Another step in formatting is to make sure each page after the first identifies the manuscript as yours. At the top of the page, you will type your last name, the title or part of it and the page number. This helps if your pages get separated.

Lastly, you’ll want to be sure you have a one to one and one half-inch margin on the sides, top and bottom of each page. Most word processing programs today are defaulted to this and you won’t have to worry.

Your manuscript is now ready for submission whether you’re sending an email or using postal mail.
Copyright 2001, by Linda S. Dupie

CHILDREN'S POETRY FORM WORKSHOP : 
Shape Poems/Lantern
(c) 2001 Lynne Remick

With a little imagination, the "Lantern Poem" will end up in a shape that somewhat looks like a lantern. Of course, it will look more or less like a lantern depending on the length of the words that you choose. 

This poetry form is fun to do, but can also be challenging, as the first line and the last line must be strong words--and you can only use one for each line! 

Here are the requirements for the Lantern poem. 

Use a one-word title as the 1st line.
Two words form 2nd line.
Three words form the 3rd line.
Four words form the 4th line. 
One word sums up the poem and forms the 5th line. 

Example:

Nightlight
Aurora Borealis 
Dances merrily against 
An arctic tundra backdrop--
Illumination. 

For those of you who don't know what the Aurora Borealis is, they are the colored lights that dance against the sky in the Arctic Circle. The closer you are to the North Pole, the better you can see them.
Illumination means "lit up."

Now, it's your turn. 
Have fun! 

Author Bio-Lynne Remick is a freelance children's writer. She is the "So You Want to be a Children's Writer" Columnist for The Writer's Exchange, and the Writing for Kids Tips Guru at http://www.writingforkids-tips.com (Coming February 2001). In addition, Lynne is the editor for http://www.topica.com/lists/Lil_Scribbles/ and the moderator of http://www.topica.com/lists/Lil_Scribblers/ Discussion List.

Keeping Track
By Linda S. Dupie

Recently a young writer asked me how I keep track of my submissions, this is something I hadn't thought about often, but something I do day after day.

There are as many ways to track your submissions, as there are writers, for simplicity we'll look at three of the most common systems I have found while talking to writers. Some writers use their computers, others use index cards, notebooks, and some write the information on the files they keep for each project. Others use all of the above.

Whatever system you choose, make it work for you. When I first began, I was terrible about writing down where I sent my work. I thought I could keep it straight in my head. In the beginning, I tried every way but what worked best for me. I am a detail-oriented person, I like to have information available wherever I am, and I like it to be portable. I like to use file folders; I have a file for the project and a file for the publication. When I finish a project and choose a market I write that market on the front of the project file with the date submitted and the editor. I also place a copy of the manuscript and cover letter in that file. For the Publication file I place the writer’s guidelines and a copy of the cover letter in the file, and write the title of the project and date submitted to the publication on this file too. This system makes it easy to see what I have submitted, whether I look at the publication or project file. This system works well in the office or home but is not very potable. For portability, I use a notebook and index cards.

Organizing A Submission Notebook
I know many writers who use this inexpensive and portable way to track their submissions. The most common set up I have seen is the seven-column format. For example, your columns may look like this:

[Title][Magazine Publisher/Editor][Word Count][Date sent][Date Returned][Published][Pay Date/Amount] 

As you send out each project fill in the appropriate columns, and as you hear from the publications fill in your open columns.

Using Index Cards

Index cards are as simple to use as the notebook. One advantage to index cards over the notebook is your ability to reorganize them. If you were to look in my box of index cards, you would see five categories:

1. Project (Index card used)
2. Publication (Index card used)
3. Outstanding Submissions
4. Ready To Submit
5. Published

I use two index cards similar to the way I use file folders. On one index card, I write the project name with word count, publication name, editor and date sent. On the second card, I write the publication name, contact information, and the title of the project and date sent. I keep the publication cards in alphabetical order at the back of the box. Then I have a section for Outstanding Submissions also in alphabetical order; as I receive responses I either move the cards to the Published category or to the Ready To Be Sent category. For a simpler approach to this system freelance writer Carol Sjostrom Miller does this, "When I finish a piece, I write the title on an index card. On the back of the card, I list possible markets for the piece. Then when I'm ready to submit, I write the magazine I submitted to and the date on the front of the card. If I get a rejection, I just cross off the market and put the next one beneath it, and keep going until it gets accepted…I just file the cards alphabetically by title."

Using Your Computer

If you do the majority of your writing at the computer this may be the best and easiest way to track submissions. Using a database program like Access or your word processor with a table inserted allows room for more information and cross-referencing.

A database program like Access allows you to add columns that your notebook doesn't have the room for such as the address of the publication and the time you spend on the project. You also have the ability to cross-reference your work. For example, you have the publication entered into the system you can cross reference the manuscript to the publisher to eliminate entering your information twice.

There is no one right way to track your submissions, be as detailed as you want. The key is to find the system that best suits your needs.  

Copyright 2001, by Linda S. Dupie. All rights reserved.
Author Bio-Linda is a mother, wife and writer. She writes on many topics including writing, parenting and travel. Visit her home page at http://www.lindasdupie.com

WRITER’S KIT
By Angie Ledbetter

You’ll need several tools to help you to become a good writer – paper and pen (duh!), dictionary, thesaurus, and if possible, a computer to help make your writing projects easier to work with and correct. There’s one more item to keep in your writer’s box that are often not thought about until they are needed. Ideas!

The writing instruments are pretty easy to come by, but sometimes we all get stuck with the idea part. We stare at a blank page or screen and the ideas seem to be frozen in our heads. There are ideas and topics everywhere if you keep your eyes open and do not become bogged down in thinking that your idea has to be some super fantastic, never before written about subject. Concentrate on what you spend your days doing and soon the ideas will begin to flow. To help you get started; here are a few suggestions for finding good writing topics:

What are YOU interested in reading about? Realizing that a subject holds your interest is a key to successful writing. If you enjoy something, it makes sense that others will too. Think about your interests and activities, and how you could present information about those things to readers. Do you know a coach or teacher with a great way of teaching others? Is there a new club you’ve joined or would like to get started at school? What about that book series you are hooked into, or your favorite band? Pick an idea and start writing about it as if you are writing to a close friend who knows very little about your subject. You can also do music, movie, or book reviews.

Listen to others. Many good stories and essays have come from writers who pay attention to what other people are talking about. You don’t have to be a snoop, you just have to have good listening skills.

Keep notes of your ideas and thoughts. Always carry a notebook with you so you won’t have to try to remember that great idea you had for a story at baseball practice or in English class. Whenever you are stumped for a writing subject, whip open your writing notebook and just choose a subject at random. Try comparing and contrasting your idea with another similar idea for an interesting essay. (Why is such and such better or more interesting than so and so?)
Let your imagination run wild. Start writing a fantasy story without an outline. Just let your words flow out without trying to make them fit into a structure. Don’t worry about whether it’s making sense or not. You can always go back later and edit or change it, and you may end up with a few good story starters.

Use a story, article, essay, or poem that someone else has written as an idea starter. See if you can write something similar that is more interesting, funny, or intense.

If you want to be a good writer, you will have to read a lot. Pick up magazines and see what other writers are writing about. Make notes in your notebook for ideas that you find, or that come to you when reading.
These are just a few ways you can come up with things to write about. Ideas are everywhere around you every second of the day. Don’t wait to be struck by lightening, just pick up your pen and start writing about what you see, smell, hear, feel, like, dislike, wish for, or think. Your writing ideas are only limited by the size of your imagination!

Angie Ledbetter © 2001

Angie is a regular contributor to Southern Renaissance and the Island Park News, an award winning publication in Island Park, Idaho, and editor/columnist of its Fertile Ground section. She is a member of the Louisiana Press Women and NFPW. Her column, "Catholic Community" runs in the Ascension Citizen newspaper. Angie writes poetry, fiction, book reviews for www.writers-exchange.com  and nonfiction for the Internet, and balances freelancing with 2 part time jobs, the activities of 3 young children, ministry work, and scouting. Angie is part of a team creating a four-volume inspirational series, Fertile Ground Seasons. For more information, go to http://www.fertilegroundseasons.com. 

You want to know how to get a good grade when writing a paper for History or English or anything else?  Well, surprisingly enough the best method to use is also the most easiest.  How cool is that? This method, the writing formula that is most likely to get you a good grade, is The Five Paragraph Essay that uses The Rule of Three.  You can vary this, of course, but the formula is a sure winner so I am going to use it right here in this letter to show you how!  Here goes:  To start off, the most simple, yet highly compelling, way to write an academic essay, is to have the first paragraph be the Introduction.  Then you have the next three paragraphs act as the Body of the paper. Finally, you have a fifth paragraph that is the Summary and/or Conclusion.  Those last three sentences written here about the three parts of the essay could be combined into one sentence which you would call the Thesis for this paper and they finish up the Introduction Paragraph.

The Body of your paper probably will have many facts or points or arguments.  But to make sure the paper is simple enough that your reader notices each of these items, the body of the paper should be organized into at least three paragraphs.  A longer paper may use five paragraphs or even have sections with three to five paragraphs.  But to be powerful, each paragraph, such as this one, should have at least three points to sound like full paragraph.

Oddly enough, the paragraphs in the Body, as opposed to the Introduction, should start with a Topic Sentence instead of ending with a Thesis Sentence.  The topic sentence in each paragraph should be broad enough to cover three points.  In a history paper, for example, you might be listing three names or explaining three dates which you have suggested would be covered right there in that  first sentence--the topic sentence.  It is easy to see that these three points might be covered in three sentences but sometimes it would take more than three and other times could be stated  in just one.

The paragraphs in the Body, following the Rule of Three,  need to sound like they go together or that they naturally follow one another or that they build up to the conclusion.

It is easy to conclude the reasons whys the Five Paragraph Paper usually get a good grade. Mostly, the five paragraphs are easy to read, easy to follow, and most clearly show that you have used reasoning and organization.  Besides that, the rule of Three works because most generally one reason is not very convincing in a paper, or even a paragraph.  Also, over three or five points in a paragraph or even a section of a longer paper can be very confusing unless these, too, are broken down into an understandable three. Thus, most papers that get the coveted "A,"  or a "Well Written" remark will all follow the same writing formula--Five Paragraphs or Parts using The Rule of Three.  

Margaret Byers Smith, Ph. D., Writer, Retired Social Psychologist http://members.aol.com/historyresearch 
Bengeserit@aol.com  

IDEAS ESCAPE ME
By Linda S. Dupie

Have you ever said, "I have nothing to write about." It's just not true; you have plenty look around. Everywhere you go, everywhere you look there are hundreds of ideas. You have to open your eyes and mind and let them in.

Before you say that ideas been done, let me say this, its been covered probably a hundred times over but what makes it original is your slant on the topic. If writers were to avoid ideas because they have been covered the written world, movies and books would cease to exist because there wouldn't be a need for writers.

No matter what your age, open your eyes and mind, absorb your surroundings, and then write.

10 PLACES TO FIND IDEAS 

1. Playgrounds are great to jog your memory of events that would make excellent essays, plots for short stories or articles.
2. Libraries-There is literally thousands of ideas at your fingertips here. You could write book reviews. Write a rebuttal to an article you don't agree with.
3. School/College-Why not write a survival guide article. How to survive the eight grade, how you completed your first year of college without gaining the 'Freshman 15'. A how to article is perfect for magazines that target your peers.
4. Pets-How to articles. For example, you convinced your parents to let you have a pet; you have what you need to write a how to for other kids based on your experiences. Be serious or funny whatever works for you.
5. Your community-Has a peer or adult accomplished something extraordinary or ordinary that benefited other? Interview them for a profile piece.
6. Trends/Fads- As a kid or teen you're in a unique position of spotting a trend before it really happens. Look around at your peers, what are they wearing? How are they talking? Did a friend just return from Europe? Did they bring back anything that might become trendy here? Write about it!
7. Television-Write about the reality shows from your point of view. What do you really think of them? Your perspective will vary greatly from that of an adult.
8. Grocery stores-This is a great place to observe people and gather traits for characters in your short stories. You could write a humorous essay comparing your shopping list with that of your parents.
9. Hobbies-Do you have a unique hobby? Write about it and share your expertise with others.
10. Politics-You're never too young! Is something happening locally, state or nationally that affects you and your peers?

Dig around, make some calls and try to talk with the individual or individuals involved to help you understand and then write about it to help others understand.

Ideas are everywhere, just look around, and you'll never say I have nothing to write about again.