Letters To The Editor For October 6th
This Week:
- Beware the Publisher Who Asks You to Stop Writing For Others!
- Kudos
- No Man But a Blockhead…
Ten Ways to Get Your Money from Deadbeat Editors By Anita Biase
It goes like this: I open the door, look both ways and sprint for the mailbox in my footie pajamas (much to the delight of my neighbors). I reach up eagerly and open the cubicle, and pull out a handful of circulars and bills. It’s happened to all of us. You need to pay the light bill, upgrade your PC, and take your child to the orthodontist. You eagerly track the mailman’s progress and search your mailbox diligently. The promised check didn’t come and it doesn’t come the next day or the day after that either. You contact the editor rather humbly and ask him to check and be sure the money was mailed to the correct address. He either doesn’t answer your communications, or he makes a really flimsy excuse and mumbles those famous words, “It’s in the mail.”
MJ Rose on Switching From Fiction to Journalism
I am struggling with an issue related to writing. I am in my second semester of college, studying journalism. My past writing experience has mainly been fiction, and personal essays. Last semester I wrote several feature articles as well as a movie review. This semester, I have been working on an investigative piece and am now having a problem with switching writing styles.
Christian Authors Guild Publishes 2nd Collaborative Book
In 2003, the Cherokee Christian Writers Group wrote and published Stepping Stones Across the Stream of Time, a collection of memoirs from the members. The purpose of the print on demand (POD) project was to not only produce inspiring and entertaining stories, but to also give new authors a chance to see their work in print. The press coverage given to their book was responsible for bringing a number of new writers into the group. The initial run of 350 books was sold out within two weeks, not only making the project self-supporting, but also adding to the organization’s charity fund.
It’s Almost Time to Go!
Our itinerary is almost finalized and we’ll soon be heading south in our RV. We’ll be visiting two renaissance faires while we’re on the road and the children are SO excited about that!! They’ll be studying the Renaissance Period as part of their homeschooling curriculum leading up to attending the actual fairs. They’re anticipating the characters and the events, such as jousting and horse races, while Richard and I can’t wait to sink our teeth into smoked turkey legs and other high-fat culinary delights (hey, they’re zero carb!!).
Unfortunately, we’ve had to postpone our trip to Florida because it appears someone has a vendetta against that state, but we plan to travel there in 2005. We are heading South soon, just not quite THAT far south. We’ll be enjoying the Fall foliage on the way down and will be spending quite a bit of time on the beaches of the Atlantic ocean before heading back through the mountains, and back through the Fall foliage. We’re so excited!! You’ll be able to track our progress at WirelessTrips.com.
Hugs to all!
Angela
10 Ways to Respond to Non-Paying Pubs’ Excuses By Angela Hoy
The next time you see someone seeking writers for no pay, don’t hesitate to respond to their lame excuses for non-payment!
Letters To The Editor For September 29th
This Week:
- I Don’t Write For Less Than…
- Kudos to Beth Hering!
- A Different Opinion About Non-Paying Literary Markets
Offering Your Writing Services as a Writing Tutor: How One Aspiring Children’s Book Author Solved the Steady Paycheck Dilemma By Mindy Hardwick
Last spring, I gave up an eight year teaching career to pursue a career in writing for children. I knew that working as a teacher left no energy for writing. However, my writing career wasn’t paying a stable income. I didn’t have books that were paying advances or royalties, and I needed to be involved with children in order to capture their voices on the page. How did I solve the problem of generating a stable income, maintaining contact with children, and having the energy to write stories? I became a writing tutor.
Do I Need to Pay Interview Subjects?
I’m writing a memoir for which I’m interviewing a number of people who were involved in the story, such as EMTs, witnesses, family members, friends, etc. The story is a very positive one, overall. My question is, do the interviewees need to sign any kind of a release to allow me to use the information they provide? I think they do, or should. But I can’t find a standard release that seems to fit this situation– the usual release that absolves them of any libel/slander arising from the book but also indicates they release all rights to receive revenue from doing the interview. And, if I do need to use such a release, where can I find one?
How My Freelance Career Derailed and How a Sympathetic Editor Got it Back on Track By Martha Miller
My freelance career began about two and a half years ago after reading an article and deciding I could have written it better. It has been said writers need to have a little arrogance and I never thought I did until that moment. The story dragged. It was about shopping for a certain piece of furniture and it was illustrated with an unhappy-looking store clerk next to a dusty, empty bookshelf. The photo was as much of a turnoff as the article.