Money The Write Way a free eMagazine for writers of integrity *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ January 7, 2004 Volume 2 Number 4 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ To join our more than 4000 subscribers, and receive the FREE eBook, "So You Want to be a Travel Writer," click on: http://www.moneythewriteway.com It's FREE! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ In this issue: 1.) Letter From The Publisher---On The Home Front 2.) Ask an Expert/Questions and Answers 3.) COMP-ortunity of the month 4.) The Business of Writing by Duane Newcomb 5.) Editor's Pick/Reviews by Victoria Beninga 6.) The Art of Reviewing by Rose DiGrazia 7.) The Boast Post---Bragging Board of Writers Triumphs and Victories *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Money The Write Way eMagazine ISSN pending. Copyright 2003 Write Spirit Publishing. All rights reserved. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Start Comping today by purchasing our best selling eBook: "BEEN THERE---COMPED THAT!" Free Travel, Dining, and Entertainment, All for the Cost of Some Ink Available at: http://www.moneythewriteway.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ On The Home Front Carmel L. Mooney Another year has slipped away. Did you make every day count? Did you achieve your writing goals? As we go into a new beginning and a brand new year, have you set some goals for your writing and publishing in 2004? And more importantly, what will you do or put into place to ensure those goals are met. One of my personal mottos is: Strive for perfection and settle for excellence. I think this is a good one for our writing too. I challenge you this month to make clear-cut goals and resolutions that pertain to your writing and re-think the obstacles that hinder the accomplishment of those goals. Perhaps a personal motto for the year may help too. Happy holidays and writing blessings, Carmel *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ This week's newest COMP-ortunity Sorensen's All Season Resort Website: http://www.sorensensresort.com email: info@sorensensresort.com Address: 14255 Highway 88, Hope Valley, CA 96120 Phone: 530-694-2203, 800-423-9949 Contact: John and Patty Brisenden Description: Beautiful Scandinavian style resort in the Hope Valley near Lake Tahoe. Cross country skiing, nearby hot springs, hiking, fly fishing. Coverage desired: Print media coverage of extraordinary destination and outdoor activities. Prefers writers with any of the following: letter of assignment, or writing samples/clips for review Possible comp: Overnight stay. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ "Ask a Pro" Publishing/Comping/Writing Q&A "Your Questions---You Always Wanted To Ask," answered by professional writing consultant/coach/author/instructor, Carmel L. Mooney To ask Carmel a writing, publishing, or comping question, email her at: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com. Questions may be edited for length or content if necessary. Question: Can I get comps if I write for online publications just the same as printed ones? C. Jones Ely, Nevada Answer: Usually, yes. Most of the time the hotels, resorts, restaurants or whatever establishment you are trying to get a comp with, are more than happy for coverage in an online publication. There have been rare instances when I have heard that an establishment would like printed coverage more. I can honestly say, this has never happened to me, so I would not be too concerned. Some of my students have gotten thousand dollar comps and placed their review only in an online publication. Question: I just published an eBook. How can I market it quickly and cheaply? F. Tanaka Eagle Lake, California Answer: Some quick and frugal tips: press releases, web link swapping, local booksignings, review copies to eBook reviewers, and an ad in your email signature block. To ask Carmel a writing, publishing, or comping question, email her at: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com. Carmel Mooney is also available by phone and/or email for private consultation, editing, and coaching. Carmel has helped hundreds of writers achieve writing and publishing success. Email her at: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com or call her at: 916-205-4763 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ The Business Side of Writing Duane Newcomb How to Sell Rejected Material Rejected articles should be considered as part of your data bank. Believe it or not, those articles that most of us put back in the files can often be pulled out and sold. Here is the procedure I used successfully for many years. Recheck your writing: Make sure it is professional Look at your beginnings and endings. Check the organization, the theme or main subject, the mechanics of the article, the anecdotes, the statistics, the quotes, and the conformity of the article to the magazine's style. Watch for new developments Let's say you wrote an article on false child molestation cases being filed against husbands by wives going through a divorce who want to keep the husbands from getting custody of the children. You have details about a number of cases. For example, the police broke into the husband's house, handcuffed him, and took him off to jail. After a long process, the husband finally cleared himself in court. This has been done before, so your article gets turned down by a number of magazines. In this case you put it in file. Then the press begins to report on a number of cases of deliberate false accusation across the United States. This is the point where you pull out your article and send it out again. The public perception has changed and maybe now you can convince the editor that the subject is still important. Be alert for changes in the magazine's emphasis Magazines frequently change emphasis. One retirement magazine, for instance, changed their editorial offerings to include many more travel articles. As a result they are buying travel pieces from all over the country, Mexico and Canada. If you have rejected manuscripts that fit their new direction, send them back the minute you become aware of what's happening. Writers' magazines will frequently alert you to these changes. Watch the letters to the editors If you have written an article on how to walk your way to a healthy heart and the editor has turned it down, yet a few months later you notice a few letters from readers on walking, it's time to get it out again. If the readers are showing an interest, the editor will probably be in the market for an article on walking as exercise. Send it back. Look for a switch in editors Any time an editor leaves, it becomes a new ball game. Many times an article will be rejected by one editor, but the next one will think that same piece is great. This has happened to me many times. I once wrote an article for a well-known magazine. When the editor rejected it, he said he had lost the manuscript. I dropped him a short note to thank him, then I forgot about the piece. Much to my surprise, one day I received a letter from a new editor saying that one of his assistants found my article. He thought it would fit his new editorial policy and they would run the piece in an upcoming issue. In another case, I had written several articles for American Bicyclist and Motorcyclist that were published. They ordered three more but rejected them. A few months later I noticed a new editor's name on the masthead. I pulled all three pieces out of the file and sent them in. He purchased these immediately and asked for three more. My attitude now is that there is no such thing as a rejected article. It is just a manuscript that hasn't been sold yet. I have also learned not to take a single editor's opinion seriously. My motto is "the writer nearly always outlives an editor." The writer is going to be around a long time, but a lot of editors aren't. Although one editor might not like your piece, the next one may think you are the best writer he's ever seen. Be alert for changes in thinking among leaders in a field or industry. Any time the emphasis changes; you can sell articles that couldn't be sold before. At one time, most authorities thought the artificial heart had limited application. But then scientists developed one that solved many of the problems and received the support of the scientific community. At that point, articles on artificial hearts and their possibilities became in demand. These aren't all the changes that will affect the salability of your writing, but they are the major ones that will enable you to tell when to send back manuscripts that have made the rounds and just weren't taken at that particular time. Duane Newcomb is a literary consultant with 36 non-fiction books to his credit, over 5000 articles and more than 150 client books in print. He has taught article and non-fiction book courses at numerous colleges, universities and writer's conferences across the United States. Visit Duane Newcomb's "New" booksite: The Booksite offers a cornucopia of information on article writing, publishing and promotion of your nonfiction book. Be sure and check out the writers workshop and courses at the California Writer's Academy. www.californiawritersacademy.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ Editor's Pick Book, Magazine, Website, and e-Book Review Victoria Beninga, Editor This Month's Review: Writers BBS No matter how wonderful your friends and family are, there are times you just need to talk to another writer. Two great ways to meet other writers are through writing classes and writer's groups. A third option, which is very popular during these high-tech days, is an online writer's bulletin board service such as Writers BBS. Writers BBS offers critiques, workshops, challenges, fiction, non-fiction, memoir writing, mystery writing, poetry, romance, mystery, science fiction, young adult, children's writing, flash fiction, politics, gardening, cooking, and much more. You can join for free, or you can become a Writers BBS Gold Member for $15 and have access to many member-only services. To get to Writers BBS, go to . Victoria Beninga Publisher/Editor/Columnist, GOLD COUNTRY FAMILIES, a FREE e-mail newsletter and FREE eMagazine of Sierra Nevada Gold Country family-friendly activities, Associate Editor/Columnist, MONEY THE WRITE WAY, a FREE eMagazine for writers of integrity, *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Art of Reviewing Rose Di Grazia Writing and Reviewing Tips Ever wonder how to find places to write about? Well I do too sometimes. But here are some tips on how to find places. 1. Get in your car and drive around and see what is new as you drive aimlessly. Jot it down when you see a new restaurant. 2. Ask friends if they know of any new places in town. 3. Check out your local newspaper or free tabloids for new things to do. 4. Open up the phonebook. 5. Surf the Web. 6. Ask at the tourist bureau if there are any new places to visit. 6.Go to hotels and pick up guides about what is in and around your city or state. 7. Buy one of those discount ticket booklets with coupons for restaurants and hotels. 8. Walk around your neighborhood to see what has opened up. 9. Take a city bus around your town. 10. Remember seek and ye shall find a new place to eat or place to go. Rose Di Grazia is an accomplished restaurant reviewer and travel writer who lives in Texas. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ The Boast Post Don't be modest-we applaud you! Whether it's an assignment victory, a publishing accomplishment, comp, or a writing goal achieved, we'd love to hear it. Please include your full name or initials, and your city and state. Send your boast in 75 words or less to: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com (may be edited for length or content) Boast: In Feb. 2004 a book entitled "True Blue" by Randy Sutton is being published by St. Martin's Press. There are 54 police authors in the book, including some officers who were inside the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. My story, "The Emotional Switch" is included in "True Blue." The book is a benefit for NY Port Police and NYPD families. Any profit goes to the Widow's and Orphans Funds. Special Forces (ret.) Loren Christensen is compiling a new book titled, "Warrior's Speak." I have four short stories accepted in that book. My second book "Police Use of Force Case Law, Instructor's Manual" is going to a Second Edition. Publisher is Varro Press www.varropress.com or the book is available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble (bn.com) or on order through any bookstore. A book entitled "Paradigm of the Moral Warrior" which I co-authored with Dave Rose, has been sent to our publisher. The Introduction and a comp endorsement were written by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (a Pulitzer Prize nominated author.) We have two international companies who are interested in helping us distribute it. I'm really excited about this work. Rocky Warren (Sgt. ret.), California www.rockywarren.com Boast: I got published in the November issue of Grit Magazine. I took your course last year and took your advice to heart and sent an article to Grit. It took eight months for Grit to publish the article and photos, but it was sure nice to receive that check in the mail! Thank you again for such a wonderful course. My real success will come when I've been able to get my first "comped" story. I'll let you know when that happens. Again, thank you for your great teaching method and resources. They really work! N. Russell Chico, CA Boast: Have developed and been giving a course on writing at the University of Western Australia - 'Writing Fiction for Worldwide Markets'. It's proved very popular and it's great fun. Lots of people need practical information on how to get their work published, tax issues, character development, how to find an agent, etc. Authors need help on the practical aspects of writing as well as the creative side. L. Chambers Australia *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Websites for Writers! ---Hazel Nieves, expert on Internet Marketing and Online business success, is owner of Web Development Company, Sierra Technology Solutions, Inc. She has 20 years experience in sales, marketing, and technology and is a committed crusader in helping take the confusion out of taking your business online. You can contact Hazel at 530-367-2915 or Customerservice@sierratechnologysolutions.com Special Offer! Writers Special E-biz Website Package Turn-key Package Includes: *5 Custom Pages *Shopping Cart (up to 10 products) *Secure Server *One year hosting service *Uses your own domain *Up to 15 Email accounts *Attractive Professional designs to choose from *Copyright Statement page Special Price: $ 600.00 complete Get started today with your Affordable Professional E-business website here: http://www.sierratechnologysolutions.com /writers/writers_special.htm Learn more from Hazel at: http://www.sierratechnologysolutions.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW So many of you have asked and we have delivered! They are finally here! Online writing courses by Carmel Mooney and Duane Newcomb at: www.californiawritersacademy.com Learn from Carmel Mooney how to turn your writing into free travel, dining, and entertainment. Learn the secrets from your home in your spare time, on your schedule. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ It's FREE---List your inn, resort, restaurant, entertainment venue, business, or destination seeking written coverage---contact the publisher: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Money The Write Way eMagazine TO SUBSCRIBE: Simply go to: http://www.moneythewriteway.com/free_emagazine.htm and check the SUBSCRIBE BOX (You'll also get a free eBook gift as our way of saying thank you.) TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Simply go to: http://www.moneythewriteway.com/free_emagazine.htm and check the UNSUBSCRIBE box Changing email addresses? Simply go to: http://www.moneythewriteway.com/free_emagazine.htm and subscribe under your new address *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Have something you'd like to offer more than 4000 writers and authors? Place YOUR ad in Money the Write Way today! It's affordable and effective. Email for rates and details: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Write Spirit Publishing P.O. Box 3405 Auburn, CA 95604 Contact us at: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com We welcome your: comments/suggestions/requests/contributions Carmel L. Mooney, Publisher Victoria Beninga, Associate Editor http://www.moneythewriteway.com Should the links we provide not work, this may mean your E-mail program doesn't like our code. Simply go directly to our current online archived issue at: http://www.moneythewriteway.com You may freely distribute this eMag to friends, discussion lists, and writing groups as long as the issue is included in its entirety. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~