
Next Meeting of the NJCWG
Monday, February 13, 2006
Ringwood Baptist Church
6:15-7:00 Chat Time
7:00-8:00 More... help with Show Vs. Tell
9:00-9:00 Critiques
Show the smoke instead of the fire.
New writers try too hard to describe the snap of the twigs, the intense heat, and the color of the flames. Sometimes it pays to take a more subtle approach. Describe the smoke and let the reader determine that it comes from a raging fire. Remember what it is you want the reader to focus on. When you concentrate on a description of the fire you move the focal point off of the protagonist. Better to describe the protagonist choking on the smoke.
TELL to quickly move past something.
SHOW to pause and draw attention to something.
If you want to get your character to a new location, or you need to let your reader know facts pertinent to a coming event – TELL.
If a scene is significant to the plot, is easily portrayed by action or reveals something important about a character – SHOW.
Use comparisons and analogies (like or as) to bring life to dry descriptions.
Instead of Saying: The boy took of his clothes quickly.
Say: The boy shed his clothes like a boy on the banks of the Mississippi in August.
Instead of Saying: There were some shiney coins.
Say: The coins glittered by the light of the slots as if they were the jewels in a queen’s crown.
Instead of Saying: The woman had a beautiful voice.
Say: The woman's voice rose like a lark in love.
Use strong nouns and active verbs.
Instead of Saying: the cloth was rough
Say: the coarse fabric tore at her skin
Instead of Saying: she took a cool drink of water
Say: the cool water brought new life to her parched throat
Instead of Saying: her pretty new clothes
Say: her fashionable silks drew the attention of every woman in the room
The magazine is published by the Boy Scouts of America six times a year. Issues are: January-February, March-April, May-June, September, October, and November-December. It is mailed to about one million adult volunteer and professional Scout leaders (Scouters). Subscription is included as part of each Scouter's annual registration fee.
Scouting magazine articles are mainly about successful program activities conducted by or for Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, and Venturing crews. We also include features on winning leadership techniques and styles, profiles of outstanding individual leaders, and inspirational accounts (usually first person) of Scouting's impact on an individual, either as a youth or while serving as a volunteer adult leader.
Because most volunteer Scout leaders are also parents of children of Scout age, Scouting is also considered a family magazine. We published material we feel will help parents in strengthening families. (Because they often deal with communicating and interacting with young people, many of these features are useful to a reader in both roles as parent and Scout leader).
We also feature an occasional general-interest article geared to our adult audience. These include subjects such as nature, social issues and trends, historical topics, and humor.
Many of our best article ideas come from volunteer and professional Scouters, but most stories are written by staff members or professional writers assigned by us. We seldom publish unsolicited manuscripts (the exception being inspirational accounts or successful program ideas by individual Scouters). We rely heavily on regional writers to cover an event or activity in a particular part of the country.
A query with a synopsis or outline of a proposed story is essential. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope to insure a reply. We respond to queries within three weeks. We buy short features of 500 to 700 words; some longer features, up to 1,200 words, usually the result of a definite assignment to a professional writer. We do not buy fiction or poetry.
We pay on acceptance. We purchase first rights unless otherwise specified (purchase does not necessarily guarantee publication). Photos, if of acceptable quality, are usually included in payment for certain assignments. (We normall assign a professional photographers to take photographs for major story assignments.) Payment rates depend on the professional quality the of an article. Payment is from $300 to $500 for a short feature, $650 to $800 for a major article, and more for quality articles by frequent contributors.
Writers or photographers should be familiar with the Scouting program and Scouting magazine. A sample copy will be sent if you provide a stamped, self-addressed 9 x 12 envelope and $2.50.
Our address is:
Scouting Magazine
1325 W. Walnut Hill Lane
P.O. Box 152079
Irving TX 75015-2079
Phone: (972)580-2367
Fax:(972)580-2079
Web site: http://www.scoutingmagazine.org
American Profile
341 Cool Springs Blvd., Ste. 400
Franklin, TN 37067
Phone & FAX:
Phone: | (800) 720-6323 |
(615) 468-6000 | |
Fax: | (615) 468-6100 |
Articles must be submitted on disk using a word processing program (preferably Microsoft Word - MAC). Text should be saved as ASCII text (in MS Word as "text only"). Disks should be either MAC- (preferred) or DOS- compatible 3 ½." |
¼ page | to | full page | |
$15 | to | $100 | |
color | $25 | to | $100 |
Theme list for 2006 - 2007 | [query due date] |
Egypt (September) | [11/14/05] |
Globalization: It's a Small World (October) | [12/12/05] |
Honduras (November) | [1/17/06] |
Sports Around the World (December) | [2/13/06] |
Spain (January) | [3/13/06] |
Republic of Georgia (February) | [4/17/06] |
World Health (March) | [5/15/06] |
The U.S. South (April) | [6/19/06] |
China (May) | [7/17/06] |
Mail queries to: Editorial Department Cobblestone Publishing Attn: Elizabeth Crooker Carpentiere 30 Grove Street, Suite C Peterborough, NH 03458 Or email them to: facesmag@yahoo.com | Mail sample requests to: Editorial Department Cobblestone Publishing Attn: Sample Requests 30 Grove Street, Suite C Peterborough, NH 03458 |
APPLESEEDS is a 36-page, multidisciplinary, nonfiction social studies magazine for children ages 8 and up (primarily in grades 3 & 4). Writers are encouraged to study recent back issues for content and style. (Sample issues are available at $5.95 plus $2.00 shipping and handling. Send 10" x 13" self-addressed envelope.) We are looking for articles that are lively, age-appropriate, and exhibit an original approach to the theme. Scientific and historical accuracy is extremely important. Authors are urged to use primary sources and up-to-date resources for their research. And remember, your article must stimulate the curiosity of a child. APPLESEEDS purchases all rights to material.
¼ page | to | full page | |
$15 | to | $100 | |
color | $25 | to | $100 |
Theme list for 2006 - 2007 | [query due date] |
Growing up in Jamestown (September) | [10/15/05] |
Who Did What in Ancient Egypt? (October) | [11/15/05] |
Firefighting (November) | [12/15/05] |
The Play's the Thing (December) | [1/15/06] |
Around and About the Planets (January) | [2/15/06] |
Exploring the Everglades (February) | [3/15/06] |
Salt (March) | [4/15/06] |
Helen Keller (April) | [5/15/06] |
Circuses (May) | [6/15/06] |
Email queries to: swbuc@aol.com Or mail them to: Susan Buckley, Editor APPLESEEDS Magazine 140 E 83rd St. New York, NY 10028 | Mail sample requests to: Editorial Department Cobblestone Publishing Attn: Sample Requests 30 Grove Street, Suite C Peterborough, NH 03458 |