WPN Market Update – October, 2006

By Patricia L. Fry

Going, Going, Gone – 5 print magazines gone; 3 will continue online
Here’s What’s New – 13 important industry changes
Opportunities for Freelance Writers – 18 good and great ones
Opportunities for Authors – 2 publishing possibilities and 3 research tools
Book Promotion Opportunities – 4 promising opportunities for your book!!
Opportunities for Script Writers – Win a contract for your TV script
Your New Book Announcement – Tips for getting your book noticed
When Your Book is No Longer New — Here’s how to make news
Resources for Writers and Authors – Get copyright questions answered; Find writing jobs/workshops, etc.; Locate romantic fiction statistics; Keep track of magazine changes; A publishing blog you’ll want to read
I Thought You’d Like to Know – The 2007 Writer’s Market is out; Quality Books has made changes
Going, Going, Gone
Brooklynite
Here’s What’s New
Grit
Figure
Another relaunch is ModernMom.com, an online magazine for mothers who are interested in reading about work, travel, health, style, pregnancy, family, parenting, food and relationships. Owner, Lolita Carrico, can be reached at: Lolita@modernmom.com. http://www.modernmom.com
SchoolSports
Seal Press is not accepting fiction at this time. If you want to submit fiction to Seal Press, check back at their Web site from time to time so you’ll be first in line when and if they do start accepting submissions again. http://www.sealpress.com. In the meantime, they are still seeking great nonfiction manuscripts by women for women. They want to receive a query letter or a proposal. (See more about what they are looking for under Opportunities for Authors.)
Why is it important to keep an eye on editor transitions?
Sometimes, all it takes is an editorial shift to open up a freelance opportunity. While a former editor may have consistently rejected you in the past, a new editor might see great promise in your work. Here are some recent editorial changes that you may want to note.
Suzanne Riss is the new editor-in-chief for Working Mother Magazine. Make the appropriate changes in your 2006 “Writer’s Market.” And check to make sure they got it right in the 2007 edition.
Liz Vacariello is the new editor-in-chief for Prevention Magazine.
Alice Gordon is the new features editor for Travel + Leisure. John Newton is the senior editor.
Alan Hughes is the managing editor for Black Enterprise.
Lori Majewski is the new executive editor for People Magazine.
Former editor for American Spectator, George Neumayr, recently took over as editor for Catholic World Report.
Susie Boone is the new editor at Practical Parenting.Can’t find a magazine to write for? There were 42 new magazines launched in the second quarter of 2006—this, according to the Magazine Publishers of America. There are 21 lifestyle titles, 15 magazines for women and 10 for wealthy Americans, for example. Keep an eye on the magazine industry yourself by visiting:http://www.magazine.org.
I believe I mentioned Helen Magazine in an earlier edition of the WPN Market Update. At that time, I emailed editor Sharon L. Martin to find out if they use freelance work and what they pay. She finally emailed me back—over two months later—stating that they do welcome freelance contributions and that they pay from $50 to $300 per article. They also publish and pay for photographs. The fee for photos is negotiated with the art director. Contact Sharon at Sharon@helenmagazine.com. Web site: http://www.helenmagazine.com.
Agni
America in WWII
Dreams Alive Home and Garden Magazine
Nancy Tanker, the managing editor of Specialty Retail Report, is seeking writers with experience writing about retail and/or business. They mainly want profiles of successful entrepreneurs. Readers of this magazine operate businesses from carts, kiosks and temporary in-line spaces in malls across the U.S. The magazine boasts over 30,000 readers. Check it out at http://www.specialtyretail.com. Contact Nancy at srrtanker@mchsi.com.
V-Style
For Me
Global Woman Magazine
The first issue of Good Magazine debuted last month. This is a magazine for people who are waking up to a new good. The history of the publication is kind of interesting. Check it out at their Web site: http://www.goodmagazine.com. Contact editor, Zach, at zach@goodmagazine.com.
I met the editor of a regional magazine called The Central Coast Rogue Voice at the Central Coast Book Festival a few weeks ago. He said they are really desperate for writers. He describes his publication as “A literary journal with an edge.” This isn’t your everyday regional magazine focusing on lifestyle of the locals. It’s more controversial that that—so make sure to look at their Web site to get the flavor of it before you send them a story. Learn more at http://www.theroguevoice.blogspot.com.
Magazines for First-time Writers
If you’re looking for new magazine writing opportunities, check these out. This is a brief list of magazines that welcome new-to-them writers.
Generation X National Journal.
Fifty Something Magazine
The Journal
Light and Life
Mario Farina of New Authors Journal welcomes submissions by first-time writers of short stories and poems. In fact, this magazine focuses on new writers. The whole premise of this publication is to give writers of fiction and poetry a place to showcase their work. They don’t pay for contributions. http://www.mariofarina.com
Tango
Me, My Entertainment
Opportunities for Authors
Seal Press is looking for submissions for a new anthology called, The Bigger, The Better, The Tighter the Sweater; Beauty, Body, Image and Other Hazards of Being Female. But hurry, time is short. Their deadline for contributions to this anthology is October 15, 2006. This book will include personal narratives designed to paint an entertaining and realistic portrait of women’s feelings and attitudes about our bodies. And they say they want to reveal, through these stories, “all of the complexities and contradictions.” They want humorous anecdotes, but they also want you to reveal your deep down emotions all related to the way you feel about your body. This sounds like a fascinating and challenging project. It may also turn out to be therapeutic for the writer. Contact Samantha Schoech or Lisa Taggart. They want to see your story written in first person with a total of 2,500 to 6,000 words. If your story is published in the anthology, you will earn $100 plus two copies of the book. Learn more about this interesting opportunity at http://sealpress.com/submissions/index.html.
The Publishing Game offers a free monthly email newsletter. To learn more about how this publication can assist you as an author, visit http://www.publishinggame.com.
http://www.articlescorner.com is an interesting site where you’ll find dozens and dozens of articles on a wide variety of topics. You can get involved in forums on a variety of topics, as well. So if you are researching issues related to health, homeschooling, family or home-based businesses, for example, you might find an article on this topic for an upcoming book and land an interview with the author, for example.
If you write books for baby boomers or seniors, you will find scads of articles and information to use in your research at Dotsie Bregel’s Boomer Women Speak site (http://www.boomerwomenspeak.com.) It’s a great place to get a perspective or information for an article. And be sure to sign up for Dotsie’s newsletter: Boomer Women’s World.
Bias Onus Publishing is seeking topics for electronic books. It’s a brand new company and publisher Carmen Black says they will accept most genres and topics. Contact them at http://www.biasonus.net.
Book Promotion Opportunities
American Book Review will be back and open for business in November. In case you’re not familiar with this nearly 30-year-old magazine which, by the way, took a year-long hiatus, it runs reviews for “neglected published works.” Focusing mainly on fiction and poetry from small presses, the current editor-in-chief, Dr. Jeffrey Di Leo, says he will publish 200-250 reviews per year and he’ll do this from the magazine’s new home office in Texas. Here’s the contact information: Charles Alcorn, Ph.D., Managing Editor. alcornc@uhv.edu.
The Commonwealth Club has been operating the California Book Awards since 1931 in order to foster literature within the state. This has since become one of the most prestigious awards in the state. It’s time to submit your entry to this competition. Do so using an official entry form so that it arrives in their office no later than January 7, 2007. Keep in mind that this is for residents of CA only and the entry must bear a 2006 original publication date. You’ll find the entry form at http://www.commonwealthclub.org or email bookawards@commonwealthclub.org.
I notice that Dotsie Bregel of Boomer Women Speak features an author each month. If you’re a woman with something to say, visit http://www.boomerwomenspeak.com or contact Dotsie at dots@boomerwomenspeak.com. WPN member, Robin Westmiller, who writes under the name, Raven West, along with her latest book, Blood Tastes Lousy with Scotch, is the featured member for September.
If your book is targeted to older folks, check out this book club for seniors. http://www.seniornet.org
Opportunities for Script Writers
Do you have a great idea for a TV reality show? The Scriptapalooza Television Writing Competition is in its 8^th year. The deadline for submissions is October 15, 2006. They’re looking for one-hour scripts, scripts for existing half-hour sitcoms, original pilots and, this year, they’re also accepting scripts for reality shows. The entry fee is $40. http://www.scriptapaloozatv.com
New Book Announcements
How many publications and sites have you notified about your new book? During the first year of publication, you should be sending out press releases to all of the pertinent sites and publications that you can think of. And then carefully read the monthly WPN Market Update and continually do Google searches to discover additional publications and sites to contact.
Start with local hometown newspapers and other regional publications related to your home-base, where you once lived, the place where your novel is set, etc. If yours is a cookbook, an entertainment celebrity memoir, a gardening book, one on health/fitness or some other popular aspect, you can conceivably turn the heads of special department editors on newspapers across the U.S. Use a newspaper directory such as, http://www.newspapers.com or http://www.thepaperboy.com to locate newspapers and then address the foods, health, senior, sports, family/parenting, life and living or home and garden editor, for example.
Contact Web sites and newsletter editors related to your book topic or type and ask if they will place an announcement, offer your book for sale, review your book, interview you or publish your book excerpt or article, for example. Participate in forums at pertinent sites. Each of you should be able to come up with at least 50 opportunities to promote your new book.
I once tried to counsel an author with a book that he said gave scientific proof that there is no God. He wanted to know how to promote his book. I asked him, “Who is your audience?” He looked at me and said, quite matter of factly and somewhat surprised that I didn’t seem to get it, “Everyone.” I asked, “Do you mean to say that you believe everyone will want to read this book?” He said, “Well, everyone should.” Ultimately, I convinced him that his audience consisted of men and women with the same philosophy and belief system as his. I just did a quick search and located a possible 18 million such sites—highlighting a solid 25 of them in the few minutes I spent on this task.
Now if there are that many sites for a book containing what I consider rather obscure, unpopular thinking, there should be huge numbers pertaining to your book. Right?
For a novel, seek out fiction and literary sites, journals and newsletters and book review sites. Don’t forget to send your new book announcement to WPNews. Contact wendy@spawn.org.
For nonfiction—say a book about dog obedience—search for dog obedience/behavior Web sites as well as those related to veterinary, pets, pet stores, sites focusing on specific types of dogs and so forth.
Locate appropriate sites and publications through a Google Search. Believe me, it is highly possible to spend hours and hours—even days doing this kind of a search. In fact, I am always in search mode to locate book reviewers for my books, interview opportunities, sites that might sell my books and forums where I can talk about my books. You might spend an hour every morning before work on this or a couple of hours on the weekend.
When Your Book is No Longer New—Make News
How do you promote a more seasoned book—one that has been around the bookstore a few times? Can you still get your older book reviewed? Will editors give last year’s book any attention at all? You’ll be happy to know that the opportunities for publicity does not end when your copyright is one, two or even five years old. Here are some ideas for promoting your older book:

Resources for Writers and Authors
Hey gang, here’s a new concept: For those of you who are following a serious career as a freelance writer, this Web site will be of extreme benefit. http://www.mastheads.org is the only Web site dedicated to magazine mastheads. What’s so fantastic about that? Go see for yourself. They keep track of the changes in staff for over 292 magazines. Before you send that amazing query letter to a magazine, check at Masthead.org to make sure you are addressing it to the right editor. Is it the foods editor, the art director, the features editor or, perhaps the home and garden or parenting editor? In the world of freelance writing and publishing, things change and they sometimes change fast. Stay on top of the game by tuning into Masthead.org.
WritingCareer.com has relaunched. Find writing workshops, freelance writing jobs, articles and other resources for freelance writers at http://www.writingcareer.com.
If you haven’t visited Patricia Fry’s publishing blog yet, you really should stop in and visit from time to time. She writes articles, helpful hints, presents news you can use and shares insights. It’s a mix of frivolity, fun and noteworthy information/facts. http://www.matilijapress.com/publishingblog.
http://www.storyforu.com Here’s a site all about romantic fiction. If you have a romance novel to promote or you are writing one, you must check out the industry statistics listed on this site. This information will undoubtedly help you to focus or slant your story, thus making the difference between the success and the failure of your project.
Do you still have questions about copyright? Here’s an excellent article, if you’d really like to know the deep down history of copyright and some of the problems it has caused over the years. Go to http://fictionwriting.about.com. Scroll down to “copyright questions” and click on Professor John Sutherland’s name.
I thought you’d like to know:
Writers Market, the freelancer writers and authors guide to magazine editors and book publishers, is typically released in September. Get your 2007 edition now.
Quality Books Inc, distributor to the library market, has made some changes. Instead of asking you for book covers to hand deliver while hand selling your book to librarians, they are now asking for digital cover art. If you do not have your book with Quality Books, contact them now to see if they will accept your titles. http://www.quality-books.com
TIP
If you are signed up with Quality Books, take time each week to send press releases to libraries across the U.S. telling them about your library quality book and suggesting they order copies from your distributor, Quality Books. Here are a few online library directories: http://www.ala.org and http://www.librarydirectory.com.
 
, My Empowerment is a new magazine for women over 40 who are interested in knowing more about money matters, travel, health, fitness, aging parents, empty nest, retirement, the arts, inspirational things and more. Upcoming issues will contain articles on romantic getaways, heart disease and health, biker women, older women with younger men, plastic surgery, gardening, investing and how to buy comfortable shoes. If you want to discuss an article with the staff, contact them at http://www.memagazine4u.com. is a paying market, but they are keeping their pay rate a secret until they see what you have to offer them. This is a lifestyle magazine for women 25-44 years old. And they are especially interested in articles on relationships and pieces for women who are dating, engaged or married. Visit their site at http://www.tangomag.com. pays 15 cents/word. The theme of this publication is Christian living. They are looking for self-help and how-to articles as well as opinion, personal experience and humor—all from a Christian perspective. Contact editor, Doug Newson. You’ll find his email address at http://www.freemethodistchurch.org. is also low paying. But it may be a good outlet for your fiction or excerpts from your book. Check them out at http://english.osu.edu/journals/the_journal. Kathy Fagan and Michelle Herman are the editors. welcomes articles by new freelancers. If you can write fiction or nonfiction for the older residents of Cleveland, you might get a gig with this magazine. They are a paying market, but they don’t reveal their rate until they’re ready to negotiate. Contact Linda Lindeman-DeCarlo by writing to 1168 Beachview Drive, Willoughby, OH 44094. If you’re interested in writing articles on politics and international affairs in a sort of edgy way, you might like writing for this magazine. Contact Kathy Stoops at 411 W. Front, Wayland, IA 54564. They publish informational articles, opinion pieces as well as some fiction, poetry and artwork. They pay, but very little. If you have a book to promote and your topic fits in with their scheme of things, you might consider submitting an article or an excerpt to them. is new as of August 1, 2006. They want articles of anywhere from 650 to an occasional 3,500 words that reflects the view of women of all races and backgrounds. They do not offer compensation at this time. The topics they seek include, technology, inspiration, human interest, travel, literary, health, parenting, food, arts entertaining sports, fitness, fashion and home. Complete submission guidelines are posted at http://www.globalwoman-magazine.com/writersguidelines.pdf. The managing editor is Cheryle Dawes, em2fru@yahoo.com is a paying market. If you like to write about relationships, exercise, entertaining, health, money and careers for women, you might consider For Me magazine as an outlet for your articles. http://www.forme.com. They want a query first and they do not accept email queries, so go to the Web site and get their address. If you want more information about submission guidelines, forme@hfmus.com. is a new magazine that pays $1/word. Can you write about fashion, footwear, cars and spirits for African American men? V-Style is a spin-off of Vibe Magazine. This magazine is so new that, as of this writing, it isn’t even mentioned on Vibe’s Web site. http://www.vibe.com is an online magazine and they are currently accepting submissions. They want garden articles, poetry, recipes and even photographs. They are particularly interested in articles that include artwork. And they like seasonal and holiday-related articles. In every issue they feature home and garden pieces, art and literature as well as articles focusing on mind and spirit, health and lifestyle and food and drink. They also have a column just for kids. I’m doubtful that they pay for articles, but your communication to the editors just might prove me wrong. Check it out. http://www.dreamsalivemagazine.com is a new magazine all about the events of this war. Editor Jim Kushlan is interested in seeing your memoirs pertaining to WWII. Send to comments@americainwwii.com. Check out the magazine at http://www.americainwwii.com. is a literary journal that publishes poetry and fiction. They rely on outside submissions and they even pay. Yes, you can earn as much as $150 for a story or an essay. This is the time to submit your marvelous work. They accept submissions only between September 1 and May 31. No email submissions, please. Send your stories or poetry to Sven Birkerts, Agni, 236 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215. 
Opportunities for Freelance Writers
is going through a name change. It’s now called Rise. Visit their Web site at http://www.risemag.com. Contact editor Rob Bodenburg, rbodenburg@risemag.com. is back and the editor is B.J. Towe. Even though they have a Web site (http://www.figuremagazine.com) it’s difficult to get information for the writer. If you want to advertise in the magazine, however, there’s a ton of information for you. I suggest that you mail your request for a copy of their submission guidelines to 1716 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309 or call 515-284-3000. is cutting back to a bi-monthly and will change from a tabloid type newspaper style publication to a glossy magazine. That will be something to see. Grit is one of the oldest magazines around—having been established in 1882. They must be doing something right because they are still publishing. For those who are not familiar with Grit, it is a wholesome, family-oriented, good news magazine. Think small town. They still pay 15 cents/word for 800-1000 words features. They also publish short stories of from 1,500 to 3,500 words as well as romance, western mystery serials of 3,500 to 10,000 words. Contact Kathryn Compton at grit@grit.com. Web site: http://www.grit.com. http://www.grit.com/guidelines.html (for a pretty good set of submission guidelines). is gone.
Veggie Life is now an online magazine only.
Weekly Scoop, a Canadian celebrity slick, has ceased publishing after less than a year.
Teen People is gone in the print form, but will continue online at: http://www.teenpeople.com.
Collegebound Teen has ceased publishing with the Sept/Oct issue. They will also continue online. http://www.collegebound.net