Shady Websites, Writers, and Markets for New Writers

I've been doing a lot of talking concerning new writers. I'm not the only one. Angela Hoy from Writer's Weekly wrote a recent rant on Pay Per Click sites. It's not just a rant, it is an informative post on just what these people are doing to new writers.

I could list the names of these places, but like Angela, I won't. It just gives them more advertising. Let me say that I don't have a problem with some places-like Hubpages, eHow, and yes, even Associated Content. I'll explain why:

Hubpages: Much like BellaOnline, Hubpages allows you to set up and plug in your own Google Adsense, Amazon, eBay, and Kontera affiliate codes. What sets HubPages apart is that you can write on whatever you'd like. I like this. It gives me another place to plug in articles I didn't sell, forgot to sell, or a blog post that went far over the word count I like to set. They do police the content and your profile prominently displays your score. The higher the score, the better and more informative the content. HubPages does not pay its writers-they are paid via their affiliates only.

eHow: eHow pays through a revenue share program. There are no upfront payments unless you work for Demand Studios which supplies content to eHow- I prefer using the compensation program through the eHow site. If the How-to's you write are done well, you can bring in a respectable amount each month. I've made well over what Demand would have given me per title by using the compensation/adshare program. It's probably the best program I've participated in and pays on time.

Associated Content: I'm only including this site as an example of something that's better than pay per clicks. Even this content mill will offer upfront payment. It's low pay- but it is PAY...better than a penny a month that some sites think is wonderful.

Angela Hoy puts forth that new writers deserve to be paid just like any other tradesman- which I wholeheartedly agree. She has a page that offers many links to publications that encourage new writers to submit. Why don't you take a look, HERE.

Good luck!

T's Earrings and Shopping Local

I'm a happy camper. Last week I'd decided to hunt down earrings for Teesie. Something cute, small, and princess-y. We'd taken her to get her ears done a few months ago and she's been begging for new earrings.

I was ok with buying new ones, really. But lately there has been news of the lower cost kid's jewelry having lead in them! There was no way that I was going to buy something I wasn't sure of. The prices of gold, though...a small pair of earrings were outrageous! So, I began searching for handmade jewelry.

That was a big success! In fact, I found so many little stores offering handmade jewelry for kids and adults that I was very tempted just to splurge and get myself something. Instead, I picked up Buddy and Ambi a present each. A toothfairy pillow for Ambi and for Buddy, a spiderman pillow.

It hit me while I was shopping that with the economy so bad, buying from a mom or another artisan is a really good idea. Yeah, some of my friends will say, 'duh Julie', but really, how often do you buy anything local that's not garden grown? I found a neat series on a Long Island website that showcases MOMTREPRENEURS on a monthly basis. Janene Mascarella conducts interviews and provides links to some very nice mom run shops. Her latest is here- Long Island Exchange, Momtreprenuers Month.


I like Mascarella's style. It reminds me of some of my favorite writers. Earthy, open, and friendly. Sort of like those shops! (Which reminds me, I need to get back to Etsy and leave feedback, erp.) I was checking out the rest of the site and found other articles, too. Since I'm talking about shops, here are a few more links to interviews she's showcased, maybe you'll find something to buy and support another mom.

Jacqueline V Designs

Scrubz

Precious Parcels

This series only has 3 entries so far, but I like it and I think I'll send Janene some suggestions as I find them.

Do you have any links to share? I'd love to find more mom based shops for my own shopping, help??

Janene Mascarella writes for the Long Island Exchange, check out her other articles.(Hey, I support other writers,too, not just shops ;-) )

The Weekend Writer Review and Giveaway

I visit a writing forum quite often and every few days there is a variation on one common question:

“How can I be a writer?”

The main answer to the question is, “Write.” Though that's not what the people asking the question want. I'm very happy that Denene Brox wrote me, because I was getting real tired of saying ' check the stickies' for the forum. Most of the time, for someone who seems sincere, I and my friends will take time to explain the finer points – like point in the direction of websites, blogs, help find leads...but it can get repetative.

So in that line of things, I'd like to tell you more about Denene Brox and her eBook, The Weekend Writer.

First off, I don't really like writing books. So many seem outdated or just do not give the information that a brand-spanking-new writer looking for work to supplement their income while working a full time job. Or for the writer that wants to write just online until they feel brave enough to query offline publications.

Ms. Brox's book is the only eBook I've read that deals with this. Sure, there may be others out there, but this ebook is written exactly for those people. Hey, the title, 'Weekend Writer', proves it!

I was really impressed with the detail of The Weekend Writer. The ebook is 49 pages stuffed full of information that will help new writers that really only have time to work either evenings or on the weekend. You'll learn how to write query letters (online and offline publications), how to organize, and some good time management skills.

You might notice that I keep saying 'new writers'. While I did enjoy this eBook, it may not be as in depth for veterans to the business. That being said, I do think that The Weekend Writer would definitely give veterans a refresher and a place to quickly check points that they want clarified without digging around for the book that's either in the closet or buried under a pile of other books.

One thing that really impressed me was the price. If you've read my blog or known me at all, then you know I rail against writers charging the heck out of other writers. I hate hate hate websites that charge writers to look for or apply for jobs. Well, The Weekend Writer is $11.99 (USD) which is what I consider a fair price for what amounts to a mini-course for newer writers.

In fact, I was so impressed that I asked Denene how she felt about a giveaway. She liked the idea and...she's going to give a copy of The Weekend Writer to one lucky reader!

Here's how to enter the giveaway:

1.Comment on this post. Don't forget to leave your email address so you caqn be notified if you win.
2.For an extra entry, visit http://www.weekendwriter.net/ , come back and tell me one thing you could learn from this ebook that applies to you.
3.For another entry, Tweet this post and follow @julesfletcher. Leave a comment to let me know-I'll check.
4.And for 2 extra entries, sign up for The Weekend Writer's newsletter. When you sign up you also get a bonus report, "10 Essay Markets for Weekend Writers."

Enter up to August 31st, 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (-5GMT). The winner of the eBook will be chosen with a random number generator on September 1st.

5 Science Fiction Markets

Abyss&Apex

http://www.abyssandapex.com/guidelines.html

We have no subject/topic preference, beyond a requirement that the work have a speculative element. We are happy to read high fantasy, magic realism, hard science fiction, sword and sorcery, and genrebending stories that don't quite seem to fit elsewhere. Our tastes span the gamut from classic Golden-Age SF to modern nontraditional formats.

(please visit their page to read the full submission guidelines)

Rate: .05 a word up to 1,500 - $75 usd flat forlonger

Pay schedule: 60 days after publication

Venue: PayPal

AlienQ

http://www.alienq.com/guidelines.aspx

Subjects should include alien encounters-real or imagined, universal history,possible futures, out-of-body experiences, spiritual abilities and powers, interstellar technologies and anything that broadens the scope of man's thought processes.

Rate:$50 per 1500-2000 words

Pay Scedule:Within 30 days after publication

Venue:Not stated

Asimov's Science Fiction

http://www.asimovs.com/info/guidelines.shtml

Asimov's will consider material submitted by any writer, previously published or not. We've bought some of our best stories from people who have never sold a story before.

Rate: beginners get 6.0 cents a word to 7,500 words, 5.0 cents a word for stories longer than 12,500 words, and $450 for stories between those lengths. We seldom buy stories longer than 15,000 words, and we don't serialize novels. We pay $1 a line for poetry, which should not exceed 40 lines.

Pay Rate: In Description

Pay Scedule:On Acceptance

Venue:Check

(ask if you can submit via email)

Clarkesworld Magazine

http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/submissions/

Clarkesworld Magazine is an online science fiction and fantasy magazine that publishes short fiction, interviews, articles and audio fiction on a monthly schedule. All original fiction published in Clarkesworld is also made available in single-issue chapbooks and collected annually in the Realms trade paperback series. Our art, articles and half of our fiction are open to submissions.

Rate:.10 s word up to 4k words

Pay Scedule:not specified

Venue:not specified

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/glines.htm

We do not accept simultaneous or electronic submissions. Please type your manuscript on clean white bond, double spaced, with one inch margins. For a good article on standard manuscript preparation, see www.sfwa.org/writing/vonda/vonda.htm (which Google warns as being harmful). Put your name on each page, and enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Writers from abroad are encouraged to send recyclable manuscripts with a letter-sized SASE and an International Reply Coupon or 94 cents in US postage (72 cents to Canada and Mexico). You can obtain information on how to place an international order by going to faq.usps.com and enter "postal store – International Orders" in the search box then the top entry in resulting list of links provides the necessary details.

Rate:6-9 cent a word

Pay Scedule:On Acceptance

Venue:Check

So...What's Up?

Haven't seen you in a while. Yeah, been working and all that jazz, no real time for personal stuff.

Now that's out of the way.

Some things are coming up here, seems NEC is getting a little more popular, even with being a small time Blogspot address and all. I'm thinking of getting a private domain, but with all of the posts it'll be a bummer to move. Unless I redirect the blog.

One thing my writer friends might be interested in (especially those who are part time writers or just thinking about diving in this career) is a review of Denene Brox's The Weekend Writer. And a giveaway of the eBook. AND a post from Ms. Brox, herself.

I have a slew of products and books to review. Not all are from the companies-I've thought quite a bit about reviewing everything I buy.

Links to websites for free ebooks. I found some great sites where you can read the books online or download. My little mp3 player is a reader, too...so I take the .rtf files and transfer them to .txt files because the reader will only view .txt. If you have one of those Sylvania mp3 players that look sort of like an Ipod Nano, you can do that, too.

In fact, I read my friend Stacey Graham's WIP on it, last night. (it's good, let me tell you-that lady has talent)- You should all run right to her webpage and click on all of her links. Now. O.k., you can finish reading here, first.

Next post-coming right after this, because I've been slack- is a list of 5 Sci-Fi Markets. I'm not putting up huge lists of markets because, honestly, there are tons of those types of lists out there already.