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Writing
for a Living?
Rose's
Colored Glasses
March
2009 Newsletter
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 Announcements!
What's New
in the World of the Roses?
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| Shada Royce is pleased
to announce the sale of a new short story titled Wet and Wild
for Black Lace's Sexy
Little Numbers anthology, due
for release in August 2009. Recent release includes Twelve
Stepsfrom Black Lace's Seduction anthology,
February 2009 (UK) and April 2009 (US). |
| Allie Standifer and Eve Savage
writing together as Kat Alexis are proud to announce the
release of their first work together, Candy-Coated Passion,
from Ellora's Cave |
| Betty Hanawa is pleased to
announce the release of Altered States: Beast Within
from Ellora’s Cave |
| Shayla Kersten is thrilled
to announce a new short story sale of In Heat for
Black Lace's Sexy Little Numbers anthology, due out
in August 2009 |
| Shayla Kersten announces
her recent and upcoming releases : Keket's Curse in
the Masters of Desire anthology, Kensington Aphrodisia,
Jan 2009; Positive Possibilities, Ellora's Cave, Feb
4, 2009; The Shopping List in the Seduction
anthology, Black Lace, Feb 2009 (UK) & Apr 2009 (US); Hidden
Hands, Ellora's Cave, Apr 3, 2009; and Fighting for
Eternity, Ellora's Cave, Jun 3, 2009 |
| Delilah Devlin
has a release coming March 31st with Samhain Publishing, entitled
Saddled. Her recent releases include: Texas
Men , Kensington Aphrodisia, and Obsessed,
Strebor Books. |
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Delilah Devlin is pleased
to say that an untitled short story
sold to Black Lace’s Sexy
Little Numbers anthology,
set to release in August.
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| Myla Jackson is pleased
to announce the recent release of Pirate of Mystique Island
in the Masters of Desire,anthology from Kensington
Aphrodisiah |
| Myla Jackson is pleased
to announce the release of Altered States: Naked Prey,
on March 25th at Ellora's Cave. It's the 3rd book in the Altered
States series |
| Myla Jackson is pleased
to announce the long-awaited release of Trouble with Mitch
from Ellora's Cave May 29, 2009 |
| Eve Savage is pleased to
announce the sale of her novel Out of Control to Ellora's
Cave, to be released this summer |
| Elle James is pleased to
announce her April 2009 Harlequin Intrigues, Baby Bling received
4.5 stars and TOP PICK from RT magazine |
| Elle James is
pleased to announce her Nov 2008 Harlequin Intrigues, Nick
of Time was nominated for Best Intrigue of 2008 from RT
magazine |
| Elle James is
pleased to announce her Nov 2008 Harlequin Intrigues, Nick
of Time is a finalist in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence
in the Short Romantic Suspense category. |
| Layla Chase is
pleased to announce the recent release of Altered States:
Night Prowler at Ellora's Cave. It's the 1st book in the
Altered States series |
| Judith Rochelle, writing as Desiree
Holt, has sold her fourth novella, Afternoon Delight,
to Total-e-Bound. Her first release with them Crude Oil,
will be out in April |
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 Writing
for a Living?
by
Shada
Royce
Hello! My name is Shada
Royce and I have just recently been invited to join this wonderful
band of authors and teachers. I am looking forward to sharing
my meager experiences to those in need and learning a great
deal more on the path to publication. I guess not necessarily
to publication, but to finding the personal acknowledgement
of success.
I have written stories
my entire life, and before I could write, I told them to my
little Fisher-Price® tape recorder. About two-years ago,
I found myself reading a romance novel and thinking "I
wish there was book about…" So I got up, went to my
computer, and started typing. And like most beginning authors,
my first work of art was wonderful, complicated, and completely
unpublishable!
The
First Step: Joining a Writer's Group
I decided to get serious,
and I joined my local Arkansas RWA chapter, the
Diamond State Romance Authors.
I do not have enough words to describe the help, the friendships,
and the inspiration I have gained from my chapter-mates.
My first writing assignment
was to figure out what I wanted from writing. What I wanted?
I wanted to be published - duh! But really, deep down, I want
more than that. I have come back to writing again and again
in my life. Writing is a part of who I am, of how I live each
day, how I process situations and my environment. Writers are
always taking notes and looking for characters. We gather details
like an archeologist gathers every fragment of antiquities at
a site. I discovered I wanted more...
Ultimate
Goal: I want to write for a living
I currently write contemporary
erotic/erotic romance. I am published with The Wild Rose Press
with a historical romance, called Always Tomorrow,
which resulted from a "challenge" issued by fellow
chapter mates Delilah Devlin and Shayla Kersten. After which
I followed with another challenge to Black Lace with Twelve
Steps for the Seduction
Anthology. My chapter members forced me to get my feet wet in
the publishing world.
In
the meatime: Juggling Hats
I am an engineer by trade;
my day job consists of architectural drawings and calculators.
I have a six-year degree, and although I enjoy what I do, writing
is my passion. My current plan is to continue to succeed in
my profession while keeping my writer's side from starving with
little tidbits of writing time. I have to raise my daughter
and pay my rent, so I find joy in what I have to do. In ten
years, I hope to have a sustainable stream of writing projects
to provide for a decent living so I can finally do what I dream
of doing. As I say:
Makin'
it in writin' is kinda like bustin' broncs:
you're gonna get thrown a lot.
The simple secret is to keep getting' back on.
 Although
I get my fair share of rejections, I have to remember I am not
just in this for the money, the fame, or the recognition. I
do this, day in and day out, because writing is a part of who
I am. Who am I to deny even myself the attempt to fulfill a
dream?
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 Can
I really Write for a Living?
by
Elle
James
and Myla
Jackson
Some of you may already know the story of how
Elle Jame aka Myla Jackson and her sister Delilah Devlin greated
the new century with a challenge. We were babysitting computers
where we both worked as the clock ticked off the minutes toward
midnight and the end of the world of computers as we knew it
(which didn't happen, but that's beside the point). We asked
each other if this was what we wanted to do the rest of our
lives. I was turning 40 that year, had been in the computer
field for sixteen years and couldn't see myself doing that for
the rest of my days. I'd successfully written skits and plays
for various projects at work, but I'd never considered making
writing my living. How could I give up a fabulous salary, benefits
and security?
When the Going
Gets Tough
On that late night, my sister and I answered
that question of is this what we wanted to do for the rest
of our lives with a resounding, "Hell no!" Still,
letting go of the paycheck wasn't easy. The software industry
helped us move toward our ultimate goal. With the trend of outsourcing
and off-shore software development, I soon learned that no job
in the corporate world was "safe". This turned out
to be a blessing. Because when the going gets tough, you really
look at what you have and make decisions you might not otherwise
have made. You might be willing to take more risks.
Hard Work
Deciding to be a full-time writer didn't come
overnight. For several years, our jobs teetered on the uncertain.
During that time, I fell in love with writing and honed my skills
by writing, writing and writing some more. I entered and won
contests, submitted manuscripts and finally sold my first book.
The lesson here, was that I worked hard and submitted manuscripts.
You can't just write, you have to get your work out there. Thick
skin is a necessity in this business. I received rejection after
rejection, but I didn't give up. I knew if I threw the noodle
against the wall enough times, one day it would stick.
The catalyst for change actually came in the
form of my husband. Call it mid-life crisis, coming to terms
with mortality or just jumping off the deep-end, he'd hit his
limit in the corporate world and wanted out. We sold the ranch,
packed up and started a new life. My oldest two children had
moved out and I only had one left at home to feed and clothe.
Sold!
As scary as it was to give up all that "security",
fortune smiled on me at that time. I sold my first book! This
had to be a sign that I was meant to write full-time. But one
sale does not a career make. I went an entire year before selling
my second book and this time to Harlequin Intrigue. That was
my big break into making a living as a writer. I owe it to a
lot of hard work, persistence and LUCK! I hit the editor's desk
at the right time with the right project, which was there because
I submitted and kept submitting!
Building an
Income Stream
We were fortunate, we had enough money from
the sale of our property in Texas to live on for a while. That
gave me time to establish my credibility with my editor and
build a writing income stream. Although I had contracts with
Harlequin, I chose to diversify and write for other publishers
as well--the old saying "don't put all your eggs in one
basket" reverberating in my head. I sold stories under
my pen name Myla Jackson to Ellora's Cave, and sold novellas
to Kensington Aphrodisia and Avon Red. The hard work is paying
off, but I'm not there yet. I haven't hit the NYT best seller
list, I haven't sold another single title. I'm still working
the angle of diversification. The hard work has only just begun.
I still receive rejections. As of the seventh year into my writing
journey, I'm making a modest living at my chosen profession.
My family is living off my income. It's modest, but livable.
Questions
to Ask Yourself
I'm not suggesting everyone jump off the deep-end
like I did. Choosing to write full-time is not a decision to
take lightly. You have to weigh a lot of factors. Here are just
a few:
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1. Are
you ready?
 Are
you at a point in your life you can fully commit to writing
as a career? I know that when my children were small,
I didn't have the attention span of my two-year-old. I
couldn't have dedicated hours to writing and miss out
on their formative years. Other authors manage to juggle
the multiple hats they wear and make it work. Only you
can decide what's right for you. Don't feel guilty, no
matter your decision.
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2. Is
writing a hobby or your life?
It's okay if you just want to write as a hobby. Don't
beat yourself up if you're not like your obsessed writer
friends who are rabidly racing toward the publication
finishline. But be prepared when those who are obsessed
get published. Envy can tast very bitter.
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3. Are
you financially prepared to take the leap?
 Writers
are like starving artists. Not everyone makes it big.
So many of us are just barely making it from paycheck
to paycheck. Some have to keep their day jobs and write
on the weekends or in the evenings. When my husband and
I decided to start over with our new careers, we down-sized
considerably (much to my teenaged daughters dismay). We
sold our big house and moved into what I'd call a "starter"
house. We paid off our cars and are going to drive them
until the wheels fall off. And don't forget about health
insurance. It's a huge cost and you really shouldn't go
without it.
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4. Can
you live with uncertainty?
There are no guarantees in the publishing industry.
Sub-genres go in and out of vogue at the drop of a hat.
Editors jump ship to other publishing house, to freelance
or become agents. What your old editor liked, your new
one might hate. You may become an orphaned writer and
lose your "in" with a publishing house. With
today's crazy economy, who knows what will happen with
print books or e-sales. Can you live with that kind of
uncertainty? If not, maybe writing full-time isn't for
you.
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Alternate
Sources of Writing Income
If you decide you really can go full-time as
a writer, but you'd like to have some kind of a paycheck while
you're building your name, explore all the options.
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1. Confession
See the article Another True Market below.
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2. E-publishing
See The Joys of E-Publishing article below. |
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3. Workshops
See Taking Your Expertise on the Road
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3. Freelance
Write articles for magazines. You may have expertise
in organizing or computers, or something others want to
know. You can go to your local library and study up on
topics and write brief articles based on your research.
See Woman's World article below.
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What do You
Want to Be When You Grow Up?
Do you want to be a writer? Look at me...I'm
making it. It isn't easy, but like anything you want badly enough,
you'll survive and be the better person for all the hardships.
You might make it big, or you could be like me and be quite
happy to make a modest living out of writing. How many people
do you know who can actually say, "I know what I want to
be when I grow up?" I know what I want to be, and I am...A
WRITER!
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 I'm
Not Quitting My Day Job
by
Bev Oz
What new, aspiring author doesn't have dreams
of grandeur in which her manuscript is contracted with a publishing
house, the book sells like gangbusters, and a check for one
million dollars gets tucked safely into the author's checking
account? I admit, I'm one of "those" authors. Not
only am I sure my book will be the hottest ticket since Stephenie
Meyer's Twilight, but my story will also hit the New York Time's
bestseller list and will be made into a movie. As a matter of
fact, I've already cast my leading lady. Anne Hathaway, are
you ready to play Kelly Murphy? And, I'm so certain Tom Hanks
will want to direct the film, I've actually considered writing
him to pitch the story idea.
Now all I
have to do is finish writing the damned book...right?
Of course, this is all pie-in-the-sky wishfullness,
though I like to think of it all as "goal setting."
The reality of the situation is, even if I do finish the book
and even if I sell the book for publication, I will be just
one of thousands of books released each year. If I'm lucky,
I'll make a few thousand dollars and will be asked by my publisher
to hurry up and write another one that will also probably only
net me a few thousand dollars. This is typical. This is the
life of an author.
Only a very few authors make it to the big
show in which they demand large sums of cash and expect a publishing
house to pay. Do you or I stand a snowball's chance in Hell
on being one of the few? Sure! But let's be real. We're just
as likely to win the lottery.
Just the Facts
Ma'am
The facts are these. Most publishing houses,
including e-publishers, only pay a small percentage of what
the book makes. According to the on-line article, Negotiating
Book Contract Terms and Royalties by Morris Rosenthal at http://www.fonerbooks.com
http, "Ignoring super-star authors who write their own
tickets, the best rate most writers can hope for is 15% of the
cover price of trade hardcover books, with this percentage being
achieved only after a certain number of copies have been sold."
The typical rate for mass market paperback for a new writer
is 5-6 %; 7-8% for trade paperbacks. Then comes the often misunderstood
question of upon what figure is the percentage royalty rate
to be calculated? Are we talking about a percentage of the gross
or net of the book? I personally know of an author who received
a check for a whopping $.85. No, that's not a misprint. I really
meant fifteen cents less than one dollar. Hard to buy even a
cup of coffee for $.85.
Reality Check
vs. Pay Check
I'm not trying to scare off all the faint-hearted
from trying to make a living as an author. Not at all. I'm just
calling for a reality check. For someone like myself who likes
to eat, has a mortgage and a daughter getting ready to go off
to college, the ability to make a living from only writing may
be something I'll have to work up to. I still need a steady
paycheck and health insurance. Paid vacations are pretty nice,
too. But, until I do hit the big time or win the lotto and can
then afford to write full-time, I know I'll have to keep my
day job to make ends meet and cover the ever-rising costs of
living. Hopefully, I won't have long to wait.
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A few years after I started writing fiction, I realized that
my years (actually, decades) of secretarial-related employment
were an asset that not all writers possessed. Participation in
an adult-education creative writing course where we critiqued/line-edited
other classmates' submissions soon proved this. My critiques became
sought-after because I was a natural-born line editor who felt
compelled to mark what I saw (misspellings, incorrect punctuation,
shifting actions to the paragraph of the correct character, etc).
Build your writing
skills
My first RWA chapter had a critique group, and I continued
with my individual critiquing style, willing to share my expertise.
And I listened to comments made by the recipients of those critiques.
The awareness that what I knew helped their writing improve was
satisfying. From that critique group, I took on two freelance
editing projects, which led to additional freelancing.
When Roses Colored Glasses was formed, I knew
this would be a great forum for sharing what I'd learned about
self-editing. But did enough material exist to fill a week-long
class? Sure enough. In addition to offering Self-Editing here
on Roses, I've taught the class online for Hearts Through History.
I also condensed the course to a four-hour, interactive workshop
for my local chapter. In April, I will offer a 90-minute presentation
(probably without hands-on exercises).
Which skill
would make a good workshop?
What writing-related skill do you possess that could be formulated
into a workshop for which you could be compensated? Or what professional
expertise do you possess that could be adapted to fiction writing?
A psychologist might know shortcuts about developing characters
that ring true. A newspaper reporter might offer tips on the correct
ways to portray that profession. A doctor or nurse would have
insider knowledge that could be applied to medical stories.
Try our your
workshop
Say you have a workshop lined out, what's the next step? Local
RWA chapters or other writers groups are always looking for speakers
to present programs at a monthly meeting. Some groups pay a small
honorarium or offer a free meal, while others allow you to promote
your books. Once you've done this, next comes finding a forum
online so you can reach a wider audience. I belong to several
online chapters and have responded to calls for workshops from
those chapters. In many cases, the chapter acquires presenters
from outside their ranks. Ask your local chapter's president or
vice-president about announcements that appear on ChapLink. Be
brave-search out romance forum sites. A few keystrokes and I located
a ton of online writing courses. Check out which ones are looking
for what you might have to offer.
Step it up!
After a couple successful workshops, you're ready to check
out local conferences and then the big time-RWA National.
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Have you ever been to an unusual wedding, known someone who
lived through a life-changing experience, or heard a friend talk
about that moment when they met their own true love? Ever thought
you might want to write a story about it?
Exploring other
Markets for the full-time author
I'm a full-time writer and trying hard to stay that way. So
I'm always on the lookout for some other market for my writing.
I'm currently researching the "Trues"-True Story, True
Romance, True Confessions, True Experience and True Love. You
know, your sister's or best friend's guilty pleasure-the "Confessions"
magazines. The titles might make you think they want autobiographical
accounts, but that's a little bit of true fiction too. They want
stories that could be real and are relatable to readers.
Read the market
The best way to get a feel for what the editors are looking
for is to pick up an issue. The "Trues" might be hard
to find. Try the grocery store or the bookstore, but if you can't
buy them locally, you can purchase a subscription to one of the
magazines online. Dorchester Media owns them and you can subscribe
here: http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/SpecialFeatures.cfm?ID=2277
Submission Guidelines
Following is a summary of the submissions guidelines for each
of the magazines. They generally pay three cents/word and mail
payment and a copy of the magazine on the last week of the month
after publication. The stories are written in first person, past
tense, written for working class women and with characters the
reader can empathize with.
Send hard copy manuscript (except where otherwise noted),
double-spaced, standard font (Courier New is always a safe bet),
and one inch margins, accompanied by a CD file in .doc or .rtf
format. Allow up to a year for a response.
True Story
(2,000 to 10,000 words)
Suggested Subject Matter:
"…light romances to sizzling passion, from all-out tearjerkers
to happily-ever-after endings, and everything in between…
stories are written from the hearts of real people and deal with
all of the issues that affect us today-parenthood, relationships,
careers, family affairs, and social concerns."
Submit to:
True Story
Attn: Heather Josepowitz, Editor
Dorchester Media, LLC
200 Madison Ave., Ste 2000
NY, NY 10016
(212)725-8811
(no e-mail submissions for True Story)
True Romance
(3,000 to 8,000)
Suggested Subject Matter:
"…stories pertaining to raw emotion, dreams, and symbols
of love work the best…about the joys, heartbreak, and obstacles
revolving around romantic love. We love the drama of a good romance
as much as we love the comedy that romantic pursuits present…"
Submit to:
Gia Portfolio, Senior Editor
Nicole Scarmeas, Assoc. Editor
Submissions for either mag: TrueRomanceMagazine@hotmail.com
True Confessions
(14 - 16 pages)
Suggested Subject Matter:
"Family problems, relationship issues, realistic romances,
working woman, single moms, single woman problems, abuse, etc.
Stories should help women lead better, more victorious lives.
Also, stories about multicultural experiences-Latino, African-America,
Caribbean, Asian, Aboriginal, and Native American, Alaskan/Aleut,
Native Pacific Islander stories are encouraged.
Submit To:
True Confessions and True Love
Lauren Lund, Editor
Submissions: TrueLoveMagazine@yahoo.com
(email preferred)
True Experience
(2,500 to 8,000 Words)
Suggested Subject Matter:
true stories that pertain to a variety of experiences, including
those centered around career, family, marriage, relationships,
and spirituality. Although the stories don't necessarily need
to end with happily ever after, there should be a certain sense
of positive resolve. The resolve itself, well, we'll leave that
up to you. However, stories that deal with complex issues, such
as cheating or sexual assault, should have the potential to help
a reader deal with a similar experience in a constructive way.
Submit to:
Gia Portfolio, Senior Editor
Nicole Scarmeas, Assoc. Editor
Submissions for either mag: TrueRomanceMagazine@hotmail.com
True Love
(2,000 to 7,000 Words)
Suggested Subject Matter:
"…ranges from light romances and current social concerns
to more passionate romances and 'stories with a twist.' We're
very big on the chick-lit type (heartfelt stories about young
women and their dilemmas in love and life). Think modern romantic
comedies/dramas. A good description of True Love stories is Sex
& The City meets The Lifetime Channel.
Other popular topics:
-Racy stories about bold and unconventional situations, relationships,
etc.
-Mysteries
-Stories about deception, conspiracies, abuse, betrayal
-Stories about the harsh realities of married or family life
-Stories about seemingly mundane problems that are brought to
life by colorful twists"
Submit To:
True Confessions and True Love
Lauren Lund, Editor
Submissions: TrueLoveMagazine@yahoo.com
(email preferred)
For more information and an online community of aspiring and
published "True" writers, you might want to join this
loop: TrueWriters@yahooroups.com
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In romance writing, the tone of the
story depends on the author's choice of viewpoint or point of
view (POV) used. The more personal the viewpoint, the deeper into
the character's thoughts and motivations the reader is allowed
to see.
Omniscient
viewpoint
A narrator (who is not
in scene) reveals action from a distance and reports the actions
(including internal thoughts) of several characters, past and
present. May include narrator's thoughts.
Third-person
limited viewpoint
Action is unfolding now and scenes are
relayed from an individual's POV.
Light penetration: written in the narrator's voice including thoughts
of the POV character. Reactions are viewed as if from the outside.
Deep penetration: written as experienced by the POV character,
including sensory details and internal motivations relayed through
the character's attitude.
Cinematic viewpoint: shows what the POV character sees and hears,
is relayed by visible reactions, gestures, pauses or the words
themselves. No internal thoughts used.
First-person
viewpoint
Depicts the entire story through one
character's experiences, past and present. Only scenes in which
POV character participates are included in the narrative.
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Whether you're trying to break into the confessional, the
freelance, or the technical writing markets, or interest a publisher
or agent in the book you've written, you still have to write a
cover letter when you submit your piece. This will be the editor's
first introduction to your writing skills.
Know the Addressee's
Name!
If you don't know the editor or agent's name, find out. Also
make sure you know the addressee's gender. The person's first
name may not be indicative of the gender. The salutation should
include the social title (Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms) and surname no
matter how many times you've met the editor, unless you actually
have a social relationship.
Basics of the
Submission
The introductory paragraph contains the basic information
about the submission. This includes the title, the word count,
a brief general summary of the piece, and why it's a good match
for their needs.
Book Blurb
The second paragraph contains a more precise itemization of
the content of the piece. For a work of fiction, this is a synopsis
empathizing the character development, conflict and resolution.
A non-fiction work shows the basics of the subject (who, what,
when, where, how) and your expertise on the subject.
Credentials
The final paragraph is brief. You might include previous writing
credentials and professional associations, particularly if you're
submitting a non-fiction piece.
Wrap up
Include a SASE for the editorial response or a SASE (Self-addressed,
stamped envelope) large enough to mail your submission back to
you, if you so desire. More frequently, though, a cover letter
includes permission for the editorial staff to recycle the manuscript's
pages. Most importantly, thank the editor for considering the
submission. Even if the editor does no more than read the cover
letter, time has been involved. Time is of utmost value in any
industry and a thank you for using time on your submission is
always appropriate.
Conclude your cover letter with a simple "Sincerely."
Include your legal name-not a nickname or a pseudonym-your address,
email address, and telephone number, including a cell number if
it's easier to reach you through it.
If you want your writing to be more than a hobby, remember
this is a business. Keep the cover letter's language professional
and double-check spelling, grammar and punctuation. Remember:
first impressions are all important. Let your cover letter show
your future editor you are also a professional.
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As an author who has been epublished for three years, I can
tell you that epublishing has opened doors for me that might otherwise
be closed. Although print books have been the established norm
for centuries, with the new age of electronics, publishing has
developed an immediacy that increases readership at a rapid rate.
World-wide exposure
For example, I have readers as far-flung as Hong Kong, Peru,
Bolivia, Germany, England, Finland and Indonesia. If my books
were confined to print only, as a midlist author my exposure to
readers would be geographically limited.
Immediate gratification
Secondly, there is an immediacy. Digital books can be purchased
(usually at a lower cost) and downloaded immediately to a variety
of electronic items, such as PDAs, ereaders, computers and now,
even the new generation of iPods. No waiting for the mail to bring
that book to your door.
Growth in the
Industry
There has been a phenomenal growth in the epublishing business
in the past few years. In 2003 $6 million in ebooks were sold.
In 2007 that number grew to $33 million. (International Digital
Forum) There has been, for the past year, an average increase
in same month sales from the previous year of 24 percent (Association
of American Publishers-AAP).
Print Pubs going
E
You have only to look at what's happening in a shrinking print
industry to see how digital publishing has moved forward. Nearly
every print publishing house now has a digital department. Simon
& Schuster recently announced they would not only henceforth
release all books in digital format as well as print, but also
were busy converting their back list. Many other publishers are
issuing their books now in digital format. Take a tour of the
web sites of print publishers and you will find a digital section
on each one. Again according to AAP, the demand to convert to
digital is so great the conversion houses that have contracted
with the publishers can't keep up.
Shorter time-frame
contract to publication
Besides the immediacy of purchasing and receiving the book,
there is also less lag time between submission, contract and publication.
Do you still have a waiting period after submission? Of course.
Greater now that more and more authors are flocking to the epubs,
but still far less than the amount of time print-only publishers
take. Secondly, because there is no printing factored in, the
release time is sooner than in print. Are the editorial revisions
still as strict? Of course, although as in print only, the process
varies house by house and editor by editor.
Money Matters
Okay, let's talk money. If you check Brenda Hiatt's "Show
Me The Money" http://brendahiatt.com.hosting.domaindirect.com/id2.html
you will see that the advances are all over the place but very
often the earnout doesn't meet the advance. Remember, the print
publisher decides how many copies of your book to print and ship.
If they don't all sell, the returns are charged back against your
royalties. Additionally, with the print houses, royalties are
paid every six months with a ninety day delay. Almost all epublishers
pay royalties on a monthly basis. No waiting. And the royalties
on ebooks are 37-40 percent as opposed to print which averages
7-10 percent.
Never Goes Out
of Print
And finally, as long as your book keeps selling,
it never goes out of print. You can keep promoting it, bringing
in the readers, and be assured that your book will be there.
Reputable E-pubs
Here are a few suggestions of epublishers with
excellent reputations that you might want to check out and query:
Ellora's Cave /CerridwenPress/the Lotus Circle, The Wild Rose
Press, Samhain Publishing, Total-e-bound, Resplendence Publishing,
Amber Quill Press, Aspen Mountain Press, White Rose Publishing.
With the economic downturn and the significant
drop in print sales, as well as the push to Go Green, epublishing
is growing into a giant industry. If you haven't tried it yet,
go ahead. Stick your toe in the water. I promise you'll want to
jump right in.
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 Writing
Opportunities
by
Shayla
Kersten
Short story opportunities allow us to hone our
craft down to the pure essence of a story. And maybe get paid!
As with any magazine or anthology, you should read the previous
issues to get the feel of what they are buying. One lucrative
opportunity is Woman's World magazine. Thanks to Trisha on the
Romance
Divas
forum for posting the information below!
WOMAN'S WORLD
FICTION GUIDELINES
Romance guidelines:
We buy contemporary romances of 800 words. Stories must revolve
around a compelling, true-to-life relationship dilemma; may feature
either a female or male protagonist; and may be written in either
the first or third person. Characters may be married, single,
divorced or widowed; should be down-to-earth (no yuppies or jet-setters);
and their dilemma should be poignantly or humorously conveyed.
Please think carefully about a story's setting, mood and plot,
and tell the story with interesting action and dialogue. (Every
sentence, paragraph, and scene of the story should deliver more
information about your characters and their situation and/or briskly
advance the storyline).
We are not interested in stories involving life-or-death matters,
nor are we interested in fluffy, flyaway-style romance. When we
say romance, what we really mean is relationship--whether it's
just beginning or is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
The emphasis in our stories is on real life-which is why we do
not buy science fiction, fantasy or historical romance.
We pay $800 per romance and retain First North American Serial
Rights for six months after publication.
Mini mystery guidelines:
We purchase short "solve-it-yourself" mysteries
of 700 words--a count that includes the narrative and the solution.
Stories should be cleverly plotted, entertaining cliffhangers
that end with a challenge to the reader to figure out whodunnit
or howdunnit. The solution to the mystery is provided in a separate
box.
Robbery, burglary, fraud and murder are acceptable subjects,
but spare the readers any gory details or excessive violence,
please! We are also not interested in ghost stories, science fiction
or fantasy.
We pay $500 per mystery and retain First North American Serial
Rights for six months after publication.
IMPORTANT NOTES!
Manuscripts should be double-spaced in legible size type.
Where to send manuscripts: Fiction Editor, Woman's World,
270 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632. Indicate Mini Mystery
or Romance on the envelope.
How to send manuscripts: (1) You must include a Self-Addressed
Stamped Envelope to receive a reply. Manuscripts not accompanied
by a SASE will be discarded. Note: A #10 SASE is necessary not
just for a response, but for your contract if we purchase your
story. (2) Please DO NOT fax or e-mail manuscripts--because such
submissions do not include SASEs, we have no means of responding
to your submission.
Get to know us
Please familiarize yourself thoroughly with our romances and
mini mysteries before submitting your work.
Be patient
Because we receive a tremendous volume of manuscripts, our
turnaround time may range from one to six months. If you still
have not heard from us after that time, feel free to re-submit
your manuscript. Please do not call or write us to inquire about
a manuscript's status.
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Dear
Rose
 I
have two novels in process of being published this year. I'm doing
edits right now and have trouble understanding the separation
of POVs when books like Nora Roberts read with POVs jumping all
over the place. (Head hopping) She's a best selling author and
I along with others I've talked to like the way she writes. I
like the idea of knowing what each and every character is thinking,
feeling and any other make up of that person without losing track
of the main character. Why do so many publishers insist on only
one POV in a scene or chapter with the acceptation of love scenes
and maybe some other emotional or serious scenes? I'd like to
come even close to selling as many books as Nora Roberts.
Losing
my head
Dear
Losing,
When you’re a NYT bestselling author, you
can do just about anything you want with POV and the public will
love you, the editor will love you because you’re making
the publishing house money no matter what or how you write. When
you’re an aspiring author, you want your work to be as close
to perfect as possible and most editors will shy away from head-hopping
as it can be confusing to the reader if not done well. They are
not as willing to chance reader rejection on a new author as on
an NYT bestselling author. As a new author, they’re taking
a chance on you with a good possibility of low return on their
investment. Why risk more strikes?
Plus:
1) I’ll admit, it’s HARDER to show another person’s
thoughts when you’re inside someone else’s head. You
have to show it through their actions, expressions and dialogue.
It takes true skill to get that emotion across. When an editor
sees someone head-hopping, they might think the author lacks some
of that adeptness or is just plain lazy.
2) The way you build deep connection with a character is when
you are inside their head, hearing their thoughts as they walk
through a scene. If you hop out of her/his head for convenience’s
sake, guess what? You cut that tie that the reader has with that
character. To achieve deep POV, you have to stay in that character’s
head and experience everything that happens through the filter
of their thoughts, their senses.
A good rule of thumb is to stay in one character’s POV
for an entire scene. Choose to be inside the mind of the person
who has the most to lose or learn inside that scene.
Rose
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by
Choosing
the Right Viewpoint
Elements
of a Cover Letter
The
Joys of E-Publishing