Monday, November 9, 2009
Check out my new blog
I'm starting a new blog this week on writing. If you're interested in that, check it out. I'll give the forward when I get it set up.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Services Sheet (Rev. June 20, 2009)
Please print this list. Then, on the paper copy, check in the circle all of the following that apply, date, and sign it at the bottom. Include it with your submission. Please keep a copy for your files.
o I wish to have my work critiqued.
o I wish to post my work on By and for Writers' blog as a way to get feedback from coaches and other readers.
o I wish to have my work published in an issue of By and For Writers.
o I certify that the work is entirely original to me, if I am the single author, and to the writers listed on the work, if it is a multi-author work. If either of these statements turns out to be inaccurate I may forfeit my fee along with my right to be published with By and For Writers
o I certify that the work has not been published in any other journal or publication
o I understand that I retain all rights to my work.
o I understand that all correspondence and other communications between By and For Writers and myself will be held strictly confidential.
Name: _________________________ Date: _______________
o I wish to have my work critiqued.
o I wish to post my work on By and for Writers' blog as a way to get feedback from coaches and other readers.
o I wish to have my work published in an issue of By and For Writers.
o I certify that the work is entirely original to me, if I am the single author, and to the writers listed on the work, if it is a multi-author work. If either of these statements turns out to be inaccurate I may forfeit my fee along with my right to be published with By and For Writers
o I certify that the work has not been published in any other journal or publication
o I understand that I retain all rights to my work.
o I understand that all correspondence and other communications between By and For Writers and myself will be held strictly confidential.
Name: _________________________ Date: _______________
Seven Steps to Publication (Rev. 25 November 2009
STEP 1:
Review submission guidelines and desired service checklist.
STEP 2:
Check your work to make sure that it meets these guidelines and it’s free of spelling errors, garbled syntax, typographical and other embarrassing things.
STEP 3:
Send in your work on hard copy, along with the desired service level sheet filled out, and a bank or money order for $35.00. [Personal checks are subject to a $15.00 fee if your it bounces.] DO NOT send cash.
STEP 4:
Send all of this to By and For Writers, c/o Tim Bosworth, 1110 Lombard St. #3, Philadelphia, PA, 19147. We’re sure your work will be fine, but if for some reason we don’t think your work meets guidelines, we’ll return your work and your check to you in the S.A.S.E. you’ve provided. If you haven’t provided one, we’ll shred the work and hold the check until you send us an S.A.S.E.
STEP 5:
If you requested a critique, review it and revise your work as you see fit. Then post it on our blog. If you don’t want a critique, you can skip this step and go directly to step 6.
STEP 6:
If you expecting feedback, wait until you get enough. The best way to get people to give feedback is to tell everyone you know you want it and drive them to the blog, www.ByAndForWriters.blogspot.com. Then revise your story and repost it along with a note to us at tim@byandforwriters.com that you wish it to be published. If you didn’t request feedback, go directly Step 7.
STEP 7:
Authorized us in writing (via email or snail mail) to publish your work and wait for enough material to accumulate for an issue equal to about 50 pages. That’s 5 submissions of 10 pages each. You’ll get a free copy and $1 off the single issue price.
Review submission guidelines and desired service checklist.
STEP 2:
Check your work to make sure that it meets these guidelines and it’s free of spelling errors, garbled syntax, typographical and other embarrassing things.
STEP 3:
Send in your work on hard copy, along with the desired service level sheet filled out, and a bank or money order for $35.00. [Personal checks are subject to a $15.00 fee if your it bounces.] DO NOT send cash.
STEP 4:
Send all of this to By and For Writers, c/o Tim Bosworth, 1110 Lombard St. #3, Philadelphia, PA, 19147. We’re sure your work will be fine, but if for some reason we don’t think your work meets guidelines, we’ll return your work and your check to you in the S.A.S.E. you’ve provided. If you haven’t provided one, we’ll shred the work and hold the check until you send us an S.A.S.E.
STEP 5:
If you requested a critique, review it and revise your work as you see fit. Then post it on our blog. If you don’t want a critique, you can skip this step and go directly to step 6.
STEP 6:
If you expecting feedback, wait until you get enough. The best way to get people to give feedback is to tell everyone you know you want it and drive them to the blog, www.ByAndForWriters.blogspot.com. Then revise your story and repost it along with a note to us at tim@byandforwriters.com that you wish it to be published. If you didn’t request feedback, go directly Step 7.
STEP 7:
Authorized us in writing (via email or snail mail) to publish your work and wait for enough material to accumulate for an issue equal to about 50 pages. That’s 5 submissions of 10 pages each. You’ll get a free copy and $1 off the single issue price.
Submission Guidelines (Rev. 25 November 2009
Submissions…
1. Must be on hard copy delivered by mail to By and For Writers c/o Tim Bosworth, 1110 Lombard St. #3, Philadelphia, PA, 19147.
2. May not be longer than 10 pages, double-spaced, 1-inch margins all around, no smaller than 11-point type, in Arial font.
3. Submissions must not be excessively italicized or bold faced. Italics or boldface type may be used for individual words and phrases only. Fonts must be consistent throughout.
4. May not utilize cartoons or photographs.
5. Must include a stamped self-addressed envelope (S.A.S.E) and a bank or cashier’s check for $45.00. Payment by cashier’s check or money order is preferred. $15.00 will be charged for bounced checks
6. Have each page numbered and each page must clearly display the correct and current contact information (correct name, current address, working telephone number, and valid email address) of each writer on each page of the work.
7. May be multi-author works as long as the correct and current contact information is provided in writing on each author. Pen names are acceptable as long as the author’s real name and contact information is made known.
8. Must be original and must not have been submitted elsewhere. Writers must certify this in writing. Violation of this guideline may be removed from the publication queue disqualified.
9. May be of any genre, but must not be pornographic, excessively erotic, obscene or abusive as determined by By and For Writers alone.
10. May only be short stories, poetry, creative non-fiction, plays, poetry, or novel excerpts.
11. May be rejected by By and For Writers for any reason. If rejected, the writer’s material will be returned in the S.A.S.E. provided. If no S.A.S. E. has been provided and check will be returned if there is an S.A.S.E. included, otherwise handled as in step #1.
12. Must be hard copy, no longer than 10 pages, double-spaced, in Arial font no smaller than 11, with 1” margins all around. Only Individual words and phrases may be italicized or in bold face.
13. Will be held strictly confidential, as are all communications with writers.
14. Will remain the property of writers who retain all rights to their work.
15. Will only be posted on our blog or published upon expressed written consent of the writer, if a single-author work, or all writers if a multi-author work.
1. Must be on hard copy delivered by mail to By and For Writers c/o Tim Bosworth, 1110 Lombard St. #3, Philadelphia, PA, 19147.
2. May not be longer than 10 pages, double-spaced, 1-inch margins all around, no smaller than 11-point type, in Arial font.
3. Submissions must not be excessively italicized or bold faced. Italics or boldface type may be used for individual words and phrases only. Fonts must be consistent throughout.
4. May not utilize cartoons or photographs.
5. Must include a stamped self-addressed envelope (S.A.S.E) and a bank or cashier’s check for $45.00. Payment by cashier’s check or money order is preferred. $15.00 will be charged for bounced checks
6. Have each page numbered and each page must clearly display the correct and current contact information (correct name, current address, working telephone number, and valid email address) of each writer on each page of the work.
7. May be multi-author works as long as the correct and current contact information is provided in writing on each author. Pen names are acceptable as long as the author’s real name and contact information is made known.
8. Must be original and must not have been submitted elsewhere. Writers must certify this in writing. Violation of this guideline may be removed from the publication queue disqualified.
9. May be of any genre, but must not be pornographic, excessively erotic, obscene or abusive as determined by By and For Writers alone.
10. May only be short stories, poetry, creative non-fiction, plays, poetry, or novel excerpts.
11. May be rejected by By and For Writers for any reason. If rejected, the writer’s material will be returned in the S.A.S.E. provided. If no S.A.S. E. has been provided and check will be returned if there is an S.A.S.E. included, otherwise handled as in step #1.
12. Must be hard copy, no longer than 10 pages, double-spaced, in Arial font no smaller than 11, with 1” margins all around. Only Individual words and phrases may be italicized or in bold face.
13. Will be held strictly confidential, as are all communications with writers.
14. Will remain the property of writers who retain all rights to their work.
15. Will only be posted on our blog or published upon expressed written consent of the writer, if a single-author work, or all writers if a multi-author work.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Writer's Correction Checklist from Nathan Bransford
Here's a good list of things to check when you're evaluating your or anyone else's work. It's from Nathan Bransford:
- Does the main plot arc initiate close enough to the beginning that you won't lose the reader?
- Does your protagonist alternate between up and down moments, with the most intense towards the end?
- Are you able to trace the major plot arcs throughout the book? Do they have up and down moments?
- Do you have enough conflict?
- Does the reader see both the best and worst characteristics of your main characters?
- Do your characters have backstories and histories? Do these impact the plot?
- Is the pacing correct for your genre? Is it consistent?
- Is your voice consistent? Is it overly chatty or sarcastic?
- Is the tense completely consistent? Is the perspective consistent?
- Is there sufficient description that your reader feels grounded in the characters' world?
- Is there too much description? (David R. Slayton)
- Are momentous events given the weight they deserve?
- Look closely at each chapter. If you can take out a chapter and the plot will still make sense, is it really necessary? Should some events be folded in with others?
- Do the relationships between your characters develop and change and become more complicated as the book goes on?
- What do your characters want? Is it apparent to the reader? Do they have both conscious and unconscious motivations?
- Do you know what your writing tics are? Do you overuse adverbs, metaphors, facial expressions, non-"said" dialogue tags, or interjections? Have you removed them?
- Do you overuse certain words or phrases? Is your word choice perfect throughout?
- Does your book come to a completely satisfying conclusion? Does it feel rushed?
- Do your main characters emerge from the book irrevocably changed?
- Are your characters distinguishable? Does it make sense to combine minor characters?
Just google Nathan Bransford - Literary Agent
- Does the main plot arc initiate close enough to the beginning that you won't lose the reader?
- Does your protagonist alternate between up and down moments, with the most intense towards the end?
- Are you able to trace the major plot arcs throughout the book? Do they have up and down moments?
- Do you have enough conflict?
- Does the reader see both the best and worst characteristics of your main characters?
- Do your characters have backstories and histories? Do these impact the plot?
- Is the pacing correct for your genre? Is it consistent?
- Is your voice consistent? Is it overly chatty or sarcastic?
- Is the tense completely consistent? Is the perspective consistent?
- Is there sufficient description that your reader feels grounded in the characters' world?
- Is there too much description? (David R. Slayton)
- Are momentous events given the weight they deserve?
- Look closely at each chapter. If you can take out a chapter and the plot will still make sense, is it really necessary? Should some events be folded in with others?
- Do the relationships between your characters develop and change and become more complicated as the book goes on?
- What do your characters want? Is it apparent to the reader? Do they have both conscious and unconscious motivations?
- Do you know what your writing tics are? Do you overuse adverbs, metaphors, facial expressions, non-"said" dialogue tags, or interjections? Have you removed them?
- Do you overuse certain words or phrases? Is your word choice perfect throughout?
- Does your book come to a completely satisfying conclusion? Does it feel rushed?
- Do your main characters emerge from the book irrevocably changed?
- Are your characters distinguishable? Does it make sense to combine minor characters?
Just google Nathan Bransford - Literary Agent
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Only Writing is Writing
Only writing is writing.
There are a lot of ideas of what writing is. I can't go into them all. To me, only writing is writing.
Thinking about writing is not writing. Planning to write is not writing. Talking about your desire to write is not writing. Reading other writers' works is not writing. Complaining about not being able to write is not writing. Griping about how hard it is is not writing. Outlining your story is not writing. Revising is not writing. Throwing your work against the wall because you think they are foolish and idiotic and shallow and stupid and you are the worst writer ever to inhabit the universe is not writing.
Only writing is writing.
Putting down on the page that first word is writing. Forming that first sentence, then finishing that first paragraph or first stanza of a poem or that first scene of a play, that's writing. Extending paragraphs into a story is writing. Writing that will introduce you to new friends, take you to places you never dreamed of going before, and taking you back there time and time again. Writing that will enrich your life more than you can ever imagine. Inviting friends in for dinner. Fashioning beauty in the way you combine those 26 innocent looking letters. That's the magic.
That's writing, writing that goes on all the time. All that other stuff is important and necessary, but only writing is writing.
If you want to read other things I've written about writing or see my book, go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
There are a lot of ideas of what writing is. I can't go into them all. To me, only writing is writing.
Thinking about writing is not writing. Planning to write is not writing. Talking about your desire to write is not writing. Reading other writers' works is not writing. Complaining about not being able to write is not writing. Griping about how hard it is is not writing. Outlining your story is not writing. Revising is not writing. Throwing your work against the wall because you think they are foolish and idiotic and shallow and stupid and you are the worst writer ever to inhabit the universe is not writing.
Only writing is writing.
Putting down on the page that first word is writing. Forming that first sentence, then finishing that first paragraph or first stanza of a poem or that first scene of a play, that's writing. Extending paragraphs into a story is writing. Writing that will introduce you to new friends, take you to places you never dreamed of going before, and taking you back there time and time again. Writing that will enrich your life more than you can ever imagine. Inviting friends in for dinner. Fashioning beauty in the way you combine those 26 innocent looking letters. That's the magic.
That's writing, writing that goes on all the time. All that other stuff is important and necessary, but only writing is writing.
If you want to read other things I've written about writing or see my book, go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
The Road Ahead
Don't worry, we'll be coming soon. Keep the faith.
Meanwhile, go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com, www.hatman2.blogspot.com, and www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog.
Meanwhile, go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com, www.hatman2.blogspot.com, and www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog.
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