Randy Ingermanson

Here's an article on conference-going tips reprinted with permission from Randall Ingermanson's Advanced Fiction writing e-zine. Randy Ingermanson ("the Snowflake guy") is a physicist turned novelist. If you haven't read his novel Oxygen you really are missing a great read.
Louise Bergmann DuMont

Facilitator of the NJCWG

How To Have a Great Conference

Are you going to a writing conference this year? I hope you'll be able to. Writing conferences can be expensive, humiliating, and discouraging, but they can also change your life. My career began to blossom when I committed to going to at least one major writing conference every year. I know many writers who can say the same.

The problem is that writing conferences can also go horribly, frightfully, abysmally wrong. In this article,
I'd like to talk about a few things you can do to have a good conference and a few things you can avoid so as to NOT have a bad conference.

Here are some DOs and some DON'Ts:

1) DO set your expectations based on where you are in your writing career.

* Are you a "freshman" or "sophomore" writer? Then you shouldn't be expecting to sell a book at the conference or get an agent. You should be expecting to learn as much as possible about the publishing industry, to learn more about the craft of writing, and to make some friends. Those are doable goals for "freshmen" or "sophomores."

* Are you a "junior" writer? Then you still can't expect to sell your book, but you CAN expect to get some valuable feedback from editors or agents. You might possibly even find an agent who'd like to represent you. And you can expect to make new friends.

* Are you a "senior" writer?" Then it's very reasonable to see some real excitement among the editors and agents over your book. "Seniors" are pretty rare, and editors and agents are looking for them. You might not sell your book at the conference, but it's likely you'll get some requests to send in your proposal or manuscript. And you might well land an agent on the spot. Or not. Your mileage may vary.

* Are you published already? Then your goal might be to make new contacts with editors and agents. Or you might pitch book ideas. Or both. It depends on you, but you know that by now.

If you're not sure what stage you're at in your career, check out this page on my web site:
http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/talks/roadmap/index.php

2) DON'T try to cheat the system.

I once went to a weekend writing conference at San Diego State University. About 700 writers attended, so it was a big conference! The rules said that you could submit at most 5 pages of your work to a single editor. That was designed to keep the work load down for the editors and agents.

One writer at the conference decided to get around this restriction by submitting 30 packets -- each with 5 pages in it -- all to the SAME editor! Think that endeared the writer to the editor? Nope, it just irritated the bejeebers out of him.

3) DO be nice to everybody.

There is just no good reason to be rude to other people. Those other writers next to you are NOT your competition. They really aren't. If you let them, they'll be your friends, your coaches, your mentors, your cheerleaders, and your shoulder to cry on. And you'll be the same for them.

Want to know who your competition is?

It's you. The one person most likely to keep you from succeeding in your career is yourself. You probably think too highly of yourself OR you think too little of yourself. Sometimes you need other people to tell you that you really aren't Stephen King. And sometimes you need other people to tell you that you aren't kitty litter.

So be nice to other writers. That is the one thing you can do to make your conference stupendously wonderful. I'm assuming you already know to be nice to editors and agents. In fact, you might get carried away, so that brings us to the next DON'T . . .

4) DON'T freak out in the presence of famous editors, agents, and writers.

Look, famous people are a lot like you. I can pretty much guarantee they use the exact same technique you do to put on their pants in the morning.

No doubt when you put on your pants, you toss them up twelve feet in the air, do a triple back-flip with a full twist, plunge your legs into the pants at the peak of your trajectory, and then land lightly on your feet with the pants zipped, ready to go meet the day.

Famous people do that too. So don't freak when you meet them. They're just like you. It's OK to fawn a little, but freaking out is just a no-no.

5) DO expect the unexpected.

No writing conference I've ever been to has gone the way I expected. So I've learned to just go with the flow, try to meet people, set some reasonable goals, have fun, and be ready for anything.

Probably the most fun I ever had at a conference was the infamous "Shaving Babbitt" incident. I had that conference all planned out. It went exactly the opposite of what I had planned. By all rights, it should have been the most humiliating thing that ever happened to me. I loved every minute of it.

I could tell you more, but that's enough for now. To review:
* Set reasonable expectations
* Don't try to cheat the system
* Be nice to everybody
* Don't freak out with famous folks
* Expect the unexpected

Oh yeah, and . . . have fun!

Publisher, Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine
http://www.AdvancedFictionWriting.com

Conference Scholarship Opportunity

I have the opportunity to recommend one person for a 50% scholarship ($167) to the Colorado Christian Writers Conference ~ May 16-19, 2007. I need to have my recommendation to the committee no later than April 12 so let me know ASAP if you are interested in pursuing this.

If you accept the scholarship, you would still be responsible for the other half of the registration fee (due by April 16), transportation to and from the conference, and your lodging which includes meals and runs $44 - $112 a night depending on whether you to stay in Mt. Ypsilon or Wind River.

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Author & Speaker
Facilitator of the NJCWG

Writing Op - SpiritLed Writer

From Lisa Crayton, Editor of the SpiritLed Writer

~~~ WRITE FOR US! ~~~

SPIRIT-LED WRITER needs writing-related articles and fillers (including book reviews, conference reports and devotionals). We also seek how-to articles on the business side of writing, and writing for children. Check out the guidelines
and query today.
http://www.spiritledwriter.com/guidelines.html

Yes, we're a paying market, and we accept reprints.

Handling Rejection Article

There is an EXCELLENT article by Sherri Langton at the SpiritLed Writer. Check it out!

* * *Handling Rejection: Don't Burn Your Bridges* * * by Sherri Langton
Snipit: "I'm not writing for you anymore!" Fortunately, the editor never heard those words; I internally screamed them at the computer when I read his e-mailed rejection notice.
To read the full article go to: http://www.spiritledwriter.com/mar07/bridges.html

St. Davids Christian Writers Conference

An educational retreat for writers serious about their craft.
St. Davids Christian Writers' Conference
50th Anniversary - June 18-23
Special Chicken Soup Feature
Grove City College, PA
http://www.stdavidswriters.com

Writing Op - Anthology

NOTE: This call went out to authors who submitted to Helen Kay Polaski's anthologies in the past. I am forwarding it on to you with permission. Be sure to get in on this right away! For author's 2007's Christmas is here NOW.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Authors,

Please feel free to share the following information will all of your writing groups and friends. Thank you for your patience! I hope to see many familiar names in my email in the near future.

Take care -- Helen


*****************************************************************

CALL FOR STORIES - CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

From Adams Media/F + M Publications, home of the bestselling series, A CUP OF COMFORT, and the bestselling 2006 holiday anthology, CLASSIC CHRISTMAS, True Stories of Holiday Cheer and Goodwill, comes CHRISTMAS MEMORIES, an anthology of True Stories that Touch the Heart and Renew the Spirit.

Christmas is a time for making memories and sharing. All of the things we enjoy -- everything from visiting grandmother and grandfather’s house to opening presents, building snow forts, honoring the Christ Child, and enjoying a generous helping of plum pudding -- are more magical during this special time of the year. All of the holiday memories we've experienced in our lives seem to have been forged in our minds and souls to be shared again and again with others. In keeping with that sentiment, we would be honored if you shared your best Christmas memories with us and with the world.

LENGTH: Word count should be between 800 and 1,200. Please send only complete stories that are inspirational as well as emotional, have a dramatic flair, pack a punch, and bring all of the senses into play. The best stories will invoke tears and/or laughter, or make the reader sigh. In a nutshell, make us feel as though we’re in the story with you.

EMAIL STORIES TO: hkpolaski@yahoo.com

Submissions should be sent in the body of an email, as well as in attachment form. Include: name, address, phone number, email address, and 50-word bio. Please, also, only one submission per email.

RESPONSE: Because of the sheer numbers of submissions involved in a call for stories of this nature, it’s difficult to contact authors personally, however, upon receipt of submission an automatic response will be sent. This response will be your confirmation that your story arrived safely to my desk. (Please allow up to two days for a response. If/when time permits, the editor will do her best to contact authors personally.)

Authors of work that is selected to be in the book will be contacted prior to publication. Once selections have been made, entrants will be informed of the status of their work. (When in doubt, do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address.)

DEADLINE: May 30, 2007

COMPENSATION: $50 and a free book will be given to the author of each story that is accepted and published. Authors may submit more than one story for consideration. Authors will be limited to no more than three stories in the book.


Helen Kay Polaski
Book Editor: A Cup of Comfort for Weddings and Classic Christmas
http://www.gardenandhearth.com/Gift-Baskets.htm

CLASSeminar, an international Christian speakers organization, is once again coming to NEW JERSEY!!! I am a CLASS graduate and attending this seminar was one of the very best things I could have done for my writing career.

The early registration (April 21) is fast approaching for the first 2007 CLASSeminar, held at America's KESWICK in Whiting, New Jersey May 21-23, 2007. The CLASSeminar is for both aspiring and established leaders, speakers and writers--in fact those whom God has given a message to deliver. Register by calling today at 800/433-6633.

If you are intersted in knowing more about this,drop me an email.

Louise Bergmann DuMont
njcwg.dumont@gmail.com

Writing Op - New Jersey Savvy

NEW JERSEY SAVVY LIVING
view in new window
CTB, LLC
30B Vreeland Rd.
Florham Park NJ 07932

Phone: (973)966-0997
Fax: (973)966-0210
E-mail: njsavvyliving@ctbintl.com
Web site: www.njsavvyliving.com

About NEW JERSEY SAVVY LIVING

Format: Magazine covering New Jersey residents with affluent lifestyles.
Frequency: Bimonthly

"Savvy Living is a regional magazine for an upscale audience, ages 35-65. We focus on lifestyle topics such as home design, fashion, the arts, travel, personal finance, and health and well being."
Freelance Facts

* 90% freelance written
* Established: 1997
* Circulation: 50,000
* Pays on publication.
* Publishes manuscript 3 months after acceptance.
* Byline given.
* Offers $50 kill fee.
* variable rights.

# Editorial lead time 3 months.

Accepts queries by: Mail
* Accepts simultaneous submissions
* Response time varies
* Sample copy for 9x12 envelope.

Nonfiction:
Needs:
* Interview/Profile (people of national and regional importance)
* Photo Feature
* Travel
* home/decorating, finance, health, fashion, beauty

Does Not Want: No investigative, fiction, personal experience, and non-New Jersey topics (excluding travel).

* Buys 50 manuscripts/year.
* Submission method: Query with published clips.
* Length: 900–2,000 words.
* Does not pay the expenses of writers on assignment.

Photos:
* State availability of photos with submission.

Photos Require:
* Captions
* Identification of subjects
* Model Releases
* Buys one-time rights
* Offers no additional payment for photos accepted with ms.

Columns & Departments:
* Columns open to freelancers: Savvy Shoppers (inside scoop on buying); Dining Out (restaurant review); Home Gourmet (gourmet cooking and entertaining).
* Buys 25 columns/year.
* Submission method: Query with published clips
* Pays: $300 minimum for columns.

Tips:
"Offer ideas of interest to a savvy, upscale New Jersey readership. We love articles that utilize local sources and are well focused and keep our readers informed about trends affecting their lives. We work with experienced and stylish writers. Please provide clips."

Writing Op - Relevant Magazine

RELEVANT
Relevant Media Group
100 S. Lake Destiny Dr.
Suite 200
Orlando FL 32810

Phone: (407)660-1411
Fax: (407)660-8555
E-mail: editorial@relevantmagazine.com
Web site: www.relevantmagazine.com
Contact: Adam Smith, managing editor

About RELEVANT

Format: Magazine covering God, life, and progressive culture.
Frequency: Biweekly

Relevant is a lifestyle magazine for Christians in their 20s.
Freelance Facts
* 80% freelance written
* Established: 2002
* Circulation: 70,000
* Pays 45 days after publication.
* Publishes manuscript 6 months after acceptance.
* Byline given.
* Offers 50% kill fee.

Rights purchased:
* First North American serial rights
# Editorial lead time 4 months.
# Submit seasonal material 5 months in advance.

Accepts queries by: E-mail

* Accepts simultaneous submissions
* Responds in 6 weeks to queries.
* Responds in 3 months to manuscripts.
* Click here for sample copy
* Sample copy available at website.
* Click here for manuscript guidelines

Nonfiction:
Needs:
* General Interest
* How-To
* Inspirational
* Interview/Profile
* New Product
* Personal Experience
* Religious

Does Not Want: Don't submit anything that doesn't target ages 18-34.

* Submission method: Query with published clips.
* Length: 1,000–1,500 words.
* Sometimes pays the expenses of writers on assignment.

Tips: "The easiest way to get noticed by our editors is to first submit (donate) stories for online publication."

Writing Op - 108 Celebrating Baseball

108
Sandlot Media
Celebrating Baseball
517 N. Mountain Ave.
#237
Upland CA 91786

Phone: (909)912-0134
Fax: (909)912-0197
E-mail: info@108mag.com
Web site: www.108mag.com
Contact: Phil Osterholt, managing editor.

Format: Magazine covering baseball.
Frequency: Quarterly

About 108: "108 celebrates baseball's contribution to and role in American history, culture, and community through in-depth feature articles, short fiction, photography and original artwork."
Freelance Facts

* 75% freelance written
* Established: 2006
* Circulation: 40,000
* Pays on publication.
* Publishes manuscript 1-2 months after acceptance.
* Byline given.

Rights purchased:
* First North American serial rights
* One-time rights
* Electronic rights
* Makes work-for-hire assignments
# Editorial lead time 3-6 months.
# Submit seasonal material 3-6 months in advance.

Accepts queries by:
* Mail
* E-mail
* Sample copy for $7.95.
* Writer's guidelines available via e-mail.

Nonfiction:
Submit nonfiction to features@108mag.com.

Needs:
* Essays
* Historical
* Humor
* Inspirational
* Interview/Profile
* Personal Experience
* Photo Feature
* Buys 20-30 manuscripts/year.
* Submission method: Query with or without published clips or send complete manuscript.
* Length: 1,000–7,000 words.
* Sometimes pays the expenses of writers on assignment.

Photos:
* State availability of or send photos with submission.

Reviews:
* GIF/JPEG files

Photos Require:
* Captions
* Identification of subjects
* Model Releases
* Buys one-time rights
* Negotiates payment individually.

Columns & Departments:
* Columns open to freelancers: Growing Up (children of MLB players, what it's like); Beyond the Boxscore (greater significance of a single game/moment); Whatever Happened To (profile on player who fell out of the limelight); Teammates (tales of extraordinary baseball friendships), all 1,500-2,000 words.
* Buys 16 columns/year.
* Submission method: Query with or without published clips or send complete manuscript
* Pays 50¢-$1/word.

Fiction:
"As long as baseball is an integral part of the story, we'll take a look." Submit to fiction@108mag.com.Needs:

* Historical
* Horror
* Humorous
* Mainstream
* Mystery
* Slice-of-life Vignettes
* Suspense
* baseball
* Buys 10-15 manuscripts/year.
* Submission method: Send complete manuscript.
* Length: 2,000–7,000 words.
* Pays 50¢-$2/word.

Poetry:
Publishes baseball-related poetry.
o Buys 4-6 poems/year.
o Submit maximum 3 poems.
o Pays 50¢-$1/word.

Tips: "We tell the great stories that help make baseball the great game it is. We're looking for great stories—not statistical-laden entries from a baseball encyclopedia. We prefer complete manuscripts to queries."

Women's Chocolate Retreat

For the members of the NJCWG

I was asked to speak at a Women's "chocolate" retreat this weekend and I will be in Pennsylvania from Fri-Mon of this week.

Now I don't want to get anyone envious, but I think I think I hit the jackpot this weekend. Here is what will happen.

I get to speak to a group of wonderful Christian women (which I l-o-v-e to do), they will have chocolate every day (the theme is chocolate), I've been asked to speak about chocolate every day (can't think of anything I'd rather talk about), the event is about twenty minutes from the famous Pennsylvania mall outlets (yes, we have a number of unscheduled hours on Saturday where we can go shopping), I am going to this event with one of my favorite people (Amanda, my future d-i-l), I've been asked to bring a case of books that they want me to sell, Amanda & I both get free hotel accommodations, free food, free chocolate AND they pay me for all of this!!! If anyone out there can beat this deal I'll be more than happy to listen to your offer. LOL

Anyway, keep me in your prayers - think we are expecting snow again.

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Author of Faith-Dipped Chocolate: Rich Encouragement To Sweeten Your Day

Writing Op - Breakaway Magazine

Breakaway Magazine
Focus on the Family
8605 Explorer Dr.
Colorado Springs CO 80920

Phone: (719)531-3400
Web site: www.breakawaymag.com

Format: Magazine covering extreme sports, Christian music artists, and new technology relevant to teen boys.
Frequency: Monthly

"This fast-paced, 4-color publication is designed to creatively teach, entertain, inspire, and challenge the emerging teenager. It also seeks to strengthen a boy's self-esteem, provide role models, guide a healthy awakening to girls, make the Bible relevant, and deepen their love for family, friends, church, and Jesus Christ."
Freelance Facts

* 25% freelance written
* Established: 1990
* Circulation: 96,000
* Pays on acceptance.
* Publishes manuscript 5-12 months after acceptance.
* Byline given.
* Offers $25 kill fee.

Rights purchased:
* First North American serial rights
* First rights
* One-time rights
* Electronic rights
# Editorial lead time 5 months.
# Submit seasonal material 8 months in advance.

Accepts queries by:
* Mail
* Responds in 2-3 months to queries.
* Responds in 2-3 months to manuscripts.
* Sample copy for $1.50 and 9x12 SASE with 3 first-class stamps.
* Writer's guidelines for #10 SASE.

Nonfiction:
Needs:
* Inspirational
* Interview/Profile
* Personal Experience
* Buys up to 6 manuscripts/year.
* Submission method: Send complete manuscript.
* Length: 700–2,000 words.
* Does not pay the expenses of writers on assignment.

Columns & Departments:
* Columns open to freelancers: Epic Truth (spiritual/Biblical application devotional for teen guys), 800 words; Weird, Wild, WOW! (technology, culture, science), 200-400 words.
* Buys 2-3 columns/year.
* Submission method: Send complete manuscript
* Pays 12-15¢/word

Fiction:
Needs:
* Adventure
* Humorous
* Religious
* Suspense

Does Not Want: "Avoid Christian jargon, clichés, preaching, and other dialogue that isn't realistic or that interrupts the flow of the story."

* Buys 3-4 manuscripts/year.
* Submission method: Send complete manuscript.
* Length: 600–2,000 words.
* Pays 15-20¢/word

Tips:
"Some of our readers get spiritual nurture at home and at church; many don't. To reach both groups, the articles must be written in ways that are compelling, bright, out of the ordinary. Nearly every adult in a boy's life is an authority figure. We would like you, through the magazine, to be seen as a friend! We also want Breakaway to be a magazine any pre-Christian teen could pick up and understand without first learning 'Christianese.' Stories should spiritually challenge, yet be spiritually inviting."

Writing Op - AARP Magazine

AARP
601 E St. NW
Washington DC 20049

Phone: (202)434-6880
E-mail: member@aarp.org
Web site: www.aarp.org

Format: Magazine
Frequency: Bimonthly

"AARP The Magazine is devoted to the varied needs and active life interests of AARP members, age 50 and over, covering such topics as financial planning, travel, health, careers, retirement, relationships, and social and cultural change. Its editorial content serves the mission of AARP seeking through education, advocacy and service to enhance the quality of life for all by promoting independence, dignity, and purpose."
Freelance Facts

* 50% freelance written
* Prefers to work with published/established writers.
* Circulation: 21,500,000
* Pays on acceptance.
* Publishes manuscript 6 months after acceptance.
* Byline given.
* Offers 25% kill fee.

Rights purchased:
* Buys exclusive first worldwide publication rights.
# Submit seasonal material 6 months in advance.

Accepts queries by:
* Mail
* E-mail
* Does not accept previously published submissions
* Responds in 3 months to queries.
* Free sample copy.
* Click here for manuscript guidelines

Nonfiction:
Articles can cover finance, health, food, travel, consumerism, general interest topics, and profiles/first-person accounts.

* Submission method: Query with published clips. No unsolicited mss..
* Length: Up to 2,000 words.
* Sometimes pays the expenses of writers on assignment.

Photos:
* Photos purchased with or without accompanying mss.
* Pays $250 and up for color; $150 and up for b&w.

Tips:
"The most frequent mistake made by writers in completing an article for us is poor follow-through with basic research. The outline is often more interesting than the finished piece. We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. " This means query first.

The Writer Magazine

The current issue of The Writer is filled with great information for the novice and for the accomplished writer.

The April 2007 Issue Features

Step by Step: A daily plan to boost your output using a ''treadmill'' writing journal
GREGORY MARTIN

Step by Step: How to use setups and payoffs in your fiction
WILLIAM KOWALSKI

Step by Step: 10 ways to make your manuscript agent-ready
JORDAN E. ROSENFELD

Fiction writing for the thrill of it
JACK SMITH

Build your imagination and power of expression with these writing exercises
SHERRY ELLIS

Research: Blending fact with fiction
SARA GRUEN

Research: primary sources-handle with care, but do handle
DAVID J. EICHER

7 essential tools for narrative writing
ROY PETER CLARK

What you need to know before you publish
KELLY JAMES-ENGER

Archive: Vintage advice from The Writer

Answer #3 - Too Much Clutter

Answer #3 - Too Much Clutter

These questions come from a NJCWG member.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Too Much Clutter - Question #3
Ann Asks: . I have many art (painting) supplies sitting on an open book case. They are all jumbled up. Some are in bags on the floor as I have too many for the shelves. How can I organize these?

Clutter Queen, Kathryn Porter Answers: If you have too many paint supplies than what will comfortably fit on the shelves, then the problem is not a storage issue. The problem is that you have too many paint supplies. Use the same organizing principles as you would for any other project:

Assess what you have. Do this by grouping all like objects together such as all water based paints in one box, all oil based paints in another, etc. How many are dried and no longer fit for using? Throw them away. Do you have duplicates? Put them in a donation box. Are there items you know you won’t use in the next year? Those go too.

Before you put everything back on the bookshelves, consider what’s working and what’s not with your current system:
*Are the bookshelves located where you paint and create your art?
*Are you putting other items on the bookshelves that are unrelated to your art?
*Is the bookshelf the style of organizing that fits your situation best?

Answer #2 - Too Much Clutter

Answer #2 - Too Much Clutter

These questions come from a NJCWG member.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Too Much Clutter - Question #2
Ann Asks: My attic is a mess. My husband & I are older and not terribly strong but we are active and can do a good bit. We don't want to leave this for our daughters to clean up after we die. Ditto for our basement.

Clutter Queen, Kathryn Porter Answers: This sounds like the perfect scenario for hiring a professional organizer. Getting assistance outside the family can be extremely valuable in order to get the job done. When we ask family or friends for help, we get stuck waiting on their schedules—which sometimes means that the de-cluttering won’t get done because more important things pop up for them. You also risk being talked into keeping things you really don’t need.

If you are determined to take on this challenge by yourself, start with the easy stuff. If it takes more than ten seconds to decide on whether to keep or toss, then move on to the next item. This is called the pre-sort. Here, you are simply paring things down quickly and easily as you come across them. While you do this, start grouping like things together. This will allow you to assess exactly how much you have. It’s easier to make decision on parting with things when you can make informed decisions. It’s one thing to go through your t-shirts. It’s another to take them all out of your closets and drawers to witness the sheer number of what you own. Once you pare down, implement organizing systems. Create homes for things based on where they are used, how often they are used, and who uses them.

Message from Cecil Murphey

As many of you know, on the morning of February 27, 2007 Cecil Murphey lost his house to a fire. His he, his wife and his daughter were able to escape but his son-in-law was killed during the fire.

God seems to have performed miracle after miracle since that fire. His hard drive was recovered, most of his important papers (passport etc) were recovered and the least damaged of all the rooms was Cec's office. His church, his community and writers from around the world have poured out their hearts in prayer and opened their wallets to help Cec and his family out until the insurance money comes through. I thought this particular paragraph from an email Cec sent was a great example of where this writer's heart continues to reside:
From an email sent 3/6/07 by Cecil "Cec" Murhpey
"For a long time I sat by myself and watched the fire fighters try to put out the fire. In the midst of that, the words of Job 2:10 came to me. Job's wife saw all the chaos and loss and told her husband to curse God and die. He replied, `We have received good from the hand of the Lord. Shall we not also receive evil?' As that verse filled my mind, I heard myself say, `Who am I to feel I should be exempt?' "

Of course the greatest loss to this family is Alan Hege, Cec's son-in-law. Please continue to pray for the family and for Cec's daughter, C-C (Cecile) who is obviously mourning the loss of her dear husband.

Blogger-Blogspot

It seems that blogspot has finally worked out some of the kinks in its new system and I am once again able to post items as needed.

Stay tuned for more writing opportunities and writing info.

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS:
louisedumont@gmail.com

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Author and Speaker
Facilitator of the NJCWG
www.louisedumont.com
www.cafemochalight.blogspot.com

EASTER

Easter Sunday is April 8.
Our next meeting would have been on April 7.
Due to the proximity of the two dates, we will NOT have a meeting on April 7.

THE NEXT MEETNG
OF THE NJCWG IS
Saturday, MAY 5, 2007

Here is the second hand-out from our 3/3/07 Meeting

The Query / Cover Letter
Required Elements
Presented to the NJCWG Group on 3/3/07
by Louise Bergmann DuMont

THE HOOK (Pitch)
Your first line should hook the reader’s attention. It must demonstrate that you can write effectively, and that you understand the publication’s market.

Possibilities
1. Show a problem and how you solved it. (Carpenter ants will destroy your home but not everyone wants to use toxic chemicals to exterminate them. I recently used an earth friendly system to rid…)
2. Share information that is not common knowledge or show why your reader needs to know what you are writing about. (The mothers of 2003 are no longer surrounded by a previous generation of women who will mentor them in child rearing. What do these women do when their newborns come down with diaper rash or their toddlers throw their first temper tantrum? They often turn their peers. I have written an article that explains how young mothers can start their own support groups.)
3. Ask a question. (Did you know…?, What would you do if…?, Have you ever wondered…?)
4. Use a personal anecdotal approach. (When my five year old son, Jason, was diagnosed with leukemia…)
5. Grab the reader’s attention. (As my grip slipped from its slender hold on the mountain’s ridge I wondered if my life would truly flash before my eyes when I fell from its heights…)

Avoid
1. Personal Introductions (Hi, my name is…)
2. Sucking Up (I just LOVE your magazine and have subscribed for 20 years)
3. Sympathy Ploy (I really need the money that this article will bring because…)
4. Too Humble / Unprofessional (I’ve never been published before… I know you’ve probably got other articles better than mine but…)
5. Too Proud (I am a highly experience professional… My article would be perfect for your magazine because…) Skip words like wonderful, perfect, fascinating, etc when referring to your work. Let the editor decide for himself how good your work is based on the writing.
6. God Sent (God told me…) When God tells the editor to publish your work, THEN he’ll listen.

THE BODY
Once you have the editor hooked, pitch your idea with solid information. This should include a working title, a word count, the target audience, and a brief summary of the article. The actual pitch is often the first line of the body. The longer the article the more detailed the body. Doing a point by point outline of your intended article (for you, not for the editor) will make sure you include the important information when writing this section. If you are writing a cover letter (not a query), this information section will be no longer than a few lines.

Example: I’d like to offer you a 1,500 word article entitled “Dressing the Mother of the Groom.” This article describes the ordeal of a slightly plump, jeans and T-shirt mom who sets out to purchase the perfect formal gown. Its target audience is every woman who has experienced the stress of trying to find the ultimate dress for her special occasion. It is a light-hearted look at a society that highly prizes the petite and fit forms of youth…a society that often leaves the average woman with less than sophisticated choices in the dressing room.

THE CREDENTIALS
Even if you’ve never been published, you must address the issue of your credentials. The editor wants to know why YOU are the best person to write the article you have proposed. This is usually the last or next to last paragraph.

Some things you could/should list.

 Professional experience pertinent to the subject you are writing about
 Academic degrees or training pertinent to the subject you are writing about
 Teaching experience pertinent to the subject you are writing about
 Personal experience pertinent to the subject you are writing about
 Writing experience – ANY writing experience
 Interviews with experts (if you don’t have expertise in the area you are writing about this is an excellent way of demonstrating that you know how to GET the information you need)

THE CLOSE
“Thank you very much…” – plus one last nudge.

Example: Thank you for taking the time to review my query. If you would like to see my article, I could have it on your desk within two weeks of receiving notice from you. I am looking forward to your response.

GENERAL FORMAT
 Create a nice, clean looking letterhead that includes your name, address, phone number and email address.
 Business Style (Block or Modified Block Style with spaces between paragraphs)
 Formal Salutation (Dear Mr. Robert Rowe or Ms. Roberta Rowe – Not Dear Bob or Bobbie)
 Clean copy.
 Proofread and corrected copy.
 Quality paper – Use at least 20-lb bond paper in white, linen or parchment – no colors
 Enclose a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope). Don’t use ‘insert’ envelopes (A4, A6, etc); instead fold a full-size business envelope (#10) in thirds and send that. If you are sending a full manuscript with the cover letter and you would like both returned, make sure the envelope is large enough that the manuscript is not folded.
 Send clips only IF the guidelines request them.

Handout from the 3/3/07 Mtg

Here is the first hand-out from our 3/3/07 Meeting

Tantalizing Sentences, Tempting Paragraphs
Presented to the NJCWG on 03/03/07
by Louise Bergmann DuMont

When you gather tantalizing sentences they soon create tempting paragraphs. These will quickly lift your writing above other manuscripts and you'll soar toward publication

ADD A TOUCH OF THE UNUSUAL
Carefully research and study your subject matter. Know what you want to say and how you are going to say it. The essence of writing an interesting article is simplicity… but to make your writing stand out, you must add a touch of the unusual. The more you know about your subject, the more likely you will be able to interject something that the reader does not already know.

WORDS THAT FLOW, SMOOTH SENTENCES
Examine your sentences and paragraphs to ensure that the words flow smoothly. A paragraph should deal with ONE (and ONLY one) idea. This idea is developed through sentences that logically advance the point you are trying to make. Each sentence should add meaning or develop the story (plot). Check, recheck and then check again for logic.

A new author's brain fairly bursts with plot twists and character information. If the author does not pass this information on to the reader in a logical fashion, the reader doesn't "get" the words. Imagine a river filled with small smooth stones. The water gently ripples over the stones but continues forward without much trouble. Whirlpools are like breaches of information. They spin the reader around and around while he tries to find a way to move on. Dams are like too much information. They stall the reader as maneuvers around the mass to get through the story.

Logical, linear sentences that vary in length but provide the appropriate information are like a babbling brook. There is a flow that is almost musical in quality.

ACTIVE LANGUAGE "POPS"
Passive writing is boring to read. Active verbs and strong nouns create friction and energy. They are the difference between a flat, warm cola on a hot day, and freshly opened bottle of sparkling champagne on New Year's Eve. Read good contemporary literature and it will "pop" with active voice.

WRITE USING YOUR OWN VOICE
If you haven't yet found your own voice, don't fret. The more you write, the more you'll realize what works and what doesn't. Practice writing the way some of the better contemporary writers do. You'll find you can not mimic some, but the voice of others will come easily. Concentrate on the "sound" of the words. Are you a forthright person - the first to arrive at every party? Or do you amble into a room fashionably late, waiting to see who else arrived first? Know your style, your writing will likely follow similar patterns.

VARY THE LENGTH OF YOUR SENTENCES
The length of a sentence can create drama, provoke tension or evoke mood. As a rule, sentences within a paragraph should vary. This helps to hold the reader's attention by allowing the reader to breathe, think and even ponder the thoughts you are presenting

Example (From Ursula Le Guin's The Earthsea Trilogy:
The boat rounded a short promontory, and he saw on the shore what he took for a moment to be a ruined fortress. It was a dragon. One black wing was bent under it and other stretched out vast across the sand and into the water, so that the come and go of the waves moved it a little to and fro in a mockery of flight. The long snake-body lay full length on the rock and sand. One foreleg was missing, the armor and flesh were torn from the great arch of the ribs and the belly was torn open, so that the sand for yards about was blackened with the poisoned dragon-blood. Yet the creature still lived. So great a life is in the dragons that only an equal power of wizardry can kill them swiftly. The green-gold eyes were open, and as the boat sailed by, the lean huge head moved a little, and with a rattling hiss, steam mixed with bloody spray shot from the nostrils

Lenten Poetry

I thought many of you might enjoy this message (and poetry) from fellow auther, Latayne C. Scott. Latayne. She is an award-winning author and poet who lives New Mexico and I've created a link to the site where you can read her poetry.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Since the Lenten season is one in which many people devote themselves to an even deepercommunion with the Lord, I'd like to offer my help through verse. Every couple of days I am posting on my website ( www.latayne.com )a new poem and devotional thought to anchor (and incite) our minds as we approach Good Friday and Easter.

Today's, for instance, builds on a little-known item from first-century history: the fact that when the Passover lambs were sacrificed in the temple, their blood flowed down a drain that emptied into the Kidron River, over which Jesus passed on His final visit to the Mt. of Olives.

Latayne C. Scott

New Jersey News

North Jersey Christian Writers Group (NJCWG) member Chris Sagona just happens to be the Assignment Editor for News 12. She is looking for any leads you might have for New Jersey stories.

In her words - "let people know that if they have ideas for features or better yet, for breaking news to please call or email me!"

Thanks!
Chris Sagona
Assignment Editor
News 12
732-346-3270 office
201-755-4149 cell
casagona@news12.com
chrissagona@gmail.com

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the NJCWG is this Saturday

SATURDAY, March 3, 2007

ANSWER #1 - Too Much Clutter

Over the next few weeks author Kathryn Porter going to answer many of your questions about clutter. The first question comes from a North Jersey Christian Writers Group member, Barbara.

Barbara is also the first winner of Kathryn's book TOO MUCH STUFF.

FROM BARBARA

QUESTION #1.
How do I organize my ideas for writing/speaking? I get great ideas, write them "someplace" & "everyplace". Even if I put them in the same place how can I find what I want? Should I file them by topic? Alphabetical? By Audience? Can it be cross referenced?

The thing to remember is that there is no one-size fits all when it comes to organizing. File them under a system that makes sense for you.

When you get into cross-referencing, you make more work for yourself. Keep it simple.

I file my ideas by using three subject notebooks. I like them because they easily travel anywhere. I don’t keep my notebooks forever. If I don’t use those ideas within a month after I fill the notebook, I toss the notebook and start a new one. If the idea is that good or if I’m that passionate about it, I create an outline on my computer for an article or book chapter. If the idea just sits in the notebook, it’s clutter.

I can picture some individuals gasping at the notion of tossing ideas in the trash. I’m hard core when it comes to de-cluttering. I don’t want to live in mediocrity surrounded by an ocean of ideas. I prefer to work with laser like precision by focusing on one project and completing it. In fact, I find that most of my ideas are directly related to whatever project I happen to be working on at the time. This is something that may come more naturally to you as you discover your bend as a writer.

For speaking, I have a different system. I write summaries and outlines for all my workshops and keep them in a folder on my computer. From time to time, I’ll open those folders, refine those workshops, and maybe swap them out on some of my promotional materials to keep things fresh.

There’s also software available to organize writing and speaking ideas. It will take time to input everything into the computer, but then you should be able to do searches by word or topic, depending on the software you choose. The only organizing software I recommend is the Paper Tiger. It’s not specific to writing, but it’s the best out there. For more information, please visit http://www.thepapertiger.com/.

Also, beware of working so much on ideas that you never actually pick a project and follow it through. That’s why I’m not that big on filing ideas—we just have so many of them that keeping track of them can be more of a project than we bargained for.

Sad News - Prayers Requested

This is a message I recently received from Deidre Knight (Cecil Murphy's agent).

~~~~~
Dear Friends

As many of you know, Cec Murphey's home burned to the ground yesterday morning, and his son-in-law was killed in the fire. Cec is loved by so many within the writing and publishing community, known as a mentor, friend, sponsor and prayer warrior. In the past twenty-four hours, the outpouring of love toward Cec and his family has been overwhelming and he is deeply touched by all the expressions of encouragement and support.

Stan and Carol Cottrell will be sharing their home with Cec and Shirley, beginning today. Stan and Carol live 1.5 miles from the former Murphey residence. They have a spare bedroom, private bath, and a room that is now designated as Cec's working office. This wonderful couple will keep the doors of their home open to Shirley and Cec for the short and long-term. Shirley and Cec will have free use of laundry and kitchen facilities as well as an open door to come and go as needed.

Today Carol will take Shirley shopping for personal items and clothing. Stan is taking Cec shopping for personal items, clothing, a new computer, a printer, and office supplies. Thank you for your contributions.

We are still working on funds to cover the following needs, and other needs that will arise.
· Desk and chair
· Book shelf· Lamp
· File folders, paper, dictionary, reference books
· Brief case
· Suit case for travels
· Desk clock
· Stereo system for office
· CDs (instrumental)
· Desk calendar
· BIBLE
· Memory book (for cards and notes from friends)

If you would like to make a contribution, please mail check to Deidre:
Deidre Knight
The Knight Agency
577 South Main Street
Madison, GA 30650

Cards and letters may be sent to:
Cec and Shirley Murphey
c/o Stan Cottrell
4619 West Hampton Drive
Tucker, GA 30084

Funeral arrangements for Cec's son-in-law have not been made yet. The cause of the fire has not been determined. Deidre Knight and I will try to keep you updated. In the meantime, we ask that you direct inquiries to: deidre.knight@knightagency or jancoates@suddenlink.net.

Cec and Shirley need some quiet time without the cell phone ringing constantly to sort things out, grieve, and make necessary business and personal decisions.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support for Cec and his family.
In Him,
Deidre

St. Catherine's Poetry/Art Exhbit

Next Weekend!

St. Catherine's
Photo, Art & Poetry Exhibition
March 2-4, 2007

March 2, 7:00-11:00
March 3, 6:00-11:00
March 4, 10:00-4:00

NJCWG member, Maude, has once again been invited to read her poetry and this year, Marilyn's grand-daughter (Carina) will have art work exhibited as well.

50% Disc - Delaware Christian Writers Conference

**Delaware Christian
Writers Conference**
April 19-21
University of Delaware
Newark, DE
24 Workshops
Writing Contests with cash prizes
Editorial appointments

http://www.delawarechristianwritersconference.com/

To sign up email johnriddle@sprintmail.com
==============================================
AND
for those of you who subscribe to SPIRIT-LED WRITER magazine there is a special (truly fantastic) deal!
**Special offer!**
Save 50% on the registration fee till Feb. 28.
**Pay only $295**
To Subscribe (its FREE) to the Spirit-Led Writer go their website http://spiritledwriter.com/index.html and put your info in the subscription box.
==============================================

Espresso For The Heart

My latest Espresso for the Heart column is now online at the Comfort Cafe.
Go to: http://comfortcafe.net/?p=552

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Author & Speaker

Over Used Modifiers

Overused Modifiers & Phrases
Presented to the NJCWG

by Louise Bergmann DuMont
2/3/07

Here are modifiers & phrases that can often be eliminated. Tossing these will tighten your work.

absolutely

active

actively

actual

actually

alleged

any

arguably

available

basically

both

careful

carefully

certain

certainly

comparative

comparatively

considerably

consistently

decidedly
deeply

definite

definitely

effective

eminent

eminently
especially

exactly

existing
eventually

fortunately

generally

erself

himself

hopefully

ideally

in fact

in general

in particular

in the future

in the past

indeed

inherently

inevitably

itself
madly

meaningful

meaningfully

namely

necessarily

needless to say

now

over time

overall

particular
particularly

per se

pretty

quite

rather

real

really

related

relatively

reportedly

respectively

so

so-called

somewhat

specific

themselves

total
totally
truly

unfortunately
utterly

very

whatever

Using Conflict to Create Drama

As usual, the February meeting of the NJCWG was packed with info for every writer. I am posting one of the handouts here.

Using Conflict to Create Drama
Presented to the NJCWG 2/3/07
by Louise Bergmann DuMont

Q: Do I really need conflict? Can't my characters all just get along?
A: Without conflict there is no story. Life without conflict is not 'real.'

Q: I have lots of action in my novel but I was told that there isn't enough conflict. Aren't conflict and action the same thing?
A: New writers often mistake the two. Conflict is not action but conflict is the reason most action occurs. Meaningless action scenes are not enough to carry a story.

Imagine a scene where one car chases another up and down the narrow San Francisco streets … but you (the reader) have no idea why they are doing this or who is in the two cars. Do you care about the chase? Now imagine a scene where a young child has been kidnapped. The father sees the child being abducted and initiates a chase through the same streets. All through the chase he must balance keeping up with the evasive car in front of him, with the safety of pedestrians, the safety of other drivers on the road, and the safety of the car that holds the kidnappers (because his child inside that car).

An action scene has no point and holds no interest without the insertion of conflict.

Q: If conflict is not the same as action, what IS conflict?
A: Conflict is when two forces are in opposition to each other. These forces can be emotional, mental, physical, spiritual, sociological, or elemental

Q: I've heard of Internal Conflict and Personal Conflict, but what are they and are there other kinds of conflict?
A: There are many kinds of conflict and they can be called many things. Below are a few kinds of conflict that have been grouped for the sake of explanation:

INTERNAL CONFLICT
Conflict with oneself. Inner turmoil. Moral dilemmas. Overcoming trauma. Psychological problems. Internal Conflict is not with other characters, though it can affect other characters. Internal Conflict comes across best when the reader feels they are in the mind of the character. This is because the reader can visualize the situation and they feel as if it was occurring to them..

PERSONAL CONFLICT
This is about inter-personal relations - conflict between two or more individuals. It is often between the hero and his friends or the hero and his lover(s). It does not involve larger issues like peer pressure or the rules of society, but rather, the problems the characters have relating one to another.

SOCIAL CONFLICT
Note: this is the conflict of choice.
Social Conflict can be between a parent and a child, between a doctor and a patient, between a hero and society, etc. Social Conflict occurs when you are dealing with issues that are larger than one-on-one relationships. Stories that deal with concepts like authority, injustice, persecution and assimilation are in the domain of the Social Conflict.

ELEMENTAL CONFLICT
Elemental Conflict is between man and his environment. The hero deals with a non-personal, elemental force of nature. It could be anything from a long dormant volcano (now spewing lava) threatening a troop of hiking boy scouts to a pack of run-amuck butterflies overtaking a mid-western state.

Q: What is the nature of conflict? Isn't a story about the characters?
A: Conflict is impersonal but a story's characters should not be. For example, people understand the concept of war, but they don’t see what it has to do with them unless your main characters convey their feelings and situation to the reader. That is when it becomes tangible.

Your reader must "feel" something when they read a scene. Lets take that war story scenario. People may be dying on every page of your manuscript but the war will seem abstract to your reader. All that changes when the reader "sees" the war through the eyes of the main character. When they watch a child die in the arms of the hero (as seen through the eyes of his fiancée) the reader is touched. They fee the pain the woman feels, they see the remorse she sees in the eyes of her hero, and they share the conflict that occurs when the nurse's peaceful ideals and the hero's duty to his country collide. Conflict becomes real when our characters bring us into the story's world through their conflicts.

Conflict needs meaning to be powerful. So the issues of the conflict must be important to the characters. When the characters are emotionally involved, the reader is emotionally involved. This happens if (and only if) the reader cares about the characters. How does an author make the reader care? By using universal truths to touch the reader.

When you’re writing a story about personal and/or social conflicts, you’re really pitting the will of your characters against each other. And through that use of will, the reader learns who they are and what they’re made of. In an internal conflict, the character's will is pitted against his or her innate nature. They may have a fear of heights and yet they go to the 81st floor of a building for job interview that will allow them to feed their family after being out of work for more than a year. In this case, the character battles their own nature to do something for the greater good.

Lack of internal conflict limits a character’s dimension. Single minded individuals are only common in bad fiction -- not in life. If you are human, you have conflict. According to scientists, reason and emotion are completely intertwined. When someone suffers brain damage to the emotion centers of the brain, they lose the ability to make logical decisions. We learn by our mistakes. If we did not fear negative repercussions, we would have no reason to restrain or re-train ourselves.

Q: So how do I do this? How do I create "good" conflict? Conflict where the reader cares about the characters?
A: To write a good story you need to know your character's fears, their needs and desires. Discover their emotional hot buttons and use other characters to push those conflict buttons. Conflict does not necessarily mean a grumbling hero, a glowering child or a defiant teen. Real conflict meant taking the hero’s (or heroine’s) worst fear, twisting it around, and then throwing it back at them at the worst possible moment and saying, “Think fast!”

Make your characters face their flaws and fears. Toss out pages filled with quiet stay-at-home evenings, long candle lit dinners, shopping, and sweet kisses. Fill your pages their worst fears come true and how they over came those fears. Confront your characters with hard choices - make them chose between good and evil. And for the sake of your reader, have them mess up occasionally before they triumph over the "big bad."

SpiritLedWriter

The latest issue of the SpiritLed Writer is on the web.

Articles:
Writing From Heartache: 7 Tips for Sharing Your Grief with Others
Down From the Mountain: 6 After-Conference Strategies That Work
Poetry Potpourri
The Pitfall of Preachy Prose
Nuggets for Personal Journaling
Polishing Your Prose
Conference Review: Online Writing Conference
Analyzing a Magazine
Inspired Romance
And so... so... SO... much more

Check it out today!
http://spiritledwriter.com/

Terry Whalin - Places to Visit

Terry Whalin has written more than 60 nonfiction books and has published in more than 50 magazines. He's been both an acquisitions editor and literary agent so he knows both sides of the story writing life. One of best works (in my opinion) is Book Proposals That $ell,
21 Secrets to Speed Your Success. Here are a few great places where you can soak up Terry Whalin's expert advice.

Blog: http://terrywhalin.blogspot.com/
Web: http://www.right-writing.com/index.html
Web: http://terrywhalin.com/

2007 Christian Writers' Market Guide Available

Christian Writers' Market Guide 2007

I will have 10 copies of the 2007 Christian Writers' Market Guide for sale at our February meeting. You may purchase it for only $22.00 on a first come - first serve basis. The reason I get these at such a good price is because I've had a standing order with Sally Stuart for quite a number of years. I only ten copies to make sure to get yours right away. Even the Amazon ($23.99) and CBD ($24.99) prices are higher than this - and with them you have to pay shipping.

If you want to be a published writer this year, you need the 2007 Christian Writers' Market Guide.
If you only have the money to buy one writing book this year - you need the 2007 Christian Writers' Market Guide.
If God is calling you out of your comfort zone to write for HIM this year - you need the 2007 Christian Writers' Market Guide.

List Price $34.99
YOUR PRICE - $22.00

NJCWG Meeting

The NJCWG has loads of things to look forward to in 2007. The first item on our list is Kathryn Porter's blog tour. Kathryn is looking for "how do I declutter my writing life" questions. The five best questions will be answered on the blog. One name will be drawn from those among those who submitted questions. The winner will receive a copy of her latest book. Please get those questions in now. (See previous blog posts on how to enter your questions.)

A second book will be offered to one person attending February's meeting (see below) -- so you have two chances to win!

The topic of this month's teaching - Using Conflict to Create Drama

NEXT MEETING of the NJCWG
Saturday, February 3, 2007
2:30-4:30 p.m.
Ringwood Baptist Church
30 Carletondale Road
Ringwood, NJ 07456

Blog Tour - Kathryn Porter

Today is the day we start our blog tour with author, speaker and Declutter Queen, Kathryn Porter.

We could use a few more questions from members of our group. If you have any questions on decluttering your writer's life - send them to me (njcwg.dumont@gmail.com) ASAP. We'll take the last questions on February 9 and I will post them along the way.

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Author & Speaker

Contest - Decluttering Your Life

I just spoke to Declutter Queen, Kathyrn Porter, and she has generously offered TWO free copies of her book in relation to her upcoming blog/web tour.

Blog Tour coming to www.njcwg.blogspot.com on 1/29/07

Here's how it will work.

FIRST CHANCE TO WIN
Send me your best how-to-get-organized-and-decluttered questions. Since most writers know that everything in your life affects your writing, these questions can be directly writing related or just general organize/declutter questions.
Email your questions to me, Louise Bergmann DuMont, at: njcwg.dumont@gmail.com
The best question (chosen by Kathyrn) will win a copy of Too Much Stuff: De-cluttering Your Heart And Home by Kathryn Porter

SECOND CHANCE TO WIN
Attend the next NJCWG meeting (2/3/07) and your name will automatically be placed in a drawing for a copy of Too Much Stuff: De-cluttering Your Heart And Home. The winner at the meeting will also receive a copy (your choice) of one of my books -- Faith-Dipped Chocolate: Rich Encouragement to Sweeten Your Day or Grace by the Cup: A Break From the Daily Grind

Get those questions to me right away!

Special Event - January 29, 2007

The NJCWG Blog will be hosting the decluttering queen and professional organizer, Kathryn Porter, as a part of her month long Blog/Web Tour. Kathryn's lastest book Too Much Stuff: Decluttering Your Heart and Your Home is one of the best I've read on the subject. As a part of her web/blog tour she will offer specific advice to the writter on how to organize your writing area and generally declutter your life so you have more time for writing. Be sure to check out the NJCWG blog on Monday, JANUARY 29, 2007. You won't want to miss this info!

ALSO... when you attend our February meeting (2/3/07) you will be entered into a drawing for a free copy of her book - Too Much Stuff: Decluttering Your Heart and Your Home.

Looking Back & Looking Forward

For those of you who could not make the first NJCWG meeting of 2007, here are the hand-outs that came with our lesson.

Looking Back & Looking Forward
Presented by Louise Bergmann DuMont
North Jersey Christian Writers Group – 1/6/07

To look backward for a while is to refresh the eye, to restore it, and to render it the more fit for its prime function of looking forward.

~Margaret Fairless Barber

Writers, like actors, are only as good as their last work. Writers must stay on top of the current market, foresee trends and always, always, ALWAYS be sensitive to the changing mood of their audience. By examining what works for us as an individual (and what doesn’t work) we are better able to hone the skills God gave us, develop new areas of expertise and provide fresh material to editors and publishers who need our competence.

Here are few questions that will increase your publication opportunities as they help you look back and forward.

2006
1. What did I write that brought forth a positive response?
2. In what genre did I write most often?
3. In what genre was I most often published?
4. How did respond to my rejections?
5. What did I learn from my rejections?
6. What person most influenced my writing in 2006?
7. What editor, publisher or author provided me with the most constructive feedback?
8. What new writing related contacts did I make?
9. How did I put to good use the writing contacts I made?
10. What new market(s) did I explore?
11. What motivated me to write?
12. What kept me from writing?
13. What changes did I make to my writing routine that made me a better writer?
14. What changes occurred that impacted my writing in a negative way?
15. Who observed a change for the better in my writing?
16. Who was least supportive of my writing?
17. Who was most supportive of my writing?
18. What book or article most influenced you this past year?
19. How much of your writing was committed to God?
20. How often did you pray about your writing?

2007
1. Why do I want to continue to write?
2. What new genre do I want to explore?
3. How will I respond to rejections differently than I have in the past?
4. How will I use rejections to make me a better writer?
5. How will I use the influencers in my life?
6. How will do I intend to stay connected with the editors, publishers and authors that God placed in my path?
7. What new writing related contacts do I want to make?
8. In what area of writing do I need the most work?
9. What new market(s) will I explore?
10. How will I best use those things that motivate me to write?
11. How will I avoid those things that keep me from writing?
12. What changes will I make to my writing routine?
13. Who will you consider as your writing prayer partner?
14. What online writers groups will you join or recommit to?
15. What kind of commitment will you make to your local writers group?
16. Which writer’s conference, workshop or seminar will you strive to attend?
17. What writing books do you plan to read?
18. What writing magazines do you plan to read regularly?
19. Are you willing to make a commitment to pray about your writing?
20. Have you committed all of your life (including your writing) to God?

Writing Op - Group Magazine

GROUP Magazine
P.O. Box 481
Loveland, CO 80539-0481

Group Magazine is a magazine for individuals in youth ministry.

Writer’s Guidelines

Best Way to Get Your Foot in the Door:

Group Magazine is always looking for submissions for short, novel, practical ideas that have worked in actual youth ministry settings. It's best to familiarize yourself with Group Magazine before sending in ideas for the following departments...

“Try This One” section needs short ideas (100-250 words) for youth group use. These include games, fund-raisers, crowdbreakers, Bible studies, helpful hints, outreach ideas, and discussion starters. Payment $40.00

“Hands-on Help” section needs mini-articles (100-350 words) that feature practical tips for youth leaders on working with students, adult leaders, and parents. Payment $40.00

PREPARATION OF COPY:
Manuscripts should be typewritten or printed from a computer, double-spaced, on one side of the paper. Please include a brief cover letter with information about the author and article. Your name, address, phone number, email address and Social Security Number should appear on the cover letter and the upper right corner of first page. Each page should be numbered and include title or your name. Include stamped, self-addressed envelope for return of unaccepted manuscript. Our normal response time to manuscript submissions is eight to ten weeks.

Group works nine to ten months ahead of distribution. Please keep that in mind if you are submitting dated or seasonal material.

Payment on acceptance.

Buys all rights.

Delaware Christian Writers Conference

John Riddle, will be hosting the Second Annual Delaware Christian Writers' Conference from April 19-21, 2007, at the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware. I

http://delawarechristianwritersconference.com/

I've said this before, attending a writers' conference is one of the best ways to build your writing career.

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Author & Speaker
www.louisedumont.com

Updates

Once again I've been neglectful of our NJCWG blog. Seems that when it rains it pours. Our furnace died, my car died, and I've been to the doctor four times in the last month. The good news is that we got our furnace fixed temporarily (we'll be getting a new one in a few weeks), my car is being repaired (new transmission) and the doctor says that so far my blood work, my x-rays and my MRI are all great -- he just can't find the remedy for my problem just yet. Please pray for our finances (lots of bills come along with these trails) and that my doctor would find the source of my trouble and have a ready solution. Hopefully I'll be able to catch you all up on the various writing ops, conferences, etc within the next week or so.

God Bless,

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Author & Speaker

MEETING of the NJCWG

The North Jersey Christian Writers Group
Next Meeting

TOMORROW
Saturday
January 6, 2007
2:30-4:30 p.m.
Ringwood Baptist Church
30 Carletondale Road
Ringwood, NJ 07456

Espresso for the Heart - Comfort Cafe

My latest column at the Comfort Cafe is posted!

To Resolve or Not Resolve – That is the Question
http://www.comfortcafe.net/?cat=65

Meeting Schedule NJCWG 2007

R-E-M-I-N-D-E-R

THE NEXT MEETING OF THE NJCWG WILL BE
SATURDAY, January 6, 2007
NEW DATE AND TIME
Meetings will be held the FIRST SATURDAY of every month,
2:30-3:30 p.m. - Meeting
3:30-4:30 p.m. - Critques

CHANGES:
* Meetings will no longer be twice each month (previously 2nd & 4th Monday), they will now be held only once each month. I am hoping that by reducing the number of meetings, more people will be able to fit the NJCWG into their schedule. I would like to see the group grow and mature.
* Meetings will be held on Saturdays (previously Mondays). This should accommodate those who are taking evening classes, those who have to work late, those who need a spouse to babysit, and those who have evening church conflicts.
* Meetings will be in the afternoon (previously evening). Some members found it difficult to maneuver the narrow, winding Ringwood roads in the dark – especially during the winter months when snow and ice makes our roads even more treacherous. By moving the time to late afternoon, I hope that more members will be comfortable attending.
* The new schedule will be tentative. After a few months the group can re-evaluate the arrangement and we can decide if we like Sat afternoon meetings or if we want to go back to evening meetings.

~~~~~~~~~

A 2007 Calendar, will be handed out at our first meeting.

~~~~~~~~~

2007 Meeting Schedule
January 6, 2007
February 3, 2007
March 3, 2007
April 7, 2007
May 5, 2007
June 2, 2007
July 7, 2007
August 4, 2007
September 1, 2007
October 6, 2007
November 3, 2007

God Allows U-Turns (Anthology)

GOD ALLOWS U-TURNS
is currently NOT accepting new submissions.

The God Allows U-Turns Project
P.O. Box 717
Faribault MN 55021-0717

Fax: (507)334-6464
E-mail: editor@godallowsuturns.com
Web site: www.godallowsuturns.com

Writing Op - Christian Journal (Newspaper)

CHRISTITAN JOURNAL
801 S. Riverside
Medford, OR 97501

Phone: (541)773-4004
Fax: (541)773-9917
Email: info@thechristianjournal.org
Web site: www.thechristianjournal.org

Contact: Chad McComas, editor
About CHRISTIAN JOURNAL

Free, monthly newspaper covering Christian support/encouragement.

"It is the purpose of the Christian Journal to encourage the reader with Christian support articles--personal experiences, stories about ministry, hope in God, poetry, uplifting short pieces, etc."

Freelance Facts
* Established: 1998
* 80% freelance written on a one-time basis.
* Byline given.
* Not copyrighted.

# Editorial lead time 1-2 months.
* Accepts queries by:
o Mail
o E-mail (info@thechristianjournal.org)
o Fax
o Phone
* Accepts simultaneous submissions
* Accepts previously published submissions
* Responds in 2 weeks to queries.
* Responds in 1-2 months to manuscripts.
* Sample copy for 9x12 envelope & 3 first-class stamps.
* Writer's guidelines available at web site (click here).

Needs
Types of Articles:
* Book excerpts
* Exposé
* General Interest
* Historical/Nostalgic
* How-To
* Humor
* Inspirational
* Interview/Profile
* Opinion
* Personal Experience
* Religious (fiction and nonfiction)

Does Not Want: Nothing of theological controversy.
Submission method: Query or send complete ms.
Length: 400–900 words.

Does not pay the expenses of writers on assignment.

Columns & Departmemt

Columns open to freelancers: Health; Senior Views; both 600-800 words.
Submission method: Send complete manuscript

Photos
Send photos with submission.
Reviews:* GIF/JPEG files
Photos Require Identification of subjects

Buys one-time rights
Offers no payment for photos.

Tips: "Be willing to have your work edited and used to touch readers."

Writing Op - The Christian Century

THE CHRISTIAN CENTURY
104 S. Michigan Ave.
Suite 700
Chicago IL 60603-5901

Phone: (312)263-7510
Fax: (312)263-7540
E-mail: main@christiancentury.org
Web site: www.christiancentury.org

About THE CHRISTIAN CENTURY

Format: Magazine for ecumenically-minded, progressive Protestant church people, both clergy and lay.

Frequency: Biweekly

"Authors must have a critical and analytical perspective on the church and be familiar with contemporary theological discussion."

Freelance Facts
* 90% freelance written
* Established: 1884
* Works with new/unpublished writers.
* Circulation: 30,000
* Pays on publication.
* Byline given.

Rights purchased: All rights

# Editorial lead time 1 month.
# Submit seasonal material 4 months in advance.

Accepts queries by: Mail & E-mail
* Responds in 1 week to queries.
* Responds in 3 months to manuscripts.
* Sample copy for $3.
* Click here for manuscript guidelines

Nonfiction:
"We use articles dealing with social problems, ethical dilemmas, political issues, international affairs, and the arts, as well as with theological and ecclesiastical matters. We focus on issues of church and society, and church and culture."

Needs:
* Essays
* Humor
* Interview/Profile
* Opinion
* Religious

Does Not Want: No inspirational.
* Buys 150 manuscripts/year.
* Submission method: Send complete ms; query appreciated, but not essential..
* Length: 1,000–3,000 words.
* Does not pay the expenses of writers on assignment.

Photos: State availability of photos with submission.

New Spirit Led Writer Online

The latest issue of the Spirit Led Writer is online.

ARTICLES
Market Guidelines: Seven Steps on the Path to Getting Published
Conquering Mountains
Feed the Sheep: Writing for the Weary and Scattered
Analyzing a Magazine
Overcoming the Fear of Submission

COLUMNS
Parchment and Scrolls
You may have heard someone say, "Experience is the best teacher," but the words mean nothing unless they motivate you to action.
Encouraging News
Knowing the alphabet is an important part of being a writer. Find out how to use that knowledge to take your writing to the next level.
Inspired Romance
Where should I begin? This is a common question for a writer, but time and experience shows that a beginning should: open at the point of change, open with action, and should capture the reader's interest.
Polishing Your Prose
This article describes a handful of writing and editing jobs. (I have written several of the descriptions from personal experience, and the rest come from interviews with other people.)
Nuggets for Personal Journaling
Can you recall some things in your life where you said, "I will never do that?" Certainly, I can.
Poetry Potpourri
NEW When an inner voice tells you to write, and when your poetic cup runneth over, write. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh— and so does the pen.

Bare Your Bookshelf

As Christians and writers we likely have a number of Bibles and and other Christian books on our bookshelves. Christian Resources International has begun a program called BARE YOUR BOOKSHELVES. This program provides individuals with everything they need to send a box of Bibles and Christian books to a pastor in a needy third-world area. Your name and address never appears on any of the materials so you don't have to worry about someone getting a hold of your information. Here is a link to this worthy ministry: http://cribooks.homestead.com/bareyourbookshelf.html