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SPAWNews Archives Available - from Jan. 1997 to this month
SPAWNews, July, 2005
Wendy Dager, Editor
For contributions to the newsletter and Letters to the Editor, please e-mail the editor of SPAWNews: Editor@spawn.org.
Those of you who are SPAWN members, be sure to go to the first page of the site, http://www.spawn.org and click on the "Visit Member Area" button. You will be asked to log in.
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Table of Contents
- Letter
- Join a Publishers Association
- Three Things I Learned at BEA
- Find Local Businesses Online
- Speaking of Writers Conferences
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The Lazy Days of Summer
By Wendy Dager
My name is Wendy and I am a procrastinator.
Yes, I am a terrible procrastinator. I am also lazy. I will work on my freelance writing and editing projects and find any excuse to take a break. The refrigerator calls my name and invites me to have a snack. The laundry piles up as I type. The phone rings and I can’t ignore it, even though I know it’s a friend who wants me to go shopping with her. And now that it’s summer, I fear I may become even worse. Or, perhaps, better. Better at procrastinating.
How I admire people like SPAWN Executive Director Virginia Lawrence and SPAWN President Patricia Fry. These are two of the hardest working writers/entrepreneurs in the businesses of writing and entrepreneurship. Recently, I was thinking about them and the other SPAWN members and SPAWNews subscribers who are consistently able to come up with new ideas and put them into effect.
Inspired by these thoughts, I decided to get moving.
I rewrote an old sitcom pilot script and a cable television show pitch and gave them to a friend who is considering starting a production company.
I got busy with the sequel to my novel and e-mailed the first sixty pages to my agent.
I designed a newsletter for a hobby that has turned into a small business.
I wrote a nonfiction book proposal and e-mailed it to a publisher.
My name is Wendy and I’m a procrastinator. But it seems that maybe this summer won’t be as lazy as I thought.
–Wendy Dager is editor of SPAWNews. E-mail her at editor@spawn.org.
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The July Market Update includes two-dozen (count 'em) opportunities for SPAWN members. Read it from cover to cover and you'll find information about a FREE book festival, more places to get your book reviewed (ever hear of the Historical Novel Society?), article-writing opportunities, jobs for artists and photographers, and a creative writing course in Europe. We've also introduced two new organizations, one for mom writers and one for Christian publishers. Editor Patricia Fry has even tucked in a cute essay about her office cats, and invites stories about yours.
Each issue of the SPAWN Market Update is different, but each is designed to help members help themselves sell more books, find writing gigs, land a publisher, learn more about screenwriting and become more informed about the publishing industry.
In this month’s July 2005 Market Update:
Read all about it in the latest edition of the SPAWN Market Update at http://www.spawn.org. Go to the member area using your user name and NEW password (if you’re a member, the new password appears in each monthly edition of SPAWNews) and click on Market Update.
Not a member, yet? Want to see what you’re missing out on? Contact patricia@spawn.org and she’ll give you a sneak peek.
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I just Internet-stumbled across your organization via Google. I see that you offer your services to writers, illustrators, etc. You also list photographers as a group of "artists" that you serve. What type of service(s) would be worth my while to become a member? I am a local photographer, and could use any help that you have to offer—just wondering what that may be.
Thanks,
Jay
Hi Jay,
I hope you spent some time at our Web site gleaning information about SPAWN. We are a networking organization for those who are interested in publishing. This includes artists, graphic designers and photographers. How can you be helped through our organization? You can meet authors and others who are seeking a photographer for a project. I was working on a book a couple of years ago and, had I found a publisher for it, I would have hired a photographer to take pix of fathers and babies for each chapter and, possibly, the cover. I often need a photographer for magazine articles. We also have freelance writers doing brochures and other projects that need photographs. These are some ways that you, as a photographer, can benefit from membership in this organization.
Each month I write the SPAWN Market Update, which is posted in the Members Only area of the SPAWN Web site. I frequently note opportunities for photographers. I'll come across publishers seeking a good photographer, and magazine editors looking for photographs. As a member, you have access to all upcoming issues of the Market Update, as well as access to our archives—a treasure trove of information and opportunities for you.
Often, we see members collaborating on projects. For example, you might be interested in creating a book of photographs and want to collaborate with a poet or a creative writer through SPAWN. As you can see, there are numerous ways that the information we provide here can benefit you.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
Patricia Fry, President
SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network)
http://www.spawn.org
* * * * *
Book Review
By Patricia Fry
Six Figure Freelancing: The Writer’s Guide to Making More Money
By Kelly James-Enger (Random House Reference, 2005)
0-375-72095-2
$14.95
Kelly James-Enger has become successful at something many of us just think about. She quit her job in the rat race to become a fulltime writer. Within three years, she matched her former salary as an attorney and within six years, she was earning a six-figure income. Her new book, published by Random House, tells all.
To read the full review of Six Figure Freelancing: The Writer’s Guide to Making More Money, go to http://www.spawn.org/books/books_write_sixfigurefreelancing.htm.
* * * * *
Four Benefits of Joining a Publishers Association
By Sarah Bolme
"Why should I spend my money to just be part of a group?" This was the response I received when I asked my friend if she was planning on joining a professional organization to which I belonged. Sadly, many individuals see membership fees for a professional association as a waste of money.
Professional associations exist for just about any industry. Associations are formed for the purpose of collaborating and learning from one another with the sentiment that helping each other provides better results than each person just doing it alone. When you join a professional association you receive great benefits. However, it is up to individuals to take advantage of the benefits offered by a professional association.
Read more about the four reasons for you, a self- or small publisher to join a publishers association at http://www.spawn.org/editing/benefitsofjoining.htm.
* * * * *
The Three Things I Learned at BEA
By Mindy Reed, MLIS, MA
I had the pleasure of attending Book Expo America at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City the first week of June. There was palpable excitement as we walked the aisles of the exhibition hall, filling free tote bags with advance copies of books.
I have attended this trade show in the past, but this year was noticeably different.
Read more about insights for your publishing success at http://www.spawn.org/editing/learnedatbea.htm.
* * * * *
Customers Finding Local Businesses Online
By Virginia Lawrence
The major search engines have made tremendous improvements in their local search. Now when someone searches Google, Yahoo, AskJeeves, MSN, or A9, he can get good information about local businesses.
This step forward in local search is only the beginning. Yahoo and Google are already sending local information to our cell phones when requested. As a searcher, won’t it be great to use a cell to quickly find a nearby place to eat while driving through an unfamiliar city?
Of course, it will take a while before everyone figures out how to use the local searches by cell phone. But everyone can search locally today by going on the Internet and searching on Google, Yahoo, and MSN. This means we want to get our businesses well positioned for local search.
Read more how to get listed in a local search at http://www.spawn.org/internet/localbusinessesonline.htm.
* * * * *
Ask the Book Doctor: Good Rejections, Story Classifications and Release Forms
By Bobbie Christmas
To find out more about these and other topics go to http://www.spawn.org/editing/askthebookdoctor6.htm.
* * * * *
SPEAKING OF WRITING CONFERENCES
By Richard F.X. O’Connor
I have long had the privilege of being a faculty member of the just-concluded Santa Barbara Writers Conference and it got me to thinking: What should writers expect from Writers Conferences?
On the one hand, they are reaffirming—in a group setting—of the craft we exercise in private, hence a lonely craft.
Read more about writers expectations at http://www.spawn.org/editing/writingconferences.htm.
* * * * *
Bobbie Christmas’s book, "Write in Style", just earned an award for Best in its Division at the Georgia Author of the Year Awards. It had already won First Place in the Royal Palm Literary Awards in 2004. Bobbie, who writes the "Ask the Book Doctor" column, says she is honored by these awards. For more information about Bobbie, her books and services, http://www.zebraeditor.com.
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Note: SPAWNews advises "caveat emptor" when dealing with venues, contests or promotions unknown to you.
Do you have a cat that helps you in the office or who has unusual culinary preferences, un-catlike habits, strange sleeping habits, a fetish, unusual toys, odd friends or who lived through a harrowing experience? Send your story to Patricia@spawn.org.
Outskirts Press is continuing to enhance its free Author Community. If you have a Web site that offers services that might be beneficial to writers, please contact Outskirts Press. Helpful links will be added to the Author's Center pages in the coming weeks.
- Cover artists (or any kind of artist/illustrator)
- Ghost writers or other kinds of writers/collaborators
- Editors or proofreaders
In some cases, Outskirts Press may request reciprocal links. Mutual linking helps both sites in the search engines. Send linking information to chris@outskirtspress.com.
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Read about the latest contests at: http://www.spawn.org/contests.htm.
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Please note: Although SPAWNews does its best to filter announcements and press releases for various events, seminars, and classes, we cannot guarantee a successful experience for all who attend.
Read about the coming events at: http://www.spawn.org/events.htm.
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SPAWN is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization.
Donations are tax deductible.
* * * * *Join SPAWN now and receive one FREE book by Patricia Fry. See the selection from which you can choose your book at the Member Benefits page. As a member, you can enjoy the benefits of the Members Only Area. There you will find:
- Member Forum. In the SPAWN Forum, you can discuss publishing with knowledgeable published writers and publishers.
- Market Update. This valuable Market Update will appear every month, letting us know exactly what is going on with magazine and book publishers.
- Event Calendar where you can submit your events. After approval, your events will be available for all members to see.
- Member Webpages where you can upload your HTML pages to build your own Web site. Your Web pages will be viewable by everyone on the Internet.
- Member Catalog where you can list your books and services
- Member Discussion list where you can discuss your triumphs and questions with your publishing peers.
* * * * *
SPAWNews SPAWN is a nonprofit corporation. Donations are tax deductible.
Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network
PMB 123
323 E. Matilija St., Suite 110
Ojai, CA 93023
Website: http://www.spawn.org
Telephone: 818-886-4281
Fax: 818-886-3320
Wendy Dager
SPAWNews Editor, Membership and Database Coordinator
e-mail:
editor@spawn.org
Virginia Lawrence, Ph.D.
SPAWN Webmaster
e-mail:
virginia@spawn.org
Virginia Lawrence, Ph.D.
SPAWN Executive Director
e-mail:
execdir@spawn.org
Patricia Fry
SPAWN President
e-mail:
patty@spawn.org
Advisory Council
Carol Doering
Dallas Glenn
Rosalie Heacock
Literary Agent
Andora Hodgin
Writer, Editor, Publicist
Irwin Zucker
Book Publicist
Jim Lane
Author
Marcia Grad-Powers
Publisher
Melvin Powers
Publisher
Dan Poynter
Author, Publisher
Jean Wade
Author
Board of Directors (as of December 1, 2003)
Patricia Fry
Author, Publisher
President of SPAWN
Virginia Lawrence, Ph.D.
Writer, Editor, Webmaster
Executive Director
of SPAWN
Ruth Hibbard
Treasurer of SPAWN
Richard F.X. O'Connor
Author, Publisher, Editor,
Consultant
Tamara Dever
Book Designer
SPAWN Founder
Mary Embree
Author, Editor, Literary Consultant
of SPAWN
MISSION STATEMENT
To promote the literary arts and provide education, information, resources and a supportive networking environment for artists, writers, and other creative people interested in the publishing process.
Submission Guidelines
Members and Nonmembers: Please send your press releases, seminar
information, and books for review to Wendy Dager, Editor, SPAWNews
PMB 123
323 E. Matilija St., Suite 110
Ojai, CA 93023
or email Editor@spawn.org.
SPAWN membership dues are $45 per year; spouses, half-price. Make your check payable to SPAWN and mail to P.O. Box 2653, Ventura, CA 93002-2653. Or click on Member Application to fill out the secure online form and pay your dues by credit card.
SPAWNews, Member Directory and Web site listings, and discounts for SPAWN events are included in membership.
SPAWN is a nonprofit corporation. Donations are tax deductible.
Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network
PMB 123
323 E. Matilija St., Suite 110
Ojai, CA 93023
execdir@spawn.org