Walt Trizna's Blog, page 26

WRITER’S FORUM

                   WEBSITES HELPFUL TO WRITERS

This is a series of posts which, I think, will be beneficial to writers.

But first, I would like to include my usual warning about using websites.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH.

Whenever you check a website you are, in my opinion and I talk from experience, being put on a list for sale. So, expect the possibility of being bombarded by ads from companies you, perhaps, have never heard of and have no interest in.

By the same token, I feel that once you call a business for information you are also put on a list, for sale, of similar companies to the one you have called.

That’s just how it is in today’s society.

I hope you find the information offered in these posts helpful.

Anyone familiar with my blog is aware of the area, Writer’s Forum, which already offers a host of websites important for writers.

Association of American Literary Agents

AALitAgents.org

A list of reputable agents.

Search by name, genre or category.

WRITER’S FORUM

                    WEBSITES HELPFUL TO WRITERS

This is a series of posts which, I think, will be beneficial to writers.

But first, I would like to include my usual warning about using websites.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH.

Whenever you check a website you are, in my opinion and I talk from experience, being put on a list for sale. So, expect the possibility of being bombarded by ads from companies you, perhaps, have never heard of and have no interest in.

By the same token, I feel that once you call a business for information you are also put on a list, for sale, of similar companies to the one you have called.

That’s just how it is in today’s society.

I hope you find the information offered in these posts helpful.

Anyone familiar with my blog is aware of the area, Writer’s Forum, which already offers a host of websites important for writers.

The Manuscript Academy

ManuscriptAcademy.com

Where writers can meet industry professionals.

Receive editorial feedback, create query letters. Virtual classes are also available.

YOU KNOW YOU’RE GETTING OLD WHEN:

You remember when preparing a piece for publication required carbon paper and white-out.

YOU KNOW YOU’RE GETTING OLD WHEN:

You remember, as a writer, submitting a piece for publication would need that you include    S A S E.

HOW TO USE DUOTROPE TO FIND PUBLISHERS

INITIATING A SEARCH ON DUOTROPE

To begin your search for a publisher on Duotrope you first fill out a questionnaire. The information you are asked to provide is things such as genre, wordcount, payment type and submission and publication type to name a few.

You then conduct a search which generates a list of publishers fitting the information you have provided and are presented with a list of publishers appropriate for the piece you want to publish.

When you select a publisher on the list a Duotrope listing will appear for that publisher. Also provided is a link to the publisher’s website. The result of your search provides you with the ability to easily and rapidly survey many publishers.

Next, I will cover the information I look in a publisher listed.

USING DUOTROPE TO FIND PUBLISHERS

My experience with Duotrope

I have been using Duotrope to find
publishers for quite some time now. The cost is $50 a year and is well worth
it.

They currently list 7581 publishers
for fiction, nonfiction, poetry and visual arts. The website also lists
literary agents which is something I will discuss in a future post.

What I would like to cover now is
how you go about starting a search and what are the factors I look for in the
information resulting from that search.

But first, when considering a
publisher, I feel, you need to be realistic in what you feel is the level of
your talent is when seeking a publisher. As in everything in life, there are
multiple levels of competence. And as you continue publishing your work to
expand your resume, you improve your skills with hard work and experience. This
will increase your level of competence as a writer and expand the number and
quality of publishers you will approach.

I use the website almost
exclusively for finding publishers of fiction. The type of fiction various
publishers are looking for includes flash fiction, short stories, novellas and
novels.

One word of caution when approaching a publisher. Especially a publisher of novels.

To get your work
accepted and published should not cost you anything especially for novels.
Editing, developing a cover and whatever else is involved in getting your novel
to market should not cost you a cent.

 

DUOTROPE: A GREAT WAY TO FIND PUBLISHERS

Before introducing a website, I usually warn you to be warry of unsolicited ads, which for me can be very annoying. Duotrope, after many years of use, has never caused this problem for me. So enjoy a extremely useful for writers worry free.

Duotrope

Duotrope.com

Excellent source for finding publishers for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual arts.

Also, for locating literary agents.

Currently, listing 7581 publishers.

THE WALKING STATUES OF EASTER ISLAND

                                           CONTINUED

Now, let’s get the big guy to walk.

The walking stature was demonstrated in the book Easter Island  Easter Island (*).

A statue was constructed out of concrete, 15 feet long. Not as big as many of the statues on the island but served the purpose to demonstrate the process.

Two ropes were attached one to the head and one to the base. With seventeen people on each rope, the rope on the head pulled the statue slightly forward, then the rope attached to the base pulled the entire statue forward. With practice the statue was made to waddle and walk forward.

The process was later tried on an actual statue nine feet tall and weighing 4 or 5 tons. With three men to tilt and five to pull forward, the statue ‘walked’.

Thus, the legend of the walking statues of Easter Island has some validity, but it was not a supernatural event.

(*) Paul Bahn and John Flenley, Easter Island  Easter Island, 1992, Thames and Hudson, pages 141, 142.

THE WALKING STATUES OF EASTER ISLAND

I have always been intrigued by the culture of the remote Easter Island. Especially by the huge, magnificent statues associated with the island.

Legend has it that they walked to the sites where they now stand. A supernatural occurrence to be sure.

WHICH IS TRUE, to some extent.

Now, before they can walk they must stand.

I have seen them stand, going from prone to erect. But it was not a miracle. The statue went from lying on its back to standing up with the use of rocks (*). While lying on its back, using levers rocks were placed beneath the statue and the ground until the statue was lying on an inclined plane. Once it was raised to a significant height, ropes were used to finish the process.

*Paul Bahn and John Flenley, Easter Island  Easter Island, 1992, Thames and Hudson, pages 158, 159.

WRITER’S FORUM

                   WEBSITES HELPFUL TO WRITERS

This is a series of posts which, I think, will be beneficial to writers.

But first, I would like to include my usual warning about using websites.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH.

Whenever you check a website you are, in my opinion and I talk from experience, being put on a list for sale. So, expect the possibility of being bombarded by ads from companies you, perhaps, have never heard of and have no interest in.

By the same token, I feel that once you call a business for information you are also put on a list, for sale, of similar companies to the one you have called.

That’s just how it is in today’s society.

I hope you find the information offered in these posts helpful.

Anyone familiar with my blog is aware of the area, Writer’s Forum, which already offers a host of websites important for writers.

Helping Writers Become Authors

HelpingWritersBecomeAuthors.com

Assists writers on the journey from manuscript ideas to published novel.

Covers subjects such as story structure and character development.