula Morrow
-- Have you heard the news about Cricket - they are moving from
Peru, IL to Chicago and some of the editors are not
moving
|
| mel
boring |
No, I hadn't heard
that, lizr. What a MOVE...
|
| mel
boring |
a shakeup, it sounds
like. I'll try to find out more for next week, OK?
|
| lizr |
Thanks Mel
;o)
|
| mel
boring |
YOU are WARMLY WELCOME
and DESERVING, lizr!
|
| lizr |
Harold Underdown has some
of the info abt Cricket on his Who's Moving Where section of his
website www.underdown.org
|
| mel
boring |
THANKS,
lizr!
|
| crabby
j |
Hi Mel, and thanks for
the encouragement. Could you please
|
| crabby
j |
clarify the proper
handling of second rights? If the 1st...
|
| crabby
j |
North American Rights are
purchased, and another publication
|
| crabby
j |
also wants the story, can
the author offer second rights w/o
|
| crabby
j |
consulting the first
right's holder?Must the holder be cited
|
| mel
boring |
Hi to YOU, crabby j,
who is NOT crabby at ALL! (-:}...
|
| mel
boring |
Yes, IF ONLY First
Rights have been purchased by the original publisher, you CAN offer
Second Rights....
|
| mel
boring |
About Second Rights,
they are the SECOND time the piece sees
publication...
|
| mel
boring |
And that term, Second
Rights, is not used much anymore because of...
|
| mel
boring |
Reprint Rights. What
has evolved, I think,...
|
| mel
boring |
is that publishers
don't value Second Rights so much, and they used to sell for about
the same prices as REPRINT RIGHTS....
|
| mel
boring |
So nowadays, MOST
publishers just call Second Rights REPRINT RIGHTS, since that's also
what they are....
|
| mel
boring |
You can only sell
SECOND RIGHTS ONCE,...
|
| mel
boring |
buy you can sell
REPRINT RIGHTS many times....
|
| mel
boring |
I'm going to search
around and find out about that term Second Rights, Julie, to find
out how much it is/isn't used anymore.
|
| mel
boring |
Vickey is here today,
who wrote "The Forever Tree"...
|
| mel
boring |
Special WELCOME to you,
Vickey!
|
| lizr |
Here is a link to a
newspaper article about the move [ Cricket group ]
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/120105/REG_B89IV6DM.033.shtml
|
| lizr |
Here's an article that
came out November 30, 2005, that indicates the new chairman, Andre
Carus, already lives in Chicago--
http://www.inottawa.com/archives/ottawa/sections.cgi?prcss=display&id=214360
|
| mel
boring |
GOOD RESEARCH, lizr,
now we can ALL find out about CRICKET!...
|
| mel
boring |
THANK YOU SO
MUCH--you're a very astute researcher, friend!
|
| mel
boring |
DMH asks: I have had
two stories out to publishers since July and I have not received any
news. Do I continue to wait or do I contact them as a follow-up? If
I am to make contact, how and what is the protocol?
|
| mel
boring |
Hi, DMH, it depends on
the response time stated anywhere by the
publishers....
|
| mel
boring |
It's now been five
months since you submitted your stories....
|
| mel
boring |
THAT's a long time for
a magazine....
|
| mel
boring |
What to do is look up
the publishers in a book like...
|
| mel
boring |
the 2006 MAGAZINE
MARKETS FOR CHILDREN'S WRITERS...
|
| mel
boring |
or Writer's Digest's
CHILDREN'S WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS MARKET FOR
2006...
|
| mel
boring |
In one of those
marketing books, look up the publishers you submitted
to...
|
| mel
boring |
and if five months is
MORE than the time they say they respond,..
|
| mel
boring |
then write them a
letter asking about the status of your manuscript(s),
DMH....
|
| mel
boring |
If a magazine's
response time was two months, for instance,...
|
| mel
boring |
I would wait two months
PLUS two weeks, then write to them....
|
| mel
boring |
Your letter should be
short, just politely checking on the status of your submitted
manuscript, stating the title of the manuscript and the date you
submitted it.
|
| mel
boring |
TS wants to know: Does
a family newsletter (set up similar to your newsletter) count as
writing samples? Or what would they be considered?
|
| mel
boring |
TS wants to know: Does
a family newsletter (set up similar to your newsletter) count as
writing samples? Or what would they be considered?
|
| mel
boring |
Pardon for
REPEATING!...
|
| mel
boring |
Unfortunately, MOST
publishers don't give much credence to family newsletters,
TS...
|
| mel
boring |
CHURCH newletters,
because they are more often formatted and put out regularly, are
more considered by publishers....
|
| mel
boring |
but they may think
themselves too "high brow" to consider writing in Family
Newsletters, TS.
|
| chippy |
Is the manuscript layout
the same in all countries, or does
|
| chippy |
it differ from country to
country
|
| mel
boring |
It IS the same in most
other ENGLISH-using countries, chippy,...
|
| mel
boring |
The only difference, in
EUROPE, is that, instead of 8.5 X 11-inch paper,...
|
| mel
boring |
Their paper is 8.5
inches wide, but LONGER, maybe 13 inches, as I
recall....
|
| mel
boring |
But the format for
manuscripts is still the same as in the US....
|
| mel
boring |
GOOD to "see you" here,
by the by, chippy!
|
| writersblock |
Where is the newspaper
that Vickey's story is published in? Is there a way to get a
copy?
|
| mel
boring |
I was HOPING you'd ask,
writersblock!...
|
| mel
boring |
I don't KNOW how to get
a copy, but I'll ask Vickey and tell you next week,
OK?
|
| cookies |
can a person that does
art for a hobby do picture book art
|
| mel
boring |
ONLY if that person is
a professional, cookies....
|
| mel
boring |
What that means is
having taken art training...
|
| mel
boring |
But there are SO MANY
illustrators to compete with...
|
| mel
boring |
that you will need
professional skills to submit art....
|
| mel
boring |
Of course, you CAN work
out what YOU feel the pictures would look like,,...
|
| mel
boring |
and rather than
submitting the pictures, just use them to help you with the writing,
cookies...
|
| mel
boring |
YUM, at this time of
year, I LOVE a username like "cookies"!
|
| mel
boring |
High Hopes asked us:
What is the policy for using computer CD graphics to make puzzles,
mazes, etc.? I assume they are copyrighted. How does a
non-illustrator, like myself, submit these if you have a good idea
but can't draw it professionally?
|
| mel
boring |
If they are
copyrighted, High Hopes, you...
|
| mel
boring |
could not use them
without permission....
|
| mel
boring |
And you can ASK
permission....
|
| mel
boring |
Contact the person or
organization named in the copyright, and ASK
permission...
|
| mel
boring |
I have been SURPRISED
sometimes to have them respond with a YES, you may use it for
free....
|
| mel
boring |
It MAY be that the CD
computer graphics you have are NOT under
copyright...
|
| mel
boring |
But LOOK to see if they
are first. If they AREN'T copyrighted, you CAN use them
freely.
|
| mel
boring |
HS e-mailed this
request: Please tell me if quotation marks are used in dialog when
the characters are just thinking to themselves.
|
| mel
boring |
No, usually not,
HS....
|
| mel
boring |
But thought MUST be
indicated somehow...
|
| mel
boring |
For example, you could
write "he thought" after the thought words,...
|
| mel
boring |
but NOT quote the
words. There are RARE occasions when thoughts are put in quotes, but
not usually....
|
| mel
boring |
Just make sure you let
readers know CLEARLY that they are thougths.
|
| mel
boring |
WHOOPS, I
misssssspelllllled "thoughts".
|
| writerwoman |
Hi, again! I hope this is
the charm. I am happy to be in this space with other writers. My
first chat room experience. Here is my question: If a publisher
requests a MG MS in response to a query, is it okay, when sending in
the material to include a different MS (YA) or at least a query for
it in the mailing along with two SASES for seperate
responses?
|
| mel
boring |
Hi,
writerwoman!...
|
| mel
boring |
We are HAPPY to have
you, too, friend!
|
| mel
boring |
In answer to your
question...
|
| mel
boring |
You should only send
the publisher the ONE middle-grade manuscript you queried
about...
|
| mel
boring |
It wouldn't be
considered "cricket" to send a different one, OR to send
TWO...
|
| mel
boring |
When a publisher
answers a query with a yes, they are responding ONLY to the
manuscript you originally queried about,
writerwoman....
|
| mel
boring |
By the way, GOOD
FORTUNE with that manuscript of yours--and ALL of your manuscripts,
friend!
|
| chippy |
Thank you for your
answer. Good to "see everyone" too Mel,
|
| mel
boring |
Thank YOU,
chippy!...
|
| mel
boring |
By the way, I haven't
announced this in a long time,...
|
| mel
boring |
but if you type into
the slot and send it out, it goes all over the
screen...
|
| mel
boring |
and disrupts the
questions and answers....
|
| mel
boring |
So if you want to talk
to another person here, send them a Private Message, okay, please,
pretty please, with sugar on it? AND THANK YOU!
|
| mel
boring |
A special word for
delima-e: I'm sorry but the Ask Question feature only allows a few
characters at a time...
|
| mel
boring |
BUT you can send your
whole question "in pieces," delima-e, and I'll put it back together,
like Humpty-Dumpty!
|
| dynamitesc |
do you know what Xf ICL
students get published during
|
| dynamitesc |
the
course?
|
| mel
boring |
I only hear about those
who let ME know, dynamitesc...
|
| mel
boring |
since I'm not involved
in teaching the ICL courses any longer...
|
| mel
boring |
But I'm ALWAYS glad to
hear, and to TELL here!...
|
| mel
boring |
SOMEtimes, students I
taught when I taught the courses...
|
| mel
boring |
write to let me know,
and that's ALWAYS a PROUD moment for me!
|
| mel
boring |
FFO needs to know: A
top publisher contacted me to read my MG script. When I send it in,
would it be okay to include my new YA script, or at least a query
for it, in the same mailing--with separate SASE's for both
enclosed?
|
| mel
boring |
A similar question to
the one a moment ago...
|
| mel
boring |
No, don't send in
ANYthing other than the ONE manuscript you queried about,
FFO....
|
| mel
boring |
Editors will be irked
if you do, especially if you give them more to read than they
planned on, friend.
|
| mel
boring |
FFO also needs to know:
Once a publisher rejects a script, what do you think about
requerying them after a major revision?
|
| mel
boring |
YES, do it, FFO! In
fact, I just heard from one of the...
|
| mel
boring |
ICL instructors who is
a special friend of mine...
|
| mel
boring |
that SHE did that,
requeried the editor about a revision,...
|
| mel
boring |
and the editor said
"SEND IT IN!" So, YES is the answer to that question,
FFO.
|
| mel
boring |
NL sent this TIMELY
question: About the rise in stamp prices after the first week in
January: What happens when something that I submitted in October
tries to find its way back to me in February (for example) with my
SASE that has an old stamp? Does this mean that all those
agents/editors/publishers will have to respond to us by Jan. 7? Ha!
(I wish).
|
| mel
boring |
GOOD and timely
question!...
|
| mel
boring |
Stamps go up to 39
cents January 1, which I only learned yesterday...h
|
| mel
boring |
But DON'T WORRY, NL,
editors KNOW the situation...
|
| mel
boring |
They WILL return your
manuscripts (except publishers who don't return mss
anyway)...
|
| mel
boring |
and what they'll likely
do is just add the extra postage...
|
| mel
boring |
to yours. But they
won't let postage hikes stop sending back manuscripts,
friend.
|
| delima-e |
alot of new writers are
here today, can you explain how to
|
| delima-e |
how to get a message to
you
|
| mel
boring |
You bet,
delima-e!...
|
| mel
boring |
IMPORTANT: Send
questions you would like answered or discussed by using your "Ask a
Question" icon/button. In iChat, it's the "thought" icon BETWEEN THE
YELLOW "MAP" AND THE RED QUESTION MARK. Or click the "ASK?" button
BETWEEN "INSERT SOUND" AND "MODIFY PROFILE" if you are using JAVA,
or the "QUESTION" button between "PRIVATE MSG" and "MODIFY PROFILE"
if you're in JAVA LITE. If you are using HTML, I'm sorry that you
have to ask your questions in so many short "pieces." But PLEASE ask
them, and I'll piece them back together...
|
| mel
boring |
I hope this helps,
because I DO want you to be able to send any
questions....
|
| mel
boring |
By the way, if you
aren't able to send them here, send them to my e-mail address and I
will post and answer them at NEXT Tuesday's Open
Forum...
|
| mel
boring |
My e-mail addy is:
webeditor@institutechildrenslit.com
|
| wordpaintervs |
what is an MG MS...I'm
confused on that term
|
| mel
boring |
MG means "middle
grade," or for grades 4 to 6, wordpaintervs....
|
| mel
boring |
MS is the abbreviation
for "manuscript"...
|
| mel
boring |
and MSS means
"manuscripts"--THANKS for clearing that up!
|
| writerwoman |
Hi Mel! Thanks for the
welcome and for answering!
|
| mel
boring |
You are WARMLY WELCOME,
writerwoman!
|
| delima-e |
Mel, djwinc want to know
how do you get over writers block,
|
| mel
boring |
Here is my BEST and
FAVORITE way to get over Writer's Block, djwinc...
|
| mel
boring |
STOP writing
altogether, and just READ....
|
| mel
boring |
Read books for children
and young adults, the age you want to write for....
|
| mel
boring |
I will BET that about 1
or 2 weeks into the reading,...
|
| mel
boring |
YOUR MIND will start to
INFLOW writing ideas...
|
| mel
boring |
You'll be back writing
again, and NOT have time for reading anymore!...
|
| mel
boring |
I am VERY FORTUNATE,
because my Web work takes me away from writing,...
|
| mel
boring |
and I find I never have
writer's block anymore,...
|
| mel
boring |
I THINK because I'm
able to break away from the writing...
|
| mel
boring |
And I THINK writer's
block happens because we are "DRILLED RIGHT INTO OUR WRITING" and
just need a break!
|
| mel
boring |
Hey, I'm sorry to have
looked at the clock!...
|
| mel
boring |
But the hour of Open
Forum is LONG gone, and I must go...
|
| mel
boring |
THANK YOU ALL for being
here today! I'll use unanswered questions in the log for the Monday
Announcements coming up. HAPPY CHRISTMASTIME to
you!
|
| vettemom |
Thankyou Mel, we wait all
week for this and want the flow up
|
| vettemom |
board! I hope you all
check it out and keep adding!
|
| mel
boring |
THANK YOU, vettmom, YOU
have MADE my WEEK, my friend!
|
| chippy |
In case I don't get back
to the open forum, I want to wish
|
| chippy |
everyone a great
Christmas
|
| mel
boring |
chippy's children come
from England for the Hols may keep chippy very busy now! Happy Hols,
chippy!
|
| georgy |
Thank
you!
|
| mel
boring |
You are WELCOME,
georgy, and THANK YOU for being here!
|
| aurora1 |
Thanks
Mel
|
| mel
boring |
You are WELCOME,
aurora1, and THANKS for your question for the Q&As last
Monday!
|
| mel
boring |
Bye for now, "see you"
next
Tuesday!@
|
