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Tips and Updates From WritersDigest.com 06-13-06 |
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Tips and Updates From Writer's Digest, 06-13-06 To: 1@informationstreams.com http://www.writersdigest.com Your online guide to the writing life. ===================Sponsored By============================ WRITE CHILDREN'S BOOKS. Ever dreamed of being a published author? Writing for children is a great place to start. Train with a professional writer and learn the secrets of breaking into the $2 billion children's book market. Find out about this unique home study program that has helped hundreds of aspiring writers like you become published authors. FREE Writing Aptitude Test offered. Follow this link: http://www.writingforchildren.com/F8477 =========================================================== ____________________________________________________________ ON TAP TODAY * Letter from the Editor * Do Men Read? * 10 Lures to Hook a Hollywood Reader * Writing Prompt * Join the Conversation * A Little Magic for Rowling * Seeking Monologues ____________________________________________________________ LETTER FROM THE EDITOR For years publishers have made the claim that guys just don't read. We're too barbaric, we watch too much television, we'd rather toss around the pigskin. This doesn't make any sense to me; I love to read. Newspapers, magazines, books, the label on a jar of peanut butter--you put it in front of me and I'll gobble up the words. And, according to the latest U.S. Census, I do, in fact, qualify as a guy. So, in honor of one man's love of books, we're leading off this newsletter with "WD" Senior Editor Maria Schneider's piece, Do Men Read?, a tongue-in-cheek look at the reading habits of guys. We've also included some tips on how to get your script approved--and moved up along the food chain--by Hollywood readers. Plus we need your help in settling a classic debate. Trust me, I think men read more than publishers would like us to believe. I know I do. And I'm just like every other guy. Wait, what sport uses a pigskin? I'm kidding. Sort of. Take care of yourself and your writing, Brian A. Klems ======================Sponsored By======================== Have your Book Published and Available Worldwide in just Weeks! No Inventory required! All Trafford books are manufactured in-house, on demand. Retain all rights. Buy for your own use at 60% off retail and save/earn thousands. For full details please visit http://www.trafford.com/1790?keyword=jun1306 =========================================================== ____________________________________________________________ DO MEN READ? In the July/August issue of "Writer's Digest," Senior Editor Maria Schneider tackles the ever-engaging question that haunts (or at least puzzles) the publishing industry: Do guys read books? She not only asked several publishing sources, but also checked within her own home: "Conventional publishing industry wisdom has it that guys just don't buy fiction. Men account for only 20 percent of novel sales--and we all know that Tom Clancy has taken that measly 20 percent hostage. "Because statistics don't really show the whole story here, I looked around my own home for insight on male reading behavior. My husband reads, but only nonfiction, specifically newspapers and whatever business book is on the bestseller list that month--he's also forever trying to foist budget-planning books on me. The last time he read a novel was 15 years ago when he read 'The Catcher in the Rye,' apparently to impress me with clever literary repartee. "I'm also engaged in a never-ending battle to get my 14-year-old son to read something besides 'Sports Illustrated' and 'Mad.' I read Dr. Seuss to this child in utero. He teethed on 'Great Expectations'--surely he should be a great reader, right? Wrong. I've given him 'Treasure Island,' 'Tom Sawyer,' the first three Harry Potters, and the story collection 'Guys Write for Guys Read.' The books sit in his closet, like so many unloved gym shoes." For more on the debate, visit: writersdigest.com/articles/schneider_read.asp ____________________________________________________________ 10 LURES TO HOOK A HOLLYWOOD READER In "Writing Basics," a specialty publication from the editors of "Writer's Digest," Kathryn McCullough offers tips on how to get professional story analysts, or script readers, to bite on your script. One of the keys, she says, is to have multifaceted characters: "Characters who seem real, who have complex, three-dimensional personalities, who have strengths as well as flaws and hopes as well as fears, are spellbinding. Readers recognize that these are roles that actors will fight over. "When I began reading the script of "American Beauty," I was instantly intrigued. The characters weren't generic types, nor were they predictable. Yet, at the same time, they were accessible and convincing. As I kept reading, I was drawn in more and more, especially by the fact that the writer had managed to make even the most unpleasant characters sympathetic, while also giving the 'good guys' significant flaws. Such complex, credible and utterly human characters kept me turning the pages because I wanted to know how these people would resolve the conflicts they faced." If you're looking for more tips on hooking a Hollywood reader, pick up "Writing Basics," available at the "WD" Bookstore: writersdigest.com/store/magdisplay.asp?id=WY0506 ____________________________________________________________ WRITING PROMPT It's lunchtime and you have Chinese food delivered. At the end of your meal, you open your fortune cookie--but this fortune is different. It's the most shocking revelation you could ever imagine. What does your fortune say? And what is your reaction? You can post your response (500 words or fewer) in the "WD" Forum: writersdigest.com/mbbs/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=2892&posts=1 ===================Advertisement============================ PUBLISH AN AUDIO BOOK: Spoken Books Publishing is accepting books for review to be published as audio books. This is a great opportunity to be a part of this burgeoning market, as over 40 million audio books were sold last year. Our Web site contains submission requirements and a wealth of infor- mation on how you may participate: http://www.spokenbookspublishing.com =========================================================== ____________________________________________________________ JOIN THE CONVERSATION Every month in "Writer's Digest"'s InkWell section, we pose a thought-provoking question related to the writing life. In the July/August issue of "WD," we interview a romance writer and a suspense author who joined forces to write a novel. If you could collaborate on a project with a famous writer, who would it be and why? To be part of our monthly Conversation, e-mail your brief response (up to 50 words) to writersdig@fwpubs.com with "My Dream Collaboration" as the subject line or post it in the Writers Forum: writersdigest.com/mbbs/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=2885&posts=1 ____________________________________________________________ A LITTLE MAGIC FOR ROWLING J.K. Rowling, author of . . . well, if you don't know you should hand in your writing credentials immediately, was voted the greatest living British author by readers of "The Book Magazine." Rowling won in landslide fashion, receiving almost three times as many votes as second-place winner Terry Pratchett. She also beat out other literary greats such as Ian McEwan, Harold Pinter and Philip Pullman. This got us thinking: Who do you think is the greatest living American author? Send your vote to writersdig@fwpubs.com with "Greatest American Author" in the subject line, or mail your nominee to Greatest American Author, Writer's Digest, 4700 E. Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati OH, 45236. You can also post your vote in our forum (writersdigest.com/mbbs/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=2893&posts=1). Only votes under the thread "Greatest Living Author" will be counted. Results will be revealed in a future issue of "WD." ____________________________________________________________ SEEKING MONOLOGUES Smith & Kraus Publishers is seeking character-driven, emotionally charged monologues that represent a wide diversity of voices. S&K is choosing from works were not originally written for performance to include in a collection of monologues for actors and student actors: "221 One-Minute Monologues from Literature." For each published entry, the writer will receive $20. For consideration, e-mail your submissions as Microsoft Word documents to iziegler@hughes.net by July 31. Submissions can be excerpts from longer works such as a short story, novel, poem, essay, memoir, graphic novel, compelling e-mail or blog and should be one minute or so when read aloud. At the top of the document include: . Your name, address and e-mail . If you don't hold the rights to the work, the name and address of copyright holder . Title . Genre (novel, short story, etc.) . Sex and age (or age range) of character . Comic, Seriocomic or Dramatic . A short introduction that puts the monologue and character in context Limit three per author. Chosen authors will be contacted by S&K. For more information on the publisher, visit: smithandkraus.com/Home.aspx ____________________________________________________________ ADVERTISER SPECIAL OFFERS ***Sell Your Scripts!*** InkTip.com is the fastest and easiest way to get your screenplays more exposure. An average of 3 writers sell/option their scripts or get work every week. 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To ensure a timely response to your questions, please see http://www.writersdigest.com/contactus.asp PLEASE ONLY REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE WITH NEWSLETTER-SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. ADVERTISE IN THIS NEWSLETTER For information on advertising in this newsletter or to receive a rate card, contact Ken Workman at 800-467-2437 x108 or kworkman@longshoremedia.com ____________________________________________________________ Copyright (c) 2006 F+W Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. 4700 East Galbraith Road Cincinnati, OH 45236 ___________________________________________________________ |
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