WPN Market Update – March, 2006
By Patricia L. Fry
Going, Going, Gone – 2 mags and a Web site are gone
Here’s What’s New – 6 new and changing magazines
Opportunities for Freelance Writers – I found two this month
Opportunities for Authors – 4 fiction and 3 nonfiction pubs
Opportunities for Screenwriters – 4 of them
Book Promotion Opportunities – 3 pretty darn good ones
Opportunities for Photographers – Essence Mag. wants photos
Reference Opp. – “The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.”
Editorial – Should you purchase just one ISBN?
Peek at Patricia’s Publishing Blog – Setting Your Writing Pace
Bonus Items – Publish your memoirs
Going, Going, Gone
A Zillion Newspapers Web site is defunct.
Sly is out of business.
HPWorld/Interex Magazine has stopped publishing.
Here’s What’s New
The email address advertised for Poz Magazine is bad. To contact them via email, go to their Web site and use the form. http://www.poz.com
Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine
Today’s Groom Magazine
Memoir Magazine
Note: See more opportunities for memoir writers under “Bonus Items”
US Airways Magazine
American Health and Fitness Magazine
Opportunities for Freelance Writers
The editors of Old Trout are looking for writers for this satirical magazine. Learn more at http://www.oldtroutmag.com. Contact the editor at editor@oldtroutmag.com or POB 1636, Lafayette, CA 94549.
The Editorial Department has a new ezine for writers. It’s called Between the Lines. Subscribe at http://www.editorialdepartment.com. Click on “New Ezine.”
Opportunities for Authors
Publishers of Fiction
Arrow Publications publishes 50 titles per year in the area of mystery romance and adventure. They also appreciate humor. If you’re good with dialogue, you might find a home for your book. Editor Tom King is acquisitions editor. Contact him at arrow_info@arrowpub.com. Look at their Submission Guidelines at http://www.arrowpub.com. Study their Web site so you know what they really want and then, if you feel that your manuscript is a match, send them a well-written query letter.
Bleak House Books publishes literary titles, mysteries, crime and suspense. They want stories with psychologically complex characters. And leave the animals out. Contact: acquisitions, Julie Kuczynski with your mystery and Alison Embly if you have a literary manuscripts. Query first with SASE. http://www.bleakhousebooks.com
Love Inspired has a religious/romance division and one for suspense. Check their Guidelines at their Web site: http://www.steeplehill.com and then contact the appropriate editor for your project. 233 Broadway, Ste. 1001, NY 10279
Steeple Hill Women’s Fiction publishes inspirational Christian women’s fiction. Guidelines at their Web site http://www.steeplehill.com.
Publishers of Nonfiction
Atlas Variety Publishing is a new publisher and they’re interested in biographies, autobiographies, children’s and juvenile books and general nonfiction such as how to, reference and self-help. They publish books on child guidance/parenting, contemporary culture, cooking/foods, health and more. And keep in mind that they want wit in the mix, so make your cookbook or exercise book funny. They also publish fiction: Contact acquisitions editor, Elaine Koritsas for nonfiction or Christopher Rigoli for your fiction manuscript. They prefer seeing a proposal package including a synopsis and the first 3 chapters. publisher@atlasvariety.com http://www.atlasvariety.com.
Macadam/Cage Publishing publishes history, science topics and memoirs. Contact Patrick Walsh http://www.macadamcage.com.
Voyageur Press produces coffee table books, cookbooks, Americana, cooking, history, nature works and more for a sophisticated audience. They want to see a query or an outline. Contact Michael Dregni at mdregni@voyageurpress.com for a copy of their Guidelines for Authors.
Opportunities for Screenwriters
Don’t forget the Scriptwriter’s Showcase April 7 – 9, 2006 held at the Sheraton Universal Studios in Universal City, CA. This showcase is presented by Final Draft and Script Magazine and it is designed for serious and professional writers. It’s a seminar and more. Learn more about this showcase opportunity at http://www.scriptwritersshowcase.com.
Are you subscribing to Scriptmag News? If not, you’re missing out on some good information, resources and opportunities. The January 2006 edition has an article on the how tos and whys of fight scenes. Subscribe at response@zinester.com.
Chris Huntley, co-creator of the Dramatica Theory of Story, will lead a weekend workshop designed to introduce you to the Dramatica Theory. April 1 and 2, 2006 at the offices of Write Brothers in Glendale, CA. Seating is limited, so call 800-847-8679 for reservations.
Free Magazine
Creative Screenwriting
Book Promotion Opportunities
Sign up to be in the WPN booth at the Los Angeles Times Book Festival and you’ll have the opportunity to show your book to over 100,000 people. It’s expensive—the booth is costing WPN $1000 this year. The event is April 29 and 30th. Learn more about joining WPN in the booth on the home page of the WPN Web site.
Post your book reviews at http://www.review-books.com. It looks as though you must be registered in order to use this site. But while I was checking it out, I made a surprising discovery: My new book, “The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book” is featured prominently on the book review page. Dehanna Bailee reviewed this book and has been posting reviews everywhere. Thank you Dehanna!!! For more information, contact Cheryl at Cheryl@review-books.com.
Emily Veinglory reviews vampire and gay fiction books for her Web site. I also read somewhere that she reviews books of poetry. Learn more at her Web site, http://www.veinglory.com.
Opportunities for Photographers
Essence Magazine is soliciting photos of black travelers. They pay $200 and up. Learn more at http://www.essence.com. Or contact editor Ed Cori at 1500, Broadway, New York, NY 10036.
Reference Opportunity of the Month
The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book
“Kudus on your straight-talking book.”
“It’s impressive.”
“I read it all and I’m going to keep it at hand to use as a reference while writing my book.”
“I learned a lot from your book—in particular that there’s a lot I don’t know about the world of publishing.”
Buy The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book NOW.
Ask for it at your library.
Order it through your bookstore.
Buy it on Amazon.com.
Purchase it from my Web site, http://www.matilijapress.com.
328-pages — $19.95.
Editorial
Recently one of my clients told me that he had obtained one ISBN for his upcoming self-published book from ISBN4authors.com. This service is provided by Aardvark Publishing Company. They charge you $55 each for a single ISBN, two for $47 each and as many as five for $38.00 each. You can also get a free bar code for that price. Yikes, authors and hopeful authors have asked me over the years how they could purchase one ISBN. Clients have asked me to sell them one of mine. But it just didn’t seem right unless I was publishing their book through my publishing company, Matilija Press. Since the ISBN identifies the book, the edition and the publishing company, this would tie my publishing company name in with their book. And, as with my current client, his book would be connected to Aardvark.
I am always willing to accept something new, and I realize the publishing industry is changing faster than a speeding bullet. But the value and the validity of the “something new” must be proven to me before I can totally buy it. So I began researching the benefits and potential risks of purchasing a single ISBN from a publishing company that has no interest in or ties to your book. I’m still involved in the research and will report additional findings.
So far, the authors and publishers I’ve talked to are either oblivious to the fact that one can now purchase a single ISBN or they know about it and are as suspicious of this practice as I am. One publisher suggested that there could be copyright questions later on. She said, “What if the author wants to revise and reprint the book? Would there be a problem? What if the book hits the big time, could the publisher demand compensation since his name is on the book?”
If you have firsthand information or knowledge about the practice of purchasing just one ISBN, please share it with me, personally, at Patricia@spawn.org or through WPNDiscuss or the WPN Forum.
A Peek at Patricia’s Publishing Blog
I’ve been blogging now for a few months and having fun doing it. Blogging is kind of like journaling, only you hope that your entries are meaningful and useful to others. Here’s my blog for February 4. Visit my blog at http://www.matilijapress.com/publishingblog.
Setting Your Writing Pace
February 4th, 2006
One of the difficulties of being a freelance writer is establishing a pace. In all of my 30+ years as a freelance writer, I’ve never found that perfect balance—that ideal rhythm that keeps one sane—at least not for long. A writer’s life consists of long lean periods followed by insanely hectic ones.
I don’t know about you, but I have a love/hate relationship with both scenarios. I still struggle to truly appreciate everything that the writing life brings. When things are slow—when there isn’t a client in sight and magazine editors seem to have vanished from the face of the earth, I panic. Rather than enjoying the quiet and taking advantage of the extra time, I spend too much of that time entertaining dismal thoughts. “Am I washed up as a writer?” “Will I have to get a job as a Wal-Mart greeter or a short-order cook?”
Of course, I also spend that time frantically promoting myself and my skills while sending out dozens of query letters and reprints each day. This is also an opportunity to promote my books and I do that, as well.
And then something happens. I receive an assignment letter from an editor and then another. A potential client contacts me and then another and another. I get a call from the director of a writers’ organization asking me to speak at their upcoming conference. Soon I am too busy to sit down and write my blog and I start complaining that I have no free time.
Is there no satisfying this freelance writer? Is there no balance in this profession? It’s a crazy life. Last month I had few professional prospects. I was in total promotion mode—reaching out in every direction, grasping at even the smallest thread in hopes that it would lead to work—any work, as long as it was paying work.
This month, I’m auditioning with 5 potential clients—all authors in various stages of a book, I’ve been hard-pressed to keep up with the article requests and I’ve had 2 new invitations to speak on my favorite subject—writing/publishing.
I just finished editing a great horror novel. That was a spooky treat and it earned me a nice paycheck. I’m hoping to close a deal on a ghosting job today over lunch. It’s a memoir that has been requested by a major publisher. And Monday, I get to edit a self-help book for a world-known spiritualist.
In the meantime, book sales are up. I just received a check from Amazon.com for over $200. And reviews are beginning to appear in all sorts of venues for my latest and greatest book: The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.
I’ve started to personally recommend this book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book to everyone who contacts me about their manuscript. Yesterday, for example, an old friend and the editor for one of my first books called and began asking questions about today’s publishing climate. I started responding to her when it occurred to me that everything she was asking me was clearly presented in The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. People who purchase this book AND read it, discover that it definitely contains a treasure trove of information.
I get more voluntary comments and testimonials related to this book than any of my others. It’s a must have for anyone who is contemplating entering the publishing field. I also recommend it for struggling authors who may still feel a bit out of place within the publishing industry.
The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book
This material was first published in the WPN Market Update in August 2002. It contains some interesting and useful information for those of you who are writing your memoirs. Many of you are penning your life story for the pure pleasure of the process. Others intend sharing their story with family members. And still others plan to publish their memoirs.
No matter your dreams or plans, I invite you to consider publishing bits and snippets of your personal story in a magazine. Following are some possible markets.
Reminisce
5927 Memory Lane
Greendale, WI 53129
editors@reminisce.com
According to the Contributors’ Guidelines, Reminisce helps readers bring back the good times through true stories and vintage photographs. Any appropriate photo or memory is welcome, as long as it originated from 1900 through the 1960s.
The editors of Reminisce invite true stories from regular folks. Do you have a story about a memorable person in your life, a family trip or adventure, a now famous person or a little-known historical account? This magazine particularly enjoys publishing good humorous pieces.
While I couldn’t get the editors to give me a suggested word count, I know that they do encourage shorter pieces. They pay $50 per page.
Good Old Days
306 E. Parr Rd.
Berne, IN 46711
Editor: Ken Tate
http://www.goodolddays-magazine.com
Mr. Tate agreed to an interview for the Market Update, but never followed through. Here’s what I know about Good Old Days. They use first person nostalgia from the period between 1900 and 1955. Do you have a good story relating to transportation, foods/cooking/recipes, history, a memorable event or anything else you would consider nostalgic? Query or send a 300-1500-word manuscript to the address above. Good Old Days buys 350 manuscripts per year and they pay $15 – 75 ea.
Capper’s
1503 S.W.42nd St.
Topeka, KS 66609-1265
http://www.cappers.com
npeavler@kspress.com
Contact: Ann T. Crahan
Capper’s publishes nostalgic and historical essays particularly if they deal with home and hearth or travel, history or collections.
Family Magazine
5925 Country Lane
Greendale, WI 53129
familymag@reimanpub.com
http://www.reimanpub.com/familymag
This is a brand new magazine (well it was in 2002) and I’m told that the editors are anxious to read your stories. They want true stories involving family fun, holidays, decorating and travel. What do you have in your stock of memoirs that might make an interesting story for Family Magazine?
Memoir Magazine
Nostalgia magazines aren’t the only ones keen on your true stories. Also consider history publications and those related to the specifics of your story-collecting, aviation, gardening, pets, sports, travel and so forth.
Contact regional magazines about stories taking place in that city/county/state. Milwaukee Magazine might buy a piece featuring an interesting slice of your childhood in that city, for example. The same is true of Texas Highways, Near West Gazette, Chicago Reader, Dakota Outdoors and Metropolitan Living. All encourage personal experience and nostalgic or historical stories. Missouri Life is seeking Missouri memories.
If you or your spouse was in the military, perhaps you have stories to tell to the readers of Navy Times, Army Times, Army Magazine, The Retired Officer Magazine or Soldier of Fortune, for example.
For information about how to locate appropriate magazines, approach an editor, prepare your story and submit it.
Here are a few new possibilities I dug up as an extra bonus for those of you who want to see your memoirs in print in book form.
Book Publishers for Memoirs
Between the Lines,
http://www.btlbooks.com
Contact, Paul Eprille, btlbooks@web.ca.
They publish memoirs mainly from Canadian authors.
Clover Park Press
Santa Monica
http://www.cloverparkpress.com
Contact, Marsha Grant at Cloverparkpr@earthlink.net.
Query or submit a proposal package. This publisher produces books for women as well as high school and college readers who are curious about the world.
Prostar Publications
3 Church Circle, 109
Annapolis, MD 21401
http://www.prostarpublications.com
Contact, Susan Sillson.
They publish nautical books, but they’re recently added other subjects of interest such as memoirs and history. Send a query describing your project by mail.
is new and they’re looking for articles of around 400-2,500-words in the following categories: historical, humor, inspirational, interview/profile and personal experience. They prefer receiving the complete manuscript and they will pay anywhere from $50 to $250. Read Submission Guidelines at http://www.memoirmag.com. Contact editor Carrie Noer at cnoer@memoirmag.com. They accept email submissions. Send them to submit@memoirmag.com.
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html Bonus Items is not a site, but it is probably the best reference tool in which you could possibly invest this year. If you are thinking about writing a book, have written a book or are trying to promote a book, you need to read this book. Here are some of the comments we’ve received already from customers: is considered by the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post as the best magazine about screenwriting. They’re offering a free magazine at http://www.creativescreenwriting.com. has relaunched as Maximum Fitness. This magazine is based in Ontario, Canada. I couldn’t find their Submission Guidelines at their site. If you want to receive a copy, I suggest that you go to their Web site and fill out a form at the “contact us” link. http://www.maxfitmag.com. has replaced Attache. Send article queries to edit@usairwaysmag.com. Web site: http://www.usairwaysmag.com. Publisher Andrea Alexander, andrea.alexander@paceco.com. is new and they’re looking for articles of around 400-2,500-words in the following categories: historical, humor, inspirational, interview/profile and personal experience. They prefer receiving the complete manuscript and they will pay anywhere from $50 to $250. Read Submission Guidelines at http://www.memoirmag.com. Contact editor Carrie Noer at cnoer@memoirmag.com. They accept email submissions. Send them to submit@memoirmag.com. is new. There isn’t much information at their Web site, yet. http://todaysgroomonline.com Contact editor Jacob Schraufnagel at jschraufnagel@todaysgroomonline.com and ask for a copy of their Submission Guidelines. is now West Magazine. Rick Wartzman is the editor. You can reach him with your article ideas at latmag@latimes.com. Check out the new magazine at: http://www.latimes.com. |
