Glorieta Christian Writers Conference

Glorieta Conference Center, Albuquerque, NM

Well I'm back from the Glorieta Chrisitan Writers Conference. I'm almost embarased to say that I'm hard pressed for words to describe this year's experience. During the next few week's I will post dozens of writing opportunities that were presented to me by the other staff members. God is now placing them in your hands. What you do with them is between you and your creator.

I was blessed to reconnect with a number of writing colleagues and I made dozens more. I hope to post a number of photos as well. I also purchased (more than a few) CD's of the classes. These will be shared over the next few weeks at our NJCWG meetings. You won't want to miss those. I also gather writers guidelines and sample copies from dozens of publications. Again, these will be shared at the next few NJCWG meetings.

Next Meeting
Monday, October 23, 2006
Ringwood Baptist Church
Our "lesson" will be a brief recap of the conference and some interesting lessons-learned.
Hope to see you there!

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Facilitator, NJCWG

9/9/06 Meeting Canceled

Unfortunatly I need to cancel the Monday, October 9, 2006 NJCWG meeting. Our next meeting will be 10/23/06. My apologies. As soon as I get back from Glorieta I'll post an update.

MEETING CANCELLED
Monday, October 9, 2006

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Facilitator, NJCWG

Update From Cecil Murphey

Cec Murphey with NFL's Most
Valuable Player for 2005,
Shaun Alexander

What's new with author, teacher & speaker Cecil "Cec" Murphey

If you want to see pictures, go to: http://www.WhatsNewWithUs.com

Cecil ("Cec") Murphey www.CecilMurphey.com

I came home tired after teaching in a two-day conference followed by
an intense mentoring clinic in Dallas. For a full month, I can stay
home to write daily, run each morning, and play in my garden every
afternoon.

My next mentoring clinic is in Walnut, CA (near LA) January 17-20.
Peter Lundell (host) says we still have room for two people.

On the news front, Touchdown Alexander that I wrote for Seattle
running back, Shaun Alexander, sold 50,000 copies and nearly 2,000 of
the audio version during its first month. Daily Devotions Inspired by
90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper and Cecil Murphey
(Berkeley/Penguin) comes out in November with an initial printing of
110,000 copies. CBD (Christian Book Distributors) asked me to write
study questions for each chapter of 90 Minutes in Heaven. They want
to put this in their Giant Reading Group and promise (according to my
editor Vicki Crumpton) "to give the book big promotion in terms of
catalog space, focus, and sales,"

The fall issue of Marriage Partnership printed a series of articles
about couples and cancer. Shirley's breast-cancer story is in it
along with a first-person story by my friend, Dr. Amy Givler. The
issue features a story about another friend, Chris Maxwell. He had
viral encephalitis and no longer has any short-term memory. It's an
inspirational account written by Corrie Cutrer.

Comfort Cafe - New Devotional

Louise Bergmann DuMont has a new Devotional at the Comfort Cafe
Moving a Mountain - One Mole Hill At A Time
http://comfortcafe.net/?p=402

Writing Op- Adams Media

Writing Op forwarded to me by Maude Carolan
--------------------------------------------

Has God ministered in your life through the Serenity Prayer? Is there an element of the Serenity Prayer that especially speaks to you?

If so, you're a prime candidate to write a personal experience story for a compilation book on the Serenity Prayer that Adams Media is putting out as part of their Christian line, and I'd like to invite you to be part of this.

We're looking for 1000-1200 word stories on how the Serenity Prayer has affected or changed lives. Your story will need to be deeper than just, "I prayed the Serenity Prayer and God made everything wonderful." Instead, focus on a specific time in your life when this prayer or an aspect of it made a difference in your life. Tell us specifically how this prayer made a difference--specifically how God used it to bring grace, healing, renewed relationships, courage, or whatever. As in any time you tell a story, remember to "show" us instead of just "telling" us. Also, it looks like too many writers so far are focusing on the "Accept the things I can" aspect of the prayer, so you might consider writing on another section of it.

This book is distinctly Christian, but will be sold in secular outlets (and Adams is a secular publisher that has a Christian arm, like the Cup of Comfort Devotions series, and the His Forever testimony book). So in your writing, try to weed out Christianese--try to give spiritual concepts concrete support so the readers can relate, and don't assume your reader knows what the Christian phrases mean. Feel free to use scripture in this as well--just watch the Christian lingo.

Also, one of my concerns is that too many of the stories submitted will focus on AA or recovery programs. It's great if the Serenity Prayer has ministered to you through this, but downplay programs and concentrate on the difference in your life. Also feel free to pull from elements of the long version of this prayer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_Prayer

The stories are due Oct. 25 (this has been extended from the original deadline), but I'll start accepting them right away. Yes, you may tell someone else's story in their voice, an "As Told To." You'll receive $50 for each story that's accepted. If you have questions or would like to submit a story, the e-mail address for this one is: serenityproject@earthlink.net. I prefer attachments in Word.

And please, feel free to pass this along to your writing friends! This is the perfect opportunity for people who want to write something that will make a spiritual difference in markets that aren't Christian bookstore markets. So a perfect venue for those of you who have a desire to be "missionary writers."

Thanks. I look forward to reading how God has used the Serenity Prayer in your life.

Jeanette

Jeanette Gardner Littleton
Editor, Serenity Prayer Project
Adams Media

Note From NJCWG Faciliator

Glorieta Conference Center, Albuquerque, NM

Well, I've once again neglected the blog for a short time. This was due to preparation for the upcoming Glorieta conference in Albuquerque New Mexico. I will be teaching Writing Devotions: 101 and Know Your Audience / Write To Market

Please keep me in your prayers for the following:
1) That I might have a good flight - without incident and on time
2) That my teaching might be of benefit to those taking my classes
3) That my conduct might glorify Christ
4) That my pitches might fall on receptive ears
5) That someone needing encouragement might find it in my words
6) That God's direction for my writing might be made clear
7) That I might bring back loads of information and writing opportunities for the NJCWG
8) That I might sell a few copies of my books in the bookstore
9) That I won't be totallly exhausted when I get back on Monday night (10/16) since I do have to go back to work on Tuesday (10/17)
10) That God would use all the speakers and teachers to raise up writers for His purpose
11) That editors and publishers would find the writers that they need and that writers would find a market for their work at Glorieta

Please note that the NJCWG is meeting on Monday, 10/9/06. Hope to see many of you there.

Louise

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 Audience – the person you are writing this article for
Real Audience – anyone 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)?

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

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.

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