Thursday, September 28, 2006

Notes from NJCWG Lesson



How to Analyze a Publication
Notes from the 9-25-06
Meeting of the NJCWG


The Surface
What is the name of the magazine?
Who or what is on the cover?

The Basics
Explore the index – what topics do they cover?
Does the publication seem to have a theme for the issue?
Can you tell what their features are about from the titles in the index?
Do they have regular columns and what topics do the columns cover?
Are the columns written by staff or freelancers?
What are the article titles like (humorous, factual, one word, complex w/subheadings)?

The Visual (not ads)
Are there photos? Cartoons? Line drawings? Clip Art? Graphs?
Are the visuals in color or black & white?
Are the visuals modern? Classic? Simple? Crowded? People? Things? Calming? Action Oriented?
Are the visuals large (full page, across from the article)? Tiny (small graphic set in the body of the text)? Or a combination?
Is there a good use of “white-space” on each page?
Is the size of the font appropriate for the material?

The Words
What overall message does the publication bring their readers (what do the readers of this specific publication care about)?
How long are the feature articles?
How long are their regular columns?
What type of words do they use (jargon/slang, formal/professional, middle class/casual)?
How long are the sentences and how complex are the thoughts?
What tone is used (friendly, personal, distanced, humorous, serious)?
Do they use side bars?
Do they use subheadings?

The Sell (Ads)
What are they selling?
Who do you think buys these particular products?
How large are the ads (full page, half page, two column/two lines)?
How complex are the ads (multiple visuals, long text, etc)?
Do the ads use lots of words, lots of visuals, or both?
Where are the ads (all grouped together, spread throughout the publication, before the index, at the end)?
In relation to the copy, what percentage of the publication is devoted to ads (0%, 10%, 50%, 80% of the publication)?

Page 2 of Notes

Every article has two audiences – its REAL audience and its INTENDED audience.

Intended Audiencethe person you are writing this article for
Real Audienceanyone who actually reads the article

Questions to Ask Yourself When Analyzing a Publication

The Reader
What kind of job does my reader have?
How old are they?
How much money does this reader make each year (salary or hourly)?
Did they graduate from high school? College?
How many children are in the family?
What is their ethnic background?
Is the reader married, single or divorced?
What does this reader do for fun?
What political party do they belong to?
What kinds of magazines or books do they read?
Do they have a good sense of humor?
Do they read every word or do they skim articles?
Will the reader read the whole article at one time, or will they read some now and some later?
Does my reader “clip” articles or toss them?
What else do I need to know about my reader in order to provide good written material?

How much does the audience know about my subject?

How does the audience feel about my subject?

What new information can I provide to my reader?

What does my reader need?

What does the publisher need?

What is my relationship to my reader (equal, authority, subordinate)?

What are the demographics of my readership (age, sex, educational background, geographic location, etc)?

Why are they reading this piece (information, entertainment, etc.)?

Type of publication am I writing for and what does this mean to me, my reader, my publisher (web, print, magazine, newspaper, e-book)?

Monday, September 25, 2006

Meeting Tonight



For Members of the NJCWG

Change in lesson option for tonight.
Tonight I will host a brief workshop-like (hands-on) meeting where members will learn how to research a periodical market.

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Facilitator, NJCWG

Meeting Tognight


NJCWG Meeting - Tonight
Monday, Septembre 25, 2006
6:15-7:00 - Chat Time
7:00-8:00 - Lesson
8:00-9:00 - Critiques

We were going to have a local journalist speak tonight but I haven't been able to confirm the date with her. If she is unable to make it, I will teach a lesson on Devotional Writing.

Louise Bergmann Dumont
Facilitator, NJCWG

Wedding Invitation


AN INVITATION FOR ALL
NORTH JERSEY CHRISTIAN WRITERS GROUP MEMBERS
The honour of your presence
is requested
at the celebration of our marriage
Maude Carolan
to
Robert F. Pych
Saturday, the Twenty-First of October
Two Thousand and Six
Ten O'Clock in the Morning
Beth Israel Messianic Center
2 Lincoln Place
Garfield, New Jersey
Light Refreshments Will Follow
The blessing of your presence is the present we desire

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Writing Op - Mature Living


MATURE LIVING
Excellent Break-In Market
New market -- Pays 0-9¢/word or $0-150/article

A Magazine for Christian Senior Adults
Lifeway Christian Resources
1 Lifeway Plaza
Nashville TN 37234

E-Mail: matureliving@lifeway.com
Website: www.lifeway.com
Mature Living Link: Mature Living

Contact:
David Seay, editor-in-chief

About MATURE LIVING: Monthly leisure reading magazine for senior adults 55 and older. "Mature Living is Christian in content and the material required is what would appeal to 55 and over age group: inspirational, informational, nostalgic, humorous. Our magazine is distributed mainly through churches (especially Southern Baptist churches) that buy the magazine in bulk and distribute it to members in this age group."

Freelance Facts:
90% freelance written
Established: 1977
Circulation: 320,000

Pays on acceptance
Publishes manuscript 7-8 weeks after acceptance.
Byline given.

Rights purchased: Purchases all rights if writer agrees.

Submit seasonal material 1 year in advance.
Responds in 3 months to manuscripts.
Sample copy for 9x12 SAE with 4 first-class stamps.
Writer's guidelines for #10 SASE.

Nonfiction Needs:
General Interest
Historical
How-To
Humor
Inspirational
Interview/Profile
Personal Experience
Travel
crafts

Does Not Want: No pornography, profanity, occult, liquor, dancing, drugs, gambling.

Buys 100 manuscripts/year.
Length: 600–1,200 words.
Pays $75-105.
Does not pay the expenses of writers on assignment.

Photos:
State availability of photos with submission.
Offers $10-25/photo. Pays on publication.

Columns & Departments:
Columns open to freelancers: Cracker Barrel (brief, humorous, original quips and verses), pays $15; Grandparents' Brag Board (something humorous or insightful said or done by your grandchild or great-grandchild), pays $15; Inspirational (devotional items), pays $25; Food (introduction and 4-6 recipes), pays $50; Over the Garden Fence (vegetable or flower gardening), pays $40; Crafts (step-by-step procedures), pays $40; Game Page (crossword or word-search puzzles and quizzes), pays $40.

Fiction Needs: Humorous, Religious, senior citizen/retirement
Contact -- David Seay, editor-in-chief

Does Not Want: No reference to liquor, dancing, drugs, gambling; no pornography, profanity or occult.

Buys 12 manuscripts/year.
Submission method: Send complete manuscript
Length: 900-1,200 words preferred

Pays $75-105; 3 contributor's copies.

Poetry: Buys 24 poems/year.
Submit maximum 5 poems.
Length: 12–16 lines.

Writing Op - Mature Living


MATURE LIVING
Excellent Break-In Market
New market -- Pays 0-9¢/word or $0-150/article

A Magazine for Christian Senior Adults
Lifeway Christian Resources
1 Lifeway Plaza
Nashville TN 37234

E-Mail: matureliving@lifeway.com
Website: www.lifeway.com
Mature Living Link: Mature Living

Contact:
David Seay, editor-in-chief

About MATURE LIVING: Monthly leisure reading magazine for senior adults 55 and older. "Mature Living is Christian in content and the material required is what would appeal to 55 and over age group: inspirational, informational, nostalgic, humorous. Our magazine is distributed mainly through churches (especially Southern Baptist churches) that buy the magazine in bulk and distribute it to members in this age group."

Freelance Facts:
90% freelance written
Established: 1977
Circulation: 320,000

Pays on acceptance
Publishes manuscript 7-8 weeks after acceptance.
Byline given.

Rights purchased: Purchases all rights if writer agrees.

Submit seasonal material 1 year in advance.
Responds in 3 months to manuscripts.
Sample copy for 9x12 SAE with 4 first-class stamps.
Writer's guidelines for #10 SASE.

Nonfiction Needs:
General Interest
Historical
How-To
Humor
Inspirational
Interview/Profile
Personal Experience
Travel
crafts

Does Not Want: No pornography, profanity, occult, liquor, dancing, drugs, gambling.

Buys 100 manuscripts/year.
Length: 600–1,200 words.
Pays $75-105.
Does not pay the expenses of writers on assignment.

Photos:
State availability of photos with submission.
Offers $10-25/photo. Pays on publication.

Columns & Departments:
Columns open to freelancers: Cracker Barrel (brief, humorous, original quips and verses), pays $15; Grandparents' Brag Board (something humorous or insightful said or done by your grandchild or great-grandchild), pays $15; Inspirational (devotional items), pays $25; Food (introduction and 4-6 recipes), pays $50; Over the Garden Fence (vegetable or flower gardening), pays $40; Crafts (step-by-step procedures), pays $40; Game Page (crossword or word-search puzzles and quizzes), pays $40.

Fiction Needs: Humorous, Religious, senior citizen/retirement
Contact -- David Seay, editor-in-chief

Does Not Want: No reference to liquor, dancing, drugs, gambling; no pornography, profanity or occult.

Buys 12 manuscripts/year.
Submission method: Send complete manuscript
Length: 900-1,200 words preferred

Pays $75-105; 3 contributor's copies.

Poetry: Buys 24 poems/year.
Submit maximum 5 poems.
Length: 12–16 lines.

Writing Op - Victory News


VICTORY NEWS
New market -- Non-Paying market

Franklin Publishing Company
2723 Steamboat Circle
Arlington TX 76006

Phone: (817)548-1124
E-Mail: luotto@comcaste.net
Website: www.franklinpublishing.net

Managing Editor: Maxine Knight

NOTE FROM NJCWG FACILIATOR - I received this information but I don't personnally know anything about this publication. If anyone in the NJCWWG has a chance to check this out, let me know what you discover.

Contact: Dr. Ludwig Otto, editor

Freelance Facts: 59% freelance written
Established: 1983
Circulation: 1,000

Does not pay, but offers 15% discount on issues purchased.
Publishes manuscript 1 month after acceptance.
Byline given.

Rights purchased: # One-time rights

Editorial lead time 1 month.
Submit seasonal material 3 months in advance.

Accepts queries by:
# Mail
# E-mail

Accepts simultaneous submissions
Accepts previously published submissions
Responds in 1 week to queries.
Responds in 1 month to manuscripts.

Writer's guidelines available at website.

Nonfiction Needs:
Book excerpts
Essays
General Interest
Historical
How-To
Humor
Inspirational
Interview/Profile
New Product
Opinion
Personal Experience
Religious
Technical
Travel

Submission method: Send complete manuscript
Length: 750–6,000 words.

Fiction Needs:
Adventure
Condensed Novels
Ethnic
Horror
Humorous
Mainstream
Mystery
Novel Excerpts
Religious
Science Fiction
Slice-of-life Vignettes
Suspense
Western

Submission method: Send complete manuscript

Poetry Needs:
Avant-garde
Free Verse
Haiku
Light Verse
Traditional

Fillers Needs:
Anecdotes
Facts
Gags to be illustrated by cartoonist

Writing Op - St. Anthony Messenger



ST. ANTHONY MESSENGER
Pays 10-49¢/word or $151-750/article
28 W. Liberty St.
Cincinnati OH 45202-6498

Phone: (513)241-5615
Fax: (513)241-0399
E-Mail: stanthony@americancatholic.org
Website: www.americancatholic.org

Contact: Father Pat McCloskey, O.F.M., editor

About ST. ANTHONY MESSENGER: "St. Anthony Messenger is a Catholic family magazine which aims to help its readers lead more fully human and Christian lives. We publish articles which report on a changing church and world, opinion pieces written from the perspective of Christian faith and values, personality profiles, and fiction which entertains and informs."

Freelance Facts: 55% freelance written
Established: 1893
Circulation: 324,000

Pays on acceptance
Publishes manuscript 1 year after acceptance.
Byline given.

Rights purchased:
# First North American serial rights
# Electronic rights
# first worldwide serial rights.

Submit seasonal material 6 months in advance.

Accepts queries by:
# Mail
# E-mail
# Fax

Does not accept simultaneous submissions
Responds in 3 weeks to queries.
Responds in 2 months to manuscripts.

Sample copy for 9x12 SAE with 4 first-class stamps.
Click here for manuscript guidelines

Nonfiction Needs:
How-To (on psychological and spiritual growth, problems of parenting/better parenting, marriage problems/marriage enrichment)
Humor
Inspirational
Interview/Profile
Opinion (limited use; writer must have special qualifications for topic)
Personal Experience (if pertinent to our purpose)
Photo Feature
informational, social issues

Buys 35-50 manuscripts/year.
Submission method: Query with published clips
Length: 1,500–2,500 words.

Pays 16¢/word.

Sometimes pays the expenses of writers on assignment.
Fiction:

Contact: Father Pat McCloskey, O.F.M., editor

Needs:
Mainstream
Religious
senior citizen/retirement

Does Not Want: "We do not want mawkishly sentimental or preachy fiction. Stories are most often rejected for poor plotting and characterization; bad dialogue--listen to how people talk; inadequate motivation. Many stories say nothing, are 'happenings' rather than stories." No fetal journals, no rewritten Bible stories.

Buys 12 manuscripts/year.
Submission method: Send complete manuscript
Length: 2,000–3,000 words.

Pays 16¢/word maximum and 2 contributor's copies; $1 charge for extras.

Poetry: "Our poetry needs are very limited."

Submit maximum 4-5 poems.
Length: Up to 20-25 lines; the shorter, the better.
Pays $2/line; $20 minimum.

Tips: "The freelancer should consider why his or her proposed article would be appropriate for us, rather than for Redbook or Saturday Review. We treat human problems of all kinds, but from a religious perspective. Articles should reflect Catholic theology, spirituality, and employ a Catholic terminology and vocabulary. We need more articles on prayer, scripture, Catholic worship. Get authoritative information (not merely library research); we want interviews with experts. Write in popular style; use lots of examples, stories, and personal quotes. Word length is an important consideration."

Writing Op - Silent Voices

NOTE from NJCWG Facilitator: This is a secular magazine that publishes some items that "may" be considered offensive to some Chrisitans

SILENT VOICES

New market Non-Paying market

A Creative Mosaic of Fiction
Ex Machina Press, LLC
P.O. Box 11180
Glendale CA 91226

Phone: (818)244-7209
E-Mail: exmachinapab@aol.com
Website: www.exmachinapress.com

Contact:
Peter A. Balaskas, editor

About SILENT VOICES: Magazine covering short fiction.

Frequency: Annual

"Silent Voices is an annual literary journal whose purpose is to publish fiction of a variety of styles and genres. By taking stories of a diverse nature and placing them in a specific order, we produce a creative mosaic that tells a larger story."

Freelance Facts: 100% freelance written, Established: 2004, Circulation: 1,000

Pays on publication
Publishes manuscript 4-5 months after acceptance.
Byline sometimes given.

Rights purchased: First North American serial rights

Accepts queries by: Mail & E-mail

Accepts simultaneous submissions

Sample copy for $11.99.
Writer's guidelines available at website.

Fiction Needs:
Adventure
Condensed Novels
Confession
Ethnic
Experimental
Fantasy
Historical
Horror
Humorous
Mainstream
Mystery
Novel Excerpts
Religious
Romance
Science Fiction
Slice-of-life Vignettes
Suspense
Western

Buys 11-14 manuscripts/year.
Submission method: Query with or without published clips or send complete manuscript
Length: 15,000 words.

Industry News


HarperCollins and Avon launch inspirational fiction line
  • HarperCollins and Avon are collaborating on a new inspirational women's trade paper fiction line called Avon Inspire. Avon Inspire's goal: "to publish 'engaging stories that Christian readers can trust and love.'" Acquisition editor: Cynthia DiTiberio. Source: Publisher's Weekly
  • Industry News



    Thomas Nelson to acquire Integrity Publishers
  • Thomas Nelson has signed an agreement to acquire Christian publishing house Integrity Publishers. The deal is expected to close Sept. 28th. Source: Publisher's Weekly
  • Industry Information



    Life magazine losing $35M a year
    With the two-year anniversary of Life as a newspaper insert approaching, NYpost.com speculates about how much life is left in Life. The magazine is believed to be losing at least $35 million a year. Time Inc. had initially promised the big newspaper chains that the insert magazine would be published for at least two years.

    Thursday, September 21, 2006

    Next Meeting



    Next Meeting
    Monday, 9/25/06

    We may be having a guest speaker for Monday. I still have to confirm her ability to teach but it looks like Chris Sagona may be able to talk to us about getting started as a Journalist in the newspaper business. Please lift a prayer that she'll be able to make this meeting.

    New Mag - Digital Living



    Digital Living: electronics title launches

    Emap will be launching a new quarterly magazine called Digital Living, aimed at "30 plus men who buy consumer electronics." From Rob Croxall, General Manager: "We want to produce a magazine that will demystify the digital world and give it's readers reassurance and confidence. Although the men's market as a whole is having a tough time, specialist titles like our own Digital Photo go from strength to strength, and that gives us a great deal of confidence in the concept of Digital Living." Editor: Bruce Black. Source: Press Gazette

    Saturday, September 16, 2006

    Attitude is Everything



    Your attitude toward others is 99% of the game in the writing world. If you are an author who thinks that they already know what I'm about to say, please bear with me and read this message anyway.

    I recently received a request from a webmaster. They wanted me to write free copy for their writers website. This website eventually will offer new writers the opportunity to 'pay' for a spot on their website in the hopes that publishers and editors will read the work and then ask the author to write for them. (sigh) Now I know that this has been tried numerous times before and it just doesn't work. Editors have no problem getting quality writing and authors should never pay to have their work put on a website. I politely sent an email to the webmaster that requested him to take my name off his email list. In return, I got a really rude and sarcastic email telling me that if I wasn't interesting in participating in their project I shouldn't put my name and contact information on my own website. Interesting. I wrote a polite reply back but the whole thing left a really bad taste in my mouth. I will never write for this site and I certainly will warn others against it if someone asks me specifically about them by name. (No, I won't use the name of the group here - sufficient it say that an author should NOT ever pay someone in the hope of being published. That is one of the oldest scams in the book.)

    Just remember this -- how you approach an other author, publisher or editor will flavor that person's reaction to your words for a long time to come. As Christians we should take the high road and attempt to be kind to those who might not know better. In any case, a kind word goes a long way to build a bridge -- and you just might need that bridge later in your career.

    I'm Back!


    Hello to the NJCWG and my other writing friends

    When I returned from a wonderful vacation (visiting my son and a number of great historic sites in Virginia) I found a wealth of writing related events and opportunities in my email inbox. I'll share some of them with you over the next few days.

    Hope you've all had a great summer and I pray that as the crip fall weather decends on us, you will be invigorated and inspired your writing.

    Louise Bergmann DuMont
    Facilitator of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group (NJCWG)

    Tuesday, September 05, 2006


    The Comfort Cafe just posted my most recent column. You can access it through the attached link (http://comfortcafe.net/?p=359) OR by reading the Cafe Moch Light blog (http://cafemochalight.blogspot.com/).

    Louise Bergmann DuMont
    Author & Speaker

    Monday, September 04, 2006

    Getting Ideas


    From Terri Main, Speach Communication Instructor, Reedley Colleg,e Reedley, CA

    Here is a URL for a lesson I have about getting ideas.
    http://www.thewritingschool.net/getting_ideas.htm It includes general tips on getting article ideas along with 9 specific idea generators complete with forms to use.