If you want to submit your writing in the new year, we need to receive your work ASAP.

We are accepting e-mail queries, as well as regular mail submissions to our review board. Be sure to include the words “Review Board” in your subject line.

This is a great time to enroll in our services and to energize your submission strategy. If your work is chosen, you'll begin the new year with your writing as a priority. You'll be enrolled in our client list for the current cycle, and your submissions will go out when the majority of agents and editors are reading. It's a great time of year to begin your new submission strategy. We’ll list openings in specific genres below. Please DO NOT send work in genres that are not listed.

If you're NOT a do-it-yourselfer and want to utilize our FULL service (rather than our A LA CARTE services), you need to send work to our REVIEW BOARD.

There are some important differences between the three levels of services. A complete list of pricing and services may be found at http://www.WritersRelief.com/comparison.asp.

If you are accepted into our FULL-SERVICE client list:

We propose, prepare, and proof content for cover letters. (You’ll benefit from what we’ve learned since 1994.)

We review and target your work to specific markets based on content, length, reading dates, etc. (You’ll never again have to spend hours researching markets for your work.)

We proof and prepare your work to industry standards, prepare master copies, and maintain electronic or hard copy versions of the work here at Writer's Relief, Inc.  (If your computer crashes, we’ll have a master copy of every title on file.)

We prepare 25 - 30 submissions for each title (or group of poems) within each two-month cycle.  (When was the last time you accomplished this?)

We print your individually addressed cover/query letters. (You don’t have to create merge files, etc.)

We track every submission. (You’ll know what’s going on with every submission without doing any filing.)

We offer guidance regarding submissions, acceptances, etc.  (Each client is assigned two personal submission strategists.)

How many submissions have you mailed in the past two months? This is a great time of year to focus energy on your writing. If you've been putting off getting your work to us, NOW is the time to send it. Writers submitting their work regularly and extensively increase their odds of acceptance . . . dramatically. This cycle is one of the best times for you to enter our client list.

We have room to invite a few more writers into our Writer's Relief family. We are reading in the following genres only:

Nonfiction (books)—Send chapter outline, proposal, sample chapters (30 pages) of your unpublished manuscript, your biography, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. (For e-queries, chapter outline, proposal, and sample pages may be in one file.)

Novels—Send synopsis, first 30 pages of your unpublished manuscript, sample query letter, your biography, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. (For e-queries, synopsis and samples pages may be in one file.)

Poetry—Send 10 - 12 unpublished poems, your biography, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. (For e-queries, paste poems into one file; one poem per page.)

Short Stories or Personal/Creative Essays—Send three unpublished stories (each under 5,000 words), your biography, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. (For e-queries, each story should be in a separate file.)

Our review is FREE. If our review board determines your writing is strong enough (and markets are plentiful enough), they will send you an invitation to join our services. They will quote you FLAT FEES at that time. You may accept or decline their invitation.

Keep in mind that we must turn away 80 percent of the work that comes to us. However, if your writing is strong, don't let procrastination, hesitation, lack of marketing experience, or fear stop you from submitting your work.

Wouldn't it be amazing to get your submissions in the mail to all the best publishers and agents? Writer's Relief has successfully helped writers beat the procrastinator in them since 1994. We help clients find the time to write.

Writers have been looking to us for years to help them alleviate the countless hours needed to research ever-changing writers' markets. We continue to have the most current and best writers' markets included in our database. Because our database is updated daily from information we receive from all of our clients, as well as thousands of journals and agents directly, our lists are more up-to-date than any market book or online source.

Send Writing Samples To:

For e-mail queries: Send to Kriste@wrelief.com. We will accept the samples as attachments ONLY in .DOC, .RTF, or .WPD format. (E-mail submissions MUST include all pieces itemized above, including complete contact information, cover letter, and BIO pasted into the body of your e-mail, and sample pages attached, or they WILL NOT be reviewed. No SASE needed for e-mail submissions.) Include the words “Review Board” in your subject line.

Or mail your submission to: Review Board, Writer's Relief, Inc., 409 South River Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601

We want to be your partner in the submission process. Call us toll-free (between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time) if you have any questions. One of our personal submission strategists will be happy to spend a few minutes with you on the telephone.

Keep Writing And Submitting!

If you have an interesting article that pertains to an aspect of creative writing, you may be able to see it published in our Newsflash! We’re always looking for articles that make grammar easy and fun, that inspire or motivate creativity, or that clear up frustrating aspects of the writing life.

Here’s what you need to know:

We acquire first-time rights (you can publish your article elsewhere after we post it). 

Articles should be no more than 500 words. 

To get ideas for our tone, style, and interests please read through the articles posted on our blog. 

Before you write your article, make sure that we haven’t already written about your topic. Use the search tools on our blog. 

Previously published work is acceptable, but you must tell us the details of the prior publication. 

Our pay rate is $25 per article.   

E-mail your completed article AND a short bio to Lisa@wrelief.com. No attachments.
 
Our response time is usually very quick—less than a week. We’re looking forward to reading your work!

What is a thriller, aside from the obvious? This genre is known for the intensity of emotion it creates. Apprehension. Exhilaration. Anxiety. The main character (MC) has a goal, a nearly impossible one at times, and a heroic effort and/or sacrifice is required to overcome obstacles and reach that goal. Time is almost always a huge concern, as the MC must accomplish some feat (rescue his girlfriend, find the antidote, stop the terrorists) before disaster strikes. The level of intensity can either build slowly throughout the book or hit the reader from the very beginning, but it must generate a level of tension that keeps the reader turning pages. Most importantly, good thrillers keep up an intense pace, and the reader is swept along for an incredible ride.

If the author has done a good job with accurate research and an intricate plot, the reader will also come away emotionally satisfied with having learned something. Thrillers, by their very definition, create a thrill, but they also provide good information about the legal system, a medical procedure, the inner world of Soviet espionage, military weaponry… Patricia Cornwell writes a series of medical thrillers based on her knowledge of the medical examiner’s world—a world that fascinates her fans, who are sophisticated and want accurate facts, not vague explanations or made-up procedures.

Thrillers are often lumped together with mysteries, but there are key differences between these genres. In mysteries the MC is presented with a puzzle (a murder, for instance) and must look for clues to solve that puzzle. In thrillers the MC faces a nightmare of a situation (impending disaster, serial killers, airborne viruses) and must learn new skills to cope with the circumstances. Most, if not all, of the “clues” are provided in a thriller, and the reader expects twists and turns and surprises rather than answers. Thrillers appeal more to the senses than an intellectual exercise in detective work, considered too “tame” for true thriller aficionados. It’s the emotional connection that counts.

Here are some of the basic subgenres of the thriller world. Keep in mind that there are often overlaps between two or more subgenres.

Medical. Modern medical technology is used to harm rather than heal. Robin Cook is the master of this genre. Forensic thrillers are another popular offshoot.

Legal. Usually, a lawyer or someone associated with the law takes on the legal system, often putting their own lives at risk. John Grisham and David Baldacci are well-known in this category.

Disaster. The town’s dam is going to burst in 24 hours or less. A ship innocently heads to port, carrying a bomb that could wipe out half of California. A meteor hurtles toward Earth. Any natural or manmade disaster that affects a large group of people can become a disaster thriller.

Action-Adventure. Difficult to successfully pull off, thanks to the huge amount of action and plot required, this is nevertheless a hugely popular genre, especially when translated to film. It’s characterized by physical action, bravery, and violence, and you’re likely to encounter high-tech weapons and remote, dangerous locations. Think The Bourne Identity.

Horror. Silence of the Lambs is a good example of this subgenre, emphasizing mental, emotional, and physical trauma for the MC as he/she battles a monster, human or otherwise. This also ties in to Serial Killer thrillers, in which the MC must track down a killer who threatens a group of people. Lots of blood and gore; lots of suspense.

Techno. This usually focuses on military technology of some sort, and this technology is essential to the plot. Tom Clancy’s work comes to mind immediately.
In the rich literary banquet of thrillers, the reader can also choose from police, spy, romantic, historical, supernatural, political, erotic, and conspiracy thrillers—and, more often than not, a combination of one or more of these subcategories. It’s a wildly popular genre overall, thanks to the adrenaline rush, complex plots, and big storylines. Thrillers are exciting. They are dangerous. And they should leave us feeling satisfied that not only did the MC save the world from (insert global threat here), but we learned a little something in the process. And even if we’ll never need to know how to detect a false heart attack during an autopsy, it makes us feel smarter if we do.

Web sites are becoming more and more popular, dividing the writing community into two groups: Writers who have sites and writers who don’t.

For most people, having a Web site will not necessarily make or break a writing career. Web sites alone do not clinch book deals, snag agents, or ensure best seller status. However, the decision of whether to create a Web site bears serious consideration.

Here are a few ways having a Web site can help your writing get noticed.

1. Web sites are beginning to function the same way that business cards work. In essence, your URL (posted on blogs, at the bottom of your e-mails, on your friends’ homepages, and on your social-networking sites) is an invitation to writers, editors, and agents to learn more about you.  
2. When you’re sending query letters to agents, publishers, or even literary magazines, showing off your Web skills indicates that you are forward-thinking, cutting-edge, and willing to do the “leg work” of promoting your own writing. If you sell books, they sell books. Your hard work will cause others to work hard for you. 
3. Having a Web site, especially if it’s popular or has a core body of loyal readers, can demonstrate that your writing has the power to touch readers’ lives by inspiring an emotional reaction. Agents and editors can go on your site and read the flurry of activity as people leave their comments, sign your guest book, and show their support. That enthusiasm can be contagious.
4. A Web site can give potential readers access to projects that you have yet to sell. Although most publishers are starting to consider writing published in any digital format as being “previously published,” you can show off synopses and excerpts from your writing, and, with any luck, your snippets will get a few nibbles or even bites. Just be sure not to post too many offerings at one time; otherwise, your readers might get the feeling that the reason you have so many postings is that you are unable to “place” your work.
5. Your Web site is a great place to keep your bio fresh and up to date. In query and cover letters, you’re often given only a brief paragraph to describe your history, your aspirations, and your intentions. If you write a great mini bio in your cover letter, you could inspire your reader to go to your Web site and learn more about you. Time and again, advertising gurus and business coaches stress the importance of “branding”; a good Web site bio can help you do just that.
6. Your site is an excellent promotional tool for published work. Once your short story is published or your novel is on the shelves, use your site to keep readers interested by hosting contests, offering supplemental materials and free stuff, and developing an online “personality” that makes people want to know more.

For an example of an up-and-coming novelist’s site that we like (full disclosure, she works for Writer’s Relief!), have a look at www.LisaDaleBooks.com, where you can find things like audio downloads, interviews, videos, and free stuff. 

For more information about how to make your own Web site, please read our post: http://writersreliefblog.com/post/20-Groovy-Website-Resources-for-Writers.aspx

Please see individual URLs for complete contest and anthology information and submissions guidelines.

Upcoming Anthologies 

Deadline: 01/31/09.
Submit to: Untitled Anthology. E-mail to: littlesuperheroes@gmail.com.
Theme: Boys 3-8 years old who wants to be superheroes. 
Type: True stories (500-750 words).
URL: N/A. 

Deadline: 02/01/09.
Submit to: Rattle. E-mail (via pasted-in text) to: submissions@rattle.com.
Theme: African-American poets.
Type: Poetry and essays (5,000 words MAX).
URL: http://www.rattle.com/callsforsubs.htm 

Deadline: 02/01/09.
Submit to: Windfall. PO Box 19007, Portland, OR 97280.
Theme: Poetry of place, specifically the Pacific Northwest.
Type: Poetry (5 poems MAX).
URL: http://www.hevanet.com/windfall/index.html

Deadline: 02/08/09.
Submit to: Pockets. 1908 Grand Avenue, PO Box 340004, Nashville, TN 37203-0004.
Theme: Priorities.
Type: Stories (1,400 words MAX), poems (24 lines MAX), and articles (1,000 words MAX).
URL: http://www.upperroom.org/pockets/writer_guidelines.asp  

Deadline: 02/16/09.
Submit to: New Plains Review. Submissions, PO Box 184, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK 73034. Or e-mail (via Word attachment) to: doug@janestreet.org.
Theme: Service. “Military, community service, school service requirements, jury duty, all forms of volunteering, religious services, food service, customer service, serving a subpoena or tennis ball, etc.”
URL: http://www.libarts.ucok.edu/english/newplains/issue.htm

Deadline: 02/28/09.
Submit to: Queer SF Anthology submission. E-mail (via pasted-in text) to: editor@queeredfiction.com.
Theme: Queer Science Fiction (GLBT).
Type: Short stories (4,000 to 10,000 words).
URL: http://www.queeredfiction.com

Deadline: 03/01/09.
Submit to: Thema. Virginia Howard (for fiction). Gail Howard (for poetry). Box 8747, Metairie, LA 70011-8747.
Theme: Put it in your pocket, Lillian.
Type: Poetry and fiction (20 pages MAX).
URL: http://members.cox.net/thema/submissions.html

Deadline: Unspecified.
Submit to: Novel & Short Story Writer's Market. E-mail to: nsswm@fwpubs.com.
Theme: The Writing Life, Craft & Technique, Getting Published, For Mystery Writers, For Romance Writers, and For Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Writers.
Type: Nonfiction (see examples of previous editions).
URL: Unspecified. 

Upcoming Contests

Deadline: 01/15/09.
Submit to: 2008 Lyric Family Prize, PO Box 2494, Bloomington, IN 47402.
Entry fee: $10. First prize: $300, a broadside, a lifetime subscription, and publication.
Type: Poetry (MUST have strong musicality and lyricism).
URL: http://www.lyricreview.org/contest.html

Deadline: 01/15/09.
Submit to: Sonora Review Short-Short Contest. Department of English, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721.
Entry fee: $15. First prize: $1,000 and publication.
Type: Short shorts (3 pieces MAX/1,000 words each MAX).
URL: http://www.coh.arizona.edu/Sonora/contest.htm

Deadline: 01/16/09.
Submit to: Buffalo Carp Flash Fiction Contest. Quad City Arts, 1715 Second Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201. Or e-mail to: buffalocarp@gmail.com.
Entry fee: $10. First Prize: $250, publication, five copies.
Type: Flash fiction (3 pieces MAX, 600 words each MAX).
URL: http://www.quadcityarts.com/

Deadline: 01/31/09.
Submit to: Fulton Prize for Short Fiction sponsored by The Adirondack Review and Black Lawrence Press. E-mail to: diane@blacklawrencepress.com. Subject line: “[Your last name] Fulton Prize Submission.”
Entry fee: $10. First prize: $400 and publication.
Type: Short fiction.
URL: http://theadirondackreview.com/FultonPrize.html

Deadline: 01/31/09.
Submit to: New Millennium Writings. PO Box 2463, Knoxville, TN 37901-2463.
Entry fee: $17. First prize: $1,000 and publication.
Type: Prose (6,000 words MAX), short shorts (1,000 words MAX), poetry (3 poems, five pages MAX).
URL: http://www.newmillenniumwritings.com/awards.php

Deadline: 02/08/09.
Submit to: Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest.
Entry fee: None. First prize: $25,000.
Type: Unpublished novels.
URL https://www.createspace.com/abna

Deadline: 02/15/09.
Submit to: Julia Peterkin Award. Converse College, Department of English, Spartanburg, SC 29302.
Entry fee: $15. First prize: $1000 and travel expenses for a reading at Converse College.
Type: Fiction (5,000 words MAX).
URL: http://www.converse.edu/academics/majors/peterkinjuliaaward.html

Deadline: 02/16/09.
Submit to: Tiny Lights Essay Contest sponsored by Tiny Lights Publications. PO Box 928, Petaluma, CA 94953.
Entry fee: $15. First prize: $400.
Type: Essays. (Specify which category: Standard [2,000 words MAX] or Flash [1,000 words MAX]. MUST show the author’s growth/change.
URL: http://www.tiny-lights.com/contest.php 

Conferences

Georgia: Voices of Christ Literary Ministries International will sponsor a conference "An Introduction to The Scribal Anointing" to be held in Atlanta, GA, on January 31, 2009. More information at: http://www.voicesofchrist.org.

Tennessee: Tennessee Mountain Writers, Inc. will host their "Januray Jumpstart" on January 9-11, 2009 in Sweetwater, TN, and their annual conference on  April 2-4, 2009 in Oak Ridge, TN. More information at: http://www.tmwi.org.

Massachusetts: "Writing From The Heart; A Retreat For Women" will be held January 23-25, 2009 in Rowe, MA. More information at www.rowecenter.org.

News of Interest

The Cell of a Soul, Maria Logven's first book of short stories illustrated by a surrealist artist Michael Cheval, is now available at http://www.amazon.com/Cell-Soul-Maria-Logven/dp/1434399966/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229530126&sr=1-1.

Naomi Ruth Lowinsky's memoir on being a poet, The Sister from Below: When the Muse Gets Her Way has been accepted for publication by Fisher King Press. Advance orders welcome: http://www.fisherkingpress.com/order.html.

You CAN give THE perfect gift to the writers you love OR encourage your family to buy one for you!

Help the writers you know get their submissions in the mail. What could be better? Purchase our Gift Certificates for Writers, and support the writers in your life this holiday season.


 
Give a gift certificate for one of our A La Carte services. We’ll target submissions and create cover/query letters as well. This is the perfect gift for writers who are hard-pressed to find time to write given the time that’s required to research markets, create query letters, etc. Writers want time to write!
 
We’ve been helping writers submit their work since 1994. Because we believe in nurturing the arts—especially in times of struggle—we've created different levels of service to help writers publish their work while staying within a budget.
 
Words are important and vital. They help us to remain hopeful about our lives and the beautiful world in which we live.
 
Go to this link to see which level of service is best for you: http://writersreliefblog.com/post/Three-Levels-Of-Service.aspx. Please note that only our A La Carte services are available as gifts. Other services require Review Board approval.
 
A La Carte Service—Your writer friends can get started right away! Writer’s Relief will target markets and guide your loved one through the process. Your gift will enable her/him to get 25+ submissions out into the world within 3 days of redeeming your gift certificate. It’s quick and easy. We provide the best market research available to creative writers. Cost: $100.00 + postage.
 
A La Carte PLUS Service—Everything that’s easy and affordable about our regular A La Carte Service, with the time-saving bonus of cover/query letter preparation. We will target the best markets for your loved one’s work, prepare mailing labels, and create 25 to 30 personalized, professional cover/query letters. Cost: $250.00 + postage.
 
We invite you to call us between the hours of 8:30 and 2:30 Eastern Time. Ask to speak with Marissa or Kriste. They are trained as personal submission strategists and will be happy to answer your questions.
 
Happy Holidays!

Order TODAY and we’ll send your gift certificate within 24 hours!

If you want to submit your writing in the new year, we need to receive your work ASAP.

Writer's Relief Review Board Meets: Monday, December 15 and Tuesday, December 16 (Writers enter our FULL-SERVICE BY INVITATION ONLY, so send your work to our review board ASAP).

We will be accepting e-mail queries, as well as regular mail submissions to our review board. Be sure to include the words “Review Board” in your subject line.

This is a great time to enroll in our services and to energize your submission strategy. If your work is chosen, you’ll begin the new year with your writing as a priority. You’ll be enrolled in our client list for the December – February cycle, and your submissions will go out when the majority of agents and editors are reading. It’s a great time of year to begin your new submission strategy. We’ll list openings in specific genres below. Please DO NOT send work in genres that are not listed.

If you're NOT a do-it-yourselfer and want to utilize our FULL Service (rather than our A LA CARTE Services), you need to send work to our REVIEW BOARD. Keep reading.

There are some important differences between our A La Carte Services and Full Services. If you are accepted into our FULL-SERVICE client list:

We propose, prepare, and proof content for cover letters. (You’ll benefit from what we’ve learned since 1994. We know what editors and agents want to see in your cover/query letter.)

We review and target your work to specific markets based on content, length, reading dates, etc. (You’ll never again have to spend countless hours researching markets for your work.)

We proof and prepare your work to industry standards, prepare master copies, and maintain electronic or hard copy versions of the work here at Writer's Relief, Inc. (Proper formatting ensures a good read,  and, if your computer crashes, we’ll have a master copy of every title on file.)

We prepare 25 - 30 submissions for each title (or group of poems) within each two-month cycle. (When was the last time you accomplished this?)

We print your individually addressed cover/query letters. (You’ll simply sign your letters, and they’ll be ready to go. You don’t have to create merge files, etc.)

We track every submission. (You’ll know what’s going on with every submission without doing any filing.)

We offer guidance regarding submissions, acceptances, etc. (Each client is assigned two personal submission strategists.)

How many submissions have you mailed in the past two months? This is a great time of year to focus energy on your writing. If you've been putting off getting your work to our review board, now's the time to send it to us. Writers submitting their work regularly and extensively increase their odds of acceptance . . . dramatically. We have a limited number of openings available in specific genres. This upcoming cycle is one of the best times for you to enter our client list.

Our review board will meet Monday (December 15) through Tuesday (December 16) and make selections for the coming cycle. This means you will have the opportunity to have your work read in a very timely manner. If you would like your work considered, be sure it arrives in our office before this date. After selections are made we will not be registering new clients for at least two to four months. Use the e-mail or street address below.

We are reading in the following genres only:

Novels—Send synopsis, first 30 pages of your unpublished manuscript, sample query letter, your biography, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. (For e-queries, synopsis and samples pages may be in one file.)

Nonfiction (books)—Send chapter outline, proposal, sample chapters (30 pages) of your unpublished manuscript, your biography, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. (For e-queries, chapter outline, proposal, and sample pages may be in one file.)

Short Stories or Personal/Creative Essays—Send three unpublished stories (each under 5,000 words), your biography, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. (For e-queries, each story should be in a separate file.)

Poetry—Send 10 - 12 unpublished poems, your biography, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. (For e-queries, paste poems into one file; one poem per page.)

We will mail our letters of acceptance or rejection before December 18, which means you won't have to wait long for our decision. Our review is FREE. If our review board determines your writing is strong enough (and markets are plentiful enough), they will send you an invitation to join our services. They will quote you FLAT FEES at that time. You may accept or decline their invitation. A list of fees and services may be found at http://www.writersrelief.com/comparison.asp.

Keep in mind that we must turn away 80 percent of the work that comes to us. However, if your writing is strong, don't let procrastination, hesitation, lack of marketing experience, or fear stop you from submitting your work.

Wouldn't it be amazing to get your submissions in the mail to all the best publishers and agents? Writer's Relief has successfully helped writers beat the procrastinator in them since 1994. We help clients find the time to write.

Writers have been looking to us for years to help them alleviate the countless hours needed to research ever-changing writers' markets. We continue to have the most current and best writers' markets included in our database. Because our database is updated daily from information we receive from all of our clients, as well as thousands of journals and agents directly, our lists are more up-to-date than any market book or online source.

Send Writing Samples To:

For e-mail queries: Send to Kriste@wrelief.com. We will accept the samples as attachments ONLY in .DOC, .RTF, or .WPD format. (E-mail submissions MUST include all pieces itemized above, including cover letter and BIO pasted into the body of your e-mail, and sample pages attached, or they WILL NOT be reviewed. No SASE needed for e-mail submissions.) Include the words “Review Board” in your subject line.

Or mail your submission to: Review Board, Writer's Relief, Inc., 409 South River Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601

Be sure to include your contact information including e-mail and phone number.

We want to be your partner in the submission process. Call us toll-free (between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time) if you have any questions. One of our personal submission strategists will be happy to spend a few minutes with you on the telephone.

Keep Writing And Submitting!

Ronnie L. Smith, President
Writer's Relief, Inc.
(866) 405-3003 (toll-free), (201) 641-3003
http://www.writersrelief.com

P.S. Have your work in our office by Monday (December 15).

…will help you get your submissions in the mail by next week! We’ll do the market research and give you clear and simple instructions to properly prepare submissions to industry standards. You’ll have your submissions in the mail within a few days—REALLY! You don't need to enroll in our full services in order to benefit from what we've learned about publishing since 1994. (If you do want a more full range of services—including creating cover/query letters, tracking submissions, proofreading, etc.—you’ll need to apply and send work to our review board. Call for details.)

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, our a la carte service is quick and easy. We provide the best market research available to creative writers.

It's simple AND affordable. Keep reading.

You’ll get:

** A CUSTOM list of 25+ literary venues that specialize in YOUR type of writing. (Your work will be targeted to the best markets based on the topics, word count, etc. of the particular piece [or group of poems] you’re submitting.)

** Self-adhesive labels (one for each contact) containing the most up-to-date address information. These labels make it very easy for you to mail your own submissions.

** An online database that lists all your submissions. You'll have access to your submission list 24 hours a day for 30 days.

** BONUS: We will also include a FREE bonus packet of informational tip sheets that will teach you the insider's secrets we've gathered since 1994. We want you to be successful. Following these guidelines (including sample format sheets, submission do’s and don’ts, etc.) will ensure that your work is well-prepared, which will, in turn, ensure a good read. This bonus packet of materials will include an easy-to-follow checklist for creating a most effective cover/query letter.

In order to create a CUSTOM list for you, we will need you to provide topics covered in your work. We will make this very EASY for you by giving you access to our online Work Cover checklist. We will prepare your specially targeted list of markets after receiving this information.

Call us with your credit card authorization between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, and we can get started. We will prepare your submission list within one business day of receiving your completed Work Cover Sheet. Imagine how it will feel to have 25 properly targeted and prepared submissions in the mail within days!!

How much will this cost? Only $100, plus $6 U.S. postage and handling (international rates will vary). Your packet of specially targeted markets will arrive via U.S. Priority Mail. Our a la carte service or our full service? Choose the one that works best for you. Both services include targeting your work to the best markets. We outline both services and costs at http://www.writersrelief.com/comparison.asp.

We invite you to give Kriste or Marissa a call to discuss your needs at (866) 405-3003 or (201) 641-3003. They are trained as personal submission strategists here at Writer's Relief and will be happy to speak with you.

There are weird words in every industry, and the literary world is no exception. We’ve listed some of the stranger-sounding industry-specific jargon common to writers, editors, and agents that may need some clarification.

Anaphora. Too many sentences in a row that begin the same way. Sometimes this is deliberate and effective. Sometimes this is sloppy. Sometimes it is simply irritating.

Avant-garde. Usually associated with artwork, this term can also be applied to literature that is considered new or experimental. If your work has been labeled avant-garde, you can be proud of your innovation. Much better than “same ol’, same ol’.”

Backstory. The history of your characters before the book's present action.

Blurb. This sounds like a bodily function, but, in actuality, it refers to the synopsis on the back cover of the book. Its function is to “hook” the reader like a fish.

Dead metaphor. This is a poor little metaphor that is no longer relevant (“long in the tooth”) and has been overused.

Head-hopping. Jumping from one person’s thoughts to another's or switching back and forth between points of view. This is just another way to give your audience a headache.

Hook. Whether it’s the first line of a query, a novel, or part of the blurb, a hook is designed to capture the reader’s attention. We know that readers aren’t fish. But it paints a cool mental picture.

Novella. Sounds like something vaguely racy. In actuality it is a short novel (approximately half the size).

Round file. A nice word for trash can. A not-so-nice place for your manuscript to end up.

Slush pile. If you live in northern climes, the slush pile usually refers to the pile of slushy snow that threatens to grab your tires or fill up your boots. In writer’s lingo the slush pile is where the hundreds upon hundreds of unsolicited or misdirected manuscripts go—usually a dusty pile in the corner of an editor’s office.

Widows and orphans. A “widow” is the last line of the paragraph floating alone and lonely at the top of the next page. An “orphan” is the first line of a paragraph that languishes at the bottom of the page, all alone.

YA. Young adult. Or “Yikes! Anaphora!”

Feedback from critiques, editors, and agents can also contain some confusing notations we should clarify. Your MS is voicey and organic but switches POV indiscriminately. What the heck? Translation: Your manuscript has a strong, well-defined voice and rings true and authentic, but your point of view switches back and forth. Comments like “Boring and too long” or “I hated this” are fairly self-explanatory. Others are not quite as clear.

No legs. Can your idea or novel stand on its own in the big, scary market? If not, your work may suffer from “no legs.” (You see the metaphor.)

Organic. No, not vegetables. This is writing that is authentic, uncontrived. If your character is organic, it means he comes across as real, not as an artificial, unrealistic protagonist with zero faults and great, big muscles.

Quiet. This work has been labeled as more literary than commercial and, therefore, harder to sell.

Stale. Again, a food reference. If your story has been labeled stale, it’s time to take a “fresh” approach.

Tight. Good job! You’ve eliminated all the unnecessary filler and made it nice and concise and really tried to be spare with your words and things like that, which makes your writing not too padded and fluffy, and you have taken out all the nonessentials.

John Steinbeck, William Faulkner, and Margaret Mitchell found themselves writing during some of the most difficult—and arguably the most historic—years in our nation’s history. When things get rough tenacious American writers step up to the plate to produce meaningful and dramatic works of art that live on for generations. Where do readers and writers turn when times get tough? Click the link below to read about trends in art and entertainment during The Great Depression. Maybe you’ll discover something inspiring for your own writing at this time in our history!

http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/sat2/history/chapter17section3.rhtml

by Gilda Haber, Ph.D., Department of English Composition, Literature and Professional Writing

As instructors some of us love to write, and some of us also enjoy attending writers’ conferences. This summer I attended three writers’ conferences—one in Manhattan at Marymount Manhattan College, one at UDC, and one at Georgetown University, held by Washington Independent Writers (WIW).

Prior to the conference registrants receive a program and a list of available agents. It is wise for participants to choose the panels they wish to attend and to research and make appointments with agents in your genre prior to the conference. The writing conference is a good opportunity for the serious writer with an idea or a manuscript to network.

We meet other writers and authors, share our interests, attend specific panels of choice (such as a fiction, nonfiction) or meet, one-on-one, with literary agents. Each member of a panel speaks on his or her expertise and takes questions on how to write and sell one’s work. Most importantly, serious writers usually sign up to meet agents who attend the conference. Although hard to get, agents are interested in finding new talent.

One of the goals of a writers’ workshop is to meet agents in person. But both panel speakers and agents are relentlessly focused on writing as a business. Either work is well-written and has possibilities of selling to the public or it isn’t. You may have one but not the other advantage. Agents and publishers also put in long hours without compensation for the love of bringing a book from conception to birth. You must seek out the agent right for you, one who has sold books in the field that interests you, and one with whom you feel comfortable. The agent not only judges your work, but judges you personally, as to whether he or she likes you. You do the same.

I came armed with business cards and with queries, hoping, in 60 seconds, to seduce some agent with the excellence, uniqueness, excitement, and salability of my work. Who else but a writer labors intensively, creatively for months or years for the love of writing, to create a work of art and with no sure reward in sight?

Frankly, I was terrified of meeting some of these agents in person, especially those who have represented famous people. So far I had only read agents’ credentials on paper and seen the kind of deals they made, the kind of books they sold. The agent I most feared seeing turned out to be friendly but strictly businesslike. From my experience and from agents met at writing conferences, I learned the following:

One needs talent to write but, to paraphrase Edison: "success is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration." Work hard and be persistent in sending out your work.

Do not copy anyone else’s style. Be yourself and develop your own. Welcome constructive criticism. It is the highest form of friendship. Give constructive comments to friends’ writings. If your grammar is weak, find a good copy editor.

Writing groups are very useful for feedback. (I, myself, run a writing group.)

Find out which books are written on subjects that interest you and who was the agent, editor and publisher for those books. Such information is often found in the book’s acknowledgments or by Googling the book’s name and author. Get to know that agent’s background, even his/her hobbies and interests.

There are books in public and school libraries on publishing markets. Buy one.

Do not send work sloppy in appearance or make spelling mistakes.

Be professional. Make sure to spell the agent’s name correctly. Read the agent’s rules for submission, and strictly observe those rules.

Do not unduly flatter the agent or boast about your own work.

Research dates, times, names, events, even names of paintings for authenticity.

Use verbs. Avoid adjectives and adverbs; show and do not tell readers what happens. Where appropriate, use dialogue; but dialogue must move the action.

Prepare a query before writing to an agent. Your query can refer to one or two books that agent has sold but not to all the agents’ sales. This is gratuitous.

Your query should consist of: why you chose this agent; why you are writing this book; what the book is about; why you are qualified to write this book; and how it differs from other books written on the same theme; say who will read your book and what you can personally do to promote the book’s sales. All this information should be written on one page. This is one of the hardest parts of writing.

If the agent answers your one-page query and says he/she is interested, either you know what the agent wants you to send next or ask the agent what he/she wants you to send. Do not get too excited. This is only the first of many steps.

Only send material when it is your very best work. There are no second chances with an agent. Revise and share it with peers and/or an editor relentlessly.

Fiction should be complete before sending; nonfiction has different rules.

Do not expect to be accepted at once. Expect many rejections. Some famous books were rejected as many as 50 times before becoming best-sellers. Some great books never become best-sellers. Do not leave your job or expect to become rich unless, besides being a good writer, you happen to be lucky. When it is rejected revise, revise, and share your work with other writers. As you revise early work, you will become more adept; writing ages like fine wine. Revisions with constructive peer comments or editorial assistance will refine your writing.

Keep a journal or a diary to write down interesting material, even dialogue as it occurs.
This will make your writing fresh, even if you use the material years later.

Write what you know about, but be careful in writing about someone you know. People may sue a writer if they recognize themselves and object to your presentation of them, especially if their personal lives are revealed.

There are grave challenges and risks to take as a writer. One exposes all of one’s skills and charms, as well as one’s weaknesses and foibles to others. But what joy when I see one of my 40 articles or stories in print, and what a joy it is to write!!

Good luck! See you at the next conference!

Jerry is a man who expects to be robbed. He has set up cameras and motion detectors all around his property. He patrols the sidewalk and glares at passing teenagers. He expects the worst from people, and that is what he receives. His neighbor Mary, however, sees the best in people and has a loving attitude toward them. Her house has never been TP’d, and when teenagers pass by, they greet her with a smile instead of a scowl.

Writers can use this deceptively simple concept to up their publishing success, simply by expecting success in their writing careers. If it sounds too good to be true, keep in mind that many people have found that positive energy and high expectations have improved their relationships and even their health—why not their careers?

Writers are often paralyzed by fear: fear of failure, rejection, poverty, humiliation. This fear leads to low expectations for success, either from low self-esteem or as a protective device against rejection. And these low expectations are apparent to others in your work and attitude. A query letter from a writer who has set high expectations for himself will be more enthusiastic, positive, and generally more intriguing to an agent than one from an insecure writer with low expectations of ever being published. Most people aren’t aware that the energy they project has a direct effect on their own success and failure. Send out negative energy—you can expect negative results. Most writers will encounter rejection along the way, more so than other professionals, but focusing on these rejections as we learn our craft slows down the process and impedes positive results. If we focus on the end goals and the positive things that come our way, the path to success is smoother.

It’s a harsh reality that getting published is a difficult task. Give yourself a little compassion and know that it’s a tough business, but don’t let it affect your motivation. Send out positive energy and keep your expectations high—imbue your work with that feeling. Negative energy is draining and nonproductive. Like Jerry, you will attract what you project, and no one wants a front yard full of toilet paper.

First, remember why you love your work. List why you love to write and why you became a writer in the first place. Generate the positive feelings before the fear of failure and looming deadlines started to negatively impact the excitement and joy of writing. Your life’s work is a huge source of energy, either positive or negative, and by adjusting our attitudes, we can help create a positive flow rather than a negative one. Keep this list in a place where it will remind you why you are a writer, even on those days when you wonder about it yourself.

Second, identify factors that decrease your energy and result in low expectations. Depression, fatigue, poor diet, seasonal affective disorder, disorganized or noisy work spaces—all of these can leave you listless and unmotivated. Now create a third list of things that energize you—like gardening, cooking, or spending time with family members. You can now begin to eliminate or address items from the first list that block your positive energy and try to incorporate things that create good feelings. For example, address the issue of a poor diet, and add some gardening time to your daily routine.

We’d love to hear about your number one reason for being a writer. Please feel free to share your thoughts by posting a reply. Let’s share all of the positive energy we create as writers.

In the heat of the moment, do you find the right words hard to come by? After an argument or disagreement with your significant other, boss, or parent, do you find yourself going over the conversation but adding the words you should have said? Have you decided that “Yeah…well…you’re wrong!” was perhaps not the best response? Can you rewrite your part of the dialogue? Outline a conversation but add what you would like to have said instead of your less-than-perfect, heat-of-the-moment words. Perhaps you can move some of the negative thoughts and words to a more positive outcome.

First of all, don’t be intimidated by this task. It is no longer necessary to be a Web designer to create a classy, interesting Web site to showcase your work. A great site can also help you sell books, gain readership, and create a Web presence. There are several hosting programs that are inexpensive, professional, and user-friendly. And, if you get stuck, there are always computer-savvy college students willing to help out for a few bucks.

Some tips:

Choose a domain name that accurately reflects you and your work. Use your own name or your pen name. If your name is very difficult to spell or pronounce or if it’s already been claimed, you may want to use the name of the work you’re promoting.

Keep it clean. One of the quickest ways to lose a reader’s interest is to force him or her to scroll through miles of text, navigate blinking graphics and pop-ups, and struggle to turn down the volume of your favorite techno beat just to get to the heart of the matter—you and your work. If your content is simple, keep it all on a single page, in an easy-to-read format. (By easy-to-read, we mean no white text on black backgrounds.) Additional content? Create and post links on the (front) home page; for example, one can click on Publication Credits and Educational Background, which will lead readers to this information about you.

Speaking of keeping it clean… Unless your site is promoting colorful picture books for children, stay away from using too many font styles and sizes or bright-pink and purple backgrounds. Don’t let your graphics and layout distract the reader from the important stuff. However, feel free to use a nice, large, and prominent font when displaying your name on your home page. Being shy won’t help your readers remember your name.

YOUR HOME PAGE:

Contact information.

Make it a snap to contact you. At the very least use a professional-sounding e-mail address with your name or pen name (no cute monikers, please). Some writers include a phone number, but you can decide what other contact information to post.

Ordering information.

If you have books to sell, make it as easy as humanly possible for people to buy them. If you aren’t set up for credit card processing and your books are only available through Amazon, for example, provide a link directly to it. Feature a picture of your book’s cover, a very brief summary, and a great review or recommendation if you’ve got one.

Make sure links to additional pages are prominently displayed.

ADDITIONAL PAGES:

Samples of your work.

If your site is dedicated to promoting your published work, be sure to post excerpts from your work as text. Choose scenes that are sure to pique the reader’s interest. You may also want to include excerpts from other as-yet-published work, either as text or as downloadable files. You may also use this section to promote future projects.

Bio page.

Include a page that describes who you are. Describe your background, interesting facts about your life, your professional credentials—anything that ups your credibility as an author. Include a professional photograph to make it more personal.

Do you give motivational speeches? Organize workshops? Provide editing or mentoring? List any other services you provide here.
 
Blog or journal entries.

If you write a regular blog or journal entry, keep your audience in mind, and give them relevant information—or make them laugh or cry or identify with you in some way. Keep the content new and fresh and update frequently.

Testimonials.

Let ’em fly. Do not hesitate to fill the entire page with glowing praise about your work.

Media room.

If members of the press wish to contact you, make it easy for them. Use this page to display your contact information (again), and include downloadable photographs, press releases, a bio page, and a link to the testimonial page.

OVERALL:

Keep your audience in mind when designing your site. Instead of creating a sales site (Buy now! You won’t regret it!), let your personality shine through, and hook your readers with what makes you and your work unique. Give them something to take away from your site. For example, you can share some of the publishing pitfalls you’ve run into and how you dealt with them. Offer links to sites that have helped you with grammar or finding a literary agent or that inspired you on days when the muse flew the coop