Translation for your convience

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Submitted

the October prompt.

Picked up On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. So far it's witty and interesting. Not liking some of his word choices so I'm trying to get past them so I can keep reading.

Going to spend the day getting regular everyday things caught up and then, if there's time, I'll continue working on assignment 6.

Waiting for a response from the publisher I wish to send Ten Little Gator Eggs. They have an update that their Editor left in 2010, but don't have their current editor and searching the web didn't really give me a specific name. I really don't want to send the cover letter with a generic salutation. After all we, the authors, and they, the editors/agents, are people who are more than just a nameless/faceless being.

Received my needed response, so Ten Little Gator Eggs has been submitted to Albert Whitman & Co. to Kristin Zelasko. There's a four month turn around time, so, once again, I ask for your help being patient.

Happy submitting, reading and writing.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Another Done

I finished Mary's prompt:

"Our prompt for October is a story challenge. I want a 500 word story with the title Orion Sky and a glimpse of the constellation.  Your challenge is to make that glimpse a plausible part of the story and to give the setting the unmistakable sense of 'fall'.    Five hundred words, yes, it needs beginning, middle, and end.   In the body of your email, please, no attachments.  You have until Halloween!  If you want to give it a Halloween twist you can, and you'll get extra points for that, but it's not required."

As I read the prompt, even today, I get the idea to write a nice, fluffy story about colored leaves falling gently to the ground. About piles of leaves ready for jumping in and scattering. About hot chocolate, rosy cheeks and lots of smiles. About brilliant stars against a dark curtain bringing thoughts of space travel and aliens. But when the story gets to my pen and onto the paper, well, I end up with death and destruction. Anyway, I'll post the story once it's posted in the newsletter. You can follow and learn a great deal at the Long Ridge Writer's Group's forum, Post a Note

The prompt ends October 31st and the stories should be in the November newsletters.

Now onto another story. I'm still trying to follow Ray Bradbury's recommendation to write and submit one story a week. Not quite there, but doing better.

Happy writing and submitting.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Done

Taking a break worked out great. The story finally came together the way I wanted it to.

What did I do?
  • Stepped back and wrote down what I was trying to say
  • Read several articles that were similar
  • Took a walk 
  • Went to bed with the story on my mind
I'm really happy with how it came out. Will read it at the author meeting next week and then consider submitting it.

Yeah! Took a little longer than expected and now onto the next one.

Happy writing.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Frustrated with my latest

I know all will come together, but the working through the mess to get it together is no fun. Right now, my next piece, is so boring. Trying to liven it up is not working. So, I'm setting it aside and plan to read similar stories. Maybe they'll give me an idea and put life into this piece.

It's not helping that we're watching a hurricane head this way and wondering if it's going to skirt us or move a little closer. To many interruptions.

Happy writing.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

The Importance of editing your manuscript



As an avid reader nothing bothers me more than reading a really good story that hasn't been properly edited or proofread. What do I mean by properly edited? One edited by someone other than you, the author. This is the problem that has plagued self-publishing since its inception and has given self-publishing its reputation.

Editing/proofreading can be expensive, but it's an important part of writing. I belong to a critique group that is very helpful with flow and plot consistency. Then all my writing goes to an editor. Many authors I know say they don’t self-edit  because they miss too much. Even my posts need more editing after I’ve given them time to settle. I’m so thankful for the many sites that give me the ability to correct errors after hitting submit.

No matter how hard you try mistakes in spelling, word usage, grammar and plot consistency will be missed because your brain loves you. You know the story well and your brain easily overlooks the errors. I also discovered, while working on a picture book, that your brain is about two lines ahead of the point at which you are reading. I was having particular difficulty with flow and a teacher friend recommended “the” be added a couple of lines from the hiccup. I and anyone I could get to read through the story didn’t falter at that part anymore.

Another thing working against you is something called, typoglycemia. This word has nothing to do with glucose or any medical conditions. It’s believed to be a pun on hypoglycemia, but refers to the following examples:

I’m sure you’ve received this or something like this in the past. This is often sent through email:
cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg.
Read more about this HERE
And I recently received this through facebook:
7H15 M3554G3 53RV35 7O PR0V3 H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N D0 4M4Z1NG 7HNG5! 1MPR3551V3 7HNG5! 1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG 17 WA5 H4RD BU7 N0W, 0N 7H15 L1N3 Y0UR M1ND 15 R34D1NG 17 4U70M471C4LLY W17H 0U7 3VEN 7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17, B3 PR0UD! 0NLY C3R74IN P30PL3 C4N R34D 7HI5.

Missing letters in words confuses me as most spell checks should catch them, but I see them regularly. Perhaps the authors are tired of looking for mistakes and these highlighted mistakes pass as easily as the un-highlighted ones.

If you must self-edit/proofread, please do so slowly. Give yourself time. A couple of days to a week should be enough time between finishing and editing. Read a short passage, stop and put it away. Get back to it 24 to 48 hours later and continue reading short passages each time until you finish the piece. You’re more likely to catch most errors this way. When I’m ready to throw my manuscript out the window, I give it a rest and do something else. Either work on another piece, read a book, listen to music or watch a movie. These help refresh my editing abilities and allow me to feel like I am reading it for the first time.

Long gone are the days when a promising manuscript is accepted despite needing major changes. Most publishers and agencies rely on the author to provide a print ready or near-print ready manuscript. Even the best publishing can result in a book with errors, however, I can look past a few, but soon give up reading a book with too many. (unless I’m critiquing with a full edit)

A quick google search has prices of $15.00 per page down to $ 3.00 per page all claiming to do anywhere from a cursory look at your manuscript to a full blown, line-by-line edit.

In future blog posts, I’ll research editors and let you know what I find. In the meantime, if you’d like an edit done by me, let me know. I charge $ 2.00 per page (one page is 250-300 words maximum) (minimum $ 50.00) Tell me you follow and read this blog and I’ll half the charge to $ 1.00 per page. (Payment to be made through PayPal, so don’t finish paying until I adjust the invoice.)

  • Six years editing various types of manuscripts, from picture books, middle grade to young adult novels as well as many in the fiction and non-fiction genres. (I do not confirm accuracy of information given in non-fiction manuscripts.)
  • More than 40 years reading different genres (it’s frustrating because I go into edit mode with every book I read.)
  • Published short stories as well as posts to blogs and forums.



Breakdown


Manuscript must be 12 point and double spaced.
Please adjust the quantity to equal the number of pages you plan to submit before paying for your services. Then email your manuscript to spellboundbooks@hotmail.com. I'll confirm receipt of payment and manuscript.

Happy editing.

Third Submission of "Ten Little Gator Eggs"

is to The Unter Agency. Like me, she is interested in providing quality children's literature.
Her response time is about 3 months.
Please continue sharing our facebook page with friends and family. Together we'll let them know the world is ready for "Ten Little Gator Eggs". 
Happy researching and submitting. (remember, your query letter should not be generic. If you've done your research, you'll know whether or not to submit to the agency or publisher you're reviewing. Just think, response times could become less if each author took it upon himself/herself to research and determine compatibility.) 
 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Sometimes one of us needs help

Help Defend P&E

Unfortunately, there are those who do not like P&E or its editor because we give out information that they would prefer remain hidden from writers. Usually, they slink away, but not this time. P&E is being sued and we are asking for donations to mount a legal defense in court. Please click on the link below and give if you can to help protect P&E so it can continue to defend writers as it has for over a decade.
Thank you.
Other sites are welcome to copy the code for our donation button and place it on their pages with an appeal on behalf of P&E.

Preditors & Editors is "a guide to publishers and publisnhing services for serious writers since 1997." Many, including myself, use this site to guide our decision on which publishers and editors to use and who should be given a wide berth.

Happy researching your publishers, editors and agencies.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

How's my writing going?

I'm back to researching for assignment 6. 

I wrote a story about our adoption of Meiko. I'll work on that off and on the next couple of weeks, present it to the "Lamplighters" and then get it ready for publication.

I'm considering taking Mary up on her challenge:

"Our prompt for October is a story challenge. I want a 500 word story with the title Orion Sky and a glimpse of the constellation.  Your challenge is to make that glimpse a plausible part of the story and to give the setting the unmistakable sense of 'fall'.    Five hundred words, yes, it needs beginning, middle, and end.   In the body of your email, please, no attachments.  You have until Halloween!  If you want to give it a Halloween twist you can, and you'll get extra points for that, but it's not required."

 I haven't worked on a challenge from her in awhile and I'm intrigued with this one. Curious to see my take. Will think about it before going to bed and let my subconscious work in it, so I'll definitely have pen and paper next to my bed the next few nights.

Happy researching and writing.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Nancy Hall's update

I received this via email this morning and thought I'd share.

"Here's an update on my short story in the Luscious collection.

The collection was published mid-August. They informed me early-September they were closing shop. Anyway, I figured I had my 15 minutes. Today I received this email:

"Just thought you'd like to know FictionBrigade sent you $1.07 USD"

I guess, in the two to three weeks it was up, they sold some copies. Enough anyway for 20 authors to receive some compensation.

I'm smiling like the Cheshire Cat. I've received my first payment as an author. Can't get any better and with a clear sky today, I can't fly with the clouds, but I'm going to try!

It's still up at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008Y4MVXI and their site
http://www.fictionbrigade.com/shop/luscious-a-flash-fiction-collection-of-sex-and-relationships/
if you want to check it out.

It even has a review from Kirkus Reviews! "When you’d rather have a quick shot of fiction than linger over a long tale, knock back one of these 20 very short stories—plus one artwork—on love, sex, and relationships." Buy "Luscious" today!"

 So, keep submitting, marketing and writing. You and I'll get our first paychecks too.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Second Submission for "Ten Little Gator Eggs"

is to 'Boyds Mills Press' They are a trade division of 'Highlights'. One of my favorite children's magazines. Their goal is to "develop a love of reading" and that's one of my goals too. Fun education is another and this alligator book includes counting and the alligator cycle.
Their response time is about 3 months. Please continue sharing with your friends and family. Together, we'll let them know the world is ready for Ten Little Gator Eggs.


Happy researching and submitting.

Monday, October 1, 2012

What have I been doing?

I am going through the Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market to find publishers and agents to consider for my picture books. Then I'm checking each one out to find those who match my style of books. Then I'm researching each one to determine their absolute compatibility. This is time consuming, but will save me from embarrassing submissions to publisher and/or agents that have nothing in common with my books. This thorough search also helps me help the publisher and agents so they don't have to unnecessarily read my stuff when they're all wrong for me in the first place.

As promised, I'll keep you updated when I submit. I've found many to consider and am slowly weeding out those that are not a good fit.

Happy researching.