Writers Resources - Pacific Northwest

Long Story Short Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (NorthWestWriters.com) — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 16:39:00 +0000

Writers Digest named this magazine as one of the 101 Best
Writing Sites on the Internet for 2005. Today we're having
a chat with Sue Scott, one of the founders, on why this
magazine is so unique.

Q: Congratulations on being named among the 101 Best
Writing Sites in 2005 by Writers Digest. How does it feel
to be honored like that?

A: Thanks! We’re thrilled! Actually, we didn’t know about
the honor at first. A reader told us she saw our name on the
list. For being only two years old, it’s rather amazing. I think
our dedication to our authors helped though. All three of us
(Denise, Linda and I) have been on the rejection end of the
game and know how it feels.

Q: Your E-zine covers everything from “Story of the Month”
to “Contests” to “Poetry” to “Fiction” to “Just For Teens” to
“Women’s Issues.” With such a wide genre, how do you
sort through all the submissions?

A: We read them as just submissions, and those we decide
to accept we then place in a category. It’s easier than you
might think, but don’t tell.

Q: Do you take submissions from all around the world?

A: Yes. We get submissions from everywhere now:
Canada, India, the UK, Spain, Bulgaria… We truly enjoy
the mix of styles and slightly foreign flavor of the writing.
I remember how excited we were when we got our first
international submission (from England). It’s still
wonderful to realize how far we reach out with our stories.

Q: Although you accept submissions from men, you focus
primarily on women writers. Why did you make women
your main focus?

A: Linda has a writing forum, “Your Writing Friend,”
that is made up of women. Lss is an off-shoot of that forum,
being as all the editors belonged to it. Our original goal
was to empower women and help them get published.
After a short time we realized that accepting submissions
from men would round out the e-zine, but only if they wrote
with a slant towards women’s interests. We still primarily
get subs from women. To honor writers of both sexes this
past January we changed our blurb from “A Women
Writers’ Showcase to “A magazine for writers.”

Q: Your guidelines are very clear and specific. How long
did it take you to perfect your guidelines and can you talk
about some of the problems that led to their being so specific?

A: The guidelines are a work in progress. Writing them was
a group effort, based on our wants for the e-zine and our
experiences with other editors and e-zines. Problems have
cropped up since the start that required us to add to or
change the guidelines.

One of the first things we decided on was no porn, obscenities
or satanic stories. Although we don’t preach in any way we all
have strong Christian beliefs. Besides, we wanted people of all
ages to be able to read our e-zine. Since then, certain of the
“lighter” words have been allowed for reality of writing, but
we hold firm to the standard four-letter classics.

We’d all agreed that the worst thing about submitting was
the long wait for a reply and the impersonal form letters. Our
policy is to send an acceptance or rejection within two weeks,
and to have a personal letter with each. Often we give details
on why a piece was rejected and either offer one-=on-one help
or to look at a rewrite.

We receive attachments on occasion, and they’re promptly
rejected. With viruses rampant on the Net we can’t take
chances in opening an attachment, no matter how innocent
the sender.

Clear as we try to make them, there are still people who
obviously haven’t read the guidelines when they submit.
But what can you do?

Q: Do you send your e-zine to a mailing list?

A: No, we have a web site with a private mailing list.
That way we can make sure that mail addresses given to
us for the newsletter are secure, can’t be stolen and sold
to advertisers.

Q: What is the difference between your E-zine and your
Newsletter?

A: The newsletter has links to all the stories, poetry and
interviews on our site. It also has editors’ comments,
writing and time saving tips, bits of fun like “Ask Sue”
and author biographies that aren’t on our site. The e-zine
has all the stories, poems, etc., and can be read without
going through the newsletter.

Q: Is your E-zine free?

A: Yes, there’s no charge for the newsletter or access to
the e-zine. The only thing we charge for are the contests,
which have a $10.00 entry fee, first prize of $50.00 and
second-place prize of $25.00.

Q: How well has your magazine been accepted?

A: We have a loyal fan base that is made up of the most
wonderful people you’d ever want to meet. Considering
the e-zine celebrated its second birthday in May and the
newsletter its second birthday in June, the response has
been overwhelming. Denise, Linda and I try to be
accessible to writers. We know how daunting sending
work to an editor can be, and we want to take that fear
away. I think this friendly approach is the basis for our
success. We have 15,000 readers a month now, a number
that is always rising. Wow!

Q: Tell us about the marketing you have been doing to
get the word out about your newsletter and school.

A: We were rather inexperienced and lost when we began
LSS (the e-zine) and kind of learned as we went. Eventually
we started advertising in search engines and listings on
writing sites, etc. and that’s when our zine took off. There’s
a place on the e-zine where people can subscribe to the
newsletter, and the more readers we get the more sign up.
Of course, as with the school, word-of-mouth is invaluable.
Sure you can read a blurb, but when a person you know
tells you a certain site is worth visiting, then you’re more
willing to trust in the site.

There’s been a flood of marketing for the writing school.
We’ve sent out links to over 300 search engines, media
releases, paid for a few ads and advertised on LSS. Every
instructor with a web site, newsletter, mailing list or blog
has posted notices. Linda has an extensive number of people
who run free or nominal charge places to list; we’ve done
link exchanges like the one with NorthWestWriters.com.
Anywhere and anyone who will post a link will have ours
there eventually.

Q: What kind of future do you think E-zines have?

A: I think e-zines will be around as long as the Internet is.
They’re an easy way to read prose and poetry; also to have
work published. Print magazines may be a more
permanent place for a story but the competition is fierce
and the rejection rate high. Some print mags are regional:
e-zines are worldwide. Live in Kansas? Submit to a
UK zine without the cost of postage and the long wait
for the snail mail to travel overseas.

The majority of e-zines are free and all are highly accessible
considering nearly everyone either has a PC or laptop; or
can go to the local library or coffee bar where there are
computers for public use. Besides, there may come a day
when trees can’t be cut down and turned into paper anymore.
Then what? E-zines!

More information @
http://www.northwestwriters.com
in the "Links" category.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Free Newsletter: newsletter@northwestwriters.com
Author Interviews:
http://northwestauthors.typepad.com/northwestauthors/

Book Reviews:
http://northwestauthors.typepad.com/nwbookreviews/

New Group:A “new group” for Writers as well as New &
Self-PublishedAuthors of the Pacific Northwest to network
& exchange information.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pacificnorthwestwriters

LSS Writing School

noreply@blogger.com (NorthWestWriters.com) — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 15:46:00 +0000

In today's world we spend a lot of time just trying to keep a roof
over our heads, and a lot of our dreams go to the wayside. That
doesn't have to happen anymore. "LSS Writing School" offers every
writer the chance to better their craft and better their lives through
learn-at-home courses for every level of their writing skill and
every genre.

Grab a cup of coffee and join me for a chat with Sue Scott, one of
the founders, as she talks about the concept of the "LSS Writing
School."

Q: Am I understanding correctly that your “LSS Writing School”
is new and opening soon?

A: Yes, We (Denise Cassino, Linda Barnett-Johnson, and I)
finalized plans around the beginning of August and started
advertising for teachers. Denise is the Web master; she set up
the school site. Linda is our bookkeeper and marketer. I’m the
editorial writer. We’re all so excited to think our “baby” is taking
off so quickly.

Every one of our instructors has put vast amounts of her/his time
into advertising and planning and supporting. We couldn’t do it
without them!

Classes start October 5, but we’re open for registration now through
September 28.

Q: Why did you decide to open a school for writers?

A: When we first formed Long Story Short it was our goal to help
beginning writers get published. We worked with them, editing
their stories and watching with pride as they improved –many to
the point they’ve now written novels. Starting a school was the next
logical step. Now instead of helping one writer at a time, we can
help hundreds!

Q: Are all the classes to be done on an “at-home” basis for the students?

A: Yes. We have forums set up where the instructor posts the lessons
and the students post their work. Then everyone in the class can read
and critique along with the instructor. We believe that having your work
critiqued is important for learning, but so are doing critiques. Students
learn good writing from bad, have the rules reinforced, and develop a
“taste” for writing that way.

Q: All students who complete the courses get a Certificate of Completion.
How long will it take you to become accredited?

A: Becoming accredited depends on the length of the student’s course.
(See next question)

Q: Your prices, ranging from $25.00 to $150.00 are very reasonable.
What is the average length of your classes (weeks – days – months?)?

A: Yes, we wanted to keep our prices as low as possible so students can
afford to join our school.

We have different course lengths. One runs for a year with monthly
assignments and then there are weekend seminars. On average though
I’d say courses run from a month to six weeks, with weekly assignments.

Q: Is there a deadline for registrations or may an interested party register
anytime?

A: Our deadline is one week before the start date of the course. That
gives us time to make class lists and send our passwords, all that
paperwork kind of thing.

Q: Must a registrant meet a certain criteria to be accepted?
A: The only prerequisite for students is they must want to put the time
and energy into doing the assignments. Every level of writers, from
novice to the much published, will share class space. The mix will give
beginners access to writers who can give them “tips of the race,” since
there’s nothing better than networking with those who’ve been around
and are familiar with the ins and outs. And of course advanced writers
can hone their craft. Writing is a never-ending process of improvement
after all.

More information @ http://www.northwestwriters.com in the "Links"
category.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Free Newsletter: newsletter@northwestwriters.com
Author Interviews:
http://northwestauthors.typepad.com/northwestauthors/

Book Reviews:
http://northwestauthors.typepad.com/nwbookreviews/

A "new group" for Writers & New & Self-Published Authors
of the Pacific Northwest to network and exchange information.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pacificnorthwestwriters

Agent Query

noreply@blogger.com (NorthWestWriters.com) — Sat, 03 Sep 2005 17:06:00 +0000

Our chat today is with Isis Riley, founder of Agent Query.
*********************************************************************************

Q: Please give my readers a brief overview of your website.

A: Agent Query offers the largest, most current searchable database of legitimate literary agents. Our literary agent database is updated everyday and is 100% free. It includes the detailed profiles of over 700 American literary agents. AQ users can perform searches based on specific criteria such as nonfiction or fiction genres, agency name, client name, AAR membership, and submission preferences such as snail mail versus email queries.
In addition to our searchable database, Agent Query offers tips about the literary agent submission process as well as an overview of the current publishing industry. Agent Query also provides links to various writer’s resources including national and regional organizations, writers’ residencies and conferences, and other helpful writers’ websites.

Q: What method did you use to gather your agent information?

A: When we first decided to create Agent Query, our biggest challenge was how to accumulate the data for the agents’ profiles in our searchable database.We had a choice. We could either A) solicit agents for the information or B) we could do the research ourselves. We choose option B, crossed our fingers, and whispered, “if we build it, they will come.” Then we embarked on the formidable task of building detailed agent profiles for over 700 literary agents. We researched each agent’s name and agency in reputable trade magazines such as Publishers Weekly and Variety and online resources such as publishersmarketplace.com, mediabistro.com, and publisherstrends.com. We also searched various press releases citing agents’ bios, client histories, and credentials. Finally, we culled information regarding the types of books each agent represents from the popular print literary agent guides. All initial information was crosschecked against multiple sources, including the agent’s current websites, before we entered it into each agent’s profile. 700 agent profiles later, Agent Query was born.

Q: How did you go about assembling your staff?

A: Agent Query was created with the help of a core group of writers, web programmers, and computer programmers—the AQ crew. We have known each other for years, and we are all professionals in our chosen fields who enjoy investing time, energy, and ingenuity into AQ endeavors. Daily operations are handled by a few, key staff members who have come aboard through professional referrals, and share a common desire to make Agent Query the best resource for researching literary agents.

Q: What criteria do you use to admit a literary agent into your AQ database?

A: All the literary agents in our AQ database are real agents with real book sales and real publishing contacts. Legitimate literary agents make their living from commissions on their sales, not by charging fees to their clients or potential clients. For this reason, we only list agents with verifiable sales. If the agent is younger and/or newer to the industry, he or she must be affiliated with an established agency or have previous publishing experience as an editor, editor’s assistant, publicity director, agent’s assistant, etc. to make the cut.

Q: How do you currently maintain the accuracy of each agent’s profile?

A: updates on our home page. In less than a year since our launch in December 2004, we have become the premier resource for writers searching for literary agents, and we receive many updates from our loyal AQ users. Moreover, in the last few months, we've seen an explosion in the number of emails we’ve received from agents, requesting updates to their AQ profiles.Ultimately, we love updates straight from the agents, but what sets us apart from other agent guides is the fact that we don't rely on the agents to supply us updates. Through our loyal AQ users and my dedicated AQ staff, we continually find and replace old information in our database. We actively track resources for agency moves, recent sales, and mailing address changes—with the same diligent research skills that we cultivated to create the database in the first place.

Q: I did not see fees on your site. Do you have fees? If so, what are the ranges or are they per individual need?

A: Currently, Agent Query does not charge anything to access any part of our site. It’s all 100% free, and we intend to keep it that way for a long time to come. Agent Query’s goal is to provide the most current resource for writers seeking a literary agent. We achieve this goal by offering hundreds of users the opportunity to verify its accuracy and inform us of necessary changes or updates.

Q: You talk about Phase II. What does Phase II include?

A: Our current Phase II will include the paid services portion of our website, which will be separate from our current free database and literary links. Originally, we expected to offer query critiques and other paid services by the summer of 2005. But honestly, we were simply overwhelmed with query critique requests, even before we were officially offering them. We have limited staff and resources, and we are still trying to decide on the best way to meet the current demand. For this reason, my brilliant web programmers are creating web technology that will help us effectively and efficiently offer paid services as well as build an ongoing literary community that will nurture writers.

Q: Please explain what the paid services Agent Query expects to offer?

A: Because the development of our Phase II is still in beta testing, I prefer to wait to disclose the details of our paid services until we launch in the fall of 2005.

Q: What is your ultimate goal for AQ? What do you see the future holding for AQ?

A: Agent Query’s ultimate goal is to help talented, qualified writers find legitimate literary agents who will serve as their publishing advocate. Agent Query streamlines how writers find agents through our use of superior web technology and accurate information. But in the future, we hope that Agent Query will revolutionize how writers connect with agents. Right now, agents complain about being bombarded with unworthy queries from writers. And writers complain about their inability to get their foot in the door. Ultimately, Agent Query would like to break this paradox and fundamentally change how agents receive submissions from writers.

Q: What trends are you currently seeing in the submission process to literary agents.

A: More and more agents are accepting email queries, and more and more agencies actually prefer email queries over snail mail queries. In fact, we’re seeing more and more agencies state that they no longer accept snail mail queries. They are simply getting swamped with too much postal mail. Most writers love agencies that accept email queries, and writers often prioritize their submission list based on whether or not an agent accepts email queries. Personally, I think email queries save the writer time and money, but I think agents reject email queries much faster than snail mail ones. With email queries, most agents do NOT accept attachments, so agents immediately judge the merits of the proposed book by reading the query letter.

However, with snail mail queries, you have the option of including the first five pages with the query, even if an agent says, “send query only and SASE.” Most agents like to skim a small sample of the writing.If your query is marginal, but your enclosed first five pages are stellar, hopefully your writing will “hook” the agent, and she will request a partial, or even a full. Isn’t that the goal? For the agent to judge the merits of your writing? So…do you really believe in your query letter more than your writing? If so, keep shooting off those email queries, and cross your fingers.But be aware: agents are expecting shorter and shorter email queries.Thus, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to “hook” an agent with a 150 word email query than a 300 word snail mail query and five sample pages.

Q: Talk about the honor you received from Writers Digest Magazine on being named as one of the Best Websites for Writers in their May 2005 issue.

A: We are very excited to be included in the Writers Digest Magazine’s 2005 list of top 101 Websites for Writers. Agent Query launched in December 2004 and WD’s list came out in May 2005, so it’s quite an accomplishment for our website to be included in their venerable list.

Q: What do you think is the most important factor for reaching success in any venture?

A: Originality. Credibility. Persistence. And offering the best product possible. Work hard, dream big, and have fun doing it.

Q: What advice to you have for authors seeking publication and success?

A: Make it a priority in your life and act like it’s a priority. Becoming a published author is not a fantasy. It can be a reality, but only for writers who treat it like a life-long goal and not a hobby. Writing is a hobby. Publishing is a business career. Writers who want to become a published author must make it a priority and advertise it as a priority to all their friends, family, co-workers. Everyone in your life must understand that you are committed to the life-long goal of publishing. And just because you haven’t published anything doesn’t mean you can’t take yourself seriously as a writer. Are you attending writer’s conferences? Applying to residencies? Reading trade magazines? Reading contemporary fiction and nonfiction? If not, you should be. Bottom-line: if you wait until you’re published to take yourself seriously as a writer, you’ll never be published. Unpublished writers can get literary agents and become published authors, but it starts with the commitment to learn the craft of writing AND the publishing industry. Finally, always be generating new writing and seize all the opportunities that exist for new writers.

More information @ http://www.northwestwriters.com
*************************************************************************
Free Newsletter for Writers – E-Mail newsletter@northwestwriters.com

Interview by M.M. MooreM.M. Moore has written for both national and international magazines, local papers, and on the Internet. Moore is the author of Hunting For Mr. Good Bargain and founder of NorthWestWriters.comhttp://www.northwestwriters.com

MSN Group: http://spaces.msn.com/members/NorthWestAuthors/PersonalSpace/
AOL Blog: http://journals.aol.com/northwestauthors/NorthWestAuthors
TypePad Blog: http://northwestauthors.typepad.com/northwestauthors/

Ewemark - document protection services

noreply@blogger.com (NorthWestWriters.com) — Sat, 03 Sep 2005 16:55:00 +0000

We have found a valuable service that everyone who has documents that must be protected. It's called Ewemark.
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Q: When Was Ewemark Started?

A:Ewemark was a new service launched in 2005 by Executive Bancorp, who has been providing data protection for almost a decade.

Q: Who started it?

A: Executive Bancorp

Q: Did something specific happen to prompt its existence?

A: Three things. 1) The laws concerning OSHA that required all employers to keep the medical records of their employees; 2) Many screenwriter friends worried that their ideas would be stolen before they were ready to register their works with the Library of Congress; 3) Writer’s Alcove members afraid that their works posted online may be plagiarized without some kind of protection. All these combined pointed toward a need for effective, easy, and cost-efficient document protection and time-stamping.

Q: What do people register the most?

A: We do not know specifically what kind of documents that are registered because we do not look at the documents. They are uploaded to our servers immediately upon registration. The types of documents that could be registered are any unpublished works where you want to retain the idea prior to publication, financial documents, living wills—basically any type of document you would store in a safety deposit box.

Q: Why are zipped files not accepted?

A: Zip files are not standard document files. We may not be able to retrieve the registered document with the software that is available ten years from now.

Q: Do I understand correctly that when a person registers on your site, they have a choice for access level of either “No Access or Password Protected?”

A: Yes. With “No Access,” a registrant cannot access or retrieve their registered work without submitting a notarized letter. With the “Password Protected” level, the registrant sets up their user ID and password to access or retrieve their registered work online at any time. With either level of security, the document registration number is required.

Q: Why do you recommend that the files not be encrypted or password protected?

A: People forget their passwords and their encryption. We cannot break their encryption to prove that it belongs to them. Our goal is to protect your documents for you—you don’t need to add extra protection.

Q: Your FAQ’s say that all registrations are final upon submission and cannot be changed, substituted, or voided. Please tell us why?

A: The goal of our service is to supply a link to a point in time. In order to provide a legal time stamp for a specific registered document, that link must remain static or the audit trail will be lost. You can add revisions of that registered document as necessary; we’ll accept and store the last five revisions.

Q: How will this service help someone in a plagiarism lawsuit?

A: Our service provides an independent third party certification as to the time the document was uploaded to our servers.

Q: What is your connection with Executive Bancorp?

A: Ewemark is a division of Executive Bancorp, our parent company.

Q: Is Las Vegas Ewemark’s only location?

A: We have locations in Houston and Austin in Texas, Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon.

More information available @ http://www.northwestwriters.com
*********************************************************************
Free Newsletter for Writers – E-Mail newsletter@northwestwriters.com

Interview by M.M. MooreM.M. Moore has written for both national and international magazines, local papers, and on the Internet. Moore is the author of Hunting For Mr. Good Bargain and founder of NorthWestWriters.comhttp://www.northwestwriters.com

MSN Group: http://spaces.msn.com/members/NorthWestAuthors/PersonalSpace/AOL Blog: http://journals.aol.com/northwestauthors/NorthWestAuthors
TypePad Blog: http://northwestauthors.typepad.com/northwestauthors/

Writing.com

noreply@blogger.com (NorthWestWriters.com) — Sat, 03 Sep 2005 16:44:00 +0000

We're chatting with Mr. StoryMaster from Writing.com.
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Q: What sparked the idea for Writing.com?

A: We originally started a small site for people to read and write interactive "choose your own adventure" stories online. As a programmer, I was interested in creating the site. We were surprised to see how much participation there was and as the site grew, we could see it needed to offer much more to writers. It's evolved over time to be the Writing.Com it now is.

Q: When did it go on-line?

A: The site was started September 1st, 2000. We're celebrating our 5-year birthday this year.

Q: What is the mission of Writing.com?A: Our mission is to provide a stable online home for writers of all ages and interest, helping them to grow and improve in their craft.Q: What are the benefits of joining Writing.com?

A: All of the benefits are too numerous to list! :-) But a few of the biggest benefits include: Online portfolios where writers can store their work, a feedback system that allows member authors to receive feedback on their writing and our community of writers to meet and mingle amongst.

Q: What do you think is the most important feature of Writing.com and
why?

A: Writing.Com's community is the most important feature. We have the best group of writers assembled anywhere! :-) They discuss a limitless number of topics and exchange ideas in our Forums and they exchange feedback and opinions through our rating and reviewing system.

Q: How has Writing.com changed since it debuted?

A: Since the site started, the site has gone through many evolutions. We've grown from a small site that only offered those interactive stories, to offering over 10 different types of portfolio items, including the ability to create non-interactive writing, such as poetry, short stories and online books, but also images, word searches, forums and a lot more!

Q: Does Writing.com have some new features in the planning?

A: We always have new features in the planning! :-) Our to-do list is miles long and always fueled by member suggestions, comments and experiences. We're always expanding our existing features and adding new ones... of course, the list of upcoming enhancements is secret, so I can't share any!

Q: How do you see the future of Writing.com evolving?

A: Writing.Com's community will continue to grow, offering more writers to meet and more opinions to be had. Our services for writers will grow to meet the needs of a changing publishing landscape, as more content moves online and self publishing becomes more wide spread. We think the future is very bright for Writing.Com and it's members!

More information available @ http://www.northwestwriters.com
********************************************************************************

Free Newsletter for Writers – E-Mail newsletter@northwestwriters.com

Interview by M.M. MooreM.M. Moore has written for both national and international magazines, local papers, and on the Internet. Moore is the author of Hunting For Mr. Good Bargain and founder of NorthWestWriters.comhttp://www.northwestwriters.com

MSN Group: http://spaces.msn.com/members/NorthWestAuthors/PersonalSpace/
AOL Blog: http://journals.aol.com/northwestauthors/NorthWestAuthors
TypePad Blog: http://northwestauthors.typepad.com/northwestauthors/