Windshift for Writers:

A resource of markets, tips and courses for writers of fiction and nonfiction

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July Newsletter

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Windshift Press. After spending years in the book trade, I, Sandra Janssen, have been looking for a way to share my experiences. I've been a bookseller, an editor, a publicity manager and a sales and marketing manager. On many occasions, I have read manuscripts that deserved to be published but because they came to the wrong publisher, were not financially viable or were too similar to a book already under contract they were rejected. In setting up Windshift Press, I want to offer the independent author an opportunity to see his/her book in print. Windshift Press will work with you to publish and market your book. You will retain 100% of the rights and profits. Contact Windshift Press at press@windshift.bc.ca or visit our website www.windshift.bc.ca/press.htm for more details.

Writing Tip: Writing crime fiction may not be as easy as it first appears. Best-selling crime fiction has one or all of the following ingredients: 1] Very strong characters. If you are writing a detective series you need a very strong central character that makes readers want more. 2] Wonderful settings. You need to be able to take an ordinary setting and make it appear more threatening than it really is. 3] Check your facts. Even if you are only including brief details about a police procedure, you need to know what you are talking about. Readers of crime fiction are very sophisticated readers.

Markets:
Quarter After Eight - www.quarteraftereight.com - an annual literary journal, is looking for non-traditional fiction up to 10,000 words. The reading period is from September 15th to April 15th. Contact: Tony Viola, Editor, Quarter After Eight, Ohio University, 102 Ellis Hall, Athens, Ohio, 45701, USA.

The Daily Telegraph/Arvon International Poetry Competition 2002 - With prizes of £5,000 [c. $12,500], £2,500 [c. $7,500], £1,000 [c. $2,500] and £500 [c. $1,200], this is a major event for poets. Entries must be mailed by August 16, 2002 together with a postal order or a cheque drawn on a UK bank account for 5.00 or by US cheque for $10.00 made payable to the Arvon Foundation and sent to The Daily Telegraph Arvon Poetry Competition, P O Box 38530, London, England SW1W 0XQ

Oceans of the Mind - www.trantorpublications.com is looking for mysteries - robbery, murder, piracy and locked room mysteries for its' autumn issue. They pay up to 5 cents per word for submissions up to 8,000 words. E-mail submissions are preferred, sent as a Microsoft Word attachment. Contact: Richard Freeborn, Oceans of the Mind, Trantor Publications, 9838 Old Baymeadows Road, #283, Jacksonville, Florida, Fl 32256 USA, E-mail: oceansubs@trantorpublications.com

Black Gate Magazine - www.blackgate.com is looking for adventure oriented fantasy fiction suitable for all ages. Submissions including urban fantasy, dark fantasy/horror and romantic fantasy are needed. They pay 6 cents per word for up to 7,000 words and $420.00 [US] for 7,000 - 14,000 words and 3 cents per word for longer pieces. Contact: John O'Neill, New Epoch Press, Submissions Dept., 815 Oak Street, St. Charles, Illinois, Il 60174, USA, E-mail: submissions@blackgate.com

The Writer's Lounge - http://writerslounge.com/personal-best.html seeks submissions for the Personal Best Journal. Submit your essay or creative non-fiction piece of up to 1,000 words. They are considering material on any topic. Responds in four weeks. Payment is 1 cent per printed word, payable within 60 days of publication. Submissions should be sent via the website.

Poetry Magazine - www.poetrymagazine.org - considers any form of poetry. Send no more than 4 poems per submission. They pay $2.00 [US] per line. Submissions by mail. Contact: Joseph Parisi, Editor, Poetry Magazine, 60 West Walton Street, Chicago, Illinois, Il 60610, USA.

Wrekin Writers' Limerick Competition 2002 - www.wrekinwriters.co.uk is seeking entries for their forthcoming limerick competition. A downloadable entry form is available from their website. Closing date is August 31, 2002. Contact: Wrekin Writers' Limerick Competition, c/o 8 Ragleth Road, Church Stretton, Shropshire, England, SY6 7BN

JN Townsend Publishing - www.jntownsendpublishing.com - is seeking fiction and non-fiction manuscripts about animals [no children's books] Submit your entire manuscript to Jeremy Townsend, JN Townsend Publishing, 4 Franklin Street, Exeter, New Hampshire, NH 03833, USA, E-mail: jntown@mediaone.net

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Industry News: Financier Saves Anansi - General Publishing's experimental fiction and poetry imprint House of Anansi Press is being sold to venture capitalist Scott Griffin for $400,000, who plans to inject additional capital. He's also the sponsor of the Griffin Poetry Prize.

Penguin Books has found a new way of making money off writers. They offer a writing course through InsideSessions, a joint venture between Penguin Putnam and Universal Music Group. It is advertised as an Internet writing program that teaches you everything you need to know to transform your work into something publishable. For an additional fee of $119 [US], your manuscript would be read and critiqued by a Penguin editor. Still no promise of a publishing contract after all of that though!
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The answers offered in this column are the personal opinions of the staff at Windshift for Writers. They are in no way meant to take the place of the professional advice you may need to seek for your specific query.

Questions and Answer:
Q. I've read that having a detailed outline (vs. sitting down and seeing where things go) is
important and results in more books that actually get finished. How detailed should an outline be? - Nelson A. -

A. Outlines are important in both fiction and non-fiction writing. They provide a structure for you to gather information about your characters and the plot and setting of your novel. In non-fiction, an outline helps you to sequence the information you are writing about.

Q. I have contacted several magazine editors with ideas but they have asked for more details. I am reluctant to give away too much in case they do the article themselves. Is there any way around this? - Jessica P. -

A. Send your ideas in writing using a query letter or a one-paragraph outline. You don't have to go into detail about your research and sources. An idea by itself doesn't give an editor much to go on. Most publications are not out to steal ideas. They are just looking for competent writers who can write about them.

Online Workshops: Throughout July we are offering a two-class workshop on Found Poetry. Each segment includes a lesson, an exercise/assignment, a critique and one marketing suggestion. You can spread this workshop over three or four weeks depending on your schedule. Even if you don't normally write poetry, this is a great way to breathe new life into your writing.Contact Windshift Press for additional details and to register.

Win a FREE place at one of our Workshops - Writers who wish to host a workshop can do so by inviting interested friends and acquaintances to a venue (It could be your dining-room table.) and providing the coffee. If you host a workshop, your participation is free. Check the Workshops page for further details.

Home News: Windshift for Writers and Windshift Press have a new fax number. We can now be reached at 250 246 2205

Newsletter written by Sandra Janssen

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Windshift for Writers
PO Box 7-5
Thetis Island BC V0R 2Y0
Canada
Tel: 250 246 1888
Fax: 250 246 1888
Contact Windshift Press