15 Mar
I ran across three new awesome websites today! Check them out, they are “Author’s Blogs” “Best Author’s Blogs” and “The Practicing Writer.”
I have been very busy the last week or so, but tomorrow I will pick up where I left off sharing with you my writing journey. See you then!
14 Mar
Here is one of the most interesting and delightful women I’ve run across on the internet. Her blog is great, and there are tons of links to literary magazines and other must read blogs.
13 Mar
And here are the markets. I have also added some new links to the “Helpful Links for Writers” section.
Hope you find something here you can use! Have a good one.
* Ghostwriter Needed: Credit Repair Article
We would like someone who has had bad credit and fixed it themselves to write a 3 page article on what they did. Write as if you were trying to help out a friend. Price negotiable, articles must not be published elsewhere. Contact mailto:job-138536297@craigslist.org
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* PRISM international
PAY: $20 – $40 per page
Publishes exciting, original material from established and unknown writers in Canada and around the world. PRISM international publishes exciting, original material from established and unknown writers in Canada and around the world.
http://prism.arts.ubc.ca/submit/
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* Online Editor
The Record of San Joaquin County, California (60,000 daily circulation, 71,000 Sunday) has an immediate opening for Online Editor. The editor will be responsible for coordinating all daily coverage and special projects on our site, Recordnet.com, as well as leading the multimedia component of additional sites. You will work closely with reporters, photographers and editors to develop new products and enhance existing online coverage. You will train staff to complete multimedia projects and coordinate online production. The candidate will have a minimum of 2 years experience, and will have demonstrated an ability to create multimedia packages that incorporate audio, video and still images. This person will need skills with Photoshop, HTML, Flash, Illustrator and other applications. Excellent news judgment and a background in journalism are required. Please send resume with references and links to your work to: Mike Klocke, Editor, The Record mailto:mklocke@recordnet.com
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* Ghostwriter wanted – SBA Loans
Need someone with experience in dealing with the SBA to write a short “how to” for people who are thinking about applying for an SBA loan. You must have experience, please no rehashed articles. Payment nego. Contact mailto:job-138537090@craigslist.org
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* Blog Writer
Leading science & technology web site looking for freelance writeRs who can contribute for a daily news blog. Writers wanted to publish a daily news reviews (approx. 100 words) for one of these topics:
> Science & technology
> Computer science
> Gadgets
You will need to be able to write a minimum of 5-7 times per week, and will have to search for the topic. We will pay $200 – $300 a month. Additional pay for hitting high traffic targets. Please send a sample of your writing (1-3 sample blog posts) and CV. More information is available on request. Send us an e-mail mailto:blogwriter@alphamediagroup.nl
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* Freelance Writers
The Journal Gazette and Times – Courier are looking for people in our circulation area who would like to write3 occasionally for the newspapers. We seek candidates who can write in an engaging way for our daily and weekend editions, special sections and Web site. If you have the ability we’re looking for and like the idea of working “freelance” instead of as an employee, please send a cover letter, resume and writing samples to: Bill Lair, Managing Editor, Journal Gazette / Times – Courier, 100 Broadway Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938 or EMAIL to mailto:blair@jg-tc.com
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* Country Woman
PAY: $300 – $600
A 68-page, full-color, bimonthly magazine for women who live in or long for the country. It is a positive, upbeat, entertaining and informative publication that reflects the many interests and roles of its readers through short, photo-illustrated profiles of rural women…recipes, decorating, antiques and gardening articles…nostalgic photos and reader remembrances. The publication also includes informative articles on health, finance and lifestyle issues related to rural living. While Country Woman readers are women of all ages, we target baby boomers, or women born between 1946 and 1965.
http://www.countrywomanmagazine.com/2005/cGuidelines.asp?RefURL=&KeyCode=&tdate=&PMCode=&OrgURL=
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* Freelance Writers
PAY: not listed
Avery Cardoza’s Player Magazine is a national men’s lifestyle magazine targeting upscale men 25-40 who have graduated from Maxim and Stuff but are not ready for Forbes and Cigar Aficionado. We are looking for freelance writers who are comfortable in the following subjects: automotive, electronics/technology, personal finance, men’s fashion and travel. Your writing must, of course, reflect what we represent. Please send your submissions or inquiries to mailto:sclark@cardozaplayer.com. No phone calls, please!
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* Melting Pot Gifts – Greeting Cards
PAY: $50/idea
Card should have an interracial theme. When writing text it might be helpful to have an image in your mind to go with the text. The art might be an interracial couple, interracial parents and their child, etc. (Both serious and lighthearted material considered). Offensive material will not be considered. Please do not submit more than 10 ideas at a time. All work should be original and author should keep copy of his/her work.
http://www.meltingpotgifts.com/writers.html
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ARTICLE WRITER WANTED
I’m looking for a bright,
interesting writer to write
articles on different subjects.
$25.00 per article. You can do
up to three articles a week.
This will lead to you becoming
a published journalist after
two months.
Compensation: $25 per story
Reply to: gigs-137087149@craigslist.org
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* Blog Writers needed
Seeking experienced freelance journalists to write and edit commercial blogs. Will require 5-day a week commitment, at least 2-3 hours a day.
EXPERIENCE:
*-Journalist, 2-4 yrs experience with editors, publishers and deadlines.
*-Blogger, understanding of the technology and the driving forces behind the phenomena.
SALARY:
*-Based on experience. Bonuses available.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
*-Blogging five days a week, 1-2 posts a day on issues critical to the clients’ sectors.
*-Identifying 2-3 news stories that appeal to sector.
*-Writing one entertaining and informative feature a week.
*-Identifying key players in sector and securing interviews.
*-Editing and posting one interview a week.
*-Researching and immersion in sector.
*-Coordinating with hiring PR agency, client, blogmaster and podcast producer.
NOTE: Each position could lead to a similar role with additional clients. Please send email with resume, salary requirements and your blog address. Contact mailto:job-139273895@craigslist.org
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* Editor
The Islands’ Sounder, a weekly community newspaper on beautiful Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands of Washington State, is accepting applications for a hands-on Editor. Editing, writing, pagination and photography experience required. Salary D.O.E. Excellent benefits include medical, dental, 401K, paid vacation and sick leave. Relocation to Orcas island is required. Send resume with at least 3 non-returnable clips to ED/HR, Sound Publishing, 7689 NE Day Rd., Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 or email to mailto:hr@soundpublishing.com http://soundpublishing.com
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* Writer
Passionate, idea-oriented writer and researcher desperately needed for a leading consumer health newsletter. We want an excellent writer who can balance the benefits of alternative medicine with a healthy skepticism that will grab – and keep — readers’ attention. Can’t be shy. Got to be able to say it like it is and at times take a stand. And you have to understand that when you’re writing you’re also selling. Topics include: Breakthrough alternative health medicines to fight cancer, prevent heart disease and to promote a healthier and more active life. We’re not talking about acupuncture and yoga. We’re talking about nutritional and herbal medicine. Great opportunity to work with other ambitious, enthusiastic and creative individuals who enjoy being themselves at the Health affiliate of one of the country’s pioneers in electronic and print publishing – Agora Inc. Check us out before you apply at http://www.hsibaltimore.com. Send your resume, cover letter and a clip with your best writing sample that shows us why we should bring you on board to: mailto:dplasse@healthiernews.com.
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* Editors and transcribers for book project
PAY: $500
Nonfiction author requires help for book on American immigration in the 21st century. Will need help transcribing interviews with immigrants and policy makers from CD format. Will also need editorial help in refining the raw text into some sort of fluid narrative that will make up the bulk of the final product. Will pay $500 per interview, to be paid upon completion of project from audio to print-ready piece. More information here: http://immigrantinterviewproject.blogspot.com/
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* Copy Desk Opening
USA TODAY’s Life section seeks a copy editor with demonstrated skills in style, grammar and fact-checking who can work collegially with editors and reporters to improve copy by suggesting improvements in balance and organization and spotting problem spots in stories. Must be able to write accurate, sharp headlines and photo captions and handle a fast pace and deadline pressure. Three to five years copy editing experience preferred. Applicants should send cover letter, resume and reference information electronically to Marsha Clark mailto:maclark@usatoday.com
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* Magazine Editor
Heifer Int’l, a progressive, non-profit, global, sustainable development org has the following career opportunity w/our Communications Team! Position located in Little Rock, AR. We are searching for a dedicated professional to direct & manage Heifer’s magazine prog, including developing & managing the form/content, coord w/Marketing Team for production, developing the business plan, & managing advertising/distribution vendors. Manage the acquisition of editorial & graphic materials, edit/manage copyediting. This individual must understand & commit to the interpreting of Heifer’s global mission & ensure that our magazine supports the goals of Heifer International and the Communications & Marketing Teams. Bachelor’s degree in rel field req’d + 7 yrs of mag writing, editing & producing materials for publication. Additional course work in writing, design, education, public relations, or int’l studies pref’d. Exp w/relating to the public & supervising staff pref’d. This is an opportunity to further develop a cutting-edge magazine program! Salary $45,900 + benefits. For more info about our org, detailed job desc, & downloadable app please visit http://www.heifer.org Send resume, cover letter, & app by 4/3 to HR: fax 501-907-2820, email mailto:jobs@heifer.org HEIFER INT’L IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER BY CHOICE.
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* Seeking Business Writer/Editor
If you’re looking for a hands-on position where you can expand your business reporting, writing, and editing skills, this is the editorial job for you. The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, Inc., one of the largest small business associations in the country, seeks a staff writer/editor to be the point person for the association’s weekly e-mail newsletter and Web sites. Duties include: story generation, reporting, writing, editing and proofreading for multiple print and e-mail publications and Web sites. Strong reporting, writing and copyediting skills and familiarity with AP style a must. Undergraduate degree in journalism and 1-3 years of business or association reporting/writing experience preferred. Desktop publishing and Web site design skills a plus. Please send resume, cover letter and clips to: Katie Butler, IIABA, 127 South Peyton St., Alexandria, VA 22314; mailto:katie.butler@iiaba.net. No phone calls, please.
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* Romance Editor
Literaryroad.com is looking for a romance editor. The books are good stories with a romantic element not romances with a plot thrown in. It would be approximately 2-3 manuscripts a month maybe more. Please contact Renee Fitzgerald at mailto:reneef@literaryroad.com if you are interested. Please view our website at www.literaryroad.com to get an idea about the type of manuscripts we have. Compensation: $100 per manuscript or $2.50 per 1,000 words whichever is higher.
10 Mar
Orwell’s Rules
Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Never us a long word where a short one will do.
If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Never use a foreign phrase, scientific word, or jargon if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
Edward Tufte’s Presentation Rules
Show up early: Something good is bound to happen.
Lay out the problem:who cares about it and what the solution is.
When presenting complicated material, follow PGP (particular/general/particular).
When you talk, TALK: avoid the obvious reliance on notes.
Give everyone in your audience a piece of paper.
Match the information density in your presentation to the highest resolution newspapers.
Avoid overhead projectors. Keep the lights up in the room.
Never apologize.
Use humor, but make it relevant and never irritating.
Use gender-neutral speech.
Practice intensely beforehand.
Meetings have a very low rate of information transfer.
Take questions, but NEVER condescend to the questioner.
Keep in mind that most questions arise from personal concerns.
Express enthusiasm about your material, but only if your enthusiasm is real.
Finish early.
Orwell’s Questions
What am I trying to say?
What words will express it?
What image or idiom will make it clearer?
Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?
Could I put it more shortly?
Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly?
Strunk and White: Principles Of Composition
Choose a suitable design
Use the active voice
Put statements in positive form
Use definite, specific, concrete language
Omit needless words
Place yourself in the background
Write naturally
Write with nouns and verbs
Revise and rewrite
Do not overwrite
Avoid qualifiers
Do not affect a breezy manner
Use orthodox spelling
Do not explain too much
Do not construct awkward adverbs
Avoid fancy words
Avoid dialect
Avoid mixing languages
Prefer the standard to the offbeat
Evil Passive Verbs
is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, I’m,
it’s, he’s, here’s, she’s, that’s, there’s, they’re,
we’re, what’s, who’s, you’re
Heinlein’s Rules
You Must Write
Finish What You Start
You Must Refrain From Rewriting, Except to Editorial Order
You Must Put Your Story on the Market
You Must Keep it on the Market until it has Sold
Start Working on Something Else
Evil Metaphors and Phrases
on steroids
think outside the box
longpole in the tent
stove pipe
the long and short of it is
the fact (of the matter) is
reinvent the wheel
open a can of worms
talk off line
herding cats
same sheet of music
at the end of the day
to be honest with you
on a weekly basis
touch base
building bridges
teach how to fish
keep the plates spinning
run it up the flag pole
sooner rather than later
lessons learned
synergy
zero tolerance
self licking ice cream cone
not ready for prime time
showstopper
barking up the wrong tree
holding feet to the fire
the cart before the horse
goat rope
ground truth
devil is in the details
break down barriers
food fight
bear fruit
sense of urgency
dog in the fight
with all due respect
utilize (prefer use)
low hanging fruit
slippery slope
straw man
work in a vacuum
grease the skids
let a thousand flowers bloom
red herring
leaning forward in the saddle
ahead of the curve
crawl, walk, run
cookie cutter
This work is released under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike license
8 Mar
Do you remember the joy you felt the first time you wrote a piece of fiction? Did you, like I, become so immersed in the world of your characters that you wrote in your sleep?
I still love to write, but I have learned so much about the business side of things that I seldom feel that original, pure, unbridled joy that I did the first time I sat down at my computer to try my hand at fiction. In the back of my mind there are tiny but niggling thoughts, such as “what market will this fit?” or, “will this appeal to a wide audience?” And I am NEVER without that infernal internal editor who sits on my shoulder and watches my grammar, spelling and punctuation.
Sometimes I SO long for that feeling to come back. But it’s hard to unknow what you’ve learned, and just as hard to constantly be switching hats from world creator to businesswoman, especially when that’s what you’ve been all your life, but I’m working on learning how to do just that.
And I bet there are a million people sitting in cubicles in high rise office buildings, or working on a factory assembly line who wish they had these kinds of problems.
7 Mar
The blog of the week I’ve chosen is Pub Rants, the blog of literary agent Kristen Nelson. She’s got so many things to say that writers need to hear, and not just those looking for an agent. She’s one smart cookie who knows the publishing business inside and out. And she’s nice! Check it out.
I have been busier than a one-armed paper hanger, but that’s nothing new. I think I like it that way.
On another note, I can’t get the picture out of my head of Naomi Watts and that hideous excuse for a dress she wore to the Oscars! Did you see it? Omigod! She made me think of Cinderella without the benefit of a fairy godmother, so she had to make her dress from rags.
And why did sweet Keira Knightley go for the Goth look?
Things that make you go “mmmmmhhhh.”
5 Mar
TRANSCRIBER/EDITOR NEEDED
My name is Paul Murray, and I’m putting together a book on the immigration to the US in the 21st century. This is a nonfiction book, comprised of a series of interviews I have conducted with immigrants, policy makers, and other relevant people. I need help transcribing some of these interviews from CD format. I will also need editorial
help in refining the raw text into some sort of fluid narrative that will make up the bulk of the final product. Depending on the scope of your involvement in the project, you may even be recognized as a contributor.I am looking for experienced freelancers, editors and transcribers to assist me in this tasks. I have about 8 interviews to put in written format, varying in length from 30-45 minutes. You will be responsible for that interview from its CD form all the way until it is a print-ready piece to be included in my master project. Qualified freelancers may receive more than one
assignment.Please send a resume and a writing sample.
Compensation: $500 per interview
Reply to: pmurray100@yahoo.com
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GHOSTWRITER NEEDED
I am searching for a freelance writer to assist in writing
a biography. The project begins when the writer is employed. References are required. Please respond via email.
Compensation: TBD, either hourly or by contract services,
whichever is mutually agreeable.
Reply to: dwallacelvnv@yahoo.com
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WRITERS ON FASHION AND DATING NEEDED
We are currently searching for young(er) writers that are familiar with fashion and dating, and can provide an interesting and humorous view of the “single life.” If you think you have the skills to write for askmen.com or Cosmopolitan, we want to hear from you. At this time, we are looking for four writers; two men and two women.
Our pay rates have not been determined, but will be commensurate with your writing skills and talent.
Please send me an email with some information about yourself, and preferably a writing sample as well.
Compensation: commensurate with skills
Reply to: support@copleydesigns.com
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Y’all
http://www.yall.com
Editorial Department
P.O. Box 1217
Oxford, Mississippi 38655
Bimonthly magazine covering the south.
Seeks nonfiction articles about southern musicians, athletes,
actors, politicians, businessmen and southern culture.
Pays on publication .20¢/word for articles. Buys all rights. Pays 25 percent kill fee. Accepts simultaneous submissions. Query by postal mail or e-mail.
Not interested in poetry or fiction.
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MUSIC REVIEWS WRITER SOUGHT
We are a new website, featuring independent artists and are seeking people who enjoy writing online reviews about independent music and are good at it. Please let us know if interested and provide some example of your most recent work. Compensation: $50 per review via PayPal.
Reply to: gigs-138157031@craigslist.org
____________________________________________
Chicken Soup for Healthy Living seeks stories for two upcoming volumes on the topic of arthritis and back pain.
Deadline: March 31, 2006
Payment: $200
Rights: Non-exclusive rights covering worldwide sales
Length: 300-800 words
Complete details at:
http://www.thehealthysoul.com/guidelines.html
_____________________________________________
Laptop
http://www.laptopmag.com/index.htm
1410 Broadway, 21st Floor
New York, New York 10018
Mailto:ccummings@befordmags.com
Monthly magazine covering laptops, PDAs, software and peripherals, and industry trends. Seeks nonfiction articles focused on mobile technology and the small office. Interested in how-to and technical pieces. Pays on publication $150-1,250 for pieces between 300-3,500 words. Buys all rights. Pays 20 percent kill fee.
Query by postal mail. Include with query your resume and
technology-related feature length clips. Does not accept
unsolicited manuscripts.
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LOOKING FOR A HALF-TIME EDITOR
WORK FROM HOME
abqARTS, Albuquerque’s monthly magazine of the arts,
is looking for a half-time editor to work from home or their office. Someone with knowledge of the arts community preferred. Compensation: TBD
Reply to: publisher Julian Spalding, julian@abqarts.com
(e-mail letter of interest & resume)
Website: www.abqarts.com.
___________________________________________
EDITOR NEEDED
Literaryroad.com is looking for a romance editor. The books are good stories with a romantic element not romances with a plot thrown in. It would be approximately 2-3 manuscripts a month maybe more. Please view our website at www.literaryroad.com to get an idea about the type of manuscripts we have. Thank you. Compensation: $100 per manuscript or $2.50 per 1,000 words whichever is higher.
Reply to: Renee Fitzgerald, reneef@literaryroad.com
___________________________________________
ARTICLES ABOUT REPTILE- AND
AMPHIBIAN RELATED TOPICS SOUGHT
REPTILES publishes articles about a wide variety of reptile-
and amphibian-related topics, and all of our authors are
experts on what they write about. If you have some experience with the animals you wish to write about, or a particular type of setup, that’s the best place to start.
Topics could include a particular reptile or amphibian species
or group of animals, herp-hunting trips you’ve experienced,
breeding tales, interviews with “name” people in the reptile
world, humorous accounts, etc. Articles about disease are
typically assigned to our veterinarian authors, but if you’re
a vet with expertise in treating herps, you are welcome to
send health-related articles. Articles about a particular species of herp, or family of herps, should contain a bit of natural history as well as, and this is most important, detailed care and husbandry of the animal(s) in captivity. Include info about tank size, food, temperature, tank setup, potential cagemates, temperament, lighting, potential lifespan, breeding info, etc. Reptiles is mostly intended for the beginner to intermediate enthusiast, so include as much basic info as you can. Writer’s guidelines can be found here:
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/reptiles/detail.aspx?aid=6584&cid=3699
Compensation: $300 for a 2,500 to 3,000-word article;
less for shorter pieces. For a 3,000-word article with a good selection of usable photos, pay is between $500 and $700.
Reply to: Reptiles, P.O. Box 6050,
Mission Viejo, CA 92690.
E-mail: reptiles@bowtieinc.com.
Tel.: (949) 855-8822.
_____________________________________________
FREELANCE SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED
Today’s Christian Woman is a practical magazine geared for
women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Freelance submissions are accepted for the following: 1,000- to 1,800-word articles that help women grow in their relationship to God as well as provide practical help and a biblical perspective on these topics: family/parenting, friendship, marriage, health, self life, single life, finances, and work. TCW is also interested in practical spiritual living articles. We do not accept poetry, fiction, or Bible studies. Our magazine is also always on the lookout for:
* Humor: light, first-person pieces that exaggerate a real-life occurrence instead of focus on a hypothetical situation, giving a fresh twist and a subtle spiritual distinctive to topics the majority of women can relate to. Length: 1,000-1,500 words.
* Issues/Hot Topics: reports that tackle the topics that impact women’s lives today, such as infertility, homosexuality, ADHD etc. These articles need to avoid a preachy or clinical tone; fully develop the scope of the specific issue and provide authoritative research and/or up-to-date statistics; incorporate real-life illustrations from women our readers can relate to; present a distinct Christian perspective. Sidebars of accompanying
first-person stories and/or resources are welcome.
Length: 1,800-2000 words.
* My Story: a first-person, true-life dramatic narrative that
describes how you worked through a difficult situation, event, or traumatic turning point in your life (can be written as an as-told-to). Length: 1,500 words.
* Marriage and Parenting: Practical articles based on personal experience and blended with a biblical perspective, authoritative sources, and illustrations from other women’s lives.
Regular Features
* Small Talk—the funny things kids say. Length: 100 words. Please include a quality color photo of your child.
* Faith in Action—a true story of how you’ve recently shared your faith with someone. Length: 300 words. Please include
a quality photo of yourself.
* Reader Pick—a short review of your current favorite CD or
book, and why. Length: 200 words.
Full writer’s guidelines can be found here:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/women/features/info.html
Compensation: $0.20-$0.25/word; $300 for “My Story”;
$25 for regular features.
Reply to: tcwedit@christianitytoday.com (no attachments) or Today’s Christian Woman
Attn: Lisa Cockrel
465 Gundersen Drive
Carol Stream, IL 60188
___________________________________________
ONLINE DIRECTORY ACCEPTS SUBMISSIONS
Writer’s trade directory that is updated on a daily basis
accepts article submissions from writers at any stage in
their career, and working in any genre. Articles submitted
must always be related to the writing field. Articles must be
between 1,000 and 2,500 words. No typical article topics
(such as How to Defeat Writer’s Block) unless consisting
of an interesting twist. No query is needed, just send us your work. Submissions must be sent to us using our online form. Any submissions sent to us not using our online form will be deleted immediately. If sending us an article that has been previously published, please let us know where and when it was published. Payment is made upon acceptance.
We no longer accept success stories, writing tips, or book reviews.
Compensation: $20CDN for first electronic rights, and
$10CDN for reprint rights.
Reply to: online at http://www.bradymagazine.com/forms/subform.html
____________________________________________
SHORT STORY WRITERS WANTED
I am in the process of preparing
for the release of a miniatures
game. The rulebook is almost
complete, but I now need stories
to set the tone of the game.
I have not hired writers to this
point, only artists so we can talk
about fair pricing for the work.
I’m looking for dark tales to be
told. I’ll supply the characters &
the event, the rest is in your
hands. Alot of freedom is given
here. I’m not looking for Saturday
morning cartoon writing, I want
gritty, dark literature.
Serious applications only please.
Sample word (a few paragraphs is
fine) will be reviewed by a think
tank to see if your style fits well.
Compensation: negotiable
Reply to: Mervzilla@yahoo.com
___________________________________________
EDITOR WANTED
TELECOMMUTING POSSIBLE
VividSelf, Inc. is a team-oriented,
creative work place that plans to make
a big splash in the wellness industry.
We are seeking a high-energy editor
with solid web publishing experience
to take on content management and
coordination activities associated
with launching our new wellness-oriented
website.
This role requires a minimum of 20
hours per week, and one day per week
in our offices (located in Seattle,
WA).
Responsibilities:
• Routinely edit content and create
associations between new content
assets and pages within the site.
Develop relevant meta-data.
• Approve assets appropriate for
publication to the live site
• Develop and document the editorial
guidelines, workflow, and other
processes required to manage the
content management system
• Contribute hands-on writing as
needed
• Define, manage, and track a
content development schedule and
budget
Requirements:
• 3+ years of online content
editing experience
• Razor sharp editorial skills
combined with proven project
management skills
• Critical thinking skills to quickly
resolve or proactively offset problems
• Ability to multi-task yet remain
focused on meeting deadlines
• Good understanding of search engines
and how to write and manage content
for search
To apply, please email a cover letter
and resume (plain text, html, pdf) to
the e-mail address below the subject
line must include: ‘Job: Editor.`
Compensation: negotiable
Reply to: contactus@vividself.com
__________________________________________
FREELANCE OPPORTUNITIES
The Statesman Journal is seeking
skilled writers and photographers
to contribute to its many non-daily
products. Successful applicants will
have previous magazine or feature
writing experience, motivation and
a flair for developing story leads
and producing accurate, captivating,
well-crafted copy and/or photos.
Interest and/or expertise in
covering home and lifestyle, senior
life, parenting and education topics
a plus. Send résumé, clips and cover
letter to the address below.
Compensation: TBD
Address: Eileen DiCicco, non-daily
editor, Statesman Journal, P.O.
Box 13009, Salem, OR 07309-3009.
_____________________________________________
WEB SITE LOOKING FOR WRITERS
TELECOMMUTE
A new national website targeting
a queer audience is looking for
writers. We’re specifically
looking for writers who can
produce a monthly column (600 –
1,000 words) in the following
areas:
* Humor
* Astrology
* Style (broadly defined — can
include Culture, Tech, Trends,
Fashion, etc.)
Interested? Drop us a note. Tell
us a bit about yourself and include
a couple samples of your writing.
No, you don’t have to be gay —
just in touch with your inner
queerness.
Compensation: Up to $50/monthly column
Reply to: job-137201733@craigslist.org
_________________________________________
WRITER/EDITOR WANTED
Brown and Caldwell is hiring an
experienced writer/editor to help
produce our nationwide family of
Water News e-newsletters. With
seven regional editions and more
than 23K readers, responsibilities
include daily Internet news searches
for published news stories that our
readers will find of interest,
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3 Mar
Here’s the San Fransicsco Chronicles’ take on what’s gonna go down on Sunday night.
Ya’ll have a GREAT weekend! See you on Monday with the markets.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/03/03/OSCARS.TMP
Oscar night will belong to ‘Brokeback,’ but the academy will spread the wealth (we think)
Ruthe Stein, Chronicle Senior Movie Writer
Friday, March 3, 2006
“Brokeback Mountain” may soon join a distinguished group of best-picture Oscar winners that includes “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Casablanca,” “Grand Hotel,” “The Apartment,” “Tom Jones,” “Schindler’s List” and “Midnight Cowboy.” These movies have more in common than holding up admirably over time. They’re also fueled by great performances that failed to be recognized with a single Academy Award. Although “Brokeback” scored nominations for best actor and best supporting actor and actress, it doesn’t look promising for wins in any of these categories. This is due to heavy competition and also to a desire to spread the bald-headed little gold guys around.
With the sheepherders’ love story positioned to take all the other major awards, the only real races are in the acting divisions and between George Clooney and, well, George Clooney. The undisputed winner as best Hollywood schmoozer is up for best director and original screenplay for “Good Night, and Good Luck” and best supporting actor for “Syriana.”
Who will leave the Kodak Theatre with a shiny statuette in hand? Here’s where I’d put my money.
Best Picture
“Brokeback Mountain,” “Capote,” “Crash,” “Good Night, and Good Luck,” “Munich.”
Will win: “Brokeback Mountain” is such a sure thing that you can turn off your TV before this final category is announced. Once considered a risk to make because of the gay subject matter, the film has shown that audiences outside of big cities aren’t as provincial as Hollywood sometimes thinks. “Brokeback,” which could hit the $100 million mark at the box office, deserves all the attention and accolades its getting. I fearlessly predict it will hold its own with the very best of the best picture winners.
Actor
Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Capote”; Terrence Howard, “Hustle & Flow”; Heath Ledger, “Brokeback Mountain”; Joaquin Phoenix, “Walk the Line”; David Strathairn, “Good Night, and Good Luck.”
Will win: Hoffman, although it breaks my heart to say so because it’s not the way I’d vote. No one can deny that he nailed Truman Capote. Hoffman has the voice, the fluttery mannerisms and the unmistakable air of being Capote. Plus the “Capote” star gained momentum from his Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globes win. But Ledger’s is the performance for the ages. He created a character from the inside out and never made a move that didn’t seem exactly right. I had almost rationalized that Ledger could come out on top of the vote of the full 5,798 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — a far larger body than those who awarded Hoffman his previous wins. But Ledger didn’t help his cause by acting goofy onstage at the SAG awards. He got the giggles reading off the teleprompter. The motion he made with his hand on his hip looked like “some kind of gay spoof” to the Los Angeles Times, to whom Ledger offered an apology. “I’ve stood like this since I was a kid. It’s nerves, I guess,” he told the paper. Meanwhile Hoffman has done everything right — smart acceptance speeches, low-key but active campaigning for the Oscar. And everybody in the business has enormous respect for him.
Actress
Judi Dench, “Mrs. Henderson Presents”; Felicity Huffman, “Transamerica”; Keira Knightley, “Pride & Prejudice”; Charlize Theron, “North County”; Reese Witherspoon, “Walk the Line.”
Will win: Witherspoon. Her determined march to the podium of the Kodak seems like the approach her overachieving character in “Election” would have taken. It would be obnoxious except for the fact that Witherspoon deserves the prize. She stole “Walk the Line” from its ostensible star, and her powerful portrayal of June Carter is about the only thing worth remembering from this by-the-numbers biopic. In a weak year for actresses — you’d have to go back a while to find a strong slate in this category — Witherspoon’s only real competition is Golden Globe winner Huffman, who has Harvey Weinstein working full throttle on her behalf. But it’s unlikely he will be able to finagle an Oscar for her as he did for Gwyneth Paltrow, Juliette Binoche and Dame Judi in past races.
Supporting actor
George Clooney, “Syriana”; Matt Dillon, “Crash”; Paul Giamatti, “Cinderella Man”; Jake Gyllenhaal, “Brokeback Mountain”; William Hurt, “A History of Violence.”
Will win: Clooney. It’s a tight race between Clooney and Giamatti, who won the SAG award and could benefit from the academy wanting to make amends for snubbing him in “Sideways.” But academy members are hardly immune to Clooney’s charms and will want to give him something, and it isn’t going to be the directing prize. This is his best shot. Be aware, however, that the supporting acting categories have a habit of turning up surprise winners. Remember Jim Broadbent and Marcia Gay Harden? So don’t rule out Dillon, who has a last-minute surge of interest in “Crash” going for him.
Supporting actress
Amy Adams, “Junebug”; Catherine Keener, “Capote”; Frances McDormand, “North Country”; Rachel Weisz, “The Constant Gardener”; Michelle Williams, “Brokeback Mountain.”
Will win: Weisz. I admit that her Golden Globe win surprised me, but when she snagged the SAG award I could see a trend. She is certainly deserving. Her performance was the heart and soul of “The Constant Gardener,” another movie that didn’t get the recognition it should have from the academy. Having twice gushed on national TV about her love for director Darren Aronofsky, one wonders what she will say about the father of her baby-to-be in her Oscar speech. Because of the quirkiness of this category (see above), there’s a chance we may not find out. Her strongest competitor is Williams. But Adams is slowly gaining momentum, and hearing her name called out would register high on the surprise-o-meter.
Director
Ang Lee, “Brokeback Mountain”; Bennett Miller, “Capote”; Paul Haggis, “Crash”; George Clooney, “Good Night, and Good Luck”; Steven Spielberg, “Munich.”
Will win: Lee. With the Directors Guild and every other award for which he was eligible competing for space on Lee’s mantel, this is more like a coronation than a contest. The best part is that besides being a director of enormous vision Lee is also one of the nicest guys in a business not known for niceness. Look for a much-deserved standing ovation.
Foreign film
“Don’t Tell,” Italy; “Joyeux Noel,” France; “Paradise Now,” Palestinian territories; “Sophie Scholl — The Final Days,” Germany; “Tsotsi,” South Africa.
Will win: “Tsotsi.” As the recipient of audience awards at the Toronto, Edinburgh and Los Angeles film festivals, the South African entry (opening in the Bay Area on March 10) is a known crowd pleaser. Based on a book by the esteemed playwright Athol Fugard, it also has an impressive pedigree. The film’s main competitor is “Paradise Now,” which is embroiled in a controversy that could hurt its chances. Jewish organizations and diplomats from Israel are lobbying for it not to be considered as coming from “Palestine” on the grounds that the Palestinian Authority is not yet a state.
Adapted screenplay
Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, “Brokeback Mountain”; Dan Futterman, “Capote”; Jeffrey Caine, “The Constant Gardener”; Josh Olson, “A History of Violence”; Tony Kushner and Eric Roth, “Munich.”
Will win: McMurtry and Ossana. The two took a short story — admittedly a very good short story — and fleshed it out into an unforgettable saga of lost love. What’s impressive about the list of nominees is that in another year any of them could have won and would have deserved to. That’s something to hang on to in a time when the writing in most screenplays is so pedestrian.
Original screenplay
Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco, “Crash”; George Clooney and Grant Heslov, “Good Night, and Good Luck”; Woody Allen, “Match Point”; Noah Baumbach, “The Squid and the Whale”; Stephen Gaghan, “Syriana.”
Will win: Haggis and Moresco. This is a tough call because of the Clooney factor. But as good as “Good Night, and Good Luck” is, much of it is taken from real-life transcripts from the 1950s, while “Crash” is startlingly original.
1 Mar
doesn’t apply anymore. Even though King’s article is great, it was written almost 20 years ago. Most of the major publishers who accepted unagented submissions back then don’t accept them anymore. But I liked the article so much, and there were so MANY good points, I hated not to post it.
1 Mar
I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS ARTICLE AS MUCH AS I DID!
(reprinted in Sylvia K. Burack, ed. The Writer’s Handbook. Boston, MA: Writer, Inc., 1988: 3-9)
I. The First Introduction
THAT’S RIGHT. I know it sounds like an ad for some sleazy writers’ school, but I really am going to tell you everything you need to pursue a successful and financially rewarding career writing fiction, and I really am going to do it in ten minutes, which is exactly how long it took me to learn. It will actually take you twenty minutes or so to read this essay, however, because I have to tell you a story, and then I have to write a second introduction. But these, I argue, should not count in the ten minutes.
II. The Story, or, How Stephen King Learned to Write
When I was a sophomore in high school, I did a sophomoric thing which got me in a pot of fairly hot water, as sophomoric didoes often do. I wrote and published a small satiric newspaper called The Village Vomit. In this little paper I lampooned a number of teachers at Lisbon (Maine) High School, where I was under instruction. These were not very gentle lampoons; they ranged from the scatological to the downright cruel.
Eventually, a copy of this little newspaper found its way into the hands of a faculty member, and since I had been unwise enough to put my name on it (a fault, some critics argue, of which I have still not been entirely cured), I was brought into the office. The sophisticated satirist had by that time reverted to what he really was: a fourteen-year-old kid who was shaking in his boots and wondering if he was going to get a suspension … what we called “a three-day vacation” in those dim days of 1964.
I wasn’t suspended. I was forced to make a number of apologies – they were warranted, but they still tasted like dog-dirt in my mouth – and spent a week in detention hall. And the guidance counselor arranged what he no doubt thought of as a more constructive channel for my talents. This was a job – contingent upon the editor’s approval – writing sports for the Lisbon Enterprise, a twelve-page weekly of the sort with which any small-town resident will be familiar. This editor was the man who taught me everything I know about writing in ten minutes. His name was John Gould – not the famed New England humorist or the novelist who wrote The Greenleaf Fires, but a relative of both, I believe.
He told me he needed a sports writer and we could “try each other out” if I wanted.
I told him I knew more about advanced algebra than I did sports.
Gould nodded and said, “You’ll learn.”
I said I would at least try to learn. Gould gave me a huge roll of yellow paper and promised me a wage of 1/2¢ per word. The first two pieces I wrote had to do with a high school basketball game in which a member of my school team broke the Lisbon High scoring record. One of these pieces was straight reportage. The second was a feature article.
I brought them to Gould the day after the game, so he’d have them for the paper, which came out Fridays. He read the straight piece, made two minor corrections, and spiked it. Then he started in on the feature piece with a large black pen and taught me all I ever needed to know about my craft. I wish I still had the piece – it deserves to be framed, editorial corrections and all – but I can remember pretty well how it looked when he had finished with it. Here’s an example:
(note: this is before the edit marks indicated on King’s original copy)
Last night, in the well-loved gymnasium of Lisbon High School, partisans and Jay Hills fans alike were stunned by an athletic performance unequaled in school history: Bob Ransom, known as “Bullet” Bob for both his size and accuracy, scored thirty-seven points. He did it with grace and speed … and he did it with an odd courtesy as well, committing only two personal fouls in his knight-like quest for a record which has eluded Lisbon thinclads since 1953….
(after edit marks)
Last night, in the Lisbon High School gymnasium, partisans and Jay Hills fans alike were stunned by an athletic performance unequaled in school history: Bob Ransom scored thirty-seven points. He did it with grace and speed … and he did it with an odd courtesy as well, committing only two personal fouls in his quest for a record which has eluded Lisbon’s basketball team since 1953….
When Gould finished marking up my copy in the manner I have indicated above, he looked up and must have seen something on my face. I think he must have thought it was horror, but it was not: it was revelation.
“I only took out the bad parts, you know,” he said. “Most of it’s pretty good.”
“I know,” I said, meaning both things: yes, most of it was good, and yes, he had only taken out the bad parts. “I won’t do it again.”
“If that’s true,” he said, “you’ll never have to work again. You can do this for a living.” Then he threw back his head and laughed.
And he was right; I am doing this for a living, and as long as I can keep on, I don’t expect ever to have to work again.
III. The Second Introduction
All of what follows has been said before. If you are interested enough in writing to be a purchaser of this magazine, you will have either heard or read all (or almost all) of it before. Thousands of writing courses are taught across the United States each year; seminars are convened; guest lecturers talk, then answer questions, then drink as many gin and tonics as their expense-fees will allow, and it all boils down to what follows.
I am going to tell you these things again because often people will only listen – really listen – to someone who makes a lot of money doing the thing he’s talking about. This is sad but true. And I told you the story above not to make myself sound like a character out of a Horatio Alger novel but to make a point: I saw, I listened, and I learned. Until that day in John Gould’s little office, I had been writing first drafts of stories which might run 2,500 words. The second drafts were apt to run 3,300 words. Following that day, my 2,500-word first drafts became 2,200-word second drafts. And two years after that, I sold the first one.
So here it is, with all the bark stripped off. It’ll take ten minutes to read, and you can apply it right away … if you listen.
IV. Everything You Need to Know About Writing Successfully
1. Be talented
This, of course, is the killer. What is talent? I can hear someone shouting, and here we are, ready to get into a discussion right up there with “what is the meaning of life?” for weighty pronouncements and total uselessness. For the purposes of the beginning writer, talent may as well be defined as eventual success – publication and money. If you wrote something for which someone sent you a check, if you cashed the check and it didn’t bounce, and if you then paid the light bill with the money, I consider you talented.
Now some of you are really hollering. Some of you are calling me one crass money-fixated creep. And some of you are calling me bad names. Are you calling Harold Robbins talented? someone in one of the Great English Departments of America is screeching. V.C. Andrews? Theodore Dreiser? Or what about you, you dyslexic moron?
Nonsense. Worse than nonsense, off the subject. We’re not talking about good or bad here. I’m interested in telling you how to get your stuff published, not in critical judgments of who’s good or bad. As a rule the critical judgments come after the check’s been spent, anyway. I have my own opinions, but most times I keep them to myself. People who are published steadily and are paid for what they are writing may be either saints or trollops, but they are clearly reaching a great many someones who want what they have. Ergo, they are communicating. Ergo, they are talented. The biggest part of writing successfully is being talented, and in the context of marketing, the only bad writer is one who doesn’t get paid. If you’re not talented, you won’t succeed. And if you’re not succeeding, you should know when to quit.
When is that? I don’t know. It’s different for each writer. Not after six rejection slips, certainly, nor after sixty. But after six hundred? Maybe. After six thousand? My friend, after six thousand pinks, it’s time you tried painting or computer programming.
Further, almost every aspiring writer knows when he is getting warmer – you start getting little jotted notes on your rejection slips, or personal letters . . . maybe a commiserating phone call. It’s lonely out there in the cold, but there are encouraging voices … unless there is nothing in your words which warrants encouragement. I think you owe it to yourself to skip as much of the self-illusion as possible. If your eyes are open, you’ll know which way to go … or when to turn back.
2. Be neat
Type. Double-space. Use a nice heavy white paper, never that erasable onion-skin stuff. If you’ve marked up your manuscript a lot, do another draft.
3. Be self-critical
If you haven’t marked up your manuscript a lot, you did a lazy job. Only God gets things right the first time. Don’t be a slob.
4. Remove every extraneous word
You want to get up on a soapbox and preach? Fine. Get one and try your local park. You want to write for money? Get to the point. And if you remove all the excess garbage and discover you can’t find the point, tear up what you wrote and start all over again . . . or try something new.
5. Never look at a reference book while doing a first draft
You want to write a story? Fine. Put away your dictionary, your encyclopedias, your World Almanac, and your thesaurus. Better yet, throw your thesaurus into the wastebasket. The only things creepier than a thesaurus are those little paperbacks college students too lazy to read the assigned novels buy around exam time. Any word you have to hunt for in a thesaurus is the wrong word. There are no exceptions to this rule. You think you might have misspelled a word? O.K., so here is your choice: either look it up in the dictionary, thereby making sure you have it right – and breaking your train of thought and the writer’s trance in the bargain – or just spell it phonetically and correct it later. Why not? Did you think it was going to go somewhere? And if you need to know the largest city in Brazil and you find you don’t have it in your head, why not write in Miami, or Cleveland? You can check it … but later. When you sit down to write, write. Don’t do anything else except go to the bathroom, and only do that if it absolutely cannot be put off.
6. Know the markets
Only a dimwit would send a story about giant vampire bats surrounding a high school to McCall’s. Only a dimwit would send a tender story about a mother and daughter making up their differences on Christmas Eve to Playboy … but people do it all the time. I’m not exaggerating; I have seen such stories in the slush piles of the actual magazines. If you write a good story, why send it out in an ignorant fashion? Would you send your kid out in a snowstorm dressed in Bermuda shorts and a tank top? If you like science fiction, read the magazines. If you want to write confession stories, read the magazines. And so on. It isn’t just a matter of knowing what’s right for the present story; you can begin to catch on, after awhile, to overall rhythms, editorial likes and dislikes, a magazine’s entire slant. Sometimes your reading can influence the next story, and create a sale.
7. Write to entertain
Does this mean you can’t write “serious fiction”? It does not. Somewhere along the line pernicious critics have invested the American reading and writing public with the idea that entertaining fiction and serious ideas do not overlap. This would have surprised Charles Dickens, not to mention Jane Austen, John Steinbeck, William Faulkner, Bernard Malamud, and hundreds of others. But your serious ideas must always serve your story, not the other way around. I repeat: if you want to preach, get a soapbox.
8. Ask yourself frequently, “Am I having fun?”
The answer needn’t always be yes. But if it’s always no, it’s time for a new project or a new career.
9. How to evaluate criticism
Show your piece to a number of people – ten, let us say. Listen carefully to what they tell you. Smile and nod a lot. Then review what was said very carefully. If your critics are all telling you the same thing about some facet of your story – a plot twist that doesn’t work, a character who rings false, stilted narrative, or half a dozen other possibles – change that facet. It doesn’t matter if you really liked that twist of that character; if a lot of people are telling you something is wrong with you piece, it is. If seven or eight of them are hitting on that same thing, I’d still suggest changing it. But if everyone – or even most everyone – is criticizing something different, you can safely disregard what all of them say.
10. Observe all rules for proper submission
Return postage, self-addressed envelope, all of that.
11. An agent? Forget it. For now
Agents get 10% of monies earned by their clients. 10% of nothing is nothing. Agents also have to pay the rent. Beginning writers do not contribute to that or any other necessity of life. Flog your stories around yourself. If you’ve done a novel, send around query letters to publishers, one by one, and follow up with sample chapters and/or the manuscript complete. And remember Stephen King’s First Rule of Writers and Agents, learned by bitter personal experience: You don’t need one until you’re making enough for someone to steal … and if you’re making that much, you’ll be able to take your pick of good agents.
12. If it’s bad, kill it
When it comes to people, mercy killing is against the law. When it comes to fiction, it is the law.
That’s everything you need to know. And if you listened, you can write everything and anything you want. Now I believe I will wish you a pleasant day and sign off.
My ten minutes are up.
(The above article is copyright Stephen King, 1988)
This work is released under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike license.
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