I was going to write a Thanksgiving blog post, right up there with the thousands of others detailing what they're thankful for. That's not meant to be snide; I was right there, ready to write about how thankful I am to be a full-time writer now -- what a shock it still is when I realize this IS my day job -- when I got distracted by a hot glue gun.
Yeah, that's right... a hot glue gun edged out gratitude as the topic of this post... just by a hair. But I'm not sure there's much of a difference. That glue gun, you see, having been dug out of the cupboard in which it usually resides, unmolested for weeks or months at a time, is going to finally get my project board off the floor and onto the wall of my home office. I'm hoping that if I can hang it at eye and writing level, as opposed to having to squat down on the floor to read it, I'll make better use of it and my own potential, turning the huge spreadsheet of brilliant ideas I've had -- and neglected to act upon -- into another batch of published clips.
So I am very thankful you are here to help me on my way, hot glue gun. But before I finish that project, I have to start another; it's tradition. So as I wait for the glue gun to heat up (I'm hot-gluing a a hanger to the back of the project board, NOT the board to the wall... put down that telephone!) I'm sorting through old market listings and throwing out the ones that I'm never in a million years going to sub to.
What's that you say? Throwing out perfectly good market listings? Don't I have any idea how wasteful that is... can't I at least recycle?
Why yes, as a matter of fact, I can. So here's the submissions page for Weavings, "A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life." Pretty self-explanatory.
Look for more markets coming up over the holiday weekend.
P.S. I really am thankful to be writing, and this is a big part of why.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
FanStory.com, and why we need weekends.
Up until now I haven't bothered to join writer's websites that charge a premium. After all, I've been so busy chasing down leads and pitching queries to markets gleaned from free newsletters and websites that I don't have time to mess around with pay sites as well.
Then I discovered the incredible charge of motivation I can get from being in the same room with other writers... more on that later. If attending one meeting of the local writer's guild was such a charge, could I duplicate the experience -- or at least find a pale shadow of it -- online?
Enter FanStory. It was an unlikely target at first; after all, I'd long considered "social writing sites" to be a waste of my time. Must... pitch... to... paying... markets! But once I reasoned the $6.95/month membership away as an entry fee to the numerous paying contests FanStory features, once I decided that inspiration and having a chance to play with writing again instead of just working at it -- as I've done every single stinkin' day since I quit my day job back in June -- were well worth the cost, I took my first step into a brave new world.
Yes, that's right. Not only did I start playing with my writing, entering contests in subjects and forms that I normally wouldn't have bothered with, I also started reading other peoples' writing and reviewing it. And you know what? It's fun.
Contaminated by this "fun bug", I then did something unthinkable. I took a day off. I purposefully neglected e-mails and edits that were awaiting my response. I put every single client on hold for 24 hours. I curled up in the rocker and watched one DVD after another. I completed craft projects I'd been hoping to give as Christmas gifts.
That day was yesterday. Truth be told I was a little bit worried that, when exposed to the concept of leisure, my discipline would crumble and I'd never work another hour ago. Welcome to the self-employed poorhouse, lady. But today I had to hold myself back from entering the home office. "No, not yet!" I told myself. "Take another day off!"
I lost the battle an hour ago and have been frenziedly pecking at the keyboard ever since. So this is what inspiration feels like! This is why I wanted so badly, for so very long, to be a writer! I had honestly forgotten. But now I remember...
...this is what weekends are for!
Then I discovered the incredible charge of motivation I can get from being in the same room with other writers... more on that later. If attending one meeting of the local writer's guild was such a charge, could I duplicate the experience -- or at least find a pale shadow of it -- online?
Enter FanStory. It was an unlikely target at first; after all, I'd long considered "social writing sites" to be a waste of my time. Must... pitch... to... paying... markets! But once I reasoned the $6.95/month membership away as an entry fee to the numerous paying contests FanStory features, once I decided that inspiration and having a chance to play with writing again instead of just working at it -- as I've done every single stinkin' day since I quit my day job back in June -- were well worth the cost, I took my first step into a brave new world.
Yes, that's right. Not only did I start playing with my writing, entering contests in subjects and forms that I normally wouldn't have bothered with, I also started reading other peoples' writing and reviewing it. And you know what? It's fun.
Contaminated by this "fun bug", I then did something unthinkable. I took a day off. I purposefully neglected e-mails and edits that were awaiting my response. I put every single client on hold for 24 hours. I curled up in the rocker and watched one DVD after another. I completed craft projects I'd been hoping to give as Christmas gifts.
That day was yesterday. Truth be told I was a little bit worried that, when exposed to the concept of leisure, my discipline would crumble and I'd never work another hour ago. Welcome to the self-employed poorhouse, lady. But today I had to hold myself back from entering the home office. "No, not yet!" I told myself. "Take another day off!"
I lost the battle an hour ago and have been frenziedly pecking at the keyboard ever since. So this is what inspiration feels like! This is why I wanted so badly, for so very long, to be a writer! I had honestly forgotten. But now I remember...
...this is what weekends are for!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Learning Through History
If you're one of those folks who's not doomed to repeat history, maybe you'd like to make a little money by writing about it.
Learning Through History Magazine is looking for submissions on the Austrian Empire. Click the link for more details. You can also sign up for their guidelines update, published every two months, so that you'll be notified about every new call for submissions.
Learning Through History Magazine is looking for submissions on the Austrian Empire. Click the link for more details. You can also sign up for their guidelines update, published every two months, so that you'll be notified about every new call for submissions.
Peter Shankman's HARO
Nabbed this one from a LinkedIn writing group. What the heck as a "HARO", you ask? HARO stands for "Help a Report Out" and is a networking site to help journalists find sources on a wide variety of topics. If you're an expert source you can also sign up to receive queries from journalists about your area of expertise.
First off: What a splendid idea!
Second, while I like the idea of using this to find expert sources for articles, the little relays in my brain -- always struggling to learn more about the power of marketing -- are going off, telling me that there may be some advantages to being on the other side of the coin, too. Not necessarily for me, but for my clients. I'm going to refer one of my clients to this group as a source and see if he likes the potential for extra exposure.
First off: What a splendid idea!
Second, while I like the idea of using this to find expert sources for articles, the little relays in my brain -- always struggling to learn more about the power of marketing -- are going off, telling me that there may be some advantages to being on the other side of the coin, too. Not necessarily for me, but for my clients. I'm going to refer one of my clients to this group as a source and see if he likes the potential for extra exposure.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Science Fiction Poetry Association Contest
I find myself paying a lot of attention to contests lately, so I thought I'd start listing them here. These aren't necessarily the biggest or the richest but the ones that catch my eye. Snagged this one from Duotrope.
Science Fiction Poetry Association's 2008 Poetry Contest
Entry Fee: No
Online Entry: Yes
Top Prize: $100, publication, membership, other goods
Open dates: August 1 - August 31, 2008
Good luck!
Science Fiction Poetry Association's 2008 Poetry Contest
Entry Fee: No
Online Entry: Yes
Top Prize: $100, publication, membership, other goods
Open dates: August 1 - August 31, 2008
Good luck!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Children's Writing Update
At first I felt skeptical about the Children's Writing Update. After all, it's got some ads. Okay, it's got a lot of ads. But they're all for writing related products and, if you're a children's writer (or want to be) the products might be right up your alley. It also has some useful tidbits about book clubs (can you say "Oprah"?) and conferences for children's writers.
That's all very nice and worth a scan-through if you're really into children's writing, but what really got my attention was this update issue's feature article. As an aspiring children's writer I read it attentively, and will be visiting future issues of the Children's Writing Update to make sure I don't miss their next feature article.
UPDATE: Thanks to Jon Bard of Children's Book Insider / Write4Kids.com, here's a link to the back issues of Children's Writing Update. Each one features an article from Laura Backes. She also wrote the current issue's article, "Have You Lost the Plot?" that caught (and held) my eye.
That's all very nice and worth a scan-through if you're really into children's writing, but what really got my attention was this update issue's feature article. As an aspiring children's writer I read it attentively, and will be visiting future issues of the Children's Writing Update to make sure I don't miss their next feature article.
UPDATE: Thanks to Jon Bard of Children's Book Insider / Write4Kids.com, here's a link to the back issues of Children's Writing Update. Each one features an article from Laura Backes. She also wrote the current issue's article, "Have You Lost the Plot?" that caught (and held) my eye.
Friday, August 8, 2008
SpecFicMe
Are you a SpecFic writer? Defining this genre can be a real struggle, but finding markets is not thanks to the SpecFicMe market database and monthly newsletter.
I don't typically post resources that cost, but this one offers a 30-day free trial and promises that you can cancel and pay nothing. So if this is your genre, check SpecFicMe out for free -- you might decide it's worth paying for!
I don't typically post resources that cost, but this one offers a 30-day free trial and promises that you can cancel and pay nothing. So if this is your genre, check SpecFicMe out for free -- you might decide it's worth paying for!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Read magazines for free
Mygazines lets you read magazines for free online, including back issues. So far I've seen Discover, National Geo. for Kids, Prevention, Allure, Four Wheel and Off Road, Oprah, PC Gamer, Popular Photography and lots more scroll across my screen. Pretty neat!
Nabbed this from the PayingWriterJobs Yahoo! group... hands down the most useful Yahoo! group I've joined.
Nabbed this from the PayingWriterJobs Yahoo! group... hands down the most useful Yahoo! group I've joined.
Friday, July 11, 2008
WritersWeekly Paying Market Guidelines page
I enjoy every issue of WritersWeekly, not the least because they only publish listings for markets that pay.
Lo and behold! They also have a long list of paying markets collected in one place for easy reference: Paying Market Guidelines
Lo and behold! They also have a long list of paying markets collected in one place for easy reference: Paying Market Guidelines
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Wordtracker
If you do SEO (Search Engine Optimization) writing or if you just want to know which words will get you that much closer to the top of the search pages... try Wordtracker. It's fast, free, and you don't have to download or install anything, although you can purchase a premium version which I believe requires a download.
Just type the subject(s) you're working on into their search bar and click "Hit Me".
Just type the subject(s) you're working on into their search bar and click "Hit Me".
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Work-in-Progress
The combination of summer and a garden can be dangerous to my work. Sorry about the long lapse! Now that I'm back on track, here is a good blog to watch for all things writing, including news about contests and markets: Work-in-Progress
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Firstwriter.com
Here is a frequently updated listing of writing contests. As of this posting it contains 164 poetry, fiction, nonfiction and script contests.
WordHustler
I was immediately intrigued by the concept of WordHustler when I read an article by one of the founders in one of the FundsforWriters newsletters. I'll let their own front page speak for them:
"With WordHustler, you can spend more time writing because we simplify, streamline, and organize the entire submission process for you. Not only that, we print and ship each manuscript, saving you time, inconvenience, and money!"
They also keep a database of over 3,000 literary markets that is completely free. Just scroll down to the bottom of the front page and click on the obvious link.
"With WordHustler, you can spend more time writing because we simplify, streamline, and organize the entire submission process for you. Not only that, we print and ship each manuscript, saving you time, inconvenience, and money!"
They also keep a database of over 3,000 literary markets that is completely free. Just scroll down to the bottom of the front page and click on the obvious link.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Children's Book Council
Looking to publish a children's book? Visit the Children's Book Council, click on "Getting your Book Published" in the left menu bar, then click "CBC Members List" to get an extensive list of children's book publishers plus notes on genre, format, and whether they're accepting submissions or not.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Oolichan Books - Canadian writers only
If you're in Canada... Oolichan publishes "literary fiction, poetry, children’s and YA books, and creative nonfiction".
Monday, June 2, 2008
Anthologies Online
Interested in writing for anthologies? Here's a site that lists anthology "authors wanted" calls. Click on the "writers wanted" links in the middle of the page to get to the listings. You'll have to weed through the non-paying calls... but there are some that pay.
Nabbed this one off of PayingWriterJobs.
Nabbed this one off of PayingWriterJobs.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Screw You! ....the blog
There's something to be said for irreverence. Okay... there is a lot to be said for irreverence. Kathy Kehrli's blog is highly entertaining and, more often than not, right on the spot. Highly recommended.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers
Need a few good writing websites? See the 2008 list of Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers here.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Query Eagles & OWW-SFF
For those of you who participate in LiveJournal, there's a community specifically for critiquing query hooks here.
I nabbed that one from the Online Writing Workshop for Science Fiction Fantasy - also known as OWW-SFF - discussion group (you can visit the workshop itself here, but you do need to pay to use it).
I nabbed that one from the Online Writing Workshop for Science Fiction Fantasy - also known as OWW-SFF - discussion group (you can visit the workshop itself here, but you do need to pay to use it).
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Writer to Writer
Here's another one of those gems that is worth scanning when it comes... the Writer to Writer newsletter. You can sign up from the front page - just scroll down a little.
Take the time to browse the main site - you'll find a number of articles about writing, a newsletter archive, and writer's guidelines - yes, this is a paying market.
Take the time to browse the main site - you'll find a number of articles about writing, a newsletter archive, and writer's guidelines - yes, this is a paying market.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Buried in the Slush Pile
"Ever wonder what those editors and publishers are thinking?" That's how "The Buried Editor" subheads her blog, Buried in the Slush Pile.
I highly recommend a visit; if you're reading this, you're a writer - and if you're a writer, you probably spend lots of time wondering what those wiley editors and publishers are thinking. .http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
I highly recommend a visit; if you're reading this, you're a writer - and if you're a writer, you probably spend lots of time wondering what those wiley editors and publishers are thinking. .http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
Amazon/Booksurge POD
If you want to keep up on the latest about Amazon/Booksurge and POD, check here...
WritersWeekly latest developments
An online petition to stop Amazon/Booksurge
An open letter from Amazon
I pulled those last two links out of the latest Ralan's market report, a great writing resource for the spec-fic/humor writers out there.
WritersWeekly latest developments
An online petition to stop Amazon/Booksurge
An open letter from Amazon
I pulled those last two links out of the latest Ralan's market report, a great writing resource for the spec-fic/humor writers out there.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Poetry Hut Blog
Looking for poetry news? Jilly Dybka collects it in one convenient place, the Poetry Hug Blog. I don't see much in the way of actual "market listings", but this kind of resource is rich ground if you're willing to research guidelines for the zillions of markets that you'll see mentioned.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Absolute Write Water Cooler
When the latest issue of the Absolute Write newsletter stated that writers want to know about exploding gophers, I just had to visit the Water Cooler and see for myself. Do gophers really explode? And - do writers really care?
If that last paragraph didn't make sense, please allow me to translate: Absolute Write is home to several free writing newsletters, plus a forum (the "Water Cooler") where writers can ask others for input on their research. They advertise some of the latest forum research questions in their newsletter, I suppose to pique interest and provoke a visit... it certainly worked for me!
If that last paragraph didn't make sense, please allow me to translate: Absolute Write is home to several free writing newsletters, plus a forum (the "Water Cooler") where writers can ask others for input on their research. They advertise some of the latest forum research questions in their newsletter, I suppose to pique interest and provoke a visit... it certainly worked for me!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Updated Educational Markets for Children's Writers
Evelyn B. Christensen has updated her listing of Educational Markets for Children's Writers - you can also visit her main page here. Great resource!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The First Book
For all you aspiring novelists out there... Scott William Carter at The First Book blog asks new novelists about their journey to publication, then shares the answers with you.
Monday, April 28, 2008
The Practicing Writer
I'm always pleasantly surprised when I receive The Practicing Writer newsletter. At just once monthly, it's easy to forget about it in the pile of other newsletters arriving daily or weekly, but every time it comes I take the time to read it, even when I'm working on deadline. It usually includes contests that haven't shown up in the other newsletters I read, and information about submissions that matter to me.
You can also check out the Practicing Writing Blog for additional information several times weekly.
You can also check out the Practicing Writing Blog for additional information several times weekly.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Arts Journal
While the Arts Journal - "the daily digest of arts, journals and ideas" - is not strictly about writing, it does sometimes contain contest leads or other worthwhile writing information, as well as a plethora of blog listings and other media links. Best of all, you can sign up for a daily or weekly summary of information delivered straight to your e-mail inbox to be scanned or discarded at your leisure.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Writer Mama
I've decided to develop my own creative manifesto, inspired by Christina Katz' creative manifesto and her Writer Mama website. It's harder than I thought it would be; I've stalled out at item number five. Maybe this is a sign that I'm hyper-focusing... time to relax a little?
The Writer Mama blog is what first caught my eye here, and I'd still call it one of the main features. There's also a newsletter that I've just signed up for. I'm constantly amazed not just by the number of writing resources out there but by the quality, too.
P.S. Any feedback (ha, ha) on the feed? I modified it a few days ago and am hoping I didn't break it. If you have any comments about it, you can add them here or send them directly to me at maloneyak AT gmail DOT com.
The Writer Mama blog is what first caught my eye here, and I'd still call it one of the main features. There's also a newsletter that I've just signed up for. I'm constantly amazed not just by the number of writing resources out there but by the quality, too.
P.S. Any feedback (ha, ha) on the feed? I modified it a few days ago and am hoping I didn't break it. If you have any comments about it, you can add them here or send them directly to me at maloneyak AT gmail DOT com.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The Writer's Directory
Here is another compilation of market listings... conveniently divided into paying and non-paying publications. Looks like the vast majority of them are literary journals. I like that he lists payment rates in the initial reference when they're available.
Bidding for a good cause... and writing stuff
Not everything up for bid in Brenda Novak's 2008 online auction to benefit Diabetes research is writing-related, but some of the nicest prizes are - like a writer's software collection or a month of mentoring by an NYT bestselling author. And that Mexican beach getaway... um... writing retreat?
There are also raffle prizes and a prize for the bidder who places the most bids overall (even if none of your bids win an item). It's for a good cause.. so if you've got a few dollars to burn, check it out.
There are also raffle prizes and a prize for the bidder who places the most bids overall (even if none of your bids win an item). It's for a good cause.. so if you've got a few dollars to burn, check it out.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Brenda Hiatt's Show Me the Money
For all you romance authors - and anyone thinking of joining their ranks:
What romance writers earn with various publishers
I understand it's in the process of being updated, so be sure to check back for the new figures.
P.S. I can't resist a shameless plug.. guess who won the adult division of the Tapestry of Bronze Ode to Zeus poetry contest? Be sure to check back for their next contest in October. That seems so far away right now, but boy does time fly...
What romance writers earn with various publishers
I understand it's in the process of being updated, so be sure to check back for the new figures.
P.S. I can't resist a shameless plug.. guess who won the adult division of the Tapestry of Bronze Ode to Zeus poetry contest? Be sure to check back for their next contest in October. That seems so far away right now, but boy does time fly...
Sunday, April 20, 2008
The Infinite Writer
Some writing websites (and magazines) I read for the articles; some for the markets. The Infinite Writer, billing itself as "The Magazine for Writers", falls into the latter category. Their market listings - just click on "Paying Markets" in the left-hand index - clearly state pay rate, contact information, what to pitch, and what NOT to pitch for most markets. They advertise the links as updated several times weekly, and it does look like all the deadlines are current. I'll definitely be checking back for updates!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The Letter Game
Just picked this up from a post in RWClist (Romance Writer's Community)... check it out.
The Letter Game
I just have to recommend RWClist again. It's the most informative, helpful, frittery-free writer's list I've seen (among those that allow discussion, at least). And I'm not even a romance writer!
The Letter Game
I just have to recommend RWClist again. It's the most informative, helpful, frittery-free writer's list I've seen (among those that allow discussion, at least). And I'm not even a romance writer!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Writing Blog Madness
Want a quick - and entertaining - comparison of writing blogs? Check out Writing Blog Madness at the Writer's Resource Center by John Hewitt. A wide variety of writing blogs go head-to-head - I gather that we'll eventually see one grand winner?
There's a lot of other useful information there, too - take the time to look around at their other features!
There's a lot of other useful information there, too - take the time to look around at their other features!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Guide to Literary Agents
Ahhhh, tax day. How well did you keep track of 2007's deductions?
Here's another noteworthy blog to take your mind off the trauma of the tax man's visit:
The Guide to Literary Agents Blog deals with all things literary agent. That doesn't read quite right, does it? But if you deal with agents, or want to deal with agents, or are wondering if you should deal with agents... well, you get the idea. I love sites / blogs that take the time to answer reader questions or offer useful information like GLA blog's "What Does That Mean?" installments - see their April 8th post for a fine example. If you want to pitch, negotiate, or even just converse well, you need to know the vocabulary. There will be numerous pop quizzes over the duration of your writing career.
Oh, hey, there's even a website to go with the blog. What's it about? You guessed it... the Guide to Literary Agents! You can find it here.
Here's another noteworthy blog to take your mind off the trauma of the tax man's visit:
The Guide to Literary Agents Blog deals with all things literary agent. That doesn't read quite right, does it? But if you deal with agents, or want to deal with agents, or are wondering if you should deal with agents... well, you get the idea. I love sites / blogs that take the time to answer reader questions or offer useful information like GLA blog's "What Does That Mean?" installments - see their April 8th post for a fine example. If you want to pitch, negotiate, or even just converse well, you need to know the vocabulary. There will be numerous pop quizzes over the duration of your writing career.
Oh, hey, there's even a website to go with the blog. What's it about? You guessed it... the Guide to Literary Agents! You can find it here.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Questions and Quandaries
Darn it. Spring had sprung in Alaska - it really had. Then winter came back and dumped two feet of snow (more in some places) in the last three days. According to the evening news there were 146 crashes and 90-some vehicles in distress (stuck or in the ditch) reported this afternoon.. that's not counting fender-benders or ditch divers that weren't reported to the police.
Knowing that makes me feel very good about being warm and safe, with free time to catch up on a few of my favorite writing blogs. Here's one: Questions and Quandaries by Brian A. Klems, online managing editor of Writer's Digest magazine. You e-mail him your questions and quandaries, he answers. Pretty simple, and we all benefit from the questions others ask. Take the time to browse through the archives and you might just find answers to questions you never even knew you had.
Knowing that makes me feel very good about being warm and safe, with free time to catch up on a few of my favorite writing blogs. Here's one: Questions and Quandaries by Brian A. Klems, online managing editor of Writer's Digest magazine. You e-mail him your questions and quandaries, he answers. Pretty simple, and we all benefit from the questions others ask. Take the time to browse through the archives and you might just find answers to questions you never even knew you had.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
The Writer's Chatroom
Here's another interesting resource: The Writer's Chatroom. They host both moderated and unmoderated chats. Their list of visiting guests is long and distinguished - you can see some of them here. They also offer an online discussion forum, a monthly newsletter, and contests.
Friday, April 4, 2008
ACES - American Copy Editors Society - Jobs
Here's an e-mail group that specializes in job listings for editors. I'm just going to quote the group's website (here) since they explain it themselves very nicely:
"This is the American Copy Editors Society site for job postings of interest to copy editors or others in journalism and other editing careers. ACES members and others are welcome; all relevant job postings are encouraged. Please, real jobs only; no promoting of companies without actual job openings and no comments, funny or otherwise, on postings by others."
Absolutely SPAM free, this is a great resource if you're keeping your ear to the ground for [extra] work.
"This is the American Copy Editors Society site for job postings of interest to copy editors or others in journalism and other editing careers. ACES members and others are welcome; all relevant job postings are encouraged. Please, real jobs only; no promoting of companies without actual job openings and no comments, funny or otherwise, on postings by others."
Absolutely SPAM free, this is a great resource if you're keeping your ear to the ground for [extra] work.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
A wonderful article...
There was a wonderful article in the latest issue of Writing for DOLLARS! - I sometimes struggle with organizing the wealth of available information, and I think Kathleen Ewing's "7 Tips for Mining the Free Issue" does an excellent job of putting things into perspective. You can see her article, via the newsletter, here.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
National Poetry Map and the Practicing Writer
Here's a neat resource: the National Poetry Map. It has "local poets, poems, events, literary journals, writing programs, poetry organizations, and more" organized by state - just select your state and see what's available near you. Given the profusion of local journals, local contests/grants (with funds available only to residents of a certain state or area), this is a great resource... plus it's just plain neat to see things organized by geographic location.
While you're at it, check out the Practicing Writer Newsletter (monthly) and the Practicing Writer blog, both great resources for writing and publishing information and opportunities.
While you're at it, check out the Practicing Writer Newsletter (monthly) and the Practicing Writer blog, both great resources for writing and publishing information and opportunities.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Anthology News and Reviews
Here's a great blog to check out - I nabbed the link off the Paying Writer Jobs group on Yahoo:
Anthology News and Reviews is chock-full of calls for submissions on anthology topics from slipstream/sci-fi to inspiring to "female experiences with reproduction" to living with animals - talk about variety!
Anthology News and Reviews is chock-full of calls for submissions on anthology topics from slipstream/sci-fi to inspiring to "female experiences with reproduction" to living with animals - talk about variety!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Educational Markets for Children's Writers
Evelyn B. Christensen maintains a lengthy list of Children's Markets in the Educational Markets section of her website. You can also sign up to be notified by e-mail when she updates the list (see the box at the top of the markets list). This is a great resource for children's and education writers.
Thanks to Laura Coulter at Writing for the Education Market for suggesting this site!
Thanks to Laura Coulter at Writing for the Education Market for suggesting this site!
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!
There are so many job sites and newsletters available online that the biggest challenge is just sorting through them. Here are three that I've found to be useful:
freelancewritingjobs MORNING COFFEE newsletter - fresh freelance jobs delivered every Tuesday morning. Completely SPAM free.
Get Copywriting Jobs newsletter/site - Visit their site and you'll be automatically invited to sign up for the newsletter. There is a little bit of SPAM here, in the form of rare promotional messages and offers from the folks that run the newsletter - but there are also lots of job leads to be had.
Now I have to admit that I lied. The second site is of no use to me because I'm not a copywriter. But if I were...
freelancewritingjobs MORNING COFFEE newsletter - fresh freelance jobs delivered every Tuesday morning. Completely SPAM free.
Get Copywriting Jobs newsletter/site - Visit their site and you'll be automatically invited to sign up for the newsletter. There is a little bit of SPAM here, in the form of rare promotional messages and offers from the folks that run the newsletter - but there are also lots of job leads to be had.
Now I have to admit that I lied. The second site is of no use to me because I'm not a copywriter. But if I were...
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The Romance Writer's Community
There's a specialty group out there for almost every kind of writing. Today the Romance Writer's Community is in the spotlight.
This Yahoo! group bills itself as "a friendly, helpful group for romance writers at any point in their careers; from those who are just starting out, to those who have sold manuscripts." I'm not a romance writer myself, but I joined the group anyway and scan through the messages when I have time, for one simple reason.
Good writing is good writing, and I can learn just as much from a romance writer as from a food writer or a construction writer, even though I don't actively participate in any of those genres, so long as my mind is open to picking up tips and tricks that might apply to what I do. So if you're a romance writer - and even if you're not - this list may be worth a look.
This Yahoo! group bills itself as "a friendly, helpful group for romance writers at any point in their careers; from those who are just starting out, to those who have sold manuscripts." I'm not a romance writer myself, but I joined the group anyway and scan through the messages when I have time, for one simple reason.
Good writing is good writing, and I can learn just as much from a romance writer as from a food writer or a construction writer, even though I don't actively participate in any of those genres, so long as my mind is open to picking up tips and tricks that might apply to what I do. So if you're a romance writer - and even if you're not - this list may be worth a look.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Put in your research time
Not every newsletter that lands in my mailbox is about writing resources. Sometimes they're about things that I enjoy for their own sake - but since everything is fair game for writing, I try to read them with an eye toward how I could make a story out of something I already like and know about.
If you're a travel writer, you could get ideas from travel magazines - no-brainer, right?
If you write about fashion or trends, I'm sure you've already got your ear to gossip blogs and feeds.
If you write about saving money, you might get ideas from loitering at the thrift shop, subscribing to groups like FreecycleCafe, and browsing the advertisements on Craigslist.
Get the idea? There are plenty of them out there...
If you're a travel writer, you could get ideas from travel magazines - no-brainer, right?
If you write about fashion or trends, I'm sure you've already got your ear to gossip blogs and feeds.
If you write about saving money, you might get ideas from loitering at the thrift shop, subscribing to groups like FreecycleCafe, and browsing the advertisements on Craigslist.
Get the idea? There are plenty of them out there...
Monday, March 17, 2008
Renegade Writer Markets Wiki
The Renegade Writer Markets Wiki isn't just a place for you to look up market listings - you can also contribute. You can start browsing for markets the minute you hit their website, or sign up for an account to be able to add and edit information.
My cynical side wonders how frequently people will actually contribute, but I see they have. Not only do you get the typical information for each listing - pay rate and material sought - you will also find notes about personal experiences with the market. I like that - and I also like that they feature some markets I've never seen before, and most seem to pay well - $.20/word and up so far.
My cynical side wonders how frequently people will actually contribute, but I see they have. Not only do you get the typical information for each listing - pay rate and material sought - you will also find notes about personal experiences with the market. I like that - and I also like that they feature some markets I've never seen before, and most seem to pay well - $.20/word and up so far.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Duotrope.com ...markets galore
Sorry for the week-long absence - when a chance to go to Mexico comes up, you don't ask questions... you just get on the plane and go.
After coming back to the unavoidable pile-up of e-mails, I deleted most of them without a glance. It's just not worth reading up on information that's already out of date.
But there are a few that I read through anyway. One of them is the Duotrope Weekly Wire/Digest e-mails. You can find their main website here and sign up for their newsletters here.
The newsletters come out every week and are divided into a Poetry edition (Fridays), Short Fiction (Saturdays) and Novel/Collection Publishing (Sundays). Each one is concise - you get the basics on only the newly added or updated markets, and an active link to take you to the Duotrope page on that publication if you're interested in learning more. The publication's website is just a click away from there, but you have a chance to see what sort of work they buy and how much they typically pay before you even get there... what a nice way to save time and poking around for payment information.
After coming back to the unavoidable pile-up of e-mails, I deleted most of them without a glance. It's just not worth reading up on information that's already out of date.
But there are a few that I read through anyway. One of them is the Duotrope Weekly Wire/Digest e-mails. You can find their main website here and sign up for their newsletters here.
The newsletters come out every week and are divided into a Poetry edition (Fridays), Short Fiction (Saturdays) and Novel/Collection Publishing (Sundays). Each one is concise - you get the basics on only the newly added or updated markets, and an active link to take you to the Duotrope page on that publication if you're interested in learning more. The publication's website is just a click away from there, but you have a chance to see what sort of work they buy and how much they typically pay before you even get there... what a nice way to save time and poking around for payment information.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
The Food Writing e-Zine
I love reading a well-written, market specific newsletter - even if I don't write for the market it refers to. I'd like to... I just haven't gotten around to it yet. So until I get around to trying my hand at food writing, I'll just satisfy my internal connoisseur by reading the Food Writing Free e-Zine.
The group page lists this as a bi-weekly e-zine, but the last issue I received announced that it has gone weekly. It features a couple of articles and several markets in each issue, much like other writing newsletters - but it's all about food, food, food!
The group page lists this as a bi-weekly e-zine, but the last issue I received announced that it has gone weekly. It features a couple of articles and several markets in each issue, much like other writing newsletters - but it's all about food, food, food!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Writer Beware for warnings and Ralan's Webstravaganza for markets
If you write Science Fiction, Fantasy, or the otherwise undefinable Speculative Fiction, check out the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America's Writer Beware site. They publish a list of Alerts for Writers, case-studies of Scams in Action, a thumbs-down list of publishers and agents not to query, and more. Nobody wants to focus on the negative, but it's good to be aware. They also have a blog for up-to-the-minute warnings and other helpful writing thoughts and information.
I came across the link to Writer Beware in Ralan's Webstravaganza market newsletter. If you're interested in Writer Beware you'll probably also be interested in Ralan's market listings - Check out his site and sign up. It's spam free.
I came across the link to Writer Beware in Ralan's Webstravaganza market newsletter. If you're interested in Writer Beware you'll probably also be interested in Ralan's market listings - Check out his site and sign up. It's spam free.
European Writer Newsletter / EU Writer
Are you located in Europe or would you like to write for European publications? Then you might want to subscribe to the European Writer free newsletter. Just click on EU Writer Newsletter in the upper left corner of your screen and sign up to receive the free European Writer e-Newsletter twice a month. As stated on the website, you get markets, information about books, websites, other writing tips... and did I mention markets?
The Core Creative Group
Here's another job site: The Core Creative Group. They search the internet for work-at-home writing jobs and update their listings daily. I just signed up for their newsletter (the link is below the job listings) so that's I'll receive an e-mail when they update the job listings.
I'm especially happy that these jobs are all work-at-home - it saves hours of weeding through on-site job offers that would require me to move away from Alaska.
I'm especially happy that these jobs are all work-at-home - it saves hours of weeding through on-site job offers that would require me to move away from Alaska.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Paying Writer Jobs discussion group
Here's another discussion list to browse: PayingWriterJobs.
What is a paying writer job? To quote from the list's homepage, "It can be Freelance, Staff, Contract, or Permanent, but must PAY." This is a moderated list, so there's no spam - just a list of paying opportunities (contests and market listings also come through, in addition to jobs) dropped into your e-mail inbox every day.
Is it worth it? Well, if you're up to your eyeballs in constant, paying work, you may not have time or the need to browse a selection culled from the classifieds, as it were. But if you want every job lead you can get, if you're looking to get an idea of what's out there, or if you're just curious, it would be worth your time to subscribe.
What is a paying writer job? To quote from the list's homepage, "It can be Freelance, Staff, Contract, or Permanent, but must PAY." This is a moderated list, so there's no spam - just a list of paying opportunities (contests and market listings also come through, in addition to jobs) dropped into your e-mail inbox every day.
Is it worth it? Well, if you're up to your eyeballs in constant, paying work, you may not have time or the need to browse a selection culled from the classifieds, as it were. But if you want every job lead you can get, if you're looking to get an idea of what's out there, or if you're just curious, it would be worth your time to subscribe.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Blog: Writing for the Education Market
I love blogs that list viable writing markets and/or job opportunities. It's much easier to snap up a brief blog post in the morning than to read through a whole newsletter, and it makes every day seem like Christmas - what will I find in my stocking today?
Here are two of my favorites:
Writing for the Education Market by Laura Coulter - She posts frequently with markets, job leads, and other helpful information. You don't have to be a teacher to appreciate or make use of this information.
C. Hope Clark/FundsforWriters Blog by Hope Clark - Another frequent poster. Each post features a funding source for writers - contests, grants, fellowships and the like. I love how she prompts writers to think outside the box when it comes to funding (see March 1st post for an example).
Here are two of my favorites:
Writing for the Education Market by Laura Coulter - She posts frequently with markets, job leads, and other helpful information. You don't have to be a teacher to appreciate or make use of this information.
C. Hope Clark/FundsforWriters Blog by Hope Clark - Another frequent poster. Each post features a funding source for writers - contests, grants, fellowships and the like. I love how she prompts writers to think outside the box when it comes to funding (see March 1st post for an example).
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Write Jobs
While I'm on the topic of job-listing websites, check out The Write Jobs. For a fee you can place a Writers on Call listing - basically a classified ad for work. That's nice, but I prefer the free job listings. You can either click a link from here to go straight to the main jobs listings, or scroll down past the Google ads to view jobs sorted by a number of criteria.
Writing/journalism/media work of all sorts crops up here, but there are many more salaried and high paying jobs than I am used to seeing on freelance-outsourcing sites. There's also a page of career resources for writers.
Writing/journalism/media work of all sorts crops up here, but there are many more salaried and high paying jobs than I am used to seeing on freelance-outsourcing sites. There's also a page of career resources for writers.
Writerfind.com
I participated in a 3-day intensive workshop over the weekend, and didn't check my e-mail once. It was a real pleasure to be able to focus on one thing instead of the constant multi-tasking that has become my life.
The downside of taking a break is that when I emerged from the workshop on Monday, I had an enormous backlog writing newsletters to sort through. Today is Wednesday and I am still sorting. Yes, there are that many newsletters out there, just waiting for writers to read them.
One of them, from the folks at Writerfind.com, comes out so rarely that I had to visit their website to see what they're about. The newsletter is mostly notices and information for "Kiwi" authors, paired with a helpful interview/article.
The website is of interest - no matter where you are located - because if you click on Find Jobs beneath the Freelance Work heading, you'll find a list of available writing work. The job postings are recent (no more than 30 days old) and work location is clearly noted beneath each active link, along with other miscellaneous information. This makes it much easier to weed through the listings quickly, and pick out what's of interest to you.
This site is a little different from most of the freelance sites I've seen. It's not an outsourcing mill; the work often pays decently or better, and you'll find a number of job/work offers based in New Zealand/USA. There are also periodical, blog, and anthology calls for submission at times.
The downside of taking a break is that when I emerged from the workshop on Monday, I had an enormous backlog writing newsletters to sort through. Today is Wednesday and I am still sorting. Yes, there are that many newsletters out there, just waiting for writers to read them.
One of them, from the folks at Writerfind.com, comes out so rarely that I had to visit their website to see what they're about. The newsletter is mostly notices and information for "Kiwi" authors, paired with a helpful interview/article.
The website is of interest - no matter where you are located - because if you click on Find Jobs beneath the Freelance Work heading, you'll find a list of available writing work. The job postings are recent (no more than 30 days old) and work location is clearly noted beneath each active link, along with other miscellaneous information. This makes it much easier to weed through the listings quickly, and pick out what's of interest to you.
This site is a little different from most of the freelance sites I've seen. It's not an outsourcing mill; the work often pays decently or better, and you'll find a number of job/work offers based in New Zealand/USA. There are also periodical, blog, and anthology calls for submission at times.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Ivory Tower - Market Listings
For those who aren't members of the Paying Writers Jobs e-mail list, here's a new market listing resource that I nabbed from a recent PWJ edition: The Ivory Tower.
They announce themselves as 100% contest free, and have organized their market listings by category: Adventure, Horror, Literary, Youth, etc. Their links are supposed to take you directly to the active submissions page(s) of each publication listed, and a bit of clicking around showed this to be consistently true.
This is very handy for getting quick information, but don't forget that one of the best ways of getting your query accepted is knowing the publication. So, start at the submissions page, but don't stop there. Make sure to explore the entire publication - if you can't do it online, check bookstores, libraries, or find out if they offer a sample issue.
They announce themselves as 100% contest free, and have organized their market listings by category: Adventure, Horror, Literary, Youth, etc. Their links are supposed to take you directly to the active submissions page(s) of each publication listed, and a bit of clicking around showed this to be consistently true.
This is very handy for getting quick information, but don't forget that one of the best ways of getting your query accepted is knowing the publication. So, start at the submissions page, but don't stop there. Make sure to explore the entire publication - if you can't do it online, check bookstores, libraries, or find out if they offer a sample issue.
Friday, February 22, 2008
The Freelance Zone
Looking for an almost continuous parade of inspiration, resources, reminders, and tips - about everything from how to resolve unpaid contracts to ways of reducing writer's stress? Check out The Freelance Zone Blog.
They post frequently, often multiple times a day, so it's nice that they have organized their posts by category - advice, books, editorial, gear, lifestyle, resources & blogs, travel - all accessible with just one click from the right sidebar.
As you can guess from the categories, the content is varied, but it's almost always relevant to a writer's life. It's nice to find the unexpected, then realize that it does apply to you. And it's nice to see a writer's resource that goes beyond the standard (and appreciated, don't get me wrong) roll-call of markets.
They post frequently, often multiple times a day, so it's nice that they have organized their posts by category - advice, books, editorial, gear, lifestyle, resources & blogs, travel - all accessible with just one click from the right sidebar.
As you can guess from the categories, the content is varied, but it's almost always relevant to a writer's life. It's nice to find the unexpected, then realize that it does apply to you. And it's nice to see a writer's resource that goes beyond the standard (and appreciated, don't get me wrong) roll-call of markets.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
One of the best market research tools...
Are you caught in the hamster wheel of online market research, following your nose from one market listing to the other? Make sure you don't forget one of the best market research tools out there... the bookstore's magazine shelf. I hear tell that libraries have magazines, too. How about that?
Flipping through magazines first-hand helps you get a sense of what's made it into print, and you might encounter a few publications on the shelf that are new to you. After all, not everyone's guidelines are readily accessible online.
That's all well and good, but in my mind the best thing about thumbing through magazine after magazine is that I'm hit, rapid fire, with examples of other people's creativity. Seeing how others have fashioned a unique approach to seemingly mundane topics inspires me and gets my own creative juices flowing in a way that browsing online just cannot duplicate.
Don't forget to take a notebook along when you visit the magazine aisle - you'll need it to write down all the ideas you get once your brain is rolling.
Flipping through magazines first-hand helps you get a sense of what's made it into print, and you might encounter a few publications on the shelf that are new to you. After all, not everyone's guidelines are readily accessible online.
That's all well and good, but in my mind the best thing about thumbing through magazine after magazine is that I'm hit, rapid fire, with examples of other people's creativity. Seeing how others have fashioned a unique approach to seemingly mundane topics inspires me and gets my own creative juices flowing in a way that browsing online just cannot duplicate.
Don't forget to take a notebook along when you visit the magazine aisle - you'll need it to write down all the ideas you get once your brain is rolling.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Writing for DOLLARS!
Who wants to write for cents? I do... but I'd rather write for dollars. Maybe that's why Writing for DOLLARS! caught my attention.
From this site you can easily access an extensive database of writer's guidelines, searchable by a number of criteria such as subject, pay rate, and what kind of material the market seeks (fiction, non-fiction, filler, etc).
They also publish a twice-monthly newsletter that includes a feature article and a number of paying markets. Back issues are available online, and over ten years worth of articles -- that's over 400 -- have been archived here.
It's nice to have newsletters like this dropped into your inbox every so often. They're like an automatic reminder: Hey, have you been inspired lately? No? Have a look at this collection of markets, you're bound to see something new!
And yes, it's all free.
From this site you can easily access an extensive database of writer's guidelines, searchable by a number of criteria such as subject, pay rate, and what kind of material the market seeks (fiction, non-fiction, filler, etc).
They also publish a twice-monthly newsletter that includes a feature article and a number of paying markets. Back issues are available online, and over ten years worth of articles -- that's over 400 -- have been archived here.
It's nice to have newsletters like this dropped into your inbox every so often. They're like an automatic reminder: Hey, have you been inspired lately? No? Have a look at this collection of markets, you're bound to see something new!
And yes, it's all free.
Freelance Writers and Editors group
Ever fret about seemingly simple questions - How much are others charging for the same work and why? How do I get started with a new type of writing?
I did. Then I realized that having questions doesn't make me any less professional. Getting the answers I need helps me to be a better writer... especially on the business end of things.
The Freelance Writers and Editors discussion group is a great resource when you've got a question to ask or just want to know what others are up to. The stated purpose of this Yahoo Group is to "talk about what's important to you as freelance writers and editors." Recent topics have included what to charge for a rush job, what it's like to work for various freelance websites, and software to help you organize your book-in-progress.
The list is moderated, so there's no spam. If keeping up with lots of individual e-mails is too much for you, choose 'digest mode' and the day's discussion will arrive batched in just one or two e-mails per day.
There's more. Once you're a member of the group, you'll find an extensive listing of writer's guidelines for widely varied publications, an extensive database of articles about writing and editing, plus more. There's so much that I haven't had time to explore it thoroughly yet. It's all available at the group's website via 'Links' on the left-hand side.
I did. Then I realized that having questions doesn't make me any less professional. Getting the answers I need helps me to be a better writer... especially on the business end of things.
The Freelance Writers and Editors discussion group is a great resource when you've got a question to ask or just want to know what others are up to. The stated purpose of this Yahoo Group is to "talk about what's important to you as freelance writers and editors." Recent topics have included what to charge for a rush job, what it's like to work for various freelance websites, and software to help you organize your book-in-progress.
The list is moderated, so there's no spam. If keeping up with lots of individual e-mails is too much for you, choose 'digest mode' and the day's discussion will arrive batched in just one or two e-mails per day.
There's more. Once you're a member of the group, you'll find an extensive listing of writer's guidelines for widely varied publications, an extensive database of articles about writing and editing, plus more. There's so much that I haven't had time to explore it thoroughly yet. It's all available at the group's website via 'Links' on the left-hand side.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
CoolStuff4Writers
First up in the spotlight is CoolStuff4Writers. They offer a monthly contest, interviews, merchandise, articles and the CoolNewsletter4Writers.
The monthly newsletter features a nice blend of content. They have a little bit of everything - a short editorial, a helpful writing-related article or two, and a slew of announcements that include writing markets, author news, and contests. Past issues of the newsletter are archived online back to June 2005, and announcements can be viewed directly from the website via the 'Cool Announcements' link. Articles and interviews are also accessible directly from the website via links on the left-hand side of the page.
The contest features a new prompt and word count every month; winner receives a small cash prize. One of the things I love about recurring contests like this is that the prompts can get pretty creative. Even if you don't win the contest, you might be inspired to write a piece that sells.
All of this (except the merchandise) is free, and the website is simple and easy to navigate. That's pretty cool! (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
The monthly newsletter features a nice blend of content. They have a little bit of everything - a short editorial, a helpful writing-related article or two, and a slew of announcements that include writing markets, author news, and contests. Past issues of the newsletter are archived online back to June 2005, and announcements can be viewed directly from the website via the 'Cool Announcements' link. Articles and interviews are also accessible directly from the website via links on the left-hand side of the page.
The contest features a new prompt and word count every month; winner receives a small cash prize. One of the things I love about recurring contests like this is that the prompts can get pretty creative. Even if you don't win the contest, you might be inspired to write a piece that sells.
All of this (except the merchandise) is free, and the website is simple and easy to navigate. That's pretty cool! (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
Welcome to the Writer's Resource and Information Blog
There are many wonderful websites for writers out there. With just a few button clicks we have market listings, advice from the experts, and job leads at our disposal. There are also discussion boards, contest forums, and critique groups just waiting for you to join. Most of these sites are free; some charge small premiums for extra-special content.
The problem? Finding those sites can be a bit like following Hansel and Gretel into the forest. You follow the trail of breadcrumbs from one newsletter to the next without a general overview of what's available.
I'm going to offer information about a new resource every Monday. If I start feeling ambitious I will update more frequently, so please check back throughout the week!
If you're looking for something special that you can't find here, let me know and I'll do my best to track it down.
The problem? Finding those sites can be a bit like following Hansel and Gretel into the forest. You follow the trail of breadcrumbs from one newsletter to the next without a general overview of what's available.
I'm going to offer information about a new resource every Monday. If I start feeling ambitious I will update more frequently, so please check back throughout the week!
If you're looking for something special that you can't find here, let me know and I'll do my best to track it down.
Hello World!
NEW BLOG LAUNCHES!
The Writer's Resource & Information Blog will feature weekly updates about websites for writers. Looking for market lists, job opportunities, or writing tips? We'll help you find them. Visit us at writerinfo.blogspot.com.
The Writer's Resource & Information Blog will feature weekly updates about websites for writers. Looking for market lists, job opportunities, or writing tips? We'll help you find them. Visit us at writerinfo.blogspot.com.
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