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mary rosenblum
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Hello, all!
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mary rosenblum
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This is the Tuesday Forum on
Wednesday with me, Mary Rosenblum, LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction
writer. If you're new here, remember that you need to click on the 'Ask a
Question' button or the 'word bubble' next to the red question mark at the
top of the screen, or use the ask a question icon in order to ask a
question. Your regular 'send' bar won't reach me! You can also type /ask in
front of your question to reach me
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mary rosenblum
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I had a great time at the
World SF Conference, but I have to say that I"m glad to be home. So
are my dogs!
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mary rosenblum
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I hope you all had a great
holiday weekend, and are looking forward to fall and the winter season with
all its nice writing time.
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mary rosenblum
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Bad weather is good for
something!
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bud
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Welcome home, Mary...you got out
of Boston just in time
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mary rosenblum
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Uh, oh. Did Frances finally
make herself felt up there?
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mary rosenblum
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We were all afraid we'd hit
bad weather just as we were ready to leave.
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mary rosenblum
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It was a good conference. I
have two senior editors who both want my recently completed SF novel, so my
agent is very happy.
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bud
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Airport delays all up the east
coast
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mary rosenblum
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oooh, we did indeed get out
just in time! Believe me, I was watching the weather channel!
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roe
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we're even feeling the effects
of frances here in OH last night was windy today dreary, windy and rainy
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mary rosenblum
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It was lovely in Boston and is
lovely here...except for the week's worth of lush grass I have to go take
care of as soon as I'm done here!
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marty
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mary did you recommend iuniverse
publishing
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mary rosenblum
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Marty, I recommend
iUniverse...a Print on Demand publisher...for specific reasons...
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mary rosenblum
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but it really depends on what
you want to publish and why.
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mary rosenblum
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If you are publishing a family
memoir, or a book that will appeal strongly to a narrow niche market and
you're willing to do the promotion and distribution...
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mary rosenblum
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then it is a cheap and honest
method of self publishing.
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mary rosenblum
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IF you want a career, career
attention, awards, or lots of sales, it is really not the best first choice
of publisher.
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mary rosenblum
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There are simply so many self
published books out there, and the range in quality is so extreme, that the
general public really doesn't buy many and bookstores don't offer them.
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mary rosenblum
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It IS a way to simply get your
book into print for a very small amount of money.
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mary rosenblum
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Nothing wrong with that.
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mary rosenblum
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Just don't misunderstand what
it means.
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sailor
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Iuniverse has raised prices
considerably since the forum with them. I confirmed with Christine (CC)
that she is no longer using them because of that.
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mary rosenblum
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I'm not surprised, sailor. I
couldn't see how they were making any money at all with their original
'doorbuster' prices.
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wolf122
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Mary, how many books would you
have to sell through POD to be picked up via a usual publisher?
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mary rosenblum
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You would need to sell enough
to be equivalent to a commercial print run, wolf.
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mary rosenblum
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If you sold 30,000 books, you
would probably interest a major publisher.
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mary rosenblum
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That is highly unlikely, to be
honest, unless you are very luck.
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mary rosenblum
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Marty, you can send your
questions to me in chunks to fit the 'send' bar...
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mary rosenblum
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or type /ask in front of your
question.
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marty
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It a book about a ministry in
romania that we would like to
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mary rosenblum
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iUniverse is ideal for that
kind of limited appeal book...one that will be of interest to a very narrow
set of people.
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mary rosenblum
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This is the Tuesday Forum on
Wednesday with me, Mary Rosenblum, LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction
writer. If you're new here, remember that you need to click on the 'Ask a
Question' button or the 'word bubble' next to the red question mark at the
top of the screen, or use the ask a question icon in order to ask a
question. Your regular 'send' bar won't reach me! You can also type /ask in
front of your question to reach me
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jackie7777
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So Mary can you give an example
of a great BIO?
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mary rosenblum
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I will indeed get to the
topic, Jackie. :-)
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mary rosenblum
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When you're beginning to query
for nonfiction, you are going to run across this request now and again...
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mary rosenblum
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especially from
large-circulation magazines.
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mary rosenblum
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As with all aspects of the
query/writing sample/clip process, you have to look at this as a request
for helpful information rather than a cryptic test that you will either
pass or fail.
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mary rosenblum
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The editor of any magazine
needs to know several things when you propose an article..
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mary rosenblum
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and they have learned by
experience that not all writers...even pros...will give them the facts
those editors need...
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mary rosenblum
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hence the request for
clips/writing samples/ bios.
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mary rosenblum
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The editor needs to know 1:
why this article is worth buying
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mary rosenblum
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2: Why YOU are the person to
write it
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mary rosenblum
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You answer #1 in your query
letter by pitching the right slant to the editor.
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mary rosenblum
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Your proposal will interest
THESE readers and no others.
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mary rosenblum
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YOu answer the second question
with your clips and/or bio.
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mary rosenblum
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Your clips...or a writing
sample if you have no applicable clips...tells the editor that you can
write a publishable NF article.
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mary rosenblum
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Your bio is intended to let
the editor know if you have areas of expertise that back up your articles.
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mary rosenblum
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Now you should always include
expertise as well as clips in your query, but the bio is there to force you
to do in case you don't.
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mary rosenblum
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You often see a bio request
for magazines that feature a lot of expertise-based articles: science,
sports, various skills...
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mary rosenblum
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If you are writing an article
on coaching techniques in girls' soccer...
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mary rosenblum
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the editor wants to know that
you have COACHED girls soccer...
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mary rosenblum
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so that Ms Editor can be
comfortable that what you say is valid.
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gail
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I have a few credits from my
(brief) experience as a staff reporter for a local paper. I quickly learned
it was not a good fit for me and do not wish to do that type of work. Can I
still use these clips in a bio or would they only serve me well if I wanted
to pursue journalism?
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mary rosenblum
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By all means use them, gail!
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mary rosenblum
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They tell an editor several
things: You can write publishable prose. You can meet deadlines. You can
work with an editor.
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mary rosenblum
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And you would certainly leave
the 'it wasn't for me' part out!
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mary rosenblum
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Even if you don't think you
have much to include in a bio...you do.
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mary rosenblum
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And your bio should be
individually written for each editor.
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sailor
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How long should a bio be? For
the boating mags, I just include a paragraph in my query letter. I repeat
the same paragraph in the cover letter when I send the ms.
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mary rosenblum
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That's plenty if it covers the
pertinent information, sailor.
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mary rosenblum
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Remember that editors have
little time and NO patience for people who waste it!
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mary rosenblum
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They do NOT want to know your
life history from your HS graduation on, including every burger joint job
your have worked!
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mary rosenblum
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What they DO want is mention
of anything that might bear on what you write.
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mary rosenblum
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If you want to write articles
for parenting or childrens magazines...
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mary rosenblum
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mention any job you have had
working with kids, paid or not.
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mary rosenblum
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Girl scout leader? 4H? Cub
scouts? Did you work with kids in your church's daycare, Sunday School,
summer camp?
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mary rosenblum
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Were you a class room mom for
years?
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mary rosenblum
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Yes, these are all unpaid,
volunteer positions, but they are applicable to your articles on dealing
with kids.
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mary rosenblum
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Your job as a secretary for
the CEO of Microsoft is not.
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mary rosenblum
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BEFORE you face that bio
requirement...at which point MY mind goes blank, I don't know about you....
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mary rosenblum
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this is a good time to start
your 'expertise file'.
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mary rosenblum
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If you are like me, it will
take you some time to think up all the various 'expert' experiences you
have had in your lives.
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mary rosenblum
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What have you done? Even if
you are a stay at home mom without a day job, you have done a lot of
things.
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mary rosenblum
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Organized committees? Large
family reunions? The aforementioned kid activities?
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curseofthe44
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After my stories were accepted
for an anthology series, I was asked to submit a bio. Is this the same
thing?
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mary rosenblum
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No, curse, that's a different
thing entirely.
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mary rosenblum
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The bio you submit with a
query to a NF magazine has little to do with the bio you will be asked for
when you sell a fiction story...or a nonfiction piece for that matter.
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mary rosenblum
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Those 'post sale' bios are
simply a few interesting personal details about you.
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mary rosenblum
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Readers remember an author
better when they make a personal connection to that author...
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mary rosenblum
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so most editors like to include
a brief bit of bio material.
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mary rosenblum
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And these are important, too.
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mary rosenblum
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Make your bio memorable.
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mary rosenblum
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Go for the 'hook' factor
rather than facts.
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mary rosenblum
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If I read a memorable bio...one
that makes me laugh or just stands out...
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mary rosenblum
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I'll remember that author's
name and next time I see something by him or her, I'm more likely to read
it.
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mary rosenblum
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Boring stuff just passes
through the gray matter and doesn't stick.
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mary rosenblum
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Use that bio as an advertising
tool...advertising YOU.
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babbles
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Mary, what if you've read your
children's stories at the library and schools? should you mention it?
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mary rosenblum
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Sure.
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mary rosenblum
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Mention ANYTHING that is
pertinent to the topic your are offering.
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mary rosenblum
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If you are writing for
children, mention that you volunteer as a reader regularly at your local
library.
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mary rosenblum
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It tells the editor that you
are more in touch with kids than that secretary to a CEO who is childless
and spends all her spare time in the gym.
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mary rosenblum
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Of course, if you are offering
an article on dog training, leave that out.
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mary rosenblum
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What does it have to do with
dog training? That reading bit is the kind of thing you might include...
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mary rosenblum
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in a post sale bio as an
intersting side of your life...
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mary rosenblum
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but for the kind of bio that
goes in with your query...it has nothing to do with the topic -- dogs -- so
leave it out.
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mary rosenblum
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But if you volunteer at the
local animal shelter, helping match prospective owners to the right kind of
dog...
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mary rosenblum
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mention that. It demonstrates
that you have more interaction with dogs than the average reader.
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mary rosenblum
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and THAT is what your editor
is looking for.
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mary rosenblum
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Readers don't pay money to
hear what their peers have to say, most of the time.
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mary rosenblum
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Mostly, they pay money to hear
what an EXPERT has to say...
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mary rosenblum
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or at least someone more
expert than that reader.
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mary rosenblum
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And that does NOT mean you
need a PhD in whatever...
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mary rosenblum
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or have had to make a lifetime
career of this particular thing.
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mary rosenblum
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But it does mean you need to
give the editor an example or two of how you have learned more than the
average reader about this.
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mary rosenblum
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If you look at most magazines...
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mary rosenblum
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you'll find a range of
articles from those written by bona fide experts with PhDs and a lifetime
of experience...
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mary rosenblum
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to people with only slightly
more experience than the average reader...
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mary rosenblum
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who are good at making that
personal 'I can learn this and so can you' connection.
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jackie7777
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So bios are resumes for writers
- showing only writing exp?
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mary rosenblum
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Not at all..
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mary rosenblum
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they are what I have just been
describing.
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mary rosenblum
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They are resumes of LIFE
EXPERIENCE as much as writing credits.
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mary rosenblum
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Being a great writer gets you
NOWHERE if you want to write about a particular topic and have no experince
with it.
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mary rosenblum
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The editor expects you to be a
competent writer.
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mary rosenblum
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Remember...in nonfiction, the
editor is not looking for ability first. The editor is looking for CONTENT
first.
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jackie7777
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But that is what research is for
isn't it?
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mary rosenblum
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Not at all, jackie. Anyone can
do research. Why should Ms Editor pay you 2.00 per word to do what any
reader can do?
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mary rosenblum
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You really really need some
kind of 'real life' offering rather than mere research if you want to sell
to most magazines.
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mary rosenblum
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Let's look at New Orleans
history.
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mary rosenblum
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You can read extensively and
write a very competant history of the place.
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mary rosenblum
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That is not likely to sell to
a regional magazine.
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mary rosenblum
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BUT...if you add some 'hands
on' research...
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mary rosenblum
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an interview with someone who
conducts 'ghost tours' say, or a personal experiience as caretaker for a
cemetary, or tour guide, or what have you...
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mary rosenblum
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you are much more likely to
sell that piece.
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jackie7777
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Ohhh I see! So Mr. Editor what's
me and not just my words?
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mary rosenblum
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Yep. Mr. Editor wants to know
why YOU should write this and not Joe Blow down the street with the same
internet research ability.
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curseofthe44
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What kind of "life"
offering can you have when attempting to sell SF or fiction?
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mary rosenblum
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It doesn't matter in fiction,
curse.
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mary rosenblum
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Fiction and nonfiction are
VERY different that way.
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mary rosenblum
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In fiction, the story is
everything.
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mary rosenblum
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it doens't matter what rock
you live under. :-) The story sells itself and you don't even use a query
letter, most of the time.
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mary rosenblum
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If your story is very long for
the mag, you may have to query first, but nearly always, you'll simply send
in the story...
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mary rosenblum
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the editor will read it, and
buy it or reject it.
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mary rosenblum
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In NONFICTION, the editor
won't even ask you to write the article until he/she has decided to buy it
most of the time.
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mary rosenblum
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YOu offer a great idea, you
tell the editor why you should write it, and the editor either says send it
to me or don't bother.
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mary rosenblum
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The key difference between
fiction and nonficiton is that in fiction, the WORDS are the most important
thing...the story itself.
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mary rosenblum
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In nonfiction, the IDEA is the
most important thing...the slant/topic of the article.
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mary rosenblum
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The editor in nonfiction
assumes you can write competently.
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deb1234
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Can you give an example of what
a bio for after sales might read like?
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mary rosenblum
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Generally, it includes a bit
of biographical stuff...so and so lives in upstate New York where he raises
kangaroos and performs Shakespeare in summer stock productions....
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mary rosenblum
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things like that. Human
interest details.
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mary rosenblum
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Whatever you think will make
readers remember you. Raising kangaroos in NY certainly would, LOL.
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mary rosenblum
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This is the Tuesday Forum on
Wednesday with me, Mary Rosenblum, LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction
writer. If you're new here, remember that you need to click on the 'Ask a
Question' button or the 'word bubble' next to the red question mark at the
top of the screen, or use the ask a question icon in order to ask a
question. Your regular 'send' bar won't reach me! You can also type /ask in
front of your question to reach me
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mary rosenblum
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The main thing that I see with
students and writers contemplating NF...
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mary rosenblum
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is that the whole idea of a
'resume' or 'bio' or 'writing sample' totally intimidates them...
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mary rosenblum
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primarily because the
definition is frequently fuzzy.
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mary rosenblum
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We are so conditioned to
'tests' by our schooling, that we see this as a test and it is not.
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jackie7777
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Can you post an example of a
great bio in Writing Crafts?
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mary rosenblum
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Next time I run into one,
Jackie. Humor is good. :-)
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mary rosenblum
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Lets see...a nice bit was by
an Asimov's reader lately. The author has lived in 47 of the fifty states
and hopes to eventually collect the whole set'...
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mary rosenblum
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It's not what you
include...that was about all the personal info there was...
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mary rosenblum
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but it was a humorous way of
putting it and I remembered it.
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mary rosenblum
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It won't hurt you to do the
usual, Ms Author lives in Cleveland and teaches quilting when she isn't
writing mysteries...
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mary rosenblum
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I'm certainly guilty of plenty
of boring bios myself! But it's a 'freebie' if you can come up with
something cute and memorable.
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babbles
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how do we make all that mumbo
jumbo stuff of our life sound interesting without putting someone to sleep,
I was a gril schout leader, baton twirling teacher and worked with diabled
kids at a summer day camp.
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mary rosenblum
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It's not boring to the editor
staring down at your proposal for an article on including disabled girls in
summer camp programs, babbles.
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mary rosenblum
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You're not entertaining the
editor here!
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mary rosenblum
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You're telling the editor that
if you tell readers about how best to make young girls who won't do as well
at something like baton twirling fit in, in a summer camp for
cheerleaders...
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mary rosenblum
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you know what you are talking
about from experience.
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mary rosenblum
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Your resume is NOT
entertainment or a means to show off your writing skills.
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mary rosenblum
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It is proof that you have real
backing for what you say.
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mary rosenblum
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It is INFORMATION>
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curseofthe44
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What if you're a total nerd,
live under a rock, or whatever, and have absolutely nothing interesting to
say about your life?
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mary rosenblum
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Most of us feel that way,
curse.
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mary rosenblum
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If you're writing fiction,
you're off the hook.
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mary rosenblum
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Many fiction writers live
under rocks and have no real existence. :-)
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mary rosenblum
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If you want to write
nonfiction, start listing everything you have ever done.
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mary rosenblum
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No, I am NOT kidding.
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mary rosenblum
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You can present some very
trivial aspects of your life...or things that seem trivial to you...in a
way that will sell your article.
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mary rosenblum
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And no, I don't mean by lying
about it, either!
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mary rosenblum
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That is a BAD idea these days!
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gail
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As in a resumé, does the bio
read better -- more effective -- when "active verbs" are used?
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mary rosenblum
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ANYTHING reads better with
active verbs gail...
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mary rosenblum
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and even though this is
necessary information...
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mary rosenblum
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if your editor is impressed
with the quality of a resume, he/she will certainly assume that you will do
an excellent article.
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mary rosenblum
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NEVER EVER give an editor a
sloppy or boring or less than excellent piece of writing.
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babbles
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that's a might long list mary,
I'm a jack of all trades master of none :-)
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mary rosenblum
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That is IDEAL for a nonfiction
writer, babbles.
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deb1234
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I've written a somewhat humorous
NF on a dog I had that my instuctor feels is publishable. What could I say
for a query to sell the Editor? I raised tha breed of dogs for 15 years?
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mary rosenblum
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Absolutely. That gives you
expert credentials right there. If you have titled dogs or gotten
performance titles on your dogs, include that.
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mary rosenblum
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If you have been an officer in
a breed club, include that.
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mary rosenblum
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If you have been involved in
breed or obedience clubs include that...
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mary rosenblum
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essentially include any life
experience that involves dogs.
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deb1234
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I've only raised them as pets
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mary rosenblum
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Then you mention that you have
owned and raised the breed for 15 years and leave it at that.
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mary rosenblum
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If your editor likes the
article proposal, that should be plenty.
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gail
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Re: "trivial aspects"
-- this is EXACTLY my problem. Most of my "expertise" (I feel)
seems trivial compared to that of others who write in areas I wish to
pursue.
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mary rosenblum
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Well, some of that depends on
what areas you intend to write in, gail.
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mary rosenblum
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If you are going to attempt to
write for academic magazines or magazines read by members of academia you
will have to have professional credentials.
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mary rosenblum
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If you are writing for the
general public, often you don't need professional credentials...
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mary rosenblum
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however, if you want to
describe, say, a new way to diet-control diabetes, you'd better be a doctor
or be well credentialed in medical research.
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mary rosenblum
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It simply depends on the level
of 'expertise' needed by the topic and the market.
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curseofthe44
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I recently read an article
online concerning queries and bios. The article stated that if you have not
published much, then you should say something like "I have published
articles (or stories) in several magazines". Is this okay?
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mary rosenblum
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Sure.
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mary rosenblum
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One thing you realize as you
get to know writers personally...
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mary rosenblum
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is just how far some of the
'bio information' and 'expertise' gets stretched.
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mary rosenblum
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Yes, you really do need to
tell the truth. There have been several really nasty scandals about 'made
up' information lately...
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mary rosenblum
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and editors are very touchy
about that...
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mary rosenblum
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BUT...you can do a bit of
verbal 'airbrushing'.
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mary rosenblum
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As you said, curse...if you
have published in two small press, pays-in-copies magazines...
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mary rosenblum
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you can tell the
editor..."I have been published in several SF magazines.'
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mary rosenblum
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If you have been published in
one, you can say, "My work has been published in fiction magazines'.
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mary rosenblum
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You are not required to say
one, or two, or forty seven.
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mary rosenblum
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If nobody has ever heard of
these mags or if they are pay in copy type, just don't name 'em.
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mary rosenblum
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If the editor wants to believe
you were published in something big, that's fine.
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mary rosenblum
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For heaven's sake don't EVER
be self-denegrating or even overly modest.
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mary rosenblum
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There is NO room for modesty
when you are starting out. Nobody will even realize you're being modest..
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mary rosenblum
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When you have sales like King
be modest.
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mary rosenblum
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Until then, present yourself
in the best light you can, truthfully.
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gail
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But, technically, several means
more than two. And, by making magazines a plural, we would be implying more
than one publication of our work. Wouldn't we?
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mary rosenblum
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Gail, yes, but if you want to
really stretch the point, your story appears in mutliple copies right?
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mary rosenblum
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And what do you think? THe
editor is going to sue you if she finds out you have only published in TWO
magazines?
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mary rosenblum
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Essentially, you are hooking
the editor's interest here...'Hey, I have a little bit of a name anyway'.
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mary rosenblum
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And WHAT you include in that
query or story will sell or not.
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mary rosenblum
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Believe me, whether you have
published in two magazines or four will never decide the editor on whether
to reject you or accept you.
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mary rosenblum
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Make yourself look as good as
you can without lying.
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mary rosenblum
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Why not?
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mary rosenblum
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You are trying to get a toe
inside this particular door. It is your work that matters, but catching the
editors attention comes first.
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mary rosenblum
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Lying WILL get you in trouble
eventually, because everybody talks to everybody else in this business...
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mary rosenblum
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and word gets around VERY
quickly
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mary rosenblum
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Believe me, after seven days
in the midst of publishers, editors, and writers, I can TELL you that this
business runs on gossip. LOL
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curseofthe44
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I have published two stories in
one anthology series (but it was two books). Would it be okay for me to say
that I have published stories in an anthology series or should I just say
in several books?
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mary rosenblum
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Either way will work fine,
curse.
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mary rosenblum
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You have published in anthologies
in any case. You are probably a bit better off simply saying "I have
had two stories publislhed in antholgies'...
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mary rosenblum
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rather than 'I have had two
stories published in the Darkover anthology series'...
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mary rosenblum
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since the first example
implies two different editors thought your work was publishable, and in the
second example, only one editor thought your work was publishable... :-)
Minor detail.
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gail
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"Word getting around"
is what concerns me with embellishment.
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mary rosenblum
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Well, that kind of
embellishment doesn't get around, gail. Saying that you collaborated with
Nora Roberts when you didn't sure will.
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mary rosenblum
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If you're uncomfortable, be as
precise as you wish. You certainly don't have to do anything that bothers
you.
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mary rosenblum
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But it's always a good idea to
write your personal credits with as positive a slant as you are willing to
do.
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curseofthe44
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So, a bio for fiction and non
fiction is different. What about a query? I found a SF mag that I want to
submit to, but they are so overwhelmed that they no longer accept subs
without a query first. What is the protocol for a fiction query?
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mary rosenblum
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They're hard curse.
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mary rosenblum
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Essentially, if a magazine is
that overbought, I'd suggest you look elsewhere if you can.
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mary rosenblum
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I don't know which editor that
is, but basically, he/she is going to be looking for an idea that really
grabs him.
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mary rosenblum
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It will probably have to be
something really fresh.
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mary rosenblum
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And often, your idea can be
less than new and wonderful, but your approach can be what really makes the
story work.
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deb1234
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Didn't you write an anthology
and what was it's name? Where can it be bought?
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mary rosenblum
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An anthology is a collection
of short stories, deb.
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mary rosenblum
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Yes, I have one
out...Synthesis and Other Virtual Realities...it can be bought from
Amazon.com or Arkham House publishers.
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mary rosenblum
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Arkham House has an online
catalog, too.
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owlybear
|
What if you've only written
weekly newspaper articles and the odd letter to the editor?
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mary rosenblum
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Owly, you have a GREAT resume!
Sheesh. You have written and published dozens of articles!!!
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mary rosenblum
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Talk about people who are
overly modest!!!
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mary rosenblum
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You certainly don't need to
worry about clips for an editor. Just tell the editor what you have done and
include numbers.
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babbles
|
when you submit photo's with a
NF article should I mention that I have had a picture published in photo
anthology or just that I was phto journalisht for a local newspaper?
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mary rosenblum
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You can. Include anything that
you've published. As far as photos go...it's probably not going to help you
sell this article, but it'll tell the editor that you are working hard at
publishing across the board.
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curseofthe44
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It is "The Strand"
magazine and just advertised in "The Writer" magazine.
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mary rosenblum
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I don't know that one, curse,
but there are LOTS of good magazines. By the way...
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mary rosenblum
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an excellent ezine SF market
is Strange Horizons. They are one of the few ezines that count toward
membership in SF and it gets a lot of respect in the industry.
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speckledorf
|
Off topic question....Is it okay
to send queries to multiple agents?
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mary rosenblum
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Speck, I'd be a bit careful
there.
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mary rosenblum
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If an editor says yes, he/she
has already scheduled that article for an issue and they probably want
First rights.
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mary rosenblum
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BUT...if you have already said
yes to another editor you now have to say SORRY...and that editor has to
find something else to put in that slot.
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mary rosenblum
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Why should she accept a query
from you again, knowing that you probably will have sold it already if she
wants the article?
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speckledorf
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Not to editors for article...to
agents for book...sorry...I wasn't clear.
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mary rosenblum
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Oh...yes...send out DOZENS of
queries to agents! Any that seem to fit your book.
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mary rosenblum
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Then you have a field to
choose from.
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deb1234
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How can you seel a story for
second rights?
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mary rosenblum
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Well, read the guidelines
first.
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mary rosenblum
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Many publications want
original material only.
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mary rosenblum
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Others accept reprints.
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mary rosenblum
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If they accept reprints, offer
the piece and tell the editor where it was published first, if it was a big
name magazine.
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mary rosenblum
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You'll automatically be
selling reprint or second rights.
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mary rosenblum
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But even if you don't name the
magazine, do tell the editor it's a reprint so that he/she doesn't think
you are offering first rights on an original piece.
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curseofthe44
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Strange Horizons seems to be
VERY particular. They're guidelines state you can't write this, you can't
write that. They seem very limited as to what they will accept. That's why
I have never considered them.
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mary rosenblum
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Have you read their material,
curse? That's the only good way to know what they do and don't publish.
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owlybear
|
What are First Norht American
'serial' rights? Does that mean they can sell it to other magazines if you
relinquish the serial rights?
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mary rosenblum
|
Serial rights mean magazine
rights, as opposed to book rights.
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mary rosenblum
|
For example...Analog magazine
often publishes books as 'serial's in several issues...part one, two,
three, four, etc.
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mary rosenblum
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Those rights DO NOT conflict
with book rights and these books are published as books, too.
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mary rosenblum
|
First North American means
this piece is being published for the FIRST time in North America (US,
Canada, Mexico??? Can't remember).
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mary rosenblum
|
First World Rights are now
more common.
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mary rosenblum
|
Means first publication in the
world.
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mary rosenblum
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Because of the internet it is
now more common than FNA rights.
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sailor
|
The book describing magazine
markets that LRW sells and includes w/course, how does that compare to the
info in Writer's Market? Same basic content? Does it describe more mags
than WM?
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mary rosenblum
|
I don't know if it describes
more. It is geared toward LR, ie beginning writers, so there is a greater
emphasis placed on markets that accept submissions from new and unpublished
writers.
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mary rosenblum
|
For that reason, it might be
the best place to start
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ladybird39pm
|
when is it necessary to hire
agent. I write childrens
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mary rosenblum
|
Generally, you will not
need...nor will you be able to get...an agent until you write book length
work in any genre.
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mary rosenblum
|
Ladybird, you'll have to check
guidelines, but I don't believe you can submit childrens books to most
publishers without an agent.
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mary rosenblum
|
That is true in almost every
genre. YOu can still do unagented for some SF and fantasy houses but that's
about it, and that is changing rapidly.
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mary rosenblum
|
For all agent related
questions, visit the Association of Authors Reprensentatives website...
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mary rosenblum
|
this is the professional
agents organization. They have a code of conduct for members and they offer
a GREAT FAQ page that tells you exactly how to go about finding a good
agent,
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mary rosenblum
|
what questions to ask, and so
forth.
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mary rosenblum
|
http://www.aar-online.org/index.html
Association of Authors' Representative homepage
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mary rosenblum
|
The main thing to keep in mind
when you find yourself looking at the writers guidelines...
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mary rosenblum
|
and the magazine requires a
query with clips and resume or bio, is that this is NOT a test.
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mary rosenblum
|
This IS a request for
information that will help the editor.
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mary rosenblum
|
Even if you don't get the
'form' exactly right, if you tell the editor what he or she needs to
know...
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mary rosenblum
|
you'll do fine.
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mary rosenblum
|
That is something I'd like to
stress, and probably can't stress often enough.
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mary rosenblum
|
Editors want good material.
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mary rosenblum
|
They will not reject good
material because your page numbers are in the wrong corner of the page.
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mary rosenblum
|
But if you make your ms hard
to read, a hurried editor may misread it and you will lose a sale that way.
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mary rosenblum
|
Mistakes won't hurt you unless
they make that ms hard to read.
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mary rosenblum
|
So don't lose sleep over
whether your resume is in the right outline form!
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mary rosenblum
|
As long as it's brief and to
the point and tells the edtior why you are the person to write this article...
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mary rosenblum
|
you're fine.
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mary rosenblum
|
Remember...you are selling
your words and what they say.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
You are not turning in an
English test!
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mary rosenblum
|
Think about what the editor
NEEDS and don't be intimidated by your lack of certainty about format,
style, etc.
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mary rosenblum
|
This has been a fun hour.
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mary rosenblum
|
I'll post the transcript of
this to the usual place...
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mary rosenblum
|
Writing Craft: Forum Transcripts.
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mary rosenblum
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And I'll see you Friday
morning for our casual chat, as well as later for our Friday AFter Hours!
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mary rosenblum
|
By the way...
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mary rosenblum
|
I heard an intersting
statistic this weekend.
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mary rosenblum
|
Fifty three percent of all
fiction sold...ALL fiction sold...is Romance.
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speckledorf
|
Before you leave I have a
personal query question if you have time...if not, Friday will be fine...
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mary rosenblum
|
Sure, speckledorf.
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gail
|
Thanx Mary. Before you leave,
how was your trip and the conference?
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mary rosenblum
|
It was great.
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mary rosenblum
|
I have two publishers
interested in the book I've just finished, so my agent is VERY happy...
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mary rosenblum
|
plus quite a few invitations
to submit. I should be busy for the next nine months or so!
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speckledorf
|
Agent queries...business like or
more personal?
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mary rosenblum
|
Very businesslike, speck.
Unless you have met the agent at a conference or have a personal
recommendation from an established writer or one of the agent's writers.
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ladybird39pm
|
are agents costly?
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mary rosenblum
|
They charge 15% of your gross
earnings, ladybird.
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mary rosenblum
|
Believe me, first time you
look at a NY publishing contract, you'll realize it's money well spent.
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mary rosenblum
|
Plus, your agent finds you
work. :-) My agent always has 'marching orders' for me when I meet with
her.
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mary rosenblum
|
She got me my mystery series.
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mary rosenblum
|
See you all on Friday!
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mary rosenblum
|
Have a good week!
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