Money The Write Way a free eMagazine for writers of integrity *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ July 7, 2004 Volume 2 Number 9 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 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 Boast Post---Bragging Board of Writers Triumphs and Victories *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Money The Write Way eMagazine ISSN pending. Copyright 2004 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 You know things seem to come in cycles and a few weeks ago I was unpleasantly amazed at how in a week or two I came in contact with several differerent individuals in all different occupations, who lacked integrity and ethics and could not keep their word. These ranged from editors, publishers, contractors, to a B & B owner, to insurance people. I am so glad I was raised with values and the old fashioned motto that you keep your word always--- unless of an emergency, of course. So I just want to remind you all that in the writing business we need to keep these values alive and well. People read my book and take my travel writing and comping seminars and still ask: "Can I ask for a comp if I really don't know that I will sell the story?" My answer is always the same: "Of course not. Create an assignment for yourself if you have trouble getting one. Write an E-book, or start your own newsletter but never, ever, promise or imply something you can't deliver." When it comes to interviews, be accurate. Don't misquote people, assume things, or print inaccurate or embellished information. Treat editors with respect. Keep deadlines and deliver what you promise, when promised. Conduct business ethically. Keep good records, follow licensing and tax laws. Doesn't anyone have a conscience anymore? Follow your conscience. Treat others as you would want to be treated in business and otherwise. I do believe that this really does pay off. I can think back to times that I got clients or assignments I never expected just because someone had referred me as being reliable. I had a business associate and friend say the other day, "You know Carmel, if you say something, you are one of the few people I can really count on to do exactly what you say and be where you say you will be when you say you will be." I hope that's how I'm remembered one day as a friend, a mother, and a writer. So don't get discouraged by the turkeys...continue to do what's right. It will pay off! May your summer be full of pleasure and writing, Carmel *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ This week's newest COMP-ortunity Reno Hilton Website: http://www.renohilton.com email: lantripj@renohilton.com Address: 2500 East Second Street Reno. NV 89595 Phone: 775-789-2000 Contact: Jocelyn Lantrip Description: Northern Nevada's most complete resort destination. Fine dining, Family fun center, lake top driving range, bowling cnter, and much more. Coverage desired: Promote the hotel, destination, amenities, etc. Prefers writers with any of the following: Writing samples/clips for review. Possible comp: Overnight accomodations when available, possible meals and entertainment. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ "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: Do I need a college degree to secure writing assigments? Z. Stevenson Kanab, Utah Answer: Although I have several college degrees, I had none when I first began selling my writing successfully. My experience is no, you do not. I have however, heard of cases, where individuals I know have had resistence in securing in-house writing jobs such as a journalist for a newspaper without a degree. But I have known some journalists and even authors with nothing more than a high school dipolma and excellent writing skill. I believe a lack of degree should not stop you at all. Question: I'm a mom of five children, three under the age of 5, is it even possible to accomplish any writing under these circumstances? M.Dolan Toronto, Ontario Answer: Absolutely. But I can honestly say you will have to be very organized and disciplined. It took me three kids to get it down to a real science and learn lots of tricks along with beefing up my patience and sense of humor to keep my sanity along the way. Try writing during naps, swapping with other moms for some work time, laptops while watching kids play can be helpful, and above all organize, organize, organize. Throw in a load of laundry, get the kids started on a craft, or homework right next to you while you write. The bad news...you may have to do some writing early in the morning or late at night on the days when all else fails and it will sometimes. But yes, you can do it. I have and lots of other moms I know have too. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 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 What to Include in Major Magazine Queries (a review) Like all queries, a query to a major market is a selling letter and should be restricted, if possible, to one page. This query has a two-fold purpose. To convince an editor that you have a good idea for his or her magazine and to obtain the editor's confidence in your ability to handle the article. A good query contains these points: The title of the article, The Hook, A description of the subject, How you will handle the subject, Your qualifications, A request for the sale The Title The title should help create interest in the article. This means you should try to show an angle (preferably a unique angle) which convinces an editor that your article might fit the magazine's format and be of interest to readers. Examples: "How Not to Lose Friends Over Money," "Great Ways to Earn $100,000," "Housewives in Space," "Kidney Dialysis, A Taxpayer's Nightmare," and "Living It Up in Debt." The Hook This is designed to snag the editor's interest and to make him or her read on. This is the lead paragraph and should have a solid impact. In most cases you should limit this "hook" to one paragraph. It can be written as a question, an anecdote, a striking statement, a statistical summary, or any number of other forms, but it often relates to a problem to be solved or offers something unusual or striking about a subject. Example 1: "In Oregon, a nine-year-old girl was beaten about the head. She is still recovering, six years later. In New York, a teacher with an axe terrorized a classroom. Isolated incidents? Not according to…" Example 2: "Did you know that your feet will carry you some 65,000 miles during your lifetime? That they contain one-fourth of all the bones in your body? That they balance, turn, and spring with perfect precision in every movement and position? Our feet are truly priceless parts of our bodies that cannot be replaced. Yet according to experts, foot disorders appear to be one of the most neglected health problems today." A Description of the Subject Don't suggest a general area like personal finance, consumerism, or the liability insurance problem. As the Editor of Woman's Day points out. "It has to be more persuasive than that." Propose a specific idea that has a main point and an angle that will interest the magazine. What do you want your readers to get out of this? What is your point of view? Pro? Con? Objective? This should be covered in one or two paragraphs. It should offer an overall look at the subject along with the angle and also present a specific example if it is appropriate. Example: Nobody knows how many there are for sure. Americans with their lives destroyed by false charges of child abuse—physical, emotional, and sexual. Douglas Besharov, founding director of the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, says "The system today is making 750,000 inappropriate investigations a year." The false charges are bundled vaguely into Beshanov's catchall figure. But it is significant that a 1997 grass roots movement of victims has spread like a prairie fire with 160 VOCAL chapters in forty-seven states.. Besharov, who helped write the first mandatory child abuse reporting laws, now compares the system he helped create to a 911 emergency system which cannot distinguish between a murder and littering. How You Intend to Handle This Subject First you should give a quick overview of what you intend to include in your article. Then give the sources of your material stating clearly whether the article will be based on your own experience, statistical reports, interviews with authorities, scientific studies or another source. Example: "Using information from several major studies and from interviews with nationally known authorities. I will explain the advantage of school-based health clinics, show how parents can help kids develop new attitudes and feelings, explain how community programs are helping pregnant teenagers stay in school, give examples of how the media can help, show parents how to arrange group programs that help improve communication between themselves and their children, and offer sources for more information." Your Qualifications Editors generally expect to be sold on your qualifications to write this piece. You don't have to have a degree in the subject to be an authority. If it is an article on Italian cooking, for instance, the fact that you've collected Italian recipes for years, have become known for your Italian cooking, and understand the subject backward and forward are perfectly good qualifications. Go back through your life and answer these questions. Does your present or former job give you any special credentials? Do you have any education in this field? Have you taken classes that qualify you to write on this subject? Classes in family counseling could qualify you to write pieces on family problems. An advanced degree also helps give you the status of an expert. Do you have any specialized interests or hobbies? Maybe you garden, collect coins, have clipped news stories and articles on one particular celebrity for several years, climb mountains, or specialize in cheesecake recipes. All of these help contribute to your expertise in particular fields. Example: "I have worked for five years as the only female mechanic in a garage; I have also taught several courses in auto mechanics for women and have written a number of articles on this and related subjects." Sometimes a writer will list some of the articles they have written and even include a photocopy of a printed article. This is okay if the articles have something to do with the topic you are writing. If the articles are on another subject simply say, "I have written a number of articles for other publications. Don't tell the editor anything about yourself that doesn't relate to the article you intend to write. Request The Sale "If you're interested, I'd be glad to send the article on speculation." Here, on speculation means that you will send the article on an approval basis. You can also use the phrase "please let me know about this." Be sure to slant your query directly into the magazine's focus. With Popular Science, for instance emphasize the latest developments. With Cosmopolitan, bear down on how to find a man and be slightly flamboyant. Read each magazine carefully to see how your query relates to that magazine's audience. This system, while requiring some care and study, will result in a higher number of sales than almost any other method. Try it and let me know. 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 writing at numerous universities. Duane Newcomb invites all article writers to join him in a "How to Sell Every Article You Write" California Writer's Academy workshop in Grass Valley California, September Saturday 25, 2004. This hands on workshop runs from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Bring an 1100 to 1500 word manuscript to be critiqued. Limit 10 writers. Sign up or read more at: www.bookforce.bizland.com/californiawritersacademy/id43.html *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~ Editor's Pick Book, Magazine, Website, and e-Book Review Victoria Beninga, Editor This Month's Review: A Writer's Guide to Magazine Articles for Book Promotion and Profit, by Patricia L. Fry This book is packed with information for a wide variety of writers, from the writers who dream of writing their first magazine article to the writers who already have books published and wish to promote them through magazine articles. Patricia L. Fry, in her well-organized style, begins with the basics of helping writers determine what motivates them. She also offers tips on how to get started as a writer, get article ideas, gather resources, study the market, write query letters, handle waiting and rejections, and more. Article-writing basics, including research, illustrating, interviews, rights, and reprints are covered. Advice on the important aspects of the business side of writing is also given. For those who already have a book published, helpful information on promoting the book is offered, including how to get your book reviewed and how to write news releases. Patricia L. Fry appeals to the imperfect, human aspect of her readers, as when she states, "Either learn to ignore household clutter or revamp your schedule so that it all gets done. Most successful writers, who can't afford a housekeeper (and that's most of us), eventually lower their housekeeping standards." To order "A Writer's Guide to Magazine Articles for Book Promotion and Profit," go to Copyright 2004, Victoria Beninga Victoria Beninga Publisher/Editor/Columnist, GOLD COUNTRY FAMILIES, an Online Magazine and E-mail Newsletter of Sierra Nevada Gold Country family-friendly local activities and getaways, http://www.goldcountryfamilies.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ 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 from our faithful subscribers. Please include your full name or initials, and your city and state. Send your boast in 100 words or less to: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com (may be edited for length or content) ~*~ Boast: Perhaps you have read my story Crossing the Bridge -- see first paragraphs below: I had my heart surgery when I was 5 not long after the surgery was first tried at JohnsHopkins Hospital in 1944. I was a "blue baby" and had the procedure conceived by Drs. Blalock and Taussig, assisted by Vivien Thomas at San Francisco in 1946 as the 72 surgery. HBO is running a wonderful movie this month called Something The Lord Made about this pioneering surgery, the first heart surgery. The link is copy and paste in your browser or look up the times on HBO. No doubt it will be out in DVD by Christmas. My story was published in Angel On My Shoulder, March 2004 by Fair Wind Press and is available at Amazon and other bookstores. The year I was 34, I developed an aneurysm on the shunt that supplied blood to my heart and had to have surgery which completely repaired my heart -- in the space of some 30 years an impossible chance to live became another possible chance to live due to modern medical science. The first surgeries were performed on dogs; I knew that and have always loved dogs because of their unknowing love and courage for humans and for me, especially. If you see the movie, let me know what you think. I would love to hear from you. Crossing the Bridge By RD Larson My grandma gave me a calendar picture when I was little. A beautiful good angel was shown shepherding a boy and girl across a bridge. It had been in her house and I loved it. When it was a new year, she gave it to me. My Mama tacked it up by my bed. Every night when I said my prayers, I would look at the angel and the children and think about how much God must love us to send angels to guide us. I knew all about it because my Mama told me that everyone had a guardian angel. She said that my angel was very special because I was born with a hole in my heart. The doctors had told my Mama and my Pop that there wasn't much of a chance for me to have a normal life and if I lived it would be a miracle. My mother had to give me oxygen and prop me up with pillows and I couldn't walk because of my weak heart. RD Larson Washington State ~*~ Boast #1 - Larry James was featured in the June/July 2004 issue of Modern Bride magazine. Page 254 features an article called, "Lessons in Pillow Talk." Larry is a professional speaker, author, relationship & author/speaker coach with lots of great relationship stuff at: http://www.CelebrateLove.com ~*~Boast #2 - Professional speaker, author, relationship & author/speaker coach, Larry James just launched a new Website especially for authors and speakers at: - Lots of tips, books, resources and more. Larry is a shameless self-promoter (with finesse) and has successfully published 4 books. "How to Really Love the One You're With" was featured in an interview on ABC TV's "The View" with Barbara Walters. I enjoy your newsletter. I'm adding it to: tonight. Please respond to: LarryJames@CelebrateLove.com Celebrate Love! Larry James ~*~ Boast I spent Mother's Day weekend in the Dunsmuir area. I comped a wilderness cabin one night, a railroad resort one night, and another resort another night. This is my second weekend that I have comped and I love it. I finally wrote my articles from my last weekend comped in March in the Napa/Santa Rosa area. Tracy C. Auburn, CA *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 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 Turnkey 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 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Now you can access invaluable writing information at: www.californiawritersacademy.com http://www.californiawritersacademy.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Receive a free copy of Marco Polo Magazine. This is a great magazine to read or write for. Call: 727-735-9455 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ It's FREE ---List your inn, resort, restaurant, entertainment venue, business, or destination seeking written coverage---contact the publisher: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ www.travelingadventureswithchildren.com is looking for writers to submit travel stories. For more details write Kim Lopez at: marketing@carriagehousepublishing.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. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~