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Coffee Break for Writers Monthly E-zine |
In This Issue: • Straight Talk From the Editor • Feature: "How to be a Comma-Kazie" • Paying Markets for Writers • Writing and Publishing News • No Entry Fee Writing Contests • Writing Exercise • Café Fun • Answers to Last Month's "Cafe Fun" • Legal Information • Advertising Information • Suggestions • Feedback • Brewing for January 2008 Straight Talk From the Editor First, I would like to start this edition of Coffee Break for Writers by thanking all of you who e-mailed last month to let me know that you would keep my family and me in your prayers. The family situation that put a damper on last month's issue is much better now and I'm thankful. So, again, thank you! Now, on to business ... You may notice I removed some of the columns from "In This Issue." However, they're not gone for good. I will bring them back when there's something to report for them. I saw no reason for them to clutter up each issue when there were no reports for them. Therefore, when someone sends a freelance writing question or sends information about success they've found with a paying market or writing contest that was listed in Coffee Break for Writers, then I'll bring the column back for that month. As for the "Observances and Holidays," it will return once I've finished all the months for it. Finally, I had an interview planned for this edition of Coffee Break for Writers, but the interviewee hasn't sent her answers back to my questions yet. Once she does, though, you can expect to read an interview with a successful Constant Content writer. This lady has sold over 500 articles on Constant Content and agreed to share some of her secrets with us. I will be following up with her in the next few days to see if she's had time to get to my questions, and you can rest assured that I'll keep you informed. Enjoy the rest of the e-zine, and may you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Never give up on your dreams — work toward them, Misti Sandefur How to be a Comma-Kazie By Cassandra Senior The comma has always been a punctuation favorite, used at least as much as its cousin the period. It might be because it is not as flashy as its punchy friend the dash. It might be the comma's quiet elegance. It might be the fact that commas seem so unthreatening. It might, and let's face it probably does, come down to the fact that without commas our sentences would be quite indiscernible. Since the comma is so important in writing, it pains me to see inexperienced writers and professional writers alike who think a comma is like confetti. They are not little hooks to be placed wherever writers deem necessary. They are also not a way to spice up an otherwise punctuation barren blob of text. Commas come with rules just like every other form of punctuation and learning those rules should not only be the job of an editor or copywriter. I know that we are writers not mathematicians, but don't head for the hills as I tell you I'm going to present a little formula here. No actual numbers are involved, I promise. What I want to point out is that clean copy saves editing time and saving editing time saves money. If editors love money, then your clean copy will beat out the mistake ridden one for publication, all other things being equal. Now doesn't that make you want to learn to use a comma? Here are a few of the AP's rules for comma usage: Use a comma to separate elements of a series, but do not put a comma before a conjunction: The flag is red, white and blue. Use a comma before a conjunction if a conjunction is also an element of the series: I bought celery, eggs, and pork and beans. Use a comma to separate equal adjectives, but do not use a comma to separate noun phrases: a fur coat. a lovely, green dress. Use a comma to set off nonessential clauses. Use a comma with an introductory phrase: When he arrived in New York, he tried to get a taxi. Use a comma to introduce direct quotes and before an attribution. One rule I suggest you ignore? Place a comma where you naturally pause. OK, it is an unofficial rule, but it is still one that gets cited a lot. I say this because it tends to lead to commas being sprinkled rather than placed delicately. If you consider that everyone has different speech patterns, you realize that we stop to breath, swallow or give dramatic emphasis at points where commas should not go according to AP style. For example: Returning that library book late [pause] will give you fines. Placing a comma where that slight pause is would break a cardinal rule of grammar. Do not separate a subject from its predicate using a comma. If these rules seem second-nature to you, kudos. I feel grammar is not being taught in schools like it used to be, so I congratulate your teachers or your self-motivation on a job well done. I myself was not taught a lick of grammar until I took an elective writing course my senior year of high school. Even in college, I only received grammar instruction in my journalism classes. That leaves a lot of folks out there who think they know but really have no idea. So take these rules and spread the word to the masses, and from now on, only get your confetti from party stores. Cassandra Senior is a senior journalism and political science student at a liberal arts university in Illinois. Along with the freelance gig, she has just recently started as a stringer for COSMOgirl! Magazine. Paying Markets for Writers Send your paying market to Coffee Break for Writers, and we'll post it in our January 2008 issue. There is only one requirement: you MUST pay writers at a rate of $.10 or more per word or a flat rate of $25 or more. It won't cost you a dime to have your call for writers placed in Coffee Break for Writers. Country Woman "Country Woman is a bimonthly magazine for women who live in or long for the country. It is a positive, upbeat, entertaining and informative publication." Seeking: craft projects, profiles of rural women, health and lifestyle articles, etc. Payment information: Pays up to $150 upon publication. Fiery-Foods and Barbecue Magazine "We cover all aspects of the chile peppers, fiery-foods and barbecue." Seeking: articles, photos and recipes related to fiery-foods. Payment information: Pays anywhere from $250 up to $350 as well as a 25 percent kill fee. Her Life "Her Life is a vibrant full-color magazine that reaches women everywhere." Seeking: articles on women's health, beauty, lifestyle, parenting and other articles of interest to today's woman. Payment information: Pays $.10 per word. Insight Magazine "Insight articles generally are written by professional freelance writers." Seeks: Articles focused on a specific theme. Payment information: Pays $200 for first-time professional freelance writers then anywhere from $200 up to $750 thereafter. Writing and Publishing News Have you launched a new e-zine, newsletter, magazine, blog or Web site for writers? Has your publication made editorial changes? Are you currently running a contest for writers that doesn't require an entry fee? Will you be hosting an event for writers, or do you know of an upcoming event for writers? Send us your press release and your news could appear in the next edition of Coffee Break for Writers! Editorial Comings and Goings Meredith Corp. welcomed Jennifer Mirsky as their new editor-in-chief for the women's lifestyle content in November. Mirsky now oversees the interactive content for Ladies' Home Journal, More, Fitness and other women's magazines by the Meredith Interactive division. [Source: Des Moines Register] Men's Journal named Charles Coxe as their new articles editor. Publishing News In a press release on December 2, USA Travel Magazine announced that they would be launching a print edition of their magazine some time in 2008. iKiteMag, a free online power kiting magazine, launched their first edition in November 2007. iKiteMag features articles about power kiting. No Entry Fee Writing Contests Would you like to add award-winning writer/author to your name? Then by all means, check out the no entry fee writing contests below! You never know, you just may win. If you do win one of the contests below, let us know about it so you can earn a spot in our Success Café column. We love to know when our e-zine has helped you achieve another level of success! Are you running a contest for writers that does not require an entry fee? If so, send us a press release about the contest, and we'll place it in the next edition of Coffee Break for Writers. Be sure to include a URL to the contest information as well as the deadline for entries. Kathy Fish Fellowship Category: Flash fiction stories (1000 words or less). Prizes: $500 and publication in Smoke Long. Deadline: December 15, 2007 Life in the USA Categories: Articles and essays related to the American life. Prizes: $500 for 1st place and $100 to five 2nd place winners. Deadline: June 30, 2008 or when Life in the USA publishes at least 100 sections from their entrants, whichever is later. Little Goody Two Shoes Contest Category: Inspirational short stories about a kindhearted person you know. Prizes: $500 and publication. Deadline: December 31, 2007 Northwest Perspectives Essay Contest Category: Essays that address ideas affecting the Northwest. Prizes: For their open category: $750 for 1st place, $300 for 2nd place and $100 for 3rd place. For their student category: $100 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place and $75 for 3rd place. Deadline: January 31, 2008 Writing Exercise Surf to the Seventh Sanctum Generator™ and select a story to generate. Once you find a story you'd like to tackle, write it then submit it to paying markets. Have fun! Café Fun Unscramble the five words in this month's writing-related word scramble. Hint: All the words relate to poetry. The January 2008 edition of Coffee Break for Writers will reveal the correct answers. Good luck! 1. EVERESFER (two words) 2. MCLKSREII 3. SCIAVRLYESEBL (two words) 4. LSLSBEALY 5. IHKAU Answers to Last Month's "Café Fun" Across: 1. Contractions 5. Less 8. Fewer 9. Adjective 10. Which 11. Who 13. Pronouns Down: 1. Copyright 2. Fragment 3. Plural 4. Essay 6. Verb 7. Semicolon 12. Noun Legal Information Coffee Break for Writers has made every effort to be factual with regard to the content and information provided in this e-zine; however, your results may vary. Coffee Break for Writers accepts no liability of any kind for any losses or damages caused or alleged to be caused — either directly or indirectly — from the use of the information generated within this e-zine. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form — either whole or in part — without the written permission of the copyright owner. Violations of this copyright notice will be enforced to the fullest extent of the law. If you're interested in any article published in this e-zine, you must contact the editor of Coffee Break for Writers. When inquiring about an article, make sure to mention the title and author of the article. Upon receipt of your inquiry, Coffee Break for Writers will forward your request to the copyright owner of the article or articles. Advertising Information Coffee Break for Writers e-zine is an advertisement-free publication. Therefore, we do not place any advertise- ments in this section of our Website. However, we will accept advertisements on other sections of this Web site as long as they relate to the writing or publishing industry. We offer advertising at an affordable rate. To find out more about our advertising, visit Affordable Advertising. Once there, you will also find our demographics. Suggestions If you have any suggestions at all for future issues of Coffee Break for Writers, send them our way. It can be suggestions for articles, new columns or etc. Feedback We also welcome your comments on anything in this issue, past issues or future issues. Don't be shy, send your letter to the editor. We value every word. Brewing for Next Month (January 7, 2008): • Review of "The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book" by Patricia Fry (second edition) • Review of a new and very helpful Web site for writers • Feature article: "Pare a Phrase to Paraphrase" by Misti Wolanski • ... and much more! |