Proof-reading Your Own Work

Rereading you own work is possibly one of the hardest things any writer absolutely has to do. What you are doing is scanning the structure of your work for defects that may or may not involve possibly costly repairs, or, in the worst case, demolition. A leaky roof here and there or maybe at light-fixture not properly installed are minor problems, what you worry about is the opening paragraph being shit, or the necessity to pare down whole pages of monotonous padding. All kinds of things seem good when you first think of them then embarrassing after a few weeks. The thing is to not be sentimental about your work, do not put too much hope in any one story as you write, and do not count on "inspiration".

Every writer should be in the process of becoming a better writer. You never stop learning, and you should never try to stop learning. Some of us born without natural talent may need to work especially hard at honing stories to where they can work, hence the necessity of re-reading. Of course, it's discouraging if your own work embarrasses and depresses you, but if it does, then it means that you do have some kind of judgment, the next one, hopefully, will not repeat the mistakes of the first.

List of Proof Reading Tips

Going it Alone with Subsidy Publishing

Not sure what I think of vanity publishers exactly. The thing is, it works out to about the same thing if you take it to an editor, it might be that they don't know any better than you do what a good book is. It doesn't necessarily mean that you won't be successful, but it costs money and it could potentially be humiliating, so you better be certain. I respect people who go it alone in any field, but you have to remember, this is not just any field. Your salesmanship and BS ability have a lot to do with subsidy publishing, maybe more than your ability to write, so if you are not confident that you can get people to believe in your work, you might be better off doing things the old way.

Among writers there is indeed a mild contempt for people who do not go the route of submitting work to editors, subsidy publishing always looks like nobody would buy your stuff, so you have to print and market it yourself. There have been enough notable success-stories (like John Grisham) to take the edge off the scorn a little bit, but the key is being certain that your work is good.

Anyway, this service has been around for a while and might be worth looking at for those of you who know that your novel is the best thing ever.
Technorati Tags: writing, publishing, writer, writers, subsidy, vanity, editor, market, novel

The truth is that no good story is without violence. Life turns on it, drama does not exist without it, and on the big screen where life is represented in two dimensions, it is absolutely essential. There is no better tool to advance a story, explore a character than with something sudden and life-altering and born of rage/fear/desperation. Without the gunfire, the tension building to the gunfire, and the bloodshed, Down in the Valley would be one boring movie. Not to say that the characters aren't interesting, of course they are, and the pre-violence story (I am tempted to write "back-story") is indeed well-told. But there needs to be a hinge, or an apogee, a point at which everything changes, and the shooting was indeed necessary. This is the kind of movie that gets you thinking about the mechanics of writing.

Summary: A "cowboy" travels to California and falls in love with the teenaged daughter of a very protective corrections officer. There is then trouble. A white horse is locked in a garage.

Is it a good movie? It's well done in the manner of Ulee's Gold, where there is a well told story and good acting, and you feel what you are supposed to feel. The arc, well-defined, nice and neat. You get the impression that they worked hard to make everything fit into place, but a month from now I won't remember it. Down in the Valley is not striking, or shocking, or life-changing, but it is competent.

Edward Norton ... Harlan
Evan Rachel Wood ... Tobe
David Morse ... Wade
Rory Culkin ... Lonnie
Bruce Dern ... Charlie
John Diehl ... Steve

Technorati Tags: movie, film, screenplay, script, writing, writer, Ed, Norton, Edward, William, Morse, Evan, Rachel, Wood, Rory, Culkin, Down+in+the+Valley, review,

Crapware. It does not allow you to add more than one account, and it doesn't make that easy. It does not support SSL unless you want to waste the time hunting down and downloading a couple of DLL files that most email programs already come equipped with. Nothing about iscribe is easy. Easy is important because there is nothing this program is suipposed to do that you can't find somewhere else. If you are submitting work via email, a light email client is the best and most convenient way to do it. Google has to load, you have to start your browser for it, and if you aren't using a brand new computer, this takes time. However you want to do it, don't bother with the above-mentioned piece of shit.

Technorati Tags: iscribe, freeware, software, crapware, email, client, program,

MIDWAY JOURNAL is accepting submissions of aesthetically ambitious work that occupies the realms between the experimental and the traditional. Please send no more than 3–5 poems, 1 work of fiction (or 2 works of flash—or sudden—fiction), 1 play, 1 essay (that transcends its subject matter, or that is artful as well as meaningful), or 1 multigenre or cross-genre work. Include a brief bio, complete with name, address, phone number, and e-mail with your submission. No electronic submissions, please (exceptions can, however, be made for international submissions). All work must be postmarked by June 1. Please send manuscripts to Editors, Midway Journal, P.O. Box 14499, St. Paul, MN 55114. Please direct inquiries to editors@midwayjournal.com. Web site: www.midwayjournal.com.

MINNETONKA REVIEW, a new national print journal, seeks short fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. In each issue, 1 contributor who hasn’t yet published a book will be awarded the Editor’s Prize and $150. Minnetonka Review, P.O. Box 386, Spring Park, MN 55384. For full guidelines, please visit: www.minnetonkareview.com.

THE MODERN REVIEW accepts international submissions of poetry, prose, criticism, drama, etc. Ambitious/avant-garde writing is highly esteemed. Social and political material receives much interest. Nothing is controversial. TMR is published quarterly by Parsifal Press; contributors receive a 1-year subscription. Payment for significant theory/criticism is $150. For guidelines and samples, visit www.modern-review.com.

MOM WRITER'S Literary Magazine, a highly regarded quarterly literary magazine for mom writers and authors featuring creative nonfiction essays, poetry, columns, profile and reviews, short fiction writing contest, a free newsletter, and a blog. We are now accepting submissions for our Fall 2007 issue. New and established writers welcome. See Web site for details: www.momwriterslitmag.com.

OUR TIME IS NOW literary magazine for writers age 23 and younger is accepting submissions for its sixth issue. Send original, unpublished poems, essays, and short fiction and nonfiction stories with bio and SASE to Kristen Wicker, Stivers School for the Arts, 325 Homewood Ave., Dayton, OH 45405 or www.ourtimeisnow.net.

PALABRA. Print litmag of Chicano/Latino writing invites submissions of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, novel excerpts, and short plays that explore new territory in Chicano and Latino literary art. Fiction/creative nonfiction/novel excerpts to 3,500 words; poems 5 max of any length; plays to 15 pp. Multiple and simultaneous submissions OK. Some pay. Submit via USPS only to Palabra, P.O. Box 86146, Los Angeles, CA 90086-0146. Inquiries and detailed guidelines at palabralit@earthlink.net. Web site: www.palabralitmag.com.

PANAMOWA: A New Lit Order is seeking quality submissions from emerging women writers/artists. We are looking for poetry, short fiction, artwork, video, sound files, reviews/interviews, and creative nonfiction/memoir for our online journal. Panamowa, Attn: Michelle Morgan, 152 Davis Ave., Auburn, ME 04210. For more information and guidelines, please visit http://web.mac.com/newlitorder.

PAPER STREET accepts submissions of fiction sure of its history and footing, poetry unencumbered by distraction, May 1–August 31. Does not accept creative nonfiction. Sample copy: $9. Paper Street, P.O. Box 14786, Pittsburgh, PA 15234-0786. Attention either Fiction or Poetry Editor. Visit Web site for guidelines: www.paperstreetpress.org.

THE PEDESTAL Magazine.com is currently accepting submissions of poetry and fiction. Please visit the Web site for additional information and to view the work of our contributors, including Philip Levine, W. S. Merwin, and Ai. Web site: www.thepedestalmagazine.com.

PERIGEE is calling for submissions of poetry, fiction, and memoir for our 17th issue. There is no reading fee and simultaneous submissions are welcome. Submit up to 5 poems or stories of up to 2,500 words to our award-winning publication. To read complete guidelines and submit online, visit www.perigee-art.com.


Nonfiction Writers Newsletter
PAY: $.10/word The Nonfiction Writers Newsletter (published each Friday and distributed by e-mail) seeks short articles (less than 900 words). Our publication is for nonfiction writers -- I like nuts and bolts stories. Tell my readers how to make more money writing nonfiction articles; how to find markets; interview or photography techniques; reviews of new products; and important news. Everything must be tightly written -- this is a newsletter. Pay is 10 cents a word ... will increase for regular contributors. We are a reprint market. We need one-time rights to publish in our newsletter. We do not require exclusive or first time rights. If you have published a good how-to piece elsewhere, we could be a good market for you. The best way to know what I want is to study the publication. You can see samples or subsribe at: http://www.sheldononline.com/forwriters.htm

Northern Woodlands Magazine
PAY: $25 - $100 or $.10/word
Our audience consists of conservation-minded people with an interest in all aspects of the forests of the Northeast. We are not a trade magazine for the forest products industry or an advocacy magazine for preservationists. Write to us with a story idea that fits our audience. We like to surprise our readers with stories they won't find anywhere else. http://www.northernwoodlands.com/guidelines.html

Northwest Baby and Child
PAY: $10-$40 Our goal is to inform, entertain, inspire, and reassure expectant parents and parents of young children. We believe raising children is life¹s most challenging and satisfying work. All Northwest Baby & Child staff members are parents, who like helping families get off to a good start. Our editorial emphasis reflects these beliefs: * There is no one right way to raise a child. * Parents are the experts on their own children. * If you don¹t know your options you don¹t have any. Familiarize yourself with our publication. We have a theme for each issue (e.g. celebrating mothers, birth and postpartum, family vacations, holidays); articles throughout the paper reflect our theme. Guidelines: http://nwbaby.com/yearlong/wg.html

Northwest Travel
PAY: $50 - $650
Family-oriented magazine with a Northwest slant. Magazine covers Oregon, Washington, Idaho, British Columbia, and western Montana; occasionally Alaska. Northwest Travel Magazine is your Bi-Monthly Guide to Enjoying Travel Throughout the Northwest. Six times a year, Northwest Travel Magazine brings you the information you need to make your travels through the Pacific Northwest more interesting, more educational, more fun. Our writers and photographers are looking for the places and events that will give you something new and different.
http://www.northwestmagazines.com/guidelin.html

Not For Tourists
PAY: $100
Not For Tourists is looking for neighborhood editors for its first edition of its "Guide to Queens." The first edition will be approximately 100 pp and cover the following 10 neighborhoods in detail:
1. Astoria
2. Long Island City
3. Sunnyside
4. Jackson Heights
5. Elmhurst
6. College Point
7. Whitestone
8. Flushing
9. Forest Hills
10. Jamaica
We are looking for folks who either live, work, and/or play in at least one of the above neighborhoods. Being a neighborhood editor will entail: writing a 50-word general description of the neighborhood; writing a 50-word entertainment description of the neighborhood; submitting at least 25 entertainment listings for the neighborhood (comprised of restaurants, nightlife, shopping, and landmarks); writing 3-10 word blurbs for each of those 25+ listings. Compensation is $100 per neighborhood. You can apply by sending the following things to Managing Editor Rob Tallia at mailto:rob@notfortourists.com
1. A Cover Letter, stating which neighborhood(s) you're interested in.
2. A Resume.
3. One 50-word neighborhood description AND 5 neighborhood entertainment listings with 3-10 word descriptive blurbs for each. Make SURE you are familiar with the NFT style and tone before submitting this work; we will of course NOT use your submissions unless you are actually HIRED to work for us. You can look at the full PDF of our New York book at our website, http://www.notfortourists.com, if you do not currently possess any of our guides (note that you will have to sign up to become a member (it's free)) to do this.

Technorati Tags: fiction, nonfiction, writer, writing, markets, magazines, literary, write, paying, nonpaying, 2007,

Night Train: Paying Market

The Writer Gazette: Call for Submission Listings, Writing resource site for writers on freelance and publishing, including articles, job board, contests, tips, books, guides, and more!: "Night Train

PAY: 2 cents/word to $800 or more. Accepting submissions via E-mail or snail mail. For complete guidelines, payment details and special announcements see our Web site: http://www.nighttrainmagazine.com"

Technorati Tags: paying, market, writer, writing, writer, writer's,

New York Stories: Paying Market

The Writer Gazette: Call for Submission Listings, Writing resource site for writers on freelance and publishing, including articles, job board, contests, tips, books, guides, and more!: "New York Stories

PAY: up to $700 for fiction and non-fiction New York Stories is seeking short fiction and non-fiction. Stories should have strong characters, fresh voices and distinctive angles of vision. We are open to the best work we can find from around the world. The stories do not need to be set in New York, but we do welcome stories that explore the city's diversity. Guidelines: http://www.newyorkstories.org/Guidelines%20General.htm"

Technorati Tags: writer, writing, paying, market, freelance, writer's, market