WPN Market Update – May, 2004
By Patricia L. Fry
Contents:
Going, Going, but not Gone – Teen magazines are in trouble
Here’s What’s New – 9 important changes and new markets
Opportunities for Fiction Writers – 9 GREAT opportunities
Tip for Authors/Writers – How to Benefit from the Market Update
Research/Reference Sites — Everyone Who’s Anyone
Featured Grammar Site – University of Victoria
Get Your Book Reviewed – 11 Opportunities
Editor Interviews – Magazines that publish book reviews
Coming in June — List of writers/publishers newsletters
Folio, The Daily News and others report that teen publications are in trouble. Evidently teen magazine advertisers are cooling off because newsstand sales have declined. Advertisers want that guarantee of so many millions of copies getting into the hands of young readers and it isn’t happening. When sales are down, advertisers won’t stay. Experts are blaming the proliferation of teen magazines—too much competition, Instant Messaging and the lack of gorgeous young guys to grace the covers of the magazines ultimately enticing girls to buy them. In an earlier article the editor of Seventeen indicated that teens get bored easily with the content of a magazine. She said, “You can’t pigeonhole teens.” And they change so rapidly, it is a challenge to hold their interest. Here’s a challenge for writers: find out what really inspires and excites teens and approach teen magazine editors with your fresh article ideas.
Here’s What’s New
The address for The First Line is wrong in the 2004 edition of Writer’s Market. The correct address is, POB 25082, Plano, TX 75025-0382.
You may recall that Catholic Forester closed their submissions for a while. But they are now accepting manuscripts in the area of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. They pay 30 cents per word for 1,000 words and 30 cents for cartoons. You’ll find their Guidelines at
Columbia Magazine
WAVE South Florida
Time Out New York Kids
I came across this announcement and I checked it out. It’s true, 1st Books is now Authorhouse.is looking for book reviews. Do you like to write book reviews? Do you want your book reviewed? Contact this book review site at
Booksandauthors.net
Anew
Meg Weaver at Wooden Horse Publications reports that Night Sky is new. This is a magazine designed for stargazers. If this is a topic you can write about, contact them with your article ideas at
Magazine is now producing an editorial calendar. See it at is new but I couldn’t find out much about it for this issue. Watch for their basic guidelines and contact information in a later edition of Market Update. is new magazine in the Miami area that covers local happenings in the beach communities there. For more information and guidelines write to, 80 SW 8th St., Ste. 2230, Miami, FL 33130.editor@booksandauthors.net. (Read my list of additional book review opportunities below.)http://www.anewmagazine.com/ANEW_editorial_calendar04.html. Anew is a magazine for women who want to revitalize their life. dicicco@skyandtelescope.com.
Don’t be surprised if you see magazines and Web sites here that you’ve never thought of with regard to your fiction works or maybe have never even heard of. But isn’t that the purpose of the WPN Market Update—to provide you with NEW and different opportunities? Enjoy! And may these resources encourage you to seek out others.
Grit
Send Grit your appropriate poems of 4-16 lines in batches of six or fewer and they will pay you $10 – $15 for each poem accepted. While Grit buys first or one-time rights for nonfiction and fiction, they want all rights to your poems. I would not recommend selling all rights to any of your work. Sometimes you can negotiate for the rights that YOU want.
Times of the Islands
Young Salvationist
Winner, Saying No to Drugs and Yes to Life
Bugle, Elk Country and the Hunt
Surprise, Bugle also publishes 6 poems per year. I actually have a poem I wrote while in Yellowstone Park years ago about an elk I saw there being harassed and teased by park visitors. I’m going to send it to Bugle. I’ll let you know what happens. They prefer free verse. Send a maximum of 6 poems at a time. For more information go to
Christian Leader
Harper’s Magazine
African Voices
. Kim Horne, fiction editor for this magazine, will consider adventure, erotica, ethnic, experimental, fantasy, historical, horror, humor, mystery, religious, romance, science Fiction, slice-of-life vignettes, suspense and condensed novels all with an African American flavor. Keep your word count to 500-2,500 words and expect to be paid around $25-$50 per story. They purchase 4 per year. Send complete manuscript to Kim Horne at publishes one short story per month—that’s 12 per year! They like these stories to contain humor and reach somewhere between 3,000-5,000 words. They pay in the 50 cent– $1 per word bracket. Contact Ann Gollin at 666 Broadway, 11th Fl, New York, NY 10012 http://www.harpers.org.Africanvoices@aol.com. Or 270 W. 96th St., New York, NY 10025 http://www.africanvoices.com.
Tip of the Month
Who can benefit from the information published in the monthly WPN Market Update? Anyone who writes for fun, fame or money. Whether you are an author with one or 101 books, a freelance writer or someone who writes in the course of his or her business, you can benefit greatly from this publication. Following are some of the categories we run in the Market Update and how to use them to your advantage.
Changes in the industry
New magazines and publishing houses
Out of business notices
Interviews with publishers, editors and agents
Interviews with writers and authors
Featured sites for writers and small publishers
Research/reference and grammar sites
Opportunities
Author/Writer Tips
: I present tips each month based on the questions I get through WPN and when I’m out in the field giving seminars, teaching classes and so forth. Follow this column and you might learn about the special deal that Literary Marketplace is now offering writers, how much to charge for the writing work you do, when to start promoting seasonal magazine articles, how to sell books at a book festival and new ways to promote old books, for example.: I’m adding more and more opportunities for authors, artists, photographers, graphic designers, young writers, cartoonists and freelance writers in all genres. I suggest that you print out the Market Update each month and circle those opportunities that apply to you. Be among the first to submit the exact material that this market requests and maybe you’ll get published. You’ll notice that the May edition of the Market Update has a large section listing where you can get your book reviewed. Nearly 100 opportunities for small publishers, artists, writers, photographers, etc.: There are many many useful sites out there for the author, freelance writer and independent publisher. Here, we do the research so all you have to do is check out the site and see if it resonates with you. If so, make a note of it, put it in your favorites file and you can visit whenever you need specific information. Past research/reference sites include, databases for freelance writers, an encyclopedia of writers’ terms, sites that list experts you can interview, newspaper databases, jobs for writers, Information Please, book publicity services, literary agents’ list, forms for authors and so much more. Over 85 sites featured to date. : Here, you might find out about writers’ contests, National Novel Writing Month, the WPN member forum, Funds for Writers, Sites for Artists, how to choose a printer for your book and so forth.: This feature gives you ideas for your own writing business. It’s encouraging and inspirational to hear how other writers have made it, what sacrifices they made along the way and what steps they took to achieve success. Read every interview and you’ll gain greater insight into the publishing world. We’ve interviewed about 30 fascinating writers.: Here, you will learn exactly what publishers, editors and agents are seeking so that your work is more likely to be considered. While there are some general submission rules and guidelines, each publisher, editor and agent has a little different twist on what they want and how they want it presented. These interviews are extremely valuable to those of you who want to build a successful career around your writing efforts. A savvy author will listen closely to what a publisher or agent wants and do his/her best to provide exactly that. Reading these interviews is like sitting across the table talking to a publisher yourself. Nearly 60 interviews so far.: We include this category to help save you time when you’re seeking an active publisher for your articles, stories or book manuscripts. Keep good records. The industry has lost over 221 publishing businesses within the last two and a half years.: Authors and freelance writers should always be on the look out for new possibilities for their work. It makes good business sense and don’t forget that you are operating a business. We’ve announced over 200 new and changing markets: Maybe you’ve failed every time you’ve attempted to get your work published in a particular magazine or to have your manuscript accepted by a specific book publisher. A new editor could mean success. Watch for editorial changes and act on them.
Everyone Who’s Anyone
http://www.everyonewhosanyone.com
University of Victoria
http://www.web.uvic.ca/wguide/Pages/GrammarToc.html
Get Your Book Reviewed
There are places to get your book reviewed other than the famous pre-publication reviewers, Library Journal, Kirkus, etc. Here are a few I have located for you. Some magazines ask you to send the book and they review it themselves. Others will pay for a book review that your friend or colleague wrote. Before sending your book for review, make sure the topic is right for this publication. Understand and follow the guidelines.
The First Line
The Iconoclast
Bibliophilos
Hope Magazine
African Voices
Animals
Today’s Christian Woman
The editors at January Magazine review books of all types. They also publish stories about authors and others involved in the publishing process. Book topics of interest to the January Magazine staff range from children’s to true crime and cookbooks to mystery. For more information about submitting your book for review contact Linda Richards at
Editor Interviews
Three more magazines that publish book reviews are Mothering Magazine, Grandparents Magazine and Beatrice. Here are my interviews with their editors/publishers.
Melissa Chianta is Managing Editor for Mothering Magazine. Parenting and children’s book authors listen up.
Q: Tell us about Mothering Magazine. Who is your audience?
A: Mothering Magazine has been around for 25 years. Our main focus is breastfeeding and natural childbirth advocacy. Our readers are upper-class and college-educated, interested in holistic health, alternative education and nonviolent discipline.
Q: What type of books do you review?
A: I review books that run the gamut—from basic parenting books, to natural health compendiums, to collections of reflective essays. I especially enjoy covering the topic of spirituality and parenting. I also love children’s books.
Q: What was the all time favorite book reviewed in your magazine?
A: A bad Case of Stripes – a children’s book.
Q: What is the process for review? Does the author/publisher send a review of his or her book or do they send the book to you to review?
A: I don’t really look at other people’s reviews. I prefer to receive the book itself. I don’t like galleys.
Q: The book review is a good promotional move for authors/publisher. Can you suggest other magazines that review books or can you offer any specific advice for authors?
A: Lots of magazines review books, Utne, Sage Woman, E Magazine, Ms. (You might do a Google search and see if you can locate the guidelines for these magazines.)
Melissa Chianta
Katrina Hayday Wester is the president and founder of Grandparent’s Magazine—a Web site for grandparents and parents. Here’s my interview with her. Again, children’s book authors pay attention.
Q: Tell us a little about your site, your audience, etc.
A: Our audience is 80% female, aged 45+. Our site is for grandparents and parents and this month we will receive about half a million hits with over 30,000 unique visitors.
Q: What sort of books do you review?
A: We review children’s books, adult books (some), audio books kids and adults.
Q: Can you name some of the more popular books you’ve reviewed–those that have received a lot of response?
A: Most of the interest is for Children’s Books. One of the most popular books was “Frank Was A Monster Who Wanted to Dance” for Halloween. We also get a lot of interest in books geared specifically towards grandparenting and grandparent rights.
Q: Please share the process of getting a book reviewed at your site. Do you solicit reviews from freelance book reviewers or do you prefer receiving the books to review yourself?
A: To get a book reviewed it should be submitted to Katrina Hayday Wester, Grandparents Magazine, 281 Rosedale Ave., Wayne, PA 19087. We can not pay freelancers, but welcome free reviews that would be published with attribution.
Q: What would you advise an author/publisher with a book that would be of interest to your audience? Can you suggest other promotional ideas for these authors?
A: We have a difficult time at the moment getting grandparents to make purchases online. That being said however, the most purchases do come from books. It seems to me that getting a book featured seems to help. I would also suggest that they consider doing story hours at schools, libraries, etc. My kids are fanatics about books and we often will go to Barnes & Noble just to hang out and read books.
Q: Please include anything else you would like to.
A: My site is FREE and anyone is welcome to join. I run it by myself – I’m a one-woman show. I have two small children ages 5 1/2 and 2 and I support this site by doing freelance web design. My web design site (although not finished) is
Website: Grandparents Magazine
Katrina Hayday Wester
281 Rosedale Ave.
Wayne, PA 19087
And then along came Beatrice.com, operated by a guy who loves fiction. Here’s my interview with editor, Ron Hogan.
Q: Please describe Beatrice—your audience and so forth.
A: Beatrice.com is a daily weblog with tidbits of publishing news and information about authors culled from around the web, plus reports from various literary events in New York City, and the occasional peek at my current reading list. The audience comes from all over, but I suspect a good portion of it is drawn from the publishing industry and other media here in the city.
Q: What is your policy regarding book reviews? Do you have someone on staff who reviews books or do you accept reviews from outside?
A: “Staff” has always consisted of me, sitting in my living room, usually either just before going to bed or just after getting up in the morning. And I don’t really “review” books per se, as I’ll explain in just a bit. And I don’t take on any other writers, in large part because I have no budget. But also because it saves the time it would take to solicit and edit other people’s work, time I’d rather spend reading books or watching telly.
Q: Do you review a certain type of book? What are some of your recent titles?
A: Book reviewing is, in my opinion, something rather like an art form, and I’d be the first to admit that I don’t have the time to do it on Beatrice.com at a level that I’d find personally and professionally satisfying. What I’ve ended up doing, more often than not, is that if I’ve read a book I happen to like, I’ll mention it on the blog and provide links to genuine reviews by book critics at various newspapers and magazines. I may add commentary, but it’s fairly minimal, maybe picking out one or two things I particularly liked or disliked. Books I’ve mentioned lately in that vein have included VANISHING POINT by David Markson and ASK ME ANYTHING by Francesca Delbanco.
My reading tastes tend towards literary fiction, but with inroads into narrative nonfiction.
Q: Please tell us about your submission guidelines for requesting a book review (or submitting a written book review).
A: Most of the content on the blog stems from things I’ve searched out myself, including the books and authors that get featured. You can email me at
It’d probably be easier, if you HAVE gotten reviewed elsewhere, or even better profiled or interviewed, to send me the URLs for that, because linking to such stories would fit in better with my weblog format. Or if you have your own website, preferably a blog–I’m not especially interested in static sites that don’t add new info on a regular basis.
Q: We have a lot of members who are authors and/or publishers. It seems that getting a book review is a good promotional move. Do you agree? Please explain.
A: Oh, definitely. I’ve been on the bookselling side of the fence in ages past, and I can tell you from experience a review will almost always increase sales, unless your book is absolutely torn to shreds by a beloved public figure. And it never hurts, when trying to drum up editorial or bookseller interest in your titles, to be able to point to somebody else’s objective assessment of your work. I know I would take one book review a lot more seriously than a 5-page press release.
Contact Ron Hogan at editor@beatrice.com.
Coming in June:
A list of writers/publishers newsletters. reviews books. These are staff written reviews on topics of interest to Christian women. Let Holly Robaina know about your book. Write to her at 465 Gundersen Dr., Carol Stream, IL 60188. editors review animal related books. I know that some of you have books in this category, too. Contact the editor at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 350 S. Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130. . Book review editor is Debbie Officer at publishes book reviews for nonfiction books on widely diverse topics related to struggle and triumph. I know that some of you out there have books in this category. So go for it. Contact Kimberly Ridely or Lane Fisher at publishes 1,000-1,500-word reviews of books present or past. No Web site listed, but I would either read their listing in 2004 edition of Writer’s Market, page 506 or write to request their guidelines: 200 Security Building, Fairmont, WV 26554. Contact Dr. Gerald J. Bobango. editors review books in the fiction and poetry genre. They want reviews of 250-500 words. But they may also agree to review your book and write the review themselves. Contact Phil Wagner at 1675 Amazon Rd. Mohegan Lake, NY 10547-1804. There is no Web site in sight.. This is an interesting magazine. Each month they present a new “first line” and they encourage people to write 300-1,000-word stories starting with that first line. They also publish reviews of books with an interesting first line. They don’t pay much and their circulation is small, but if your book has an interesting first line, why not consider offering a book review to them—that’s 250 more readers who will be aware of your great work. Contact David LaBounty, POB 250382, Plano, TX 75025-0382. http://www.thefirstline.com info@hopemag.com. http://www.hopemag.com africanvoices@aol.com. Keep in mind when contacting this editor for a book review that your book must reflect the art, literature and history of people of color. http://www.MCPCA.Org Linda@januarymagazine.com. melissac@mothering.com
505-984-6284
POB 1690
Santa Fe NM 87504
1611 A Paseo de Peralta
Santa Fe, NM 87501http://www.madalexproductions.com. I am very good at working with people to increase web presence, etc. so if any of your authors need help I’m happy to assist!http://www.grandparentsmagazine.net editor@beatrice.com to tell me about a book, but I would estimate that only one out of every twenty such emails makes me genuinely curious enough about the book in question to ask to see a copy; unless you’re a small press that deals in science fiction/fantasy or pulp crime, just because those happen to interest me right now. But I get so many books as it is, and we just bought a cat, so my partner’s told me I can’t be leaving stacks of review copies lying around all over the living room anymore… grammar site has a most useful Grammar Glossary.
Featured Grammar Site
is a free directory of 2,114 of the top literary agents, editors and publishers of adult trade books in the US, UK and Canada.
Research/Reference Site of the Month
. This magazine pays 10 cents-word for Christian fiction 1,000 to 2,500 words in length. They only publish 2 fiction pieces per year, so make sure you send your very best. Contact Connie Faber at is in the market for four good fiction pieces per year. They want 1,500-4,500-word stories in the following categories: adventure, historical humorous, slice-of-life, western, conservation, human interest and they’ll publish excerpts from novels. All stories must pertain to elk and elk hunting.http://www.elkfoundation.org. Contact Lee Cromrich at bugle@rmef.org.christianleader@usmb.org. This magazine buys 18 fiction stories per year. They like humor, but stories must be true to life and deal with problems of preteens. Do you have any appropriate stories in the 600 – 650-word range? If so, perhaps you can earn $50 – $80. uses a few fiction pieces every year. They like adventure, fantasy, humor, religious, romance and science fiction all from a Christian perspective. They require 500 -1,200 words and will pay 15 cents-word. publishes fiction adventure pieces and novel excerpts that are ethnic, historical or humorous. They also buy mysteries. Find out more about this market at http://www.timespub.tc. Email them at timespub@tciway.tc. http://www.thewarcry.com or ys@usn.salvationarmy.org.winner@healthconnection.orgGrit@gritmagazine.com. http://www.grit.com publishes poetry and fiction. If you’re not familiar with Grit, it is a Midwestern magazine with the family in mind. They publish fiction of from 1,500 to 15,000 words. Grit especially likes what they call cliff hangers—stories they can continue from one issue to the next. Do you have a good story emphasizing positive aspects of American life in one of the following genres: historical, mystery, western or romance? If so, send it to
Opportunities For Fiction Writers
Did you know that Hemispheres publishes fiction? In order to be published in this is in-flight magazine, send your complete adventure, ethnic, historical, humorous, mainstream or mystery manuscript of 1,000-4,000 words to Lisa Fann at 1301 Carolina St., Greensboro, NC 27401. They buy 14 manuscripts each year and pay 50 cents a word and up.
has a new email address, http://www.catholicforester.com/contactcof/storysub.htm.columbia@kofc.org.Going, Going, but not Gone |
