|
mary rosenblum
|
Hello, all!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
This is the Tuesday Forum with
me, Mary Rosenblum, LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction writer. If you're
new here, remember that you need to click on the 'Ask a Question' button or
the 'word bubble' next to the red question mark at the top of the screen,
or use the ask a question icon in order to ask a question. Your regular
'send' bar won't reach me! You can also type /ask in front of your question
to reach me.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I hope you all had a great
weekend and a good week!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I wanted to talk a bit about
nonfiction today.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
A lot of people begin thinking
of 'writing' as 'writing fiction' only.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
And the nonfiction market is a
real windfall just waiting for you.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Not only does it pay better
than the fiction market, if you are struggling with rejection slips and a
sense of 'I'll never make it'...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
selling a few nonfiction
articles is a great way to boost your ego...and nonfiction clips, while not
as powerful a selling tool as fiction clips, will still...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
tell an editor that you are
writing at a publishable level and that you are a professional.
|
|
bravo6
|
Whats a good area of NF to start
in?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
It entirely depends on each
person, bravo.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
There are a couple of things
to remember when you are thinking about making some bucks selling
nonficiton.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Editors ASSUME you can write
well. It is the CONTENT you offer them that matters.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Most aspiring nonfiction writers...especially
those who began with fiction...err by writing the article first and THEN
looking for a market, much as you would with a fiction story.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
This will lead to only
sporadic success most of the time.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
What an editor wants is
something that HER readers want to read.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
And I can't say too often that
you need to begin with issues of the magazine and THEN propose an article.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
The other thing that is hard
to comprehend when you start out is that editors want original material.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
That means they don't want
something you researched on the internet or in the library, most of the
time.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
They want expertise. It can be
YOUR expertise, or the expertise of the expert you interview.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
For example...I just received
a query from a local, novice freelance writer.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
She wanted to pitch an article
to a local dog magazine on the Canine Good Citizen program run by AKC.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Now she is not a professional
trainer, so she is not an expert on this. She went to the AKC website and
looked for CGC evaluators listed for her area...here in Portland.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
My name was there, so she just
emailed me asking if she could attend some classes with her dog and
interview me about the program.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
She could not simply research
the CGC program and write about what she found out...readers can do that for
themselves.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
But by doing some research and
adding a personal interview with some kind of expert, she is offering
readers something they cannot get for themselves...at least not easily.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
This is the Tuesday Forum with
me, Mary Rosenblum, LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction writer. If you're
new here, remember that you need to click on the 'Ask a Question' button or
the 'word bubble' next to the red question mark at the top of the screen,
or use the ask a question icon in order to ask a question. Your regular
'send' bar won't reach me! You can also type /ask in front of your question
to reach me.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
So even if YOU don't feel that
you have any personal expertise to sell to an editor there are plenty of
experts out there.
|
|
smeagol
|
Mary, does the same apply for
personal essays? Don't write the essay first, query first?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Personal essay is the other
good way to break into NF print without being an expert. :-)
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Most magazines treat personal
essay more as they would a fiction story. More often than not, the editor
wants to see the essay itself rather than a query...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
even if she usually wants a
query for other NF pieces.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
This is because...as with
fiction...it is the way the piece is written that gives it appeal...or not.
The topic is not going to sell it here, as with fiction, the piece will
speak for itself.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Now some editors may want a
query first...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
just so that you don't send a
gardening magazine a personal narrative about NASCAR racing!
|
|
smeagol
|
Can you say a little about
finding markets for personal essays?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Yes, and then I'll talk more
about finding those markets where you can at least find an expert easily,
if you are not already one yourself!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Markets for personal essays
are most likely going to be for magazines whose readers share an interest
with you.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
For example, I might write a
humorous personal essay about veterinary waiting room society.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
And send it to various dog and
pet magazines. I can tell the editor in my cover or query letter that I'm a
long time dog owner who has spent many hours in those waiting rooms.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
That's not expertise so much
as a connection. BUt it attracts the editor's attention since it indicates
you probably know as much about those places as her readers.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Once you have sold a personal
piece or two to an editor, you're not going to have to 'justify' yourself.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If your editor decides that
readers like you, you'll have lots of latitude, but probably, your topic
will relate to the theme of the magazine..
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
gardeners, pet owners,
sportscar drivers, what have you.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
And a personal connection will
help you find experts, too.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I was happy to grant an
interview to a fellow dog owner who is interested in CGC.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Sit down and list everything
you have any even peripheral interest in: parenting, PTA, basketball, fly
fishing, gardening, dogs, cats, grandkids...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You will find it much easier
than you think to find an expert to interview in an area of shared interest
than you guess.
|
|
bravo6
|
And one more question about
personal essays: Do you have any tips on writing personal essays? For
example, how to make one stand out from the rest of the ones in a slush
pile?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Oh, yes!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
A GOOD narrative voice is a
must.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You cannot write a powerful
personal essay in a droning monotone.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Very few writers begin with a
powerful personal voice. You can acquire the skill, just like any
other...but you need to work at it.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If you look at the best
selling personal narrative writers: Patrick McManus, Bailey White, and many
others...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
you will notice that their
voice is strong enough that you can recognize them even if you haven't seen
the by line.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
That is what you are after.
This is a conscious coice of words and tone and manner of speaking that is
you, but perhaps a bit more dramatic than a conversation with your
neighbors.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
It's the difference you'd find
between reading a book to yourself and reading aloud to your kids, say,
where you are trying to hold their attention.
|
|
gail
|
In the July issue of Writer's
Digest, there was an article (Write Now, Sell Later) written by Christopher
Dack that gives an alternate view on writing on spec -- PARTICULARLY if
unpublished, with no clips. I found it to be an interesting viewpoint.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
What was his viewpoint, gail?
Write it first?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Well, that can work. I have a
student who is doing that...writing article after article and then sending
out THE ARTICLE rather than a query, even if the guidelines ask for a query.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
She is keeping track for me.
I'm curious to see how much success she has.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
However, if an editor receives
an article that really fits the magazine and one that is okay but not as
close a fit...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
she's going to tend to work
with the writer whose articles are closer fits more often...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
and part of the success of
nonfiction is repeat business.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Me, I hate to write something
that isn't going to sell. I'm lazy. :-)
|
|
helen h
|
Can you recommend any sources
for experts? I know for the antiques/collectibles field, in addition to
actually meeting dealers at shows where they are usually busy, Maloneys
Resource Directory is a great place to find top dealers, collectors, and
experts in various areas. Yet many people even in the trade don't know
about it.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Helen, spend a little time on
the internet.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
There are some 'expert
exchanges'.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I was just looking for a link,
but didn't find it on a quick glance.
|
|
helen h
|
Asking for interviews seems like
a chicken and the egg question. Do you query magazine first, or ask your
experts is they are interested so you can show experts quotes will be in
the story? I'd hate to ask then not have the query approved.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
It is a very good idea to be
sure that your 'expert' is willing to do an interview before you tell the
editor you'll do it!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Falling through on the deal is
a good way to make a very bad impression.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Remember that the editor has
to get an issue out every month or so. She does not want to figure she has
an issue full only to find out that you can't get your article in and now
she has to scramble to find...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
something to fit that designated
space. It is complicated to redo a magazine layout.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
And probably the best way to
find experts is to look about in whatever area of interest you have.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
For the most part people LOVE
to be interviewed.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Who doesn't like to be
referred to as an 'expert'! :-)
|
|
gail
|
One sentence Christopher wrote
really struck me. It said: "...when editors assign articles from
promising queries, they're taking a gamble that the writer can create a
solid piece that fulfills the query's promise, by the deadline." There
were other points made which I felt were valid, but this one really jumped
out at me. Any thoughts on this?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
That, right there, is why you
are at a disadvantage when you have no clips, gail.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
That is what clips DO. They
assure the editor that yes, you can get in a solid piece, and get it in on
deadline.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
And THIS is also why that
query had better shine.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You can try including the
article along with the query. That way, if the query interests the editor
he/she can immediately see if you can fulfill the promise you made.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
My only caveat there is that
editors who get a LOT of queries may have a very clear query-only policy
and your submission may simply get tossed without any response because you
didn't follow directions.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
It's a coin flip.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
But most writers guidelines
ask for a writing sample if you have no clips. The main thing to understand
is that editors can tell a LOT about your ability from your query.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
It IS a writing test, so learn
to do it very well.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Sloppy, flaccid prose and
typos you didn't fix will shoot your chances right down.
|
|
kathy102
|
- do I pay a fee to the expert?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Hi, Kathy. No, you shouldn't
have to pay a fee. After all, your 'expert' is getting some very nice
publicity!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
But if someone DOES want a
fee, think about whether this person is exclusive enough to get you a
feature with a big circulation magazine and if so, and they want a chunk of
cash, maybe it's in your best interest to pay that person.
|
|
speckledorf
|
Source for experts...the yellow
pages! All those business owners are just waiting for you to call!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Yep, that's a good one. Or
websites that pertain to that area of interest. My interviewer gal went to
the American Kennel Club to look for listings of local people.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
She wanted to sell a dog
article, and that's a good resource for contact info of some dog experts.
|
|
tkat_2
|
It's been drummed into my head
to follow guidelines, so that's what I do.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Every editor is different,
tkat.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I know editors who are pretty
relaxed about what they will accept and I know others who toss stuff into
the wastebasket if the i's aren't dotted and t's crossed.
|
|
dbamarsha
|
Is being included in your
college's literary magazine considered being published? If so, how would
you word that in a query?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I'd sure use it. It's not
going to impress a NF editor as much as a clip from a large circulation mag
of a similar sort would...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
but it DOES tell him that at
least one editor thought you write publishable prose.
|
|
gail
|
Re: Finding Experts...Many of
the writers' web-sites have links to such experts, you need only define
your field of interest.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Yes, a little internet time
can yield you quite a harvest of contacts.
|
|
helen h
|
With so much stuff on the net,
how can you tell an expert from just someone who's pushing his own agenda?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Well, that is ALWAYS an issue,
helen. You have to use common sense and maybe try two different sources to
make sure they more or less agree.
|
|
curseofthe44
|
How do you "avoid"
telling an editor that you are unpublished?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Well, if it's a case where you
are submitting a story or a nonfiction personal narrative, just don't say
anything about publishing.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You just say, 'here is my
story/narrative. I think it fits your magazine, and thank you very much for
your time and attention.'
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Most editors will guess that
translates to 'unpublished' since they dont' recognize your name...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
but they have the piece to
read.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If guidelines require clips
and you don't have 'em, try sending the entire article or a strong writing
sample. Might as well, since you aren't fulfilling the guidelines
anyway...you HAVE no clips!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You might catch the editor
with some time and he might read your sample or article.
|
|
babbles
|
Is there a special newspaper
website for journalism?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Go search on google, babbles.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
There is a professional
freelance writers organization, but you really have to be making a
significant income to join.
|
|
gail
|
Yes, Christopher recommended
that a good, solid query should be sent WITH the article, and should be
strong enough to sell the piece on its own.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
And that's what he's
suggesting...that you use the article itself as a writing sample. And
again, if you have no clips, why not..BUT...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
you are more likely to tick
off an editor and get roundfiled with a large circulation magazine than a
fairly small one.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Realize that in a big mag, one
that pays reallly professional rates and attracts the pro freelancers...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
she/he does NOT need your
newbie effort unless it is something that she really wants.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
And she is less likely to
expect to find it from you, and if she is very busy...and most large
circulation editors are VERY busy...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
and you have violated her
guidelines...it may be trashcan for you.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
So I would use it sometimes
but not always. And realize that you will probably cost yourself some sales
as well as gaining some you wouldn't have gotten otherwise.
|
|
curseofthe44
|
So, you don't want to say
"I'm unpublished and can't give clips."
|
|
curseofthe44
|
So, is it better to start with a
smaller mag?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Well, curse, if the guidelines
require clips and you don't have 'em, you don't. So try the strong query
plus the article or a writing sample. And yes, generally...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
your chances are better with a
smaller mag.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Pros are NOT going to write
for a magazine that doesn't pay much or has a minimal circulation, or both.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
They are after markets that
will pay their mortgages...a buck or better a word.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Which means that small circulation
mags tend to be more hungry for good articles and you are not competing
with the top pros.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Realize, too, that the way
nonfic works is that once the editor has decided you write well and you
perform well with deadlines, edits, and the like...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
that editor will assign you
topics. You'll get a phone call or email and a request to write something
on a particular topic for a particular date..
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
and you'll get that quite
regularly. A friend of mine made a pretty good income writing for a set of
'regulars' with some random sales on the side.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
He could almost guarantee what
his monthly income would be because of his regular editors.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Thus, in the large circulation
mags that are well established, there is less space for newbies. Now that
does NOT mean you can't break in there.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
A LR student just made his
first NF sale to Newsweek. You can't get 'larger' than that!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
He had something that editor
wanted.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
This is the Tuesday Forum with
me, Mary Rosenblum, LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction writer. If you're
new here, remember that you need to click on the 'Ask a Question' button or
the 'word bubble' next to the red question mark at the top of the screen,
or use the ask a question icon in order to ask a question. Your regular
'send' bar won't reach me! You can also type /ask in front of your question
to reach me.
|
|
gail
|
I LIVE AND BREATH FOR THAT DAY
-- when editors call ME!!!!!!!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
It's not hard to get there,
gail. YOu just have to write what the editor wants, not need much work, be
prompt, and flexible on revisions.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
The way most people get
started is that they sell first to Barbwire Fence Monthly with a
circulation of 789,.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Then, using those clips, they
move up to slightly larger circulation magazines, and end up doing features
after a bit.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Once you've done features,
rather than departments, then you will appeal to editors in the 'higher
plains' of magazinedome.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
That is the other thing to
keep in mind.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Most magazines run a feature
article or two or three and a host of columns and/or departments.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Often even big circulation
magazines are hungry for small fillers for the departments. And even with a
filler piece...something short and light...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
your name is in front of the
editor. You can move up from there.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
While you may not be able to
sell a feature article to, say, Sunset Magazine...maybe you can sell them
some short pieces for the departments..
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
and later on, when you have
better clips, that editor might give you a short feature.
|
|
bravo6
|
Right now I don't mind writing
articles/stories that don't sell. I try to have all of them critiqued, and
those that don't end up selling I put on my website. Why do I write with no
chance of selling? To improve my writing. Knowing I need improvement.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Well, let's face it we ALL
write to get better, but me, I'd rather write fiction that might not sell.
If I'm going to write nonfiction, I"m going to write it for pay, thank
you. :-)
|
|
mbvoelker
|
More sources -- just about any
topic on earth is discussed on an internet forum or email group. Try
Yahoogroups -- you can search by your topic. Most groups I've been involved
with welcome people with questions.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Yes, those are around. You may
find, though, that you have to winnow through hours of chaff to find
nuggets of fact.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
One thing they ARE useful for
is contacts. If you follow a Yahoo group for a bit, you can find the real
experts who post there, as opposed to the interested nonexperts, and email
them directly.
|
|
smeagol
|
Mary, I am currently under
contract working on a nonfiction book for a publishing house. I think some
of the chapters/chapter topics in this book would make nice nonfiction
articles. Is it a good idea or okay to try to sell some of them to mags as
NF articles?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Sure, smeagol.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Book rights and serial rights
don't overlap, although I wouldn't lift them word for word from your
book...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
but then, I can't imagine that
a word for word lift from a book length work would suit a magazine.
|
|
jlsterrett
|
I am trying to find a market for
articles on homelessness. I can't seem to find one. Am I not looking hard
enough?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Probably, jls.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Learning to market is a fun
and creative skill to master.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Fun because the best way is to
take yourself to the nearest bookstore with a big magazine section, buy
yourself a coffee at the coffee bar, and start browsing.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Bring a notepad or handheld
tape recorder.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
List titles and your
one-minute take on who the readers are and what the magazine wants.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Then make an index for
yourself and if you have something you think you could sell to one or two
or three of those magazines...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
go buy a couple of copies and
read them, analyzing them for content, style, slant, and voice.
|
|
gail
|
Babbles asks: Where do we begin
with a long list of interests?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Start with what you want to
write soon. Select markets for those interests, and buy issues.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Remember that one
interest...say, dogs...will net you a host of potential markets.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I can find five to ten
potential dog-article magazines just off the top of my head...and more in
the local PetCo!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Or veterinarian's office!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
And JLS...ask yourself who
will be interested in those homeless articles.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Good Christians? Liberal
middle class individuals?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
What magazines do they read?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Go find them and take a look.
Do you find articles on charities, good works, people in need there at all?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If so, then it's a good
market.
|
|
jr souza jr
|
JLS there is a paper known as
sparechange news that deals with the topic. They could be a source
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
And look around in your
hometown.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
There are several restaurants
in the Portland area, for example, that offer a lot of small, alternative
press magazines to customers to read.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If I wanted to write for that
market, I'd stop by there and do my browsing.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
This is the Tuesday Forum with
me, Mary Rosenblum, LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction writer. If you're
new here, remember that you need to click on the 'Ask a Question' button or
the 'word bubble' next to the red question mark at the top of the screen,
or use the ask a question icon in order to ask a question. Your regular
'send' bar won't reach me! You can also type /ask in front of your question
to reach me.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Start with a little marketing
101 and you may be surprised at how inspired you become!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Your local library may offer a
wide selection of magazines, too, and have back issues on hand.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Practice that analysis.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Open the magazine. Read the
table of contents. Ask yourself... what is this issue interested in?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Fly fishing? Okay.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
So is it more about fly tying,
tackle, technical stuff, or is it more a travel mag...where to do, maybe
what flies to use, where to stay?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Those are VERY different
magazines and will require different slants for the most part.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Then ask yourself, who reads
this?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Young men? Middle aged men?
Fly fishing families?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
How can you tell?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
The ads, folks.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Those advertising people are
whizzes at targeting their ads to their readers. You want to know who reads
the magazine, look at the ads.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I had a very talented student
who wrote some wonderful travel magazines.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
He traveled to really extreme
areas on the globe and wanted to write for the extreme-travel mags.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
BUT I could not get him to
write in the style and voice these magazines wanted. The markets he chose
were written for young adults...twenties maybe..and the style was highly
dramatic..
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
with the narrator constantly
mentioning this or that close call or scary moment.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
His articles were introspective,
contemplative, slow in pace, almost languid, and his query letters
reflected that tone.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Not a good match, alas.
|
|
jan33
|
How could you find out who reads
true crime?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Fiction is a bit different,
jan.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
But the best way to find out
is to read the professional journal for that fiction group...for example
Mystery Writers of America's newsletter for mystery, HWA's newsletter for
horror, the Bulletin for SF and fantasy..
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I'm sure there's a True Crime
newsletter, although it does spill over into MWA's turf at times.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Reading in that genre should
tell you what tends to sell.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
YOu can figure out who's
reading the magazines by merely reading the articles, but the ads usually
make it obvious. :-)
|
|
jr souza jr
|
Do you have any experiance with
the Writers Market online service, if so do you feel it is a service worth
looking at?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I don't, souza.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I tend to like online market
lists more than in-print because you have such a lag in print lists between
the gathering of the details and the publishing of the book.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Some of them will give you a
trial membership
|
|
babbles
|
Mary, what about comparison
articles? such as flower shops or businesses faring due to the internet?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
This is the kind of article
that may require a certain amount of expertise, babbles.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Your editor will want to know
why YOU should write this article?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
He/she doesn't have time to
double check all your facts, so a bit of reassurance that you know what
you're doing will help.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
That is one where no real
expertise is needed...just good research. But if I were querying, I'd sure
be clear about how I did my research and why my conclusiion is valid.
|
|
speckledorf
|
I have WritersMarket Online...I
love it! It has consumer mags, trade pubs,..all sorts of markets, they are
updated daily and you can search by topic, genre or any variation you can
think of. I probably won't buy the 2005 book this year since I have the
online version.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
There you go. Speck, how much
does it cost, if you don't mind my asking?
|
|
jan33
|
"aks/ I know that many are
young women (at least according to who is reading at Crime Library) SO if I
know this, how do I use my "voice" with them. Do I
"see" them as I am writing?"
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
YOu can analyze fiction, and
for certain 'formula' genres like True Crime and Romance as well as the
subgenres of Mystery, you had BETTER analyze a few books!
|
|
dbamarsha
|
I use that, too. I think it is
per year.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Well, that's about what you'd
pay for the book.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Read the books, jan.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Pay attention to certain
details. Third person or first? Is the pace very brisk? Lots of action and
'gory details'? How much introspection?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
That sort of thing.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
And realize in any fiction
genre, you will get a lot of individual variation within the general
'limits' of the genre.
|
|
sailor
|
Writers' Market Online does
update daily, but they don't get to all listings within a year. I just
looked up an entry the the other day that showed "updated as of June,
2003".
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I doubt any online market will
update daily! Not for that price! They probably update as they get
information on a particular market.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Don't forget they send out
yearly info updates for the book, and in between, when they hear that
something has changed, they'll post it.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
At least I suspect that's how
it works.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
The main thing to keep in mind
about nonfiction is that you CAN write for it easily.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Do your homework at library or
bookstore and let the magazines inspire you.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
List for yourself everything
that you know anything about. And yes, you ALL know at least something
about a host of topics.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Think about who you know who
could be called an 'expert' and who you know who knows an 'expert' and
start thinking about articles that include an interview.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Don't be afraid to try for the
big markets if you get the perfect idea, but start small, too. Those small
editors are hungry and clips are clips.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Check out the small
fillers..the departments, tips, that sort of thing.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If the editor likes you enough
to publish you there, she'll remember you when you send in new query.
|
|
gail
|
"Gail-of-all-trades, but
master of none." I fear.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Ideal. You know enough to talk
knowlegibly to the experts, but will ask the right quesitons for your
readers.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You really can do it. :-) I
started in NF many years ago. The very first query letter I ever sent out
got me a monthy column.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I offered the editor something
that I felt the magazine was lacking, and he thought so, too.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Read a few issues of a
magazine and ask yourself...what is NOT in here? Then pitch THAT article in
a query.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Practice analyzing. You'll get
better and better at it.
|
|
babbles
|
I used to have a weekly column
for a local newspaper
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Good clip, babbles.
|
|
arfelin
|
Fiction writers are often
advised to write what you enjoy reading. Does that apply to writing NF?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Well, not really, arefelin.
Most serious NF writers I know are paying the bills.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
NF ...not personal
narrative...is more akin to journalism than fiction, in that your interest
in the topic is not real necessary as long as you can write about it in an
interesting way.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
The reason you are better off
to write what you read in fiction, is that you will intuitively know how
mystery, or sf, or romance is written...you read the form all the time.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Well, this has been a fun
Oregon hour!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
But I have TWO editors waiting
for the novel I'm working on and one does not keep editors waiting!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
So I need to get back to work.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I'll post the transcript in
the usual place:
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Writing Craft: Forum
Transcripts
|
|
babbles
|
got rejected nicely by GRIT
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
congratulations on the
rejection, babbles. Not nearly as nice as an acceptance, but the editor has
seen your name.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
That is good. :-)
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Have a good day, all!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Write well!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
See you tomorrow for our
casual chat...same time, same place
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Bye!
|