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Coffee Break for Writers Monthly E-zine |
In This Issue: Straight Talk From the Editor Feature: "Find Time to Write (An Acrostic)" Book Review: "Purple Snowflake Marketing" Questions and Answers About Freelance Writing Paying Markets for Writers Success Cafι Writing and Publishing News No Entry Fee Writing Contests Writing Exercise Observances and Holidays (Ideas Included) Cafe Fun Answers to Last Month's "Test Your Grammar" Legal Information Advertising Information Suggestions Feedback Brewing for Next Month Straight Talk From the Editor A recent blog post took me back in thought to when I first began freelance writing, many moons ago. He talked about what it was like trying to get writing gigs without clips for a writing portfolio. I recalled those days, and his post even inspired me to write an article, because back then I searched and searched for an article on how to build a writing portfolio, but I never found one. Of course when I first started writing, I didn't have the Internet. Anyway, I wrote the article that night and it has since been published. So, if you're a freelance writer just starting out or looking to build your writing portfolio, then I'd like to invite you to read my article, "Tips to Jump-Start Your Writing Porfolio." If you're currently subscribed to this e-zine, please continue reading for an important announcement. To keep our subscriber list spam-free, we now have an e-zine host. Therefore, we need you to enter your information to resubscribe so that we can have you confirm your e-mail address. If you don't resubscribe through the form below, you won't receive notification each month when the new edition of Coffee Break for Writers has been published online, nor will you receive any of our new call for article announcements. If you've subscribed on or after October 1, 2007 then you do not have to resubscribe, because you've already confimed your subscription. We apologize for any inconvience, but we want to make sure we're following all the rules, because we certainly don't want to send anyone something they never requested. Resubscribing and confirming your e-mail address will only take a few minutes of your time ... I promise. Finally, you may notice that our "Test Your Grammar" column is not in this month's edition of Coffee Break for Writers, and this is because we have decided that we won't be publishing this column any longer. It seems our "Cafe Fun" column is more popular than the "Test Your Grammar" column, so we will continue with "Cafe Fun" instead. Enjoy the rest of the e-zine, and have a happy and safe Halloween! Never give up on your dreams work toward them, Misti Sandefur Find Time to Write (An Acrostic) By Kathleen T. Dillenbeck F - Forget Feeble Excuses Examine your reasons for NOT writing. Ask yourself: Are they just flimsy excuses? Am I trying to conceal my fear of failure? Am I just being lazy? Would I accept such explanations from someone else? Be honest. Confront your weaknesses. Concentrate on your strengths. I - Identify Impending Interruptions Brainstorm a list of probable interruptions. Then, strategize solutions. Will the phone or doorbell ring? Turn on the answering machine and ignore the doorbell. Might well-meaning family or friends interrupt? Hang a "Do Not Disturb" sign on your office door. Be firm with your family and friends. Be even more resolute with yourself. N - Neglect Non-essentials Consider your activities in light of your priorities. Be merciless in weeding out non-essentials such as too much television. Strive for balance. Recognize that while everyone needs a break occasionally, the more time you devote to writing the more likely you are to succeed. D - Declare Your Determination Voice your intention to write on a regular basis. Say it to yourself, to each household member, and to someone you respect and would not want to disappoint. Ask them to support you and review your progress. Knowing that another might inquire about your success will increase your incentive to follow your schedule and write. T - Thwart Time Thieves Time thieves can steal our lives and our livelihood. Before sitting down at your desk, prepare any drinks or snacks you might want. Once you have started writing, stay in your seat. Keep a notepad handy for recording any thoughts not directly pertaining to your writing. Don't allow yourself to be side-tracked by even such worthy activities as filing paperwork and organizing your work area. When your fingers are on the keyboard, keep them there. I - Invest in the Important Since writing is a priority, carve out blocks of time for writing on a regular basis. In your planner/organizer or on a calendar, make an appointment with yourself and a character in your book. If you are writing a non-fiction piece, make the appointment with your topic or chapter title. In this way, when someone requests your presence, you can truthfully say that you already have another appointment. M - Mandate A Minimum Establish a minimum, realistic amount of time and stick to it. You can always write longer if you want. Even 15 minutes per day is almost two hours each week. The saying "practice makes perfect" achieved its clichι status because it is absolutely true. Be faithful to that minimum time allocation. Your brain will become accustomed to this routine and be primed to work when you sit down to write. E - Examine Your Environment Assess your work area. Are you avoiding your writing because of a subconscious lack of comfort? Does your chair provide the proper support for long sessions at your desk or computer? Is the lighting adequate? Are your computer, keyboard and mouse in the proper position ergonomically? Are the appropriate tools close at hand? Find time today to begin putting these tips into action, either one a day or one a week. Before long, you will notice a difference in your attitude toward writing and in how much writing you accomplish. Kathy Dillenbeck is a soon-to-be-retired computer programmer/analyst who lives in
Thonotosassa, Fla. She is working on her second novel, while shopping her first:
"The Ghost of Gang Mills." She has had articles published in Lost Treasure magazine's
Treasure Cache/Treasure Factsand in Palm Prints. Book Review: "Purple Snowflake Marketing" By Misti Sandefur David and Lillian Brummet's "Purple Snowflake Marketing How To Make Your Book Stand Out In A Crowd" is filled with over 80 pages of marketing information for authors. Not only do the Brummet's cover the basics of book marketing, but they also reveal some unique book marketing techniques you may not know about. Some of the contents you'll discover within the pages of "Purple Snowflake Marketing How To Make Your Book Stand Out In A Crowd" include when and how to get a review, how to market on online, how to target and build an audience, how to market offline, how to write an effective ad, what a press release is, how to create a successful event, how to track your marketing and so much more. In addition to all of the book marketing information that this husband and wife team unveil in their e-book, they list several resources for writers as well as a sample of a book review, query letter, press release, filler article, interview questions and sample images of bookmarks and business cards. If you're looking for a book to help guide you through all of the steps of an effective book marketing plan, then I highly recommend that you add "Purple Snowflake Marketing How To Make Your Book Stand Out In A Crowd" to your bookshelf today! Questions and Answers About Freelance Writing Well, it seems this month no questions were sent in. Therefore, there are no questions to answer. However, if you have a burning question about freelance writing, then we invite you to send your freelance writing question(s) our way, and we'll answer it for you in the next edition of Coffee Break for Writers. We're always happy to help! Paying Markets for Writers Are you a paying market currently seeking writers? Send your paying market to Coffee Break for Writers. The information will be posted in our next 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. Angels on Earth Magazine "Angels on Earth publishes true stories about God's messengers at work in today's world." Seeking: True stories about angels and about humans who have played angelic roles in their daily life. Payment information: Ranges from $25 up to $400. Canadian Gardening "Canadian Gardening is a national magazine aimed at the avid home gardener. Our readers are city gardeners with tiny lots, country gardeners with rolling acreage, indoor gardeners, rooftop gardeners, and enthusiastic beginners and experienced veterans." Seeking: Garden stories with photos and garden-related articles. Payment information: $125 and up. The New Writer "It's different and it's aimed at all writers: the short story writer, the novelist, the poet, feature writer, anyone with a serious intent to develop their writing to meet the expectations of today's editors." Seeking: Articles on the written word, interviews and personality profiles. Payment information: £20/$40.77 per 1,000 words. Pays on publication. Transitions Abroad Magazine "Transitions Abroad is a planning guide for cultural immersion travel. Founded by Clay Hubbs in 1977 to provide practical information on educational travel abroad, Transitions Abroad remains the leading magazine and web site for independent travelers who want to extend their time abroad through work, study, or low-cost travel." Seeking: Articles related to work, study, travel, volunteering or living abroad. Payment information: Pays a minimum of $25. WAHM Magazine "WAHM magazine is a new, content-driven, bimonthly, online subscription magazine devoted to the issues of being a work-at-home parent. It is geared to both women and men as well as to any member of the work-at-home community including home-based businesses, freelancers and telecommuters." Seeking: Articles related to being a work-at-home mom, interviews with work-at-home parents and fiction related to being a work-at-home parent. Payment information: Ranges from $35 up to $350. Success Cafι Let us toast to your success and share in your excitement! If you've got published or won an award by choosing one of the paying markets or writing contests from an issue of Coffee Break for Writers, or if you were published or won a contest using a writing exercise from an issue of Coffee Break for Writers, let us know so we can celebrate with you! Upon receipt of your information, we will send you an e-mail to let you know we received the information. Then, all you have to do is wait for the next issue of Coffee Break for Writers to see your success in print! Furthermore, the editor of Coffee Break for Writers will add her own words of praise at the end of your submission, and she'll even announce your good news on her Life of a Writer blog. Publishing your success in print is free, because its all a part of celebrating with you; our way of showing you we care. 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 does not 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 Michael Donlevy has been named the new editor of Maxim. Donlevy replaced Derek Harbinson. LuAnn Brandsen will take over the editor-in-chief position at Country Home magazine on October 8, 2007. She is replacing Carol Sheehan. Coffee Break for Writers would like to wish Sheehan a happy retirement! Publishing News Watch for the premier issue of Collegepreneur which is scheduled to launch in November. Collegepreneur's upcoming features will include articles related to SEO (Search Engine Optimization), profiles on dorm room millionaires, start-up soldiers and women who mean business, interviews with campus innovators and CEOs, tips and resources to help aspiring college entrepreneurs, and much more. Are you familiar with the following Indiana counties: Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Scott, Washington or Crawford? If so, you may be able to break into the new lifestyle and culture magazine: Southern Indiana Living. Upcoming features will include Southern Indiana arts, dining and entertainment, reviews, gardening, profiles of local personalities and people, and much more. This bimonthly print and electronic publication is scheduled to launch in January 2007. It looks as if Donald Trump has gone from reality TV to the publishing world! Beginning in November, Trump will be launching Trump Magazine. Trump plans to feature real estate, travel and arts content. In addition, Trump's new magazine will also focus on celebrities. Jerry Powers will be producing the quarterly publication. 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 Cafι 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. Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Category: Novels Prizes: The winner will be awarded a full publishing contract from Penguin Group as well as other prizes, and semi-finalists also receives prizes. For more information on the prizes, visit their Web site by clicking on the link above. Deadline: November 5, 2007 Mystery Authors Category: Flash fiction between 100 and 1500 words. Their theme: A Mysterious Holiday. Prizes: $5 plus publication. Deadline: November 1, 2007 Writing Exercise Christmas is just around the corner, so why not get into the holiday spirit with a writing exercise related to Christmas. Are you a stickler for bargains during the holiday shopping season? Write an article telling others how to save money during the holiday shopping season. Observances and Holidays (Ideas Included) I've been working on our list of observances and holidays, and I hope to have it done soon. Once it's complete, I will place a link to the list here. The list will be in PDF format. Cafι Fun Click on the writing-related crossword puzzle below for the larger version, which you can then print out and complete. The answers will be revealed in the November 2007 edition of Coffee Break for Writers. Have fun! Answers to Last Month's "Test Your Grammar" 1) True 2) False If a sentence has a clear subject and a main verb, adjectivesand adverbs can be added. 3) True 4) True 5) False "The dog chased after the cat" is an independent clause. 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 Coffee Break for Writers wants to hear your feedback, and we value every word. Don't be shy; let us know what you think. Brewing for Next Month (November 7, 2007): Review of a New Web site for Writers Feature: "How to be a Comma-Kazie" by Cassandra Senior and much more! |
