Scribble Articles5

The 5 Year Journal

Scribble Articles Continued

So You Want to Write?
By Lynette Rees

You remember you were good at writing stories in school. Now you feel it is time to start writing again.

So how do I go about it?

A good place to start is the local library. You should be able to find details of creative writing classes there. You may even find that the library itself runs the classes.

Creative writing classes are an ideal way to meet like-minded people who will critique your work for you. Can’t take criticism? Then be warned, it’s no use others telling you your work is wonderful if it’s not. Work is normally read out loud to the group. Something that may not seem so obvious to you, may jump out to someone else. For example, I was reading out one of my short stories once to my group, someone said that I should not have dropped a character straight into the story. I should have mentioned her earlier (fore shadowing). Which I amended. I had two children arguing, an horrible green vase almost got smashed. One of the characters said "Be careful, Auntie Eira bought that for Mum." It then fit in nicely, when Auntie Eira appeared in the story later on.

One of the disadvantages about creative writing groups is that while it’s all very well socializing, which of course is all part of it, there are some there that just want to talk and gossip. This can be quite frustrating when you feel you want to get on. But the advantages out weigh the disadvantages. A group such as this will get you writing, as there is usually set homework to be done. Being part of such a group too, you’ll be in the right place to know about writing competitions and literary functions etc.

If it’s difficult for you to join a group, you could try an on-line writing group. Some are free, most are not. The advantage here is there is no time wasted, and you may be able to see exactly where you have gone wrong. For example, I joined an on-line group where we critiqued each others work. The main thing I learned was that my sentences were too long! Something I’ve since rectified. I would never have discovered this in my ordinary creative writing group, as we always read our work aloud.

What else can I do to get started?

• Keep a daily journal. Ideally a small notepad you can carry it around in your handbag or pocket, in case inspiration strikes. Don’t be too concerned if what you write appears to be rubbish. Set it aside and read it again in a few days with fresh eyes. Also note any ideas as they occur for plot, characterization etc.

• Cut out ideas from magazines and newspapers. The ‘blurb’ with a short story can start you thinking of your own story e.g: ‘Emma had thought he’d walked out of her life for good, five years ago. Now, here he was on her doorstep....’ What happened next.....? Cut out newspaper headlines and construct a short story e.g ‘Five held captive in a house.’ Newpaper headlines can fire your imagination.

• Ask yourself questions. When you’re out in a public place e.g in a railway station: Where is that man going? Who is he? What has he got in that parcel? Why is he looking so sad? Asking yourself those kind of questions can inspire you to create a plot and/or characterization.

• Listen to music. All types of music. What does that song remind you of? What country? What images does it invoke?

• Read. Read all types of books from your favorite authors to authors you’ve never tried before. Study the way the author creates his/her characters. Look carefully at the dialogue, how is it constructed? Does it come to life?

The main thing is to enjoy your writing. Write for yourself initially. Write about your childhood, the friends you made. Sad occasions, happy occasions. It can be quite therapeutic. Once you’re enjoying creative writing, anything else like getting published is a bonus!

Copyright 2002, by Lynette Rees.

Lynette Rees lives in South Wales, and is married with two children. Her short stories and articles are published both on the web and in print. Currently she works as a volunteer counsellor for a local mental health charity. Lynette is working on her first novel which is crime fiction.

Write Quality, Read Quantity
by Stephen Earley Jordan, II
edited by Jenny Wilson

All hail, Stephen King! All hail, Stephen King!

Bow down! Kiss his smelly feet!

Heck no! Why would we want to do such a thing?

Some people seem to praise Mr. King's name as if he really IS the King of writing, literature, and even the publishing industry itself. The Royal Ruler of the publishing industry? Just because King produces such a mass quantity of books does not mean he is a genius, or even (blasphemy!) such a good writer. His works are just as commercialized as a Britney Spears or Backstreet Boys compact disk, existing merely to please mainstream pop culture and producing "art" in QUANTITY, one cookie-cutter novel after the other, instead of producing works of QUALITY.

My goal as a writer is to have quality work. Nothing more, nothing less. But how can a writer produce quality works? Easy.

Read.

A few years ago a major New York newspaper produced a list of 100 books that people should read, that English majors in college should and need to read. Yet in an interview with Stephen King, a reporter discovered that King had never read most of these works, many of which would be considered classic literature. Is HE really well-read? I don't think so. If that were the case, I believe his works would represent quality instead of quantity. Or, perhaps, he might have become that rarest of authors who can achieve both.

To avoid writing in a stagnant pool you have to first take a nose dive into a great pile of books (I'm being figurative here, NOT literal) and read, read, read. But don't just read ONE style. Obviously, if you like one writer, or one genre of writing, beyond others keep reading work in the same vein. But don't stop there. Read poetry by people of various cultures, read fiction, read nonfiction, read how-to books. Learn different styles and techniques. Broaden your potentially stagnant pool into a frothing ocean of ideas!

Writer Eudora Welty once stated, "Learning to write may be a part of learning to read. For all I know, writing comes out of a superior devotion to reading". Learning to read others' works, whether the writing has been published or not, helps you to develop different styles and techniques.

And, what about William Faulkner? We mustn't forget this Master of Words! As if re-affirming my suggestions, Faulkner claimed that we need to, ". . .read, read, read. Read everything-trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master." Read some works that are published by mainstream publishers, then read works that are self-published. Ask yourself: How are the two types of work similar? How are they different?

Read with a purpose. To read as a writer, you must look for the story's heart.

Read a story and ask yourself if the story might be better if told by another character. Better still, make your own version of stories, like the controversial "The Wind Done Gone" instead of "Gone With the Wind" or "Wide Sargasso Sea" instead of "Jane Eyre". It's amazing how a "new version" with a "new point of view" can change the scheme of things, and amazing how getting into the lives of another writer's created characters can help you to enrich the pen-and-ink lives of the characters populating your own stories.

It may be possible to become a decent writer, or even a good writer, without having read the works of others. After all, someone had to have told the very first story, and statisticians tell us that a number of monkeys banging away at typewriters will eventually create "Hamlet" by sheer chance. But why bang away at your writing like a monkey might do when you have this "shortcut" before you, this wealth and treasury of writers who have come before you? If a beloved piece of writing can inspire someone to new creations, then that is surely the highest compliment the original author can be given.

Stephen E. Jordan, II is Editor/Publisher of OutStretch Publications; Financial Editor in Manhattan; and Poet. Article is available for reprint. Please notify the author. Copyright © 2001. www.OutStretch.net, Editor@OutStretch.net

Ten Ways to Increase Your Writing
By L. Jans

1. Roundup
I recently wrote a series of articles about interesting people and places in some of the small towns in the southwest. As a roundup article, I picked the highlights from each article, included photos, and sent it to a travel magazine that was calling for surprises for the tourist in the southwest.

2. Doubling interview benefits
When I interview someone for an article, say, a craftsperson, I ask questions about their craft. After the interview, I continue chatting about whatever the preson wishes. I guarantee you at least one other article idea using this technique.

After an interview with a lady who paints and sketches, she told me about their decision to farm organically. Another article coming up.

3. Use your research information for more than one genre.
I attended an information meeting about the burrowing owl. This owl is decreasing in numbers, thereby alarming and baffling environmentalists.

I subsequently wrote an article called The Enigma of the Burrowing Owl. I also used some of the information in a religious article, Admiring God's Handiwork.

In future, I may use the information in a poem, in a children's story, or in a fictional piece.

4. This relates mainly to religious articles. The same Bible quote that applies to one article could also be appropriate for another article.

For example, the Bible quote, "He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds," (Psalm 147:1,3) seemed appropriate for an article I wrote about grief and the loss of a loved one. I found the same quote was pertinent for an article about the pain of divorce.

5. Placing an ad
I wanted to write an article about war brides. How could I obtain the contacts I needed? I wondered.

I placed an ad calling for war bride experiences. Fortunately, I received an excellent response. Most of them were untold stories, history nearly lost.

If you are watching your expenses, there are publications and bulletin boards that offer free advertising. Use those for your requests. If you are working on an article with a deadline, be sure to place your ad early enough to give you sufficient time to develop your article.

6. Seek out more markets
While waiting in a doctor's office, I picked up new markets by scanning the magazines.

I also discovered a new daily right in my home town. It is a three-page publication, hungry for short articles, jokes and fillers.

7. Addition of photos to your articles
Photos always enhance an article, especially in profiles and wildlife articles.

The camera need not be expensive. What I have noticed is that some of these photos become more valuable as time goes on. For example, I have some photos of a hotel that has since been torn down and a rainbow bridge no longer in use.

8. Borrowing slices of life from others
I watched the news to see the story of a lady walking along a bridge. Her baby slipped from her arms and fell fifty feet onto a ledge.

The woman was under suspicion by police. One could use this "slice" as the basis of a fictional piece.

9. Reconsider the nonpaying markets
Most of us see monetary payment as writing rewards. I used to submit to nonpaying markets as a way to obtain much needed writing credits.

I now have writing credits, but continue to submit to nonpaying markets. Why? Several reasons.

One is that sometimes an article or poem is printed just at a time when motivation is needed. And there it is, just in time to catapult me past a dry spell.

Two is that, by this time, I have formed a comraderie with the editors that have accepted some of my earlier writing. They have become cohorts and penfriends. This is a benefit more valuable than money.

After brainstorming with Nellie Scott, editor of Tale Spinners, we ended up co-authoring a chapbook, Coaxing the Muse Out of the Closet and Get It In Writing.

Another type of unpaid writing is my diary. Sometimes, when I reread my diary, I get ideas from my own writing. For example, I record my dreams. These dreams and dream fragments are wound into articles, fiction and poetry.

I also have writing penpals. We share ideas, news, setbacks and successes in our writing.

I correspond with Lois, whom I began writing to after she bought a copy of my and Nellie's book. I correspond with Oliver, who wrote, If You're Gonna Be Dumb, You've Gotta Be Tough. He gets the humor on paper in a candid way.

Then there's Louise, a Metis woman in her nineties. She wrote a book called Remembering Will Have to Do. It is written in Cree and English. Her book documents some of the early Metis history, part of our heritage.

Evangeline writes long letters including her latest plays, shares recent books she has read, opinions, writing problems and markets.

10. Find the catalyst to your creativity.

For me, going to craft sales, art shows, keeping in touch with other writers and creative people triggers my own creativity. For some, walking or driving brings new ideas.

Use these direct and indirect ways to write more and submit more.

L. Jans is a freelance photojournalist. Her articles have appeared in Canadian Writer's Journal, Freelance, Longridge, Our Family, Canadian Messenger and more. She is author of a poetry book, Ruts of Life. Her email address is ljans@sk.sympatico.ca

DEVELOPING A WRITER'S DISCIPLINE: Using Contests
By Linda S. Dupie

Developing skills as writer takes discipline. The best way to do this is to set aside time each day and write or set deadlines. However, self-imposed deadlines are easy to wiggle out of. An alternative is to use contests. Use the contest deadline to develop discipline and your writing skills.

Finding contests is as easy as browsing your favorite writing web sites or using a search engine like Google (http://www.google.com). To conduct a search using Google you'll need to enter search terms. One that turns up the best results is "young writers+contests."

Finding the contests is the easy part of being a writer. The hard part is following through and writing that poem, essay or short story. The possibility of winning is a great motivator. But what do you do when your enthusiasm lessens? Keep writing. This is where discipline is needed. Successful writers write through the rough spots. Freelance writer Peg Loudon of New Jersey says, "I was determined to enter a mystery contest… but I found out about it rather late. It meant I had to really push myself to get the story done on time -- I worked on it every night whether I felt like it or not! There was no
time to wait for the muse or even for some energy if I was going to make the deadline."

At this point, don't worry whether you've chosen the right words that's what revising is for. What's important is to get your words down in black and white. Plan appropriately, pay attention to the contest deadline and guidelines. If the deadline is six weeks away try to have a rough draft finished
within the first week of deciding to participate. Once your draft is finished let it sit a day or two. Then start revising. By the end of week two you should be closer to what you want. At this point you still have time to get a friend to do a read though and offer suggestions. At the end of week three you should have completed any revisions suggested by your friend. Week four should be for a final polishing. Once you're satisfied mail or e-mail your entry to its destination.

Make sure the work you're submitting is the best you can make it. Be sure you have followed the contest guidelines. If the guidelines aren't met the entry won't be read. Double check that all the
required contact information is included and makes sure the finished work is on topic with the contest. Minding the details and learning to discipline yourself to write will help you meet your deadlines and is good practice for when you make the switch to sending your work to an editor.

Contests for Young Writers

1. Your Assignment For Kids:
http://www.writersdigest.com/catalog/assignmentkids14.asp Check back each month for a new assignment. 13 years and younger.

2. The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Who's Eligible?

All students in grades seven through twelve (7-12) who are currently enrolled in public or non-public schools in the United States, U.S. Territories, U.S.-sponsored schools abroad and Canada are eligible.

What Are the Categories?

There are sixteen visual art categories and ten writing categories.

How Do I Enter?

Your art and writing submission must be accompanied with an entry form. Deadlines vary, depending on where you live. To get your entry form and find specific rules and deadlines for your region, select either "Art Entry Form" or "Writing Entry Form" below, then enter the five-digit zip code for your school.

For complete details visit=> http://www.scholastic.com/artandwriting/howenter.asp

E-mail lists that offer young writers contest and market information

1. The Writing Child - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TWChild/ or
send a blank e-mail to subscribe mailto:TWChild-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

2. Writing Kid - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WritingKid/ or
send a blank e-mail to mailto:WritingKid-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

3. Rainy Day Corner Publishing - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RainyDayCorner or
send a blank e-mail to mailto:RainyDayCorner-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Linda S. Dupie-Linda is a wife, mother and writer. She writes on a variety of subjects and runs a web site for young writers. In addition, Linda is the Virginia Regional Representative for National Association of Women Writers (NAWW). Visit her writing home page at http://www.lindasdupie.com

Celebrate National Poetry Month
By Linda Reynolds

Have fun, spark your creativity, and deepen your appreciation of language by celebrating National Poetry Month (NPM) during April. Even if poetry is not your favorite genre, you can still benefit, as can your children. My appreciation of poetry began in childhood, as I listened to my mother read aloud from A Child's Garden of Verses. When I learned about NPM last year, I saw an opportunity to pass on the legacy of poetry to my children.

Background of NPM
The Academy of American Poets was created in 1934 to support American poets and to encourage public appreciation of contemporary poetry. The Academy is now the largest organization in the United States dedicated to the art of poetry. They support numerous programs nationally, and in 1996 they began NPM to focus attention on poetry's essential contribution to American culture. As William Carlos Williams said, "It is difficult to get the news from poems yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there."

Some of the goals of NPM are to highlight the achievement of American poets, to introduce more Americans to the pleasures of poetry, and to enlarge poetry's place in school curricula. The Academy works with bookstores, libraries, schools, and cultural institutions nationwide to organize activities such as poetry readings, festivals, book displays, and workshops. This year NPM will focus on Langston Hughes. Visitors to The Academy's Web site last year voted Hughes their favorite poet, and the 100th anniversary of his birth was February 1st.

Ideas for Family NPM Activities
Reading aloud a poem a day during April is a simple but effective way for your family to celebrate NPM together. Many people believe poetry is hard to understand, but the more familiar they become with poetry, the more comfortable they will be with it. As the motto of the Poetry Daily Web site says: "The urge to 'tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it*' lessens when poetry arises freshly each day. (*from Introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins)"

If you have an infant or toddler, read a nursery rhyme or rhyming storybook at naptime or bedtime. A wide variety of nursery rhyme books are available, so you're sure to find one that suits your taste. Also look for poetry anthologies designed especially for very young children.

If you have older children, your options are limited only by your imagination. Dinnertime might be better for sharing your daily poem. Encourage your spouse and children to take turns selecting and reading. Choose only poems by Langston Hughes, or begin with some of his and move on to other poets. If you have a child who dislikes poetry, look for rhyming stories or anthologies about your child's special interest. I've seen books about insects, dinosaurs, camping, sports, and dragons, to name only a few. (If you can't find a collection about your child's favorite thing, perhaps you'll be inspired to write one yourself!) Also consider reading Love That Dog by Sharon Creech. This story, written in free verse, is about a boy who thinks poetry is only for girls, but he gradually comes to appreciate poetry and write his own.

After reading poetry aloud awhile, family members might like to write poems themselves. Try naming a theme, then talk about the different ways family members interpret it. Another time, give everyone free reign and see what they create. Some books you read together may suggest other ideas. For example, The Sweet and Sour Animal Book teaches the alphabet; your family can create an alphabet book of your own, using any theme that appeals to you. Write a short poem and create an illustration for each letter. For more ideas, check your library or bookstore for the many books about writing poetry, some written especially for children.

NPM Activities in Your Area
If you want to find poetry month activities near you, contact public libraries, bookstores, museums, and other cultural institutions. If you live in a larger metropolitan area, chances are good you'll have a variety of events from which to choose. Also check with your child's teacher and school librarian. If they're not already familiar with NPM, tell them about The Academy of American Poets Web site, and encourage them to request their free NPM posters.

If you live in a smaller town or rural area where no NPM activities are planned, organize an event at school, at church, at a library, or at a bookstore. Your event can focus on the work of Langston Hughes, have some other theme, or cover poetry in general. The Favorite Poem Project Web site at www.favoritepoem.org lists helpful information for planning a poetry event under "The Classroom" and "Get Involved" links.

A Final Thought
Although the aim of NPM is to promote American poetry, I won't hesitate to share with my children the poetry of other cultures. America has always been "the melting pot," and technology now brings all countries closer together. Literature of other peoples and lands can only enrich our minds and lives.

Suggested Resources

Web Sites
The Academy of American Poets, www.poets.org. Includes search feature (by poet or poem); audio poems, many read by the author; discussion forums; poetry news; listings of poetry events nationwide; the Online Poetry Classroom, a teachers' resource; ordering information for NPM posters, free to teachers, librarians, and booksellers.

Poetry Daily, www.poems.com. An anthology of contemporary poems, selected from current books, magazines, and journals.

Favorite Poem Project, www.favoritepoem.org, started by Robert Pinsky when he became U.S. Poet Laureate in 1997. Although the site has not been updated in the past year, it contains the interesting story of the project and useful suggestions for holding a poetry reading and ideas for teachers. (See "The Classroom" and "Get Involved" links.) Also look for Americans' Favorite Poems, edited by Robert Pinsky and Maggie Dietz, ISBN 0-393-04820-9.

Nursery Rhyme Collections
Here Comes Mother Goose, illustrated by Rosemary Wells, ISBN 0-7636-0683-9. My son enjoyed the illustrations by Max the Bunny's author/illustrator.

Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose Told in Signed English, by Harry Bornstein and Karen L. Saulnier, ISBN 0-930323-99-8. A unique version bringing nursery rhymes to hearing-impaired children. It can also be used with hearing children interested in learning to sign.

Mother Goose on the Rio Grande, by Frances Alexander. Contains rhymes in English and Spanish.

Jaha and Jamil Went Down the Hill: An African Mother Goose, by Virginia Kroll, ISBN 0-88106-865-9. Written as if Mother Goose had visited Africa and wrote her rhymes to reflect what she saw there. Beautiful illustrations cover every page, and a map in the back shows which country each rhyme represents.

The Christian Mother Goose Book, by Marjorie Ainsborough Decker, ISBN 0-933724-00-4. Written to teach children the love of God.

Babushka's Mother Goose, by Patricia Polacco, ISBN 0-399-22747-4. These rhymes and illustrations reflect the author's Russian heritage.

Anthologies for the Very Young
Good Morning, Sweetie Pie and Other Poems for Little Children, by Cynthia Rylant, ISBN 0-689-82377-0. The illustrations by Jane Dyer are gorgeous.

Read-aloud Rhymes for the Very Young, selected by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Marc Brown, ISBN 0-394-87218-5. The pairing of Prelutsky, a popular children's poet, and Brown, best known for the Arthur series, make this book a winner.

A Small Child's Book of Cozy Poems, selected and illustrated by Cyndy Szekeres, ISBN 0-590-38364-7. Charming illustrations.

Poetry for Children by Langston Hughes
The Sweet and Sour Animal Book, ISBN 0-19-509185-X. This book, with an animal and poem for each letter of the alphabet, was written in the 1930s but remained unpublished until the manuscript was found among Hughes' papers at Yale years after his death. Students from the Harlem School of the Arts illustrated it.

The Block, selected by Lowery S. Sims and Daisy Murry Voigt, ISBN 0-670-86501-X. A portrait of life on one city block in Harlem, highlighting neighborhood places and the people who live here. The Cubist collage by Romare Bearden illustrates Hughes' poems. Includes biographies of Hughes and Bearden. After reading this book, let each family member write a poem about the block where you live; parents might write about a childhood home. Adapt the idea as needed to suit where you live; write about your neighborhood, your church, your town, the road in the country on which you live.

The Dream Keeper and other poems, ISBN 0-679-84421-X. Some of these poems are better for older children.

Many children's anthologies include one or more poems by Hughes.

Biographies of Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes, American Poet, by Alice Walker, ISBN 0-690-00219-X. Written in a manner to appeal to younger children. Try to find the recent reprint; my library had the original, printed in the 70's, and I found its illustrations rather dull.

Coming Home: From the Life of Langston Hughes, by Floyd Cooper, ISBN 0-399-22682-6. A beautifully illustrated picture book focusing on Hughes' childhood.

Biographical information about Hughes is online at The Academy of American Poets Web site, and they provide a list of other Hughes links. Check your library or bookstore for the many other biographies for young people and adults.

Audio
Langston Hughes Reads His Poetry, from Caedmon Audio, ISBN 0-694-52273-2.
This hour-long audio provides the unique opportunity to hear Hughes read his own poetry, which he seasons with comments about his life and work. Portions of it can be shared with children; some poems, especially toward the end, deal with mature themes.

Author Bio- Linda has enjoyed writing poetry since her first grade teacher raved over one she wrote about Mozart. Although Linda hasn't yet published her poetry, she has published articles on several Web sites. Linda's own Web site, Edifying Entertainment at www.edifyingentertainment.com, will launch in April, providing resources to help families find appropriate entertainment and supporting those who work to increase the number of family-appropriate productions.

RESEARCHING MARKETS ONLINE: TEN TIPS FOR YOUNG WRITERS
By Debbie Ridpath Ohi

With the growing wealth of information online, young writers have more resources and ways of researching potential markets for their writing. Here are just a few:

1. *Learn how to use a search engine*.

Entering more than one term into the search field will help narrow your search. Just typing "guidelines" will turn up an overwhelming number of results, for example, whereas entering "young writers guidelines" makes your search more specific and more likely to turn up the kind of sites you're really interested in.

Choose a few good search engines like Google (http://www.google.com) and learn everything you can about their advanced features and Help files.

2. *Learn about copyright*.

Before you begin submitting material, familiarize yourself with the different types of copyright. Most publications will include copyright information in their guidelines; it's important that you understand what rights they are asking for. If they are buying all rights, for example, it means that you cannot resell that piece elsewhere, and that the publication can reprint your article without paying you anything extra.

You can find useful copyright information in a Writing-World.com article by Moira Allen, "Understandings Rights and Copyright", at:

http://www.writing-world.com

3. *Use guideline databases*.

There are several free databases or directories online where you can read submission guidelines for different publishers and publications. Some of these are more frequently updated than others. Before making a submission, make sure your source of market information is trustworthy (see Tip #6).

Here are just a few guidelines databases available online:

AWOC.com - The Writer's Place
http://www.awoc.com/AWOC-Home.cfm

Writers' Guideline Database
http://writersdatabase.com/

Writers' Write Guidelines
http://www.writerswrite.com/guidelines/

4. *Browse online magazine directories*.

Online magazine newsstands can be a great place to get ideas about where you can submit material. These are usually directories of print publications, often with a photo of the front cover and a brief description, allowing users to subscribe online. Most let you search by category, or at least provide categorization by topic. Clicking on the "Kids and Teens" categories in Enews.com, for example, will provide a list of all the publications available in the directory whose primary focus is on young people.

Some virtual magazine newsstands:

Enews.com
http://www.enews.com

Multimedia Newstand
http://www.mmnews.com:80/default1.asp?

5. *Research your favorite magazines*.

One of the best places to start your online market research is with your own favorite publications. What magazines do you like reading on a regular basis? Use a search engine or one of the other resources mentioned in this article to find out if the publication has a Web site. If they do but don't list submission information, use the contact information to write for guidelines.

6. *Make sure the information is up-to-date*.

Sometimes it's difficult to tell whether an online publication has been updated recently or not. Not everyone on the Internet is diligent about keeping their Web site information current. Sometimes a submission guidelines or magazine Web site will stay online for months (or sometimes years) after the actual publication has shut down.

Be sure to check for a date indicated when the page or site has last been modified. Is there an announcement marked "NEW" that is very old? Does the rest of the information in the site look up-to-date? If you're not sure, write for submission guidelines.

7. *Look for new sites that target young people.*

Many magazines, newspapers, and Web sites have features that include information about new Web sites for young people. You can find out whether they are looking for freelance submissions by checking for their submissions guidelines. If there are none available, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are closed to freelancers. Check the "About Us" page or editorial masthead to see how much of the editorial content is staff-written.

8. *Check publisher Web sites*.

Most book publishers have Web sites, and many of these include submission guidelines. Even if guidelines aren't available online, you can still learn a great deal by browsing through the site. Look
for a list of current titles and editorial contact information, for example.

Some useful sources:

About.com Book Publishers' Directory
http://publishing.about.com/cs/bookpublishers/index.htm?terms=book+publishers

Yahoo's directory of children's book publishers
http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Publishers/Children_s/

9. *Be professional.*

Just because e-mail tends to be more casual in tone for most Internet users, don't let this influence the electronic mail you send to editors and publishers, even if you're only requesting submission guidelines. Always check your spelling and grammar before you send out your e-mail, and use proper punctuation as well as capitalization at the beginning of sentences.

If an editor doesn't respond to your e-mail right away, don't give in to the temptation to post a nasty response. Instead, follow up with a polite message. A good piece of advice is to NEVER POST IN ANGER. This also applies to any posting you make in a public forum like a message board or in a chat room. Unprofessional behaviour makes a lasting impression.

10. *Browse young writers' resources*.

The following resources have information that can help you improve your writing skills as well as find places to publish your work:

Online Opportunities For Young Writers
http://nuevaschool.org/~debbie/library/reading/yngwrite.html

Resources For Young Writers
http://www.ruthohi.com/young/

TeenLit.com
http://www.teenlit.com/

Young Writer's Clubhouse
http://www.realkids.com/club.shtml
--
Debbie Ridpath Ohi ~ Freelance writer and editor Market Watch columnist, http://www.writersmarket.com/wmns/marketwatch.asp Author, "The Writer's Online Marketplace" (Writer's Digest Books) http://www.electricpenguin.com/ohi/

Reject Rejections- Say Something Nice, By Eve Briggs

How do you push past a writing slump? Every writer, either budding or professional knows that the best way is simply to write. Still, it can be difficult to do at times-especially after you have just put the finishing touches on your bathroom with its rejection slip motif. But there are ways of overcoming the downside of writing. One method is just a sentiment away.

A perfect way to dodge those dreaded rejection slips (for a while) is to put pen to paper and write inspirational letters for family and friends. And there sole purpose is to bolster your confidence, both as an individual and a writer. Without confidence, no writer's work can truly shine.

Indeed, it is a writer's job to cheerfully fulfill the needs of any given publication. And for the aspiring writer, that may also mean taking quite an emotional beating in the process until they've proven their worth on paper. But the writing blues, after a while, can take there toll on even the most determined novice; thus hindering their creative flow. That's when taking time out to construct letters flowing with compliments and encouragement comes in handy. Although these letters are written to uplift others, you, the writer, will benefit just as much in the afterglow of their reception.

How will writing these kinds of letters help you? Besides diverting your attention from the business aspect of writing (which can seem horribly impersonal at times) you will also benefit from knowing that your prose is guaranteed to be warmly received. No writing fee could ever compete with that.

Marilyn Crawford, a part-time writer with twenty years experience, is fully aware of the benefits of writing inspirational letters. When she isn't poised in front of her computer writing poetry, she takes time to show her appreciation to others by presenting them with heart-warming prose. "It's a way of showing how I feel...in any given situation. The response is always positive...as a writer, I am encouraged...as a person, and I am inspired to continue." She adds: "It definitely improves your writing...you fine tune it a little more." And the reason: there's no tension between you and the person you're writing for; you relax, and writing becomes more of a pleasure again- and not a monumental task with a strict deadline to meet. When asked if she would recommend writing inspirational letters, she replied, "Most definitely. There's too much negativity out there. We need more positive things." Those words can be quite a comfort to anyone just setting out on the path to writing success.

Inspirational writing is a simple concept, yet it can do wonders for anyone who is willing to give it a whirl. There has yet to be a single writer- whether born or created-who could pass on the opportunity to bask in a heightened sense of self-esteem and creativity. So, if those rejections are causing you to question yourself as a writer, just remember the advice your mother gave you long ago: say something nice about someone. You'll be glad you listened.

Bio: Eve Briggs is an LPN and mother of two. She has been writing poetry, essays and short stories since she was thirteen years old. She has been published by NetAuthor.org/e2k and Expression Magazine.com

Self-Editing Your Writing
By Mary Anne Hahn

Much of what I do at my "day job" involves editing what others have written. Eliminating typos, repairing damaged grammar, replacing missing or misused punctuation--I relish editing, in a roll-up-my-shirtsleeves and rub-my-hands-together sort of way.

Often I get to transform a garbled attempt to communicate into something that's clear, concise and, well, readable. Change a word here, slice a few there, and I can add pizzazz to something that started out flat and lifeless. I like to think of myself as a highly skilled word surgeon, deftly able to remove extraneous verbiage with my scalpel--er, pen--and often performing complete paragraph transplants with total success.

That is, until it comes to performing surgery on my own writing. Then I frequently feel like a word surgeon with fake credentials.

There are times when I simply cannot see how even one of my golden words could be improved, much less removed. How dare editors impose restrictive word limits? If I'd thought that any words weren't necessary, I wouldn't have written them in the first place, right? Maybe, for me, editors will make an exception. Once they read my incredibly crafted piece, they'll bend their own rules, run it as written, even thank me for ignoring their guidelines...

Or, more likely, they won't run the piece at all. If they do, they'll whittle it down to size themselves, and who knows what damage they'll cause? Not all editors can call themselves word surgeons, you know. Some treat our writing with all the delicacy of a demolition crew clearing the way for a new super highway.

So if we want to keep what we've written intact and adhere to editorial guidelines at the same time, we need to self-edit. But how can we objectively view anything that we've subjectively written? How do we unemotionally apply our editor's scalpel to work that we poured our hearts into?

I believe the that the first step in self-editing is to leave what you've written alone for a while, to detach yourself from it.

Recently, I wrote an essay specifically for the "My Inspiration" section of the National Association of Women Writers' newsletter, "NAWW Weekly." In its original version, my article weighed in at a porky 900-plus words. The editor's word limit? Six hundred, maximum.

Eliminate over 300 words? Where? Squelching my first impulse to submit it in its entirety, and my second impulse not to submit it at all, I let the essay sit for several days. When I returned to it, I immediately found several wordy phrases that I could painlessly delete. Rewriting other sentences from passive to active voice reduced the word count even further (while grammar sites and books deal with passive/active voice at length, there's a nice summary here: http://www.english.uiuc.edu ).

Yet, even with these changes, my piece remained too lengthy. Did I really want to slice it down further, at the risk of losing my reason for writing it? What, precisely, *was* my reason for writing it?

That's when I had an "ah ha" moment. I reviewed the essay again, and I began to find entire paragraphs that, although nicely written (in my humble opinion!), did not *directly* contribute to the main point. Although these paragraphs provided additional background and perhaps a dash or two of color, could the essay survive without them? The answer was undeniably "yes."

So, with nary a whimper, I wielded my pen/scalpel on those paragraphs, which brought the piece under the word limit. This enabled me to submit it guiltlessly, knowing I'd managed to walk that line between respecting the editor's guidelines and maintaining the integrity of what I wanted to communicate.

Okay, I'll admit that I *did* save the original version as well. Perhaps I'll submit the longer, more lush essay to another publication someday. But I'm pleased with the edited one as well. And yes, the essay ran. ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NAWWWeekly/message/45 )

So what did I learn from this exercise that I want to share with you?

1. First, go ahead and just write what you want to write.

2. Then leave it alone for a while. At least a day or so, maybe longer.

3. When you reread it for the first time, eliminate the obvious flaws. Cut out unnecessary phrases. Rework long, rambling sentences into shorter, sharp ones.

4. Ask yourself why you are truly writing the piece, and whether every paragraph contributes to your reason(s) for writing it. Delete those that don't make the grade. To assist you through this most difficult step, focus on the fact that you want to get your work published. This enables you to let go of any sentences that stand in the way of you and your goal.

Finally, to help ease the pain of self-surgery, save your original work under one document name, and your edited result under another. You may be able to use those discarded paragraphs in another piece
down the road.

(c) 2002 Mary Anne Hahn

Mary Anne Hahn has written numerous articles on writing, the writing life, business and career topics. She is also editor and publisher of WriteSuccess, the free biweekly ezine of ideas, information and inspiration for people who want to pursue SUCCESSFUL writing careers. To subscribe, mailto:writesuccess-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .

I REALIZED I WAS A WRITER WHEN...
By Mary Emma Allen

The countless rejections most writers encounter prepare us for discouragement and often create a lack of confidence in ourselves. We find we're almost apologetic that we're writers. We compare ourselves to well known writers and find ourselves lacking.

I'd not had a book published.. However, I'd seen more than 100 of my children's stories in print in magazines. I'd written a newspaper column for 10 years. I was a reporter for a weekly newspaper, and more recently had become editor of a statewide tourist publication.

Why didn't I consider myself a professional writer? Because my name was known mainly around my hometown. Because I wasn't making a fortune. Because I didn't have a book published yet.

Developing Writing Workshops

I especially enjoyed creating children's stories and had begun giving programs in schools to encourage youngsters in their writing. One principal was particularly supportive of my endeavors and suggested I develop a series of writing workshops I could take to schools around the state.

He asked me to teach at an upcoming Young Author's day at his school. In the course of our planning the presentations, I remarked that I hadn't written any books. I'd ONLY had children's stories published in church school magazines.

Don't Apologize

"Mary, don't apologize for not having any books," he admonished. "Do you realize you've reached children all around the world with your stories? The church school magazines you write for probably are read by and to more children than one book is."

"I'm a WRITER?" I thought. "Bob said I'm as good as a book author."

This made me realize I should take pride in my work and no longer apologize that I hadn't written any books yet. With my published work for children's magazines and my work as a reporter and editor, I had done more writing than many writers do in their lifetime. But instead of focusing on what I had accomplished, I only saw what I hadn't.

Focusing On Accomplishments

By focusing on my accomplishments, I've gone on to have more than 200 children's stories published in magazines and anthologies, am working on two middle reader novels, and a picture book. I also illustrated "Tales of Adventure & Discovery", an anthology of my children's stories and poetry. A coloring book, utilizing illustrations and excerpts from this anthology recently was published.

I've written a resource book for writers, "Writing in Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont," for Writers' World Press. To enhance the writing workshops I teach, I've written 10 manuals for writers.

Take Pride in One's Work

Once I realized I indeed had credibility as a children's writer, I have taken pride in my work.

I also learned that one of my favorite children's and adults' mystery writers, had begun her career writing for the children's church school publications. Then she gained success in the field of young adult and middle reader novels, as well as those for adults. This gives me encouragement that I'm on the right track.

Take a look at your own accomplishments. Instead of apologizing for what you haven't done, writers need to look at what they have accomplished and continue to verbalize to yourself, "I am a WRITER!"

(c)2001 Mary Emma Allen

(Mary Emma Allen is a children's writer, newspaper columnist, travel writer, book author, and writing teacher. Her resource book for writers, "Writing in Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont," has been named to Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Top 10 Books for Writers and reviewed at Amazon.com. Visit Mary Emma's web site: http://homepage,fcgnetworks.net/jetent/mea ;
mailto:me.allen@juno.com )