Writing Op - Erickson Tribune

The Erickson Tribune (http://www.ericksontribune.com/), the nation’s largest retirement newspaper with a circulation of over 3 million and a target audience of age 62-plus, is looking for articles that reflect the Trib’s masthead message of “Inform—Inspire—Involve.”Our Readers:Published by Erickson Retirement Communities, the Tribune is read by people who aspire to live better by taking full advantage of what life has to offer. We do not refer to our readers as “seniors” or “elderly.” They are vibrant, educated individuals who lead busy, productive lives. We try to give them articles that inform and inspire them. We do not view “aging” as a disease, rather, as another chapter in life complete with exciting possibilities.Subject Ideas: Our readers are middle income and interested in a broad range of topics. Stories dealing with leisure pursuits such as travel, music, food and cuisine, wine, coffee, scrapbooking, and gardening are always good possibilities, but we are open to other ideas that might appeal to our target audience as well. Sentimentality is not a road we travel as our audience is living in the here and now. Profiles of retirees doing interesting and amazing things are certainly welcome. We do not publish fiction.Stories about hi-tech, computers, finance, and fitness are also good, as our readers are looking for ways to keep their minds and bodies in shape. They tend to have dynamic relationships with their adult children and grandchildren, and stories relevant to those relationships are welcome. Strong, engaging profiles of individuals age 62-plus (both well-known and not so well known) are also welcome. “How to” articles, depending on the topic, are acceptable as well.

Submission Guidelines:
Completed articles only—NO QUERIES, PLEASE. All articles must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document.
Word count: approximately 800 (should not be previously published or written for another publication)
Please also be sure to put the title of the story in the subject line of the message.
Please allow plenty of lead time for seasonal stories. (For example, if you have a Christmas related story, make sure you have pitched it by October)
We reserve the right to edit for style, length, and clarity.
If we use your story, we will pay $200 within 30 days of publication.
You will also receive a byline on your story.
We’ll send you three samples.
Submit your articles to editor@ericksonmail.com.
Only e-mail submissions will be accepted.

Punctuation

An English professor wrote the the folowing words on the chalkboard and he asked his students to punctuate the sentence correctly.
A woman without her man is nothing

Most of the males in the class punctuated the sentence as follows:
A woman, without her man, is nothing.

All the females in the class punctuated the sentence this way:
A woman: without her, man is nothing.

NOTE TO FUTURE AUTHORS

~~~ PUNCTUATION IS EVERYTHING ~~~

Resurgence of Christian Fiction

Today's Breakpoint with Chuck Colson is on the subject of the resurgence of Christian Fiction. You can find it on their website www.breakpoint.org

It's the first one listed, Modern-Day Renaissance.

Great Quote

Author Michael Crichton

Books aren't written - they're rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn't quite done it.
~ Michael Crichton

Video Clip - John McNally

Register on Writermag.com today to watch an all-new video clip to hear what novelist John McNally has to say about developing a distinctive voice for your stories. This information is only available to Writermag.com registered users. Register today to learn these expert tips.

The information you'll find on WriterMag.com will help you be the best writer you can be. Now is a good time to discover all the great things about WriterMag.com. Click here to register: https://secure.kalmbach.com/AdvantageWeb/eCare/Router.aspx?pageid=RegWebMember

When you register you will receive access to these great benefits:

• Free e-mail newsletter
• Writer discussion forums
• Contest, conference and workshop information
• Preview of the next issue of THE WRITER
• Articles that offer tips for better writing
• Writing groups

Song Lyrics/ Music / Poems Group

Christian songwriters coming together to discuss songwriting. Visit our site at www.christiansongwriting.org and www.dcmusicstore.com and www.writingsongs.com ( Writing songs, lyrics, music, poems, christian, gospel, how to group, songwriter, songwriters, become organization)
writing-songs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Fellowship of Christian Writers - Online Writers Group

Fellowship of Christian Writers (FCW) is a ministry for Christians who write. Their vision is to provide mentoring and instruction; share skills; offer kindly criticism; supply information on markets, contests, conferences and other areas of interest to Christians who write; share prayer needs; and to be inspired and encouraged by fellow writers. Our desire is that our written words always reflect Christ and glorify God.

This is an excellent group for beginners and intermediate writers as well as a place for accomplished authors to network.

FCW offers weekly moderator questions designed to help the group discuss key writing topics.
Monday -- Goal-setting
Wednesday -- Market Tip and Writing Quote
Thursday -- Creative Calisthenics
Friday -- Friday Praise
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday-- Weekend Fellowship

To join, send an email to:
FCW-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

NEW Online Writers Group

NEW ONLINE WRITERS GROUP
Especially for Beginning and Intermediate Writers

A few years ago a group callled TheWritersView began was born. This group was developed as a learning tool for intermediate and advanced Christian writers. To join, you needed to prove that you were a "serious" writer (previously published, working as a journalist, at least one book project, etc). That group still exists, but the list owner recently began TheWritersView2. This list group is for beginning to intermediate writers who want to develop their skills and want to become advanced writers.

What Makes this list different....Two topics a week are offered by experienced panelists for group discussion. Panelists include advanced writers like Cec Murphy (written over 100 books), Lisa Crayton (editor of the SpiritLed Writer), and Lin Vincent (regular contributor and editor to World Magazine). All posts are strictly moderated - 2 e-mails per day of up to 250 wordseach. That's it! Nothing off topic. Nothing chatty. No personal-emails. This is strictly for idividuals interested in learning to be better writers. Topics include understanding editors, specifics about query letters, best websites for writers, etc... Do you want to learn the professional side of writing from writers who are working in that industry? Join TheWritersView2 now!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TWV2/join

New Writing Website - Writer's Block

There is a wonderful article by Cecil Murphy on Show vs Tell on the Writer's Block website.

http://www.writers-block.info/Show%20Me%20Show%20Me%20by%20Cecil%20Murphey.htm

And don't forget to check out the other great information at this website. The Writer's Block website has only been up for a few months but it is already one of the better writing websites around.
http://www.writers-block.info/

Next Meeting
of the
North Jersey Christian Writers Group

Monday, April 24, 2006
6:15-7:00 Chat Time
7:00-8:00 Teaching
8:00-9:00 Critiques

Free Bible Searchs and Tools

Are you looking for just the right Bible verse to accompany your devotional? Do you need commentary quotes for your article?

Here are a few good online Bible search sites:
http://www.searchgodsword.org/
http://www.biblestudytools.net/
http://www.e-sword.net
http://www.biblestudycentral.net
http://bible.crosswalk.com/

Writing Op - True

Got a TRUE God story?

If God has made himself evident through an experience in your teen or young adult life or that of someone you know, share that story!

Irene Dunlap is a co-author of 6 books in the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series and is now in production with True Volume 2, Who's this God Guy?, the follow-up book to her Zondervan anthology, True: Real Stories about God showing up in the Lives of Teens.

The mission of TRUE is to bring a higher understanding of God's character to teens and young adults.

A wide array of issues are covered in the stories in TRUE Volume 1, including sexual temptations and pregnancy, pressures to drink and do drugs, as well as true experiences depicting how God worked in various life situations in the lives of teens and young adults.

For writing guidelines as well as general information regarding TRUE Volume 2, go to: http://www.lifewriters.com and click on the book icon for TRUE Vol. 2.

Please send all submissions to true@lifewriters.com May 15, 2006.

75th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition

75th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition

For 75 years, the Annual Writer’s Digest Competition has rewarded writers just like you for their finest work. And best of all, we’re celebrating our milestone year by giving away more than $30,000 in cash and prizes! Win a trip to New York City ! GRAND PRIZE: $3,000 cash and an all-expense paid trip to New York City to meet with editors or agents. Writer's Digest will fly you and a guest to The Big Apple, where you'll spend three days and two nights in the publishing capital of the world. While you're there, a Writer's Digest editor will escort you to meet and share your work with four editors or agents! Plus, you'll receive a free Diamond Publishing Package from Outskirts Press.
Entry Deadline: Monday, May 15, 2006. For entrants paying with a credit card, we will accept manuscripts submitted online. Manuscripts in the script categories must be submitted via regular mail.

P.U.G.S. for Writers

Kathy Ide has a wonderful website for writers. Her PUGS Pointers (Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling) provide some amazing writer helps. Check it out!

http://www.kathyide.com/pointers.php

Realms Fiction

A Strang Company (publishers of Charisma magazine and books by popular Christian authors like John Hagee) have a new publishing line for Christian fiction. Its called Realms Fiction. They are targeting a Christian audience that leans more towards the supernatural and suspense lines.

Of the four books they are currently marketing, one is a time travel tale, one is fantasy, one is thriller/suspense (fleas juiced on the bubonic plague are unleashed in NY), and the last is about Lucifer--before and after the fall.

I haven't been able to locate submission guidelines. If anyone reading this knows how to submit to Strang, let me know.

NJCWG Members

If any NJCWG have items to post on this blog, send them to the facilitator.
Louise Bergmann DuMont
Author & Speaker

Writing Op - Adams Media

Are you up to the challenge of sharing your testimony? Adams Media is scheduled to turn out a book for the Christmas season 2006 that focuses on Christian conversion stories (a.k.a testimonies). And we'd love to consider including yours! Study the tips below and then send in your story as soon as you can.

Because of the Christmas deadline, Adams needs our completed book manuscript very soon--so we need your stories by May 5 (after that date, please check to see if we're still accepting stories before sending any). Adams will pay $50 for the stories chosen for publication.

Send your manuscripts as an attached file (preferred) or pasted in an E-mail to: ForeverHisProject@earthlink.net. If you have questions, you may also contact me there. Please feel free to forward this along to your friends and writing groups.

Thank you for considering writing for Forever His. This book will be sold in secular outlets, and has the potential to forever change lives. So we hope to hear from you.

Jeanette Gardner Littleton
Editor, His Forever
HisForeverProject@earthlink.net

Guidelines for His Forever
* Manuscript length is somewhat flexible; however, around 1500-1700 is the goal.
* Although this is a conversion story, you still need to have a focus. Use only details that pertain to that focus. Find the focus about your testimony that makes it different from others, and highlight that.
* Remember to show don't tell. Set up scenes, use dialogue, use your drama well without becoming melodramatic.
* Good stories have beginnings (leads), middles (body), and ends (conclusions). Even though you're telling your testimony, also take care to follow this normal first-person article structure.
* If a crisis led you to Christ, you need to fully explain it—don't allude to it or be vague about it.
* This book is designed to be sold mass market, i.e., Walmart, secular bookstores, etc. So watch using Christianese. Try to explain your testimony clearly enough that an unbeliever who doesn't know our "language" can understand what you're talking about.
* Give the readers materials to relate to—tell them your thoughts and feelings. Tell them specifics on how God drew you and worked in your life. Make spiritual concepts as concrete as possible.
* Be realistic. Don't make it sound like: Aha! You found God and suddenly life was perfect!
* Be positive. Don't bash other faiths or other people. Though you may need to mention sin you were involved in to bring around the positive point of what God saved you from, don't wallow in the sin.
* Do be specific, but don't give more details about the sin than about God drawing you.
* Watch dramatic language, especially when discussing spiritual warfare.
* Please know that those of us editing for Adams, as any magazine and book publisher, may give your manuscript a professional edit for length, clarity, and tightening.

Jeanette Gardner Littleton
Editor, His Forever
Adams Media

NJCWG Members

SPECIAL NOTICE TO NJCWG MEMBERS
If you have any books, tapes, CD's, or other materials that belonging to the facilitator of the NJCWG, please bring them to the meeting.

NJCWG members are asked to prayerfully consider taking a turn teaching something that they have learned about writing!

Next Meeting of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group
Monday, 4/10/06
6:15 Chat Time
7:00 Discussion Time - Members should bring anything that THEY learned about writing to this week's discussion.
8:00 Critiques

Free Two-Part Publishing Conference

Here is a message I recently received from Winepress publishing. They are one of the few subsidy press companies that I would endorse.

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

Greetings Christian Writer

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

I would like to invite you to a free two-part Christian Publishing Web Conference so you can investigate all your publishing options in today's competitive publishing world.

Starting on Tuesday, the 18th of April, 2006 I will be presenting the You Can Do It! Get Your Christian Book Published and Your Message Out in an interactive web conference format, two information packed 90-minute sessions.

If you want to get noticed by a royalty publisher and would like to see the alternative options you have available to do so, join me for the Part 1 of the 2 part conference....if you’re more interested in knowing how to create a platform and consider many possible ways to promote your book once in print, attend Part 2 of this informative conference. Or, join me for both!

As long as you have high speed internet access and a phone line you can join us from anywhere in the United States.

WinePress Publishing is recommended by Christian publishing industry experts as a viable option worth taking the time to investigate.

Visit the Web Conference sign up page for details.

Hope to see you there!

Warm Regards,
Athena

Spotlight on Poetry

The Writer Magazine has its spotlight on POETRY this month. They are celebrating National Poetry Month with a special Poetry Spotlight in the premium forums. Click here to read our first Poetry Spotlight poem, "The Muse," and comments from poets Kim Addonizio, Alfred Nicol and Claudia Grinnell.

Learn from poet Kay Day, winner of a number of awards for poetry and author of two collections of poetry and a memoir, on what makes a good poem. Whether you're a beginning poet or an accomplished poet looking to improve your poetry skills, this article and the advice in the poetry forums can help you.