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Mary Rosenblum
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Welcome to our Professional
Connection live interview.
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Today we're chatting with Evelyn
B. Kelly, Ph.D., is a writer, educator, and community activist living in Ocala, Florida. She
specializes in writing about the diseases and disorders of the nervous and
endocrine systems and enjoys tackling cutting edge research.
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Throughout her years as a
writer, she has written 10 books and over 400 articles on many topics.
Recently, she completed Obesity Matters: Issues in an Expanding Epidemic, a
reference book for Greenwood Press and has two new projects, one on stem
cell research and the other on gene therapy.
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She is an international speaker
at writers' conferences and works hard to apply business principles to
writing. She has been an instructor for Long Ridge Writers Group for four
years.
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Evelyn lives on a farm in Ocala, Florida with her
husband Charles, a hunting enthusiast. She has four children and four
grandchildren. She is a professor of education at Saint Leo University in Florida.
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Evelyn, I have been looking
forward to chatting with you. Welcome!
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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I have too...I had a college class
tonight- that I let go early to do this interview....they were so sad of
course.
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Mary Rosenblum
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That's right. :-) I'm sure they
were devastated! What kind of class?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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It is a class in Introduction
to Education... we talk about all kinds of issues.
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Mary Rosenblum
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So I'm curious. Did the writing
come first, or did you get into writing after you got into the sciences and
education?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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I was a biology teacher...love
human anatomy and cutting edge research.... then I got a doctorate in
education and have been teaching methods to college students...the writing
complemented my teaching...I began about 20 years ago.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Ah, you may get a request from
me for sources yet, considering I write near future tech science fiction,
and do a lot in the bio-medical field. :-)
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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I look forward to hearing from
you about that
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Mary Rosenblum
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Oh, I'm sure you will. :-) So you
got started writing through your job in education?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Yes, and I still wear these
two hats
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redraven
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I came in a few minutes late.
What do you write?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Why don't you give us an
overview?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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I am a generalist with a
specialty- medical writing. But I like to write on many topics...I tend to
get bored just staying in one area.
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Mary Rosenblum
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So you write on topics that are
outside your immediate area of expertise?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Yes- I do travel articles,
articles for children and young adults...one of my books was a biography of
Katarina Witt, the ice skater...Now I am an ole Southern girl who has never
been ice skating... I learned about it rapidly.
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Mary Rosenblum
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I'm glad you say that. :-) I
know that many novice nonfiction writers are intimidated by topics that
they know little or nothing about.
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Yes, it involves research and
some courage.... but they can do it.
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gwanny
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So, it's true that you don't
need to know anything about a certain subject, but spend time researching
it and can write a saleable article?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Yes, that is what writing is
about...getting an idea or angle...then researching it...I use lots of
interviews
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Mary Rosenblum
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And that's what nonfiction
editors are looking for isn't it? Original information...and if you are not
an expert, you can find one and interview her, yes?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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absolutely
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tory
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How did you choose a biography
of Katarina Witt? Did you interview her?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Chelsea Press called me and gave
me a choice of ice skaters...I chose her...I did not get to interview her,
but I tried my best...I got to her press people.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Had you worked with Chelsea
Press before? Is this how you got the assignment?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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No, I don't even know
how they got my name...I am on several lists and directories.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Are these lists of established
freelance writers?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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I am a member of Cassel
Network at writers-editors.com (has a lot of requests for writers), the
National Association of Science Writers, American Medical Writers
Association, American Society of Journalists and Authors...plus I try to
meet people at conferences...most of my work comes from people who call
me...but it was not always so...I still go through the query process if I
find an idea that excites me
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Mary Rosenblum
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Aha, and that probably answers Lorib's
question, but I'll add 'how often?" to what she asked.
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lorib
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Do you always work by assignment
or do you sometimes come up with your own ideas?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Both- but usually the
assignments take a lot of my time...I really would like to be more
creative...but there is security in assignments...it takes a while to get
to that point
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Mary Rosenblum
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And I'd like to address that
last statement before we move on, because I do have students who sell in
nonfiction
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but get discouraged by their
slow progress. How long did it take you to really get a lot of assignments?
Many years? A couple?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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No-about 10...there is hope. I
started small-...sold my first article in 1982 ...to a religious publication...called
Chills Can Kill on frostbite and hypothermia...got paid 35$. To me
it could have been 2000$!
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Mary Rosenblum
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Yeah, sigh, patience is a
virtue in the publishing world. Glad to hear it's no better in nonfiction
than fiction, LOL.
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wolf122
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Many of the journal articles used
as sources deal with minute substrates, specific enzymes, etc. How do you
find pertinent source articles to inspire your writing?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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You have to learn to read
journal articles and understand the main idea of what it is saying...read
the abstract, conclusions, and testing procedures...but do not get hung up
with the details.... you do have to have some knowledge of enzymes etc...I
do not carry it all in my head, but when I am studying a topic, I do become
an expert in that field
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janp
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Do you ever consider controversial
topics, not politics?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Well, you write about stem cell
research. I'd call that controversial these days. :-)
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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My books for Greenwood Press
presents controversies but both sides. For example, in my book on obesity,
I investigated and presented 8 issues that have two or three sides. I
present them all...Although I do write in politically correct terms....I
must see all sides of an issues.
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wolf122
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Do your writings come more from reading
several articles, doing an interview or two, combining all of the
information, and then synthesizing it all into one piece?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Yes.
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tory
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Do you do a lot of interviews
face-to-face? Phone?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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I use phone interviews...where
I live there are not many scientists...interviews are important...if you
look at any article in a major magazine, you see interviews...they are usually
so subtle that you do not know they are there.
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gwanny
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I realize that one on one is
probably the best way to interview, but sometimes you just can't. Do you
find that email interviews are more challenging than telephone? or vise
versa
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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E-mail is fine because you
have a written record, but most of my people do not want just this...they
like an e-mailed list of questions, but want to talk...I record the
conversation using a device that I purchased from RadioShack that fits into
the telephone. I really think face-to-face is more threatening for the
interviewee. With the recording, you have a record in case you are challenged...
keep the tapes for a long time- they are cheap.
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Mary Rosenblum
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That's interesting, Evelyn.
Myself, I prefer phone or live interviews
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because the conversation can
reveal a new line of exploration
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that I wouldn't have thought of
when I wrote out a list of static questions.
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Do you encounter resistance to
being recorded ever?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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I never have encountered
resistance-...I may in the future but I find scientists excited to
talk...other people like to help...if they don't go to someone else...there
are a lot of fish out there.
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wolf122
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Do you interview patients also?
How easy is it to find interviewees for any given topic?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Again, there are directories
and lists of experts. I have not done patients- but may in the future.
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Wolf, have you heard of ProfNet?
It is a source of experts...you can put out a call and will get answers of
people interested
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gail
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How long should a writer hang
onto interviews which have been quoted in one or more articles?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Just file the tapes...they are
cheap...I don't get rid of them...maybe I should after couple of years
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info
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Do you ever worry about getting
in trouble for content? Ex: If you are doing an article or story that
describes different types of explosions where one type leaves things in a
piles whereas another type of explosion would blow things out in one
direction or another. If you were to try to get information regarding such
things, could a person become an innocent suspect?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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I would not worry a lot about that...just
quote experts...keep to the angle of your topic...I assume that an editor
has approved it.
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starr r
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Re: "getting in
trouble" for content: say you present one view, and then, six months
later, all the research proves it wrong. What then?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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I do not mean present one
view-...stick to the point of the focus...if there is a problem that
arises...trust your editor.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Your editor will let you know
what focus or slant he/she wants for the article, correct?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Absolutely...trust me...they
are conservative...they do not want to get into trouble.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Evelyn, I think a lot of novice
writers don't understand the relationship between writer and editor. Want
to describe how it works in your field?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Yes, the editor is king or
queen. While you have the idea, the magazine is theirs to print...they must
abide by space, advertisers, and budget. ...but if they want to add, delete,
or change, that is their privilege...if they have questions, consider that
as strengthening the manuscript...put personal feelings here behind you.
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My goal is to make their job easier.
I do that by pleasing them and making them happy.
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Mary Rosenblum
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I’ve received a couple of
interesting questions from Starr and info about research, and post 9/11, I
think they are pertinent.
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What they are asking is, if you
begin researching something that might be of interest to a terrorist, say,
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such as bomb making, or start
asking police about a crime...can you fall under suspicion? What do you
think?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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I guess you could...I would avoid
the topic... find another...my only area related to this has been looking
at bio-terrorism...I interviewed experts or people who were working in the
field...I had no opinion...and it was an assignment from an editor for a
trade magazine.
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Mary Rosenblum
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This is actually something that
I and other SF writers do and have faced
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and I probably do have an FBI
file because I've visited some radical Islamist sites
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researching a new novel.
BUT...it's going to be pretty clear to the FBI that I'm a writer, not
affiliated with any Islamist groups
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so if I have an FBI file, so be
it. J
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If there's no other reason to
suspect you, you should be fine.
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gail
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How can a novice writer
"sell" an editor on a (NF) story idea (they are ambitious to
write,) if they have little or no "expertise" on the subject?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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My advice: start small and get
your expertise. I started with small religious publications and got clips...I
also had a newspaper column on health that gave me clips...However, do not
be afraid to send to high end publications...I hear of people all the time
that have a great story or great idea that get published in high end magazines.
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sailor
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In the article you wrote for
Dream Jobs to Go, you said you write op ed pieces. Do you follow normal
submission guidelines when submitting those or do you skip the query? Do
you state in your cover letter that this is a op ed piece?
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justme
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Op ed ?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Op eds to your local newspapers
are fine just to send in; if you are going to NY Times of LA Times, you
might was to find their guidelines and include a note or letter...Be sure
to follow the word count.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Op-ed means for the
opinion/editorial page, justme.
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whistlin_smithy
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Hi Evelyn. Do you rely much on
web research sites like Questia or do you have another source that you like?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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I just use google, medscape for
medical articles, or anything that I can think of...I follow links.
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sallyk
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What was your biggest challenge
getting started writing?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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My biggest challenge was
getting over the fear of rejection. No one likes it...but you have to realize
that rejection for writers never ends...you must be resilient...I was
fortunate that my first five articles were accepted by the religious
magazines...however, I have had and still get a share of rejections for
queries. May I give you an acronym for a response to rejections?
SORRY s-for sob; o for observe; r for rant and rave; r for renew; y for
yearn
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Mary Rosenblum
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Ah, and I get my share of
rejections, too. They never DO end! :-) Great acronym!
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starr r
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So you suggest religious magazines
for beginners?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Religious magazines are a
great source; but they too are competitive and expect good writing.
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starr r
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Do you prefer writing books or
articles?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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I like both; I have three book
contracts right now which are due at different times...however, I will be
writing articles along...if I get inspired or get assignments
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Mary Rosenblum
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Can you give our writers here some
tips on the dreaded query letter and book proposal? These seem to be major
stumbling blocks for many novices.
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What makes 'em good?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Query letters: begin with your
best writing using an anecdote...write your lead that you have in
mind...that way the editor can get your style... then outline the points
remember the topic and focus...give a working title...tell the experts that
you wish to interview...then last give your credentials for why you should
write the article...if you don't have credentials... don't worry...if the
editor likes the idea he or she may tell you to send it on spec...meaning
that you will not get a contract until you have sent the manuscript in.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Book proposals are more
complicated, yes?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Mary, may I add the book
proposal: Here I suggest that you get a book that give the details....this
is more complex than a query and has specific parts...I suggest How to Write
a Book Proposal published by Writers Digest or try Terry Whalin's book:
Book
Proposals That Sell....An important part of a book proposal is the
research of similar books that are out there.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Ah, thank you, Evelyn. :-)
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jrvr31
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What's your writing schedule
like?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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My writing schedule: I get up
at 4:30
and write at least an hour on my current book...I find that doing this I
get something each day. I then write or this or another project until 10:00 when I check my e-mail.
At 11:00 I get ready to go to town to exercise...I eat lunch and rest then
until about 3:00---then I get involved in another project...I do my lessons
for Long Ridge...or maybe I have a class at night.
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Mary Rosenblum
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That's a very orderly schedule.
:-)
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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I do try...sometimes things go
awry...but I always try to return to at least an hour on the book each day.
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jrvr31
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What are some business
principles you apply to writing?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Business principles: I have a
writing or business plan...not to make so much money each month but to make
contacts with people for writing...I lapse occasionally like going to
Eastern Europe and then I had company for a week when I got nothing
done...but now I am back in the swing...I try to practice good time management
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Mary Rosenblum
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So you focus more on projects
accomplished than income earned?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Yes, I find that more realistic...I
figure that the marketing will pay off if I make the contacts.
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whistlin_smithy
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Do you experience situations
where an article's research costs way more than the expected revenue it
generates? If so, how do you cope with that?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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I usually do not worry about
the cost if I am to get an article that I consider to be correct....I can
write off business expenses...that is part of the game...I probably could
make more money but I do projects that I enjoy...and if it means going overboard,
I do...not that I expect everyone will agree with me on that.
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Mary Rosenblum
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But it's also worth figuring
your reputation. If it is a strong clip, then it may well be worth the
extra expense, just for that.
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Yes, that is correct...I live
a comfortable life...probably will never be wealthy...but this is the way
that I like it.
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gail
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Have you had any experience with
freelance boards or exchanges -- membership allows freelancers to bid on
various writing-related jobs -- and, if so, what advice can you offer
novices about such venues?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Gail, I have heard of these
but no experiences...sorry here.
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redraven
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I'm working on a book on selecting,
moving to, and living in a retirement community, in particular, a
continuing care community. Any ideas for how I can find a publisher?
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Mary Rosenblum
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What are some good ways to find
publishers if you have an article idea?
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Or a book for that matter!
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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What a question. Finding a publisher-
I suggest looking in Writers Market and try to determine what is best
suited...I have done this and it is discouraging...finding an agent is another
way...I have never used an agent...best suggestion is networking...joining
groups and going to conferences...I went to my first conference in 1982-
the Florida Freelance Writers Conference...you get ideas from
conferences...a big one is the American Society of Journalists and Authors
in New York...I know conferences are not cheap...but I consider them worth
their investment..
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Mary Rosenblum
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Well, we're almost out of time.
Let me send you one more question and then please do tell us what you have
coming out soon!
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babbles
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When approaching a prospective
person for an interview how should a novice start the introduction of
oneself?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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I suggest writing out...Hello...my
name is and I have an assignment for Genetic Engineering News on Food
Enzymes. I have a list of questions...then proceed.
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Mary Rosenblum
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So what do you have coming out?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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My book Obesity Matters: Issues
in an Expanding Epidemic was sent in July 1...it will go through the
copywriters...a devastating experience... you think you are a good writer
until these guys get hold of your manuscript...then I will have to do the
index...will be out this spring or summer.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Ah yes, copyeditors. :-) What
publisher?
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Greenwood Press
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Mary Rosenblum
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Evelyn, any last words of
advice for our audience before we let you escape? :-)
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Think- manage your time and
know yourself...what you have to do in life...remember there are 24 hours
in a day...write something each day...and never, never fear
rejection...sob, say oh well and get on with it. A writer never arrives- he
or she is always in the process of becoming.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Ah, now that last is really
important!
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Thank you Evelyn! We have
enjoyed chatting with you tonight.
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janp
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Thank you Evelyn and Mary for
the non fic focus tonite
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starr r
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Thank you for your help and advice.
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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Thanks for having me...I have
enjoyed every minute...I loved the interesting questions.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Yes, thank you very much.
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And thanks for the great
answers!
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I'd definitely like to invite
you back another time.
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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goodbye-
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Mary Rosenblum
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Meanwhile, we'll let you go.
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Goodbye and good night!
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly
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To all a good night.
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Mary Rosenblum
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And to you, too, Evelyn!
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Thank you all for coming
tonight!
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Good night all!
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Write well.
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