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Scribe & Quill ~ June 2004

Vol. 2 Issue 4

ISSN: 1098-6375

Section 1 of 2 Sections

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MASTHEAD:

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* Editor/Publisher

Bev Walton-Porter <editor@scribequill.com>

* Assistant Editor / Advertising Manager

Mindy Phillips Lawrence <mplcreative1@aol.com>

*Contributing Editor

J.M.Cornwell <jcornwell@peoplepc.com>

* Humor Editor

Donna "Kai" Wilson <kai@spirit-tome.com>

* Poetry Editor

J. Michele Bodkin <editor@scribequill.com>

* Nonfiction Columnist

Joyce Faulkner <katieseyes@aol.com>

* Humor Columnist

Sharon Wren <swren1@msn.com>

* Video Game Reviewer

Jonathan Porter <editor@scribequill.com>

* Mascots:

-- Isis, the Feline Freelancer

<isis@scribequill.com >

-- Popeye the Editing Wonder Dog

<popeye@scribequill.com>

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

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~Editor's Note

~Announcements

~Scribe & Quill Patrons

~Featured Interview:

A Conversation with Suspense Author Ridley Pearson

By Mindy Phillips Lawrence (mplcreative1@aol.com)

~Featured Column:

Grammar Goofs – Which, Who, That?

By J.M. Cornwell (jcornwell@peoplepc.com)

~Featured Article:

(And What the Heck is Copyleft?)

Second Article in a Series

By Jill E. Vaile (jill@jilleliz.com)

~Quotables

~Scribes of Note -- Virtual Quills

~Featured Article:

Promoting Your Work and Yourself

By Steven Manchester (shmanchester@statestreet.com)

~Featured Article:

A Heroine's Paradise:

An Author's Insight Into the Women Who Make Romance

By Dawn Whitmire (Dwhitmire0@cs.com)

~Reader Spotlight: Ruth Mark

~Call for Submissions

~Contests

~Poem:

--"Madonna'd matrons" by Joyce Faulkner (katieseyes@aol.com)

~Featured Article:

The Many Forms of Talent

By Joyce Faulkner (katieseyes@aol.com)

~Book Reviews

--"Shadow's Wake" by Loretta Justice

--"Lord Brother" by Carolyn Kephart

--"Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper: A Novel"

by Harriet Scott Chessman

--"The Body of David Hayes" by Ridley Pearson

--"The Organized Writer" by Julie Hood

~Scribe & Quill Professional Writing Courses

~Personal View:

Alzheimer's Disease

By Dale "Sierra" Seawright (http://www.geocities.com/sierra_seawright/)

~The Last Word: Recommended Links for Writers

~Contact and submission information

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NOTE FROM THE EDITOR:

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Dear Gentle Readers,

Welcome to the June issue of Scribe & Quill! In this month's issue we have an interview with best-selling author Ridley Pearson, Jill Vaile's second article in a series on copyright and the latest Grammar Goofs column by J.M. Cornwell, among many other offerings.

This past month Scribe & Quill launched several new sections on our Web site. The first section is our Book Gallery (http://www.scribequill.com/Gallery.html). Be sure to stop by and peruse the current selections. If you would like to promote your book for as little as $5 per month (even less per month for three, six or twelve consecutive months), stop by our Book Listing guidelines (http://www.scribequill.com/BookListing.html). The Gallery is divided into sections for fiction, nonfiction, poetry and writing resources. Enjoy!

Our second new section is our Editing Services area. We selected a handful of experienced editors to meet your needs for professional editing, coaching and ghostwriting. With a combined total of over 80 years' worth of experience in writing, editing and publishing, we are sure you will be pleased with the team we have assembled to meet your every writing need. For more information or a quote, visit: http://www.scribequill.com/EditingServices.html or e-mail editor@scribequill.com for a direct referral to an editor who will discuss your project with you.

In this issue you will find a new segment at the end of our publication. Personal View is the space for you to contribute your own essays about issues or events that are important to you in this world, whether related to writing or not. Personal View may be of a serious or humorous nature. Word length may range from 300 words to 1,000 words. To submit a piece for Personal View, send your work pasted directly in an e-mail message (no attachments please!) to editor@scribequill.com with PERSONAL VIEW in the subject line of the e-mail message. Personal View essays are the sole opinion of the author and may or may not reflect the view of Scribe & Quill or any of our staff members.

Finally, be sure to cruise down to our contest section in this issue. In addition to our other listings, Scribe & Quill is running a quick contest for this month with no entry fee. The winner will receive a copy of the book "The Journey from the Center to the Page: Yoga Principles and Practices as Muse for Authentic Writing." The deadline is June 30.

Until next time, keep writing!

Bev Walton~Porter, Editor

editor@scribequill.com

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Mindy Lawrence, Asst. Editor/Advertising Manager

mplcreative1@aol.com

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ANNOUNCEMENTS:

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VOTE!

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MAKE YOUR VOICE COUNT!

Vote in our monthly writers' poll. We'll publish the results of each poll on the site, as well as your comments!

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COMMUNITY JOURNAL!

Scribe & Quill also has a journaling community on Live Journal: http://www.livejournal.com/~scribequill Come express your innermost thoughts/feelings about being a writer in this community diary -- stream of consciousness and personal journal entries relating to the ups/downs/sideways of the writing life are welcomed! This community is exclusively for the right-brained, abstract side of Scribe & Quillers!

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PARTNER WITH SCRIBE & QUILL

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Developing and distributing a regular publication, either online or in print, requires time and incurs costs such as Web hosting, domain fees, program renewals and operating costs.

We are glad to deliver S & Q to our readers at no charge, but we appreciate any contributions made to show support for this endeavor. Become a patron of Scribe & Quill and help support the continued publication of this 'zine. When you become a patron, we will list your name on our Web site and run a short personal profile of you in our zine as our thanks to you for your support.

Contributions may be made in these ways:

* Using the online payment service Paypal.com, click on this link:

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go to Pay Pal directly (http://www.paypal.com)

and send contribution to editor@scribequill.com

* Using a credit card via Amazon.com:

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Thank you for reading our magazine, and for your continued support.

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You might be an author, but are you a marketer? Even the best writers need a little help marketing themselves! I am a professional copywriter with extensive experience in the marketing arena. I can help you write sell letters, Web copy, brochures and more. Call 303-863-8239 or visit http://www.jenniferdysert.com.

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FEATURED INTERVIEW:

A Conversation with Suspense Author Ridley Pearson

By Mindy Phillips Lawrence (mplcreative1@aol.com)

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Ridley Pearson has 11 best-selling novels to his credit, including "Undercurrents," a book that helped solve a real-life murder. His current book, "The Body of David Hayes," is the ninth in his Lou Boldt series. It deals with a bank heist and the connection Boldt's wife has to one of the perpetrators.

Pearson is also a professional musician. He plays in the music group The Rock Bottom Remainders with Stephen King, Dave Barry, Amy Tan and Mitch Albom.

Scribe and Quill conducted a phone interview with Pearson from his Midwest office.

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SQ - I'm glad to have the chance to interview you for Scribe and Quill magazine. We have many readers in different stages of the writing process. Fortunately, successful authors like you can be a great help to writers in all stages of their development.

Pearson – Well, thank you.

SQ – How do you prepare to write when you are beginning a novel? Do you outline first or let your mind develop the story?

Pearson – I'm an outliner. My process is to work with the characters. I always have some idea of the plot. In fact, I've been thinking of my next book for months. The working title is "Gone to Ground."

SQ – How do you organize the research for your books?

Pearson – I put notes in a pile and have to hunt for them.

SQ – There are different schools of thought as to whether a novel is character- or plot-driven. Which do you think drives the story and why?

Pearson – I'm a firm believer that there is no story without character. Readers have to have a rooting interest in a character in the book. A plot is simply a set of events the characters go through. Surprises are good but a product's success is through its characters.

SQ – Do you have to write several drafts of a novel before publication? If so, tell us about that process.

Pearson – I write between four to six drafts of books. That's not just edits but sometimes total rewrites. Usually I do about two polishes and three rewrites. The last one was massive. These are structural, character-driven rewrites. I change one portion of the novel and must go back and clean up the plot to match the changes.

SQ – I know "David Hayes" is the ninth installment of your Lou Boldt books. How do you keep your characters and story line fresh in a long-running series?

Pearson – Boldt ages. That helps. They're fresh because the characters have gone through so much in between. Sometimes I write stand-ups in between the Boldt books. If you are tired of something you shouldn't be doing it. The working title of my next book is "Gone to Ground."

SQ – What kind of research did you do for your new novel, "The Body of David Hayes"?

Pearson – In "David Hayes," there is a whole complicated bank heist. I did research with an online brokerage firm to get it straight. Also, I talked to an attorney in Seattle and walked the streets of Seattle to get scenes right in the book.

SQ – Where did you get your core idea for the book? Was there an event that stimulated the idea behind the story?

Pearson – It's a long progression from "Undercurrent." It was obvious I needed to write book for Liz Boldt. The book has an ensemble cast.

SQ – I've read where you write for long periods of time, even over holidays. What is your normal work schedule?

Pearson – You don't want to know. I never stop. Stopped for two five-day periods in the past five years, one of those times to get married. I get up at 5:30 a.m., at the office by 5:45 and sometimes work till 7 or 7:30 at night -- about a 13-hour day. However, my normal hours are 7-4.

The first five hours I work on "Ridley" books. Then I work on other projects in the afternoon.

SQ – How important do you feel it is for writers to read in their genre?

Pearson – Critical. But it is equally import to read outside their genre. They must read everything including non-fiction and history -- read across the board. Always read the best writers. In tennis you play better when you play someone better and stronger. You gain strength when someone is hitting it back to you. If you play someone worse, you play down. If you are reading above you, your work becomes more literary.

SQ – I know you are a musician as well as a writer. How does being creative in more than one area help your writing?

Pearson – Good question. My music career gave the ability to collaborate. Writing is a life of humility. You are beaten down day after day. Music has made me humble. Once I wrote words and a base line and taught the player to play it like I wrote it. One day I realized it sounded better. He had changed the way he played it from the way I taught him. Sounded better.

SQ – Do current world events affect your work?

Pearson – They affect everybody's writing.

SQ – Every writer receives negative book reviews. How do you handle the ones you might get?

Pearson – I cry.

SQ – I have to ask -- are you still rocking with The Rock Bottom Remainders?

Pearson – Yes. We play in St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland. We will be in St. Louis on October 4. The full schedule will be posted on my Web site, http://www.ridleypearson.com

Pearson is hard at work again on his next group of projects. One is a book for middle school kids with fellow writer and Remainder, Dave Barry, based on the back-story of Peter Pan. He is also at work on several screenplays and his next novel.

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We'll help you polish and perfect your manuscript!

Scribe & Quill's editing team is comprised of five editors

with a total of 80 years' worth of combined experience. We offer upfront quotes, individual attention and NO hidden fees -– ever!

http://www.scribequill.com/EditingServices.html

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Sell Writing Online Newsletter -- An interactive newsletter for writers. Now reaching over 2,200 writers worldwide. Discover Writers Markets, Writing/Marketing Articles, other Writing related news and more. Plus you get the opportunity to promote your Web site/Book in the following issue for Free. Sign up at:

http://www.sellwritingonline.com/

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FEATURED COLUMN:

Grammar Goofs – Which, Who, That?

By J.M. Cornwell (jcornwell@peoplepc.com)

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It is a ubiquitous word, appearing everywhere, stuck into crevices and cracks in sentences, between clauses and beginning phrases, appearing like a seed between your teeth when you least expect it and yet always there regardless of how hard you look or how careful you are. The word, THAT, has become a powerful, all pervasive word that slows the pace and needlessly lurks in even the best writing when it should be heard but seldom seen. That can also be used to replace who, which may sometimes be whom, but who knows which is which or even when that should replace which and vice versa? Sounds confusing, doesn't it? It is to me, too. So let's take each situation one by one and see if I can demystify which, who and that just a little.

Surprisingly, when editing I find 'that' lurking in well-crafted sentences, muddying the water and slowing the pace. As I read the sentences aloud, I stop, shocked and amazed; it has appeared without me realizing when that had crept in. That, that, that. Everywhere I look, whether in someone else's writing or my own, there that is where no that should be. I carefully remove the offending word and it crops up somewhere else and I'm momentarily baffled when that occurred or whether I should remove it or leave it in that place, much like it, which will be discussed in another column.

Okay, let's take it step by step and see if we can't remove a few of that word from the writing.

I wish THAT Bob would pay attention when I'm speaking. – WRONG.

I wish Bob would pay attention when I'm speaking. – RIGHT and it flows better.

As you can see, THAT is completely unnecessary in the above sentence, but there are times when you may not be sure if you can remove THAT from your writing.

I saw the girl THAT was sitting at THAT table. – WRONG.

I saw the girl sitting at THAT table. – RIGHT.

Basically, what it boils down to is if you can remove THAT, get it out of your way. Too many THATs in your sentences and the reader may wonder if you know any other words.

But there are times when THAT replaces WHO and is perfectly at home doing so, but which one is correct?

The simple answer is that you use WHO when you are referring to a specific person and THAT in referring to a class or type. For example:

Bob is the man WHO gives guitar lessons. – RIGHT

Bob is the guy THAT gives guitar lessons. – WRONG

Sally is the kind of girl THAT gives blondes a bad name – RIGHT

Sally is the kind of girl WHO gives blondes a bad name. – WRONG

In the first pair, I was speaking of a specific person, the MAN, Bob, so WHO is correct. In the second pair, THAT is correct because I was speaking of a KIND of girl. Simple? Check to make sure whether you are referring to a specific person or a class or type of person. It may take you a minute or two to decide, but the effect is perfect grammar and a standout performance.

The rules defining when to use THAT and when to use WHICH are just as simple. Use THAT with a dependent clause and WHICH with an independent clause. Not sure which clause is which?

A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence. Kick out the supports and if it stands alone as a complete sentence, it's an independent clause. I know you're thinking about phrases and partial sentences, even single words, that have been used as sentences, but that's not the same thing as an independent or dependent clause. For example:

As I told you the first time, Bob has not been here for over a year.

'As I told you the first time' is a DEPENDENT clause because it is not a complete sentence.

We looked at the house several times; we even measured the windows and doors to make sure the piano would fit.

Both sections of the above sentence can stand alone as separate sentences and there is a clue that either of the sections would be considered an INDEPENDENT clause. Know what it is? It's the semi-colon. A semi-colon is always used when joining two complete sentences that could otherwise stand alone.

Okay, now for the tricky part: THAT and WHICH.

Bob has not been here for over a year, WHICH is why Alice is living in his apartment.

It is obvious THAT Alice is living in Bob's old apartment.

WHICH can also be used when there are two parallel DEPENDENT clauses in a sentence where THAT has already been used. For example:

Bob really liked the apartment Alice rented THAT wasn't vacant very long and WHICH was legally available the day he left.

Let's mix things up a little more. THAT, WHICH and WHO can also be used to define organizations and individuals. Use THAT or WHICH when referring to the organization as a whole and THAT or WHO in referring to individuals of the organization.

Those are the maintenance men WHO work for Gizmo Corp.

Bob is the specialist THAT trains maintenance workers for Gizmo Corp.

Gizmo Corp is the company THAT trains people for maintenance.

Gizmo Corp is the only company in the area WHICH trains maintenance workers.

Grammar is based on a lot of rules that make common sense when you take the time to really look at what you're saying or writing. Get in the habit of using the right words and punctuation in the right way and good grammar will become second nature. Like any muscle that is exercises regularly and often, the use of good grammar gets stronger every time you use it.

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WICKED COOL SHELL SCRIPTS

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It's no longer enough to think about cool pages, if you're building a Web site, regardless of the tools, you need to understand the new world of Web technology. This sequel to the best-selling Creating Cool Web Pages (over 100,000 copies sold) will get you up to speed in no time with XHTML, CSS and even how to use Web logs and search engine optimization tips and tricks.

http://www.intuitive.com/coolsites/

One-stop shopping!

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FEATURED ARTICLE:

A Heroine's Paradise --

An Author's Insight into the Women Who Make Romance

By Dawn Whitmire (Dwhitmire0@cs.com)

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If you've written for any length of time, then you know characterization. It's important to shape your characters so the readers either love them or hate them. A character who leaves the reader feeling ambivalent can be disastrous to your book sales, which is why I'm writing a series of articles on the main characters of your books. In this first installment, we'll take a look at creating a heroine the readers will connect with, someone they can empathize with, sympathize with and root for time and again.

Many different types of heroines exist and which one you use will, of course, depend upon the kind of book you are writing. For the sake of simplification, I'll be focusing on heroines for romance manuscripts only.

First, a heroine in a romantic novel is almost never a bitch unless she has a soft side. She can be tough, determined and even difficult at times, but she has to have a side that makes the reader want her to succeed in her task which we all know is living happily ever after with her very own Prince Charming. If you present your readers with a heroine who is hard as ten-day-old bread, unyielding and just plain irritating, they won't be apt to want her to get anything but her comeuppance and if they return, it will only be to read about her downfall.

Second, distressed heroines are no longer in vogue. While there is nothing wrong with the 'hero saves the day' stories, books where the heroine is always in peril (especially if she continually puts herself in ridiculous situations) can be tiresome. The last thing a reader wants is a heroine whose life is constantly in jeopardy because of her own unending stream of mistakes.

Constant complaining, whining and a general, all-around moodiness aren't appealing in a heroine, either. Readers are looking for a woman who can get the job done without rendering the hero useless -- women who are strong, yet vulnerable, determined, yet soft. And while there is certainly nothing wrong with putting a Sydney Bristow (Alias-ABC) in an action-packed romance, there has to be room for a man in her life. And he has to feel needed, wanted and necessary.

So now that I've told you the types of heroines who generally make readers wince, how do you create this elusive character who is feminine, charming and can elicit readers loyalty from page one?

Intelligence is a must. Making your heroine seem dim-witted can leave most female readers with a bad taste in their mouth. And yes, you can create a sharp lead woman without usurping the intelligence of her male counterpart. Think Sarah McKenzie on JAG, Lily Manning on Once and Again and Amy Gray on Judging Amy. I could continue this list ad infinitum. These characters have all been created with intelligence, passion and a soft side that does not make them any less a strong, female lead.

Next comes that soft side I mentioned in the paragraph above. There is no such thing as a woman who does not cry, or at the very least, succumb to the distress she is feeling at the time. There is nothing wrong with allowing the reader to see through a heroine's tough, exterior shell. In romances, the heroine isn't flawless. She cries, screams, shouts, curses and even throws things sometimes. That doesn't make her any less the heroine. It makes her human. The readers need to see that side of your heroine that they can relate to.

While some writers don't feel it's necessary to include a sense of humor in their heroine, especially if they're writing romantic dramas, I simply cannot create a female lead without giving her a strong sense of humor and sharp wit. Is it required that your heroine laugh several times throughout your story? No, but page after page of morose drama can be tiresome and if you consider your own life, you probably don't go a day without laughing even during the worst of times. The same should be said of your character.

So putting the characteristics together -- intelligence, softness and wit -- I have my female lead. Oh, there are some nuances that I throw in for each heroine to separate them from one another. One might be bookish, the other somewhat of a tomboy. I've had romance heroines who can match the hero word for word, and yet, she melts beneath his touch. And let's not forget the heroines who think they're defeated, only to find the inner strength necessary to succeed in life.

Many personalities exist. If you use the right combination, you'll create a heroine that will have readers excited to follow her story. When you think about it, as much as we write the stories for ourselves, we have to write them for our readers.

Happy writing!

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READER SPOTLIGHT:

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Each issue, we will spotlight readers of Scribe & Quill. We want to hear about what you're writing, how you can to be a writer, what your goals are and just about anything else you'd like to share with us! Want to be featured in Scribe & Quill? Just drop an e-mail to editor@scribequill.com with READER SPOTLIGHT in the subject line and we'll get back to you with the questions!

In this issue, we cast the reader spotlight on Ruth Mark (balihai25@hotmail.com). Ruth, thank you for being our guest!

SQ: What types of writing do you engage in most often?

Ruth Mark: Poetry is my passion, but I also write non-fiction (travel articles and memoir mostly) and fiction.

SQ: What's the best advice anyone ever gave you about being a writer?

RM: "Every piece you try to publish will find a 'home'...eventually."

SQ: Did you always long to be a writer, or did you start out wanting to work in another field?

RM: I work as a lecturer in psychology and write creatively during any spare moment I get. You could say that I have (for me) the best of both worlds.

SQ: As a reader, who are your favorite authors and why?

RM: This is a difficult question -- there are so many. My favorite poets are probably Seamus Heaney, Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath, Walt Whitman, Philip Larkin and many contemporary poets like Louise Gluck etc. I also read lots of novels -- usually about one a week. Favorite novelists? Anyone as long as it's well written and quite literary. I'm currently reading "Het duister dat ons scheidt" by Renate Dorrestein in Dutch. I read in both English (my native language) and in Dutch (my adopted tongue.)

SQ: Where do you find most of your ideas for writing?

RM: Everywhere and anywhere is the short answer to this question. More specifically from books, magazines, overheard conversations, dreams, TV, radio and more.

***

Ruth Mark is a freelance writer, poet and editor. She is the editor of the Inspirations section at Moondance.org Recent work includes:

http://www.themoonwortreview.com/Ruth%20Mark%20poems.htm

http://acorn.dublinwriters.org/EA15/

http://www.libertyhillpoetry.org/index.htm

http://www.flashquake.org/editorial/justanotherworkday.html

She also reviews for Tamafhyr Mountain Poetry (http://www.tmpoetry.com/Reviews/) and the Blue Iris Review (http://www.io.com/~phlbbrtn/Blue_Iris/)

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What are the Dames up to now? June's spotlighted Jewels of the Quill author is Debbie Fritter (Dame Emerald). Debbie's first novel, The Perfect Match," has gone through some trials and she currently has a new publisher. The book will be out April 2005 from Whiskey Creek Press. In the meantime, we'd like to formally introduce you to Debbie and let her tell you a little about herself, her book and her upcoming titles. This month Debbie is giving away a gift certificate for an autographed trade paperback of "The Perfect Match" (winner will receive the book when it's released) and a one-year paid subscription to Romantic Times BOOKclub Magazine. To be eligible to win, visit our Web site. Find out what the Dames are up to at http://www.JewelsoftheQuill.com.

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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:

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The Comfort & Power of Story: Open Call for Submissions

The critically acclaimed and top-selling series, "A Cup of Comfort," provides a welcome home -- and an ongoing paid and bylined publishing opportunity -- for compelling creative nonfiction stories and narrative essays.

Each Cup of Comfort anthology features 50-60 soul-stirring true stories about the experiences and relationships that comfort, inspire and enrich our lives. Written by people from all walks of life, these slice-of-life stories are carefully selected for publication based on originality, creativity, emotional impact and substance.

Submissions are now being sought for the following volumes -- and additional volumes are planned:

A CUP OF COMFORT FOR FAITH

Inspirational true stories of personal relationship with God. Possible themes: power of prayer; evidence of God's holy grace; miracles; divine intervention; enlightening messages and calls to action from God; affirmation of religious teachings/scriptures in daily life; finding or reclaiming one's faith; communion with religious brethren; good works of God's servants. Traditional organized religions only.

Submission Deadline: July 1, 2004

A CUP OF COMFORT FOR LOVE

Heartwarming true love stories for and about couples, lovers, soul mates. Possible themes: puppy love, true love, new love, enduring love, first love, unrequited love, the love of one's life, mature love, rekindled love, friends become lovers; unique engagement, wedding, anniversary experiences; turning points and milestones in a marriage/partnership; defining moments and "aha" moments that spark, shape or strengthen a love relationship.

Romantic love only -- not platonic friendships.

Submission Deadline: August 15, 2004

A CUP OF COMFORT FOR SPIRITUALITY

Soulful, personal stories about enlightening and enriching spiritual experiences and relationships. Possible themes include: gifts of spiritual teachers/mentors; soul-nurturing spiritual practices and rituals; discovering a spiritual path, divine truth, or kindred spirit; receiving and actualizing (putting into positive action) a spiritual lesson or epiphany; divine intervention and direction; evidence of the presence of a higher spirit; the awakening and/or deepening of one's inner spirit; enlightening, life-defining or life-changing spiritual experiences. All benevolent spiritual paths and religions welcome.

Submission Deadline: December 31, 2004

Note: Submission deadlines are sometimes extended.

Story Length: 1,000-2,000 words

Stories must be original, positive, true and in English.

Aspiring and published writers welcome.

Entrants pay NO entry or reading fees.

Compensation: One $500 grand prize per book; $100 each, all other published stories; complimentary copy of book.

For guidelines: wordsinger@aol.com

SASE to:

P.O. Box 863

Eugene, Oregon 97440

or http://www.cupofcomfort.com. (Please, no phone calls.)

***

NEWTOPIA MAGAZINE

http://www.newtopiamagazine.net

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS - Vol. III, Issue 18 - Sept/Oct 2004

"IDEOLOGY"

i·de·ol·o·gy (n. pl. i·de·ol·o·gies )

1. The body of ideas reflecting the social needs and aspirations of an individual, group, class or culture.

2. A set of doctrines or beliefs that form the basis of a political, economic or other system.

Capitalism, Liberalism, Marxism, Libertarianism, Republicanism, Socialism, Environmentalism, Sectarianism, Secularism, Globalism, Humanism. In this issue we will examine all the different ideologies that drive our world.

Please signify which ideology your submission represents in the SUBJECT line. Thank you. - Editors

DEADLINE: SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2004

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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: THE FIRST NEWTOPIA PRINT COLLECTION

The Newtopia-India Compilation

Newtopia's first print compilation, destined for the new English reading markets of India and Nigeria, will be released in 2005. Submissions can be about any of the themes of issues 1-17. We request that you keep contributions at 2,000-6,000 words. Please send text along with companion materials like imagery, personal

photo and bio to submissions@newtopiamagazine.net.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: August 31, 2004. All contributors will receive payment for their contributions if selected.

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SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Newtopia Magazine publishes fresh news and perspectives that provoke growth, evolution and new thought. We are for rigorous, fact-based argumentation. Assumptions should be clear and terminology precise. A concern for the fate of individual human beings should take precedence over the destiny of nations. We acknowledge that mainstream media has lost its objectivity, as such, we offer the New Mainstream, driven by original, independent thought.

Newtopia is about the people and their politics, and the way that our politics are reflected in our art and culture. These ideas are best expressed through the Feature length article.

Newtopia will be published every other month for a total of six issues per year. The editorial staff will decide each issue's theme and submission guidelines for the following issue will be posted with each new issue.

To that end, our specific subject matter and theme are very loosely defined, and we encourage you to be honest and imaginative in your interpretations.

Send features to submissions@newtopiamagazine.net.

1,500 word minimum, no maximum. Recommended range 1,500-4,500.

Features are divided into Investigative News and Op-Ed/Essay. News pieces must have sources, preferably embedded links within the text. Simple bibliographies are encouraged, but not necessary.

We encourage, but not require, Op-Ed writers to employ pieces the Newtopia Model, which is to present a traditional corporate mainstream news or op-ed story, and add your unique commentary or counterargument (devoid of the usual corporate censorships, codespeak and doublespeak, of course). This helps us collectively reinforce the New Mainstream idea and educate people to a new social and political language.

OP/ED's can be submitted at any time for consideration for Newtopia's Common Sense Politics Daily Listserv.

All contributors, where necessary, will be responsible for source material in news articles and proper image releases or credits. You are not required to submit your own imagery, but if you do you are certifying that the image is either original, public domain or is accompanied by a proper photo credit. Model release forms are for photographs of people appearing in articles, and you may be asked to submit one depending on the subject matter and context.

Image Release Form / Model Release Form

Lastly, although we do not censor along the lines of the government, legal sector or corporate media, we do however have certain responsibilities and legal obligations, and above that, ethical concerns to uphold. Therefore we acknowledge it is your Constitutional right to believe and express something, but it is not our professional responsibility to print it.

http://www.newtopiamagazine.net

***

Name of Anthology: Cascadia

Editor: Cris Newport

Hosting Organization: Cascadia Con the North American Science Fiction Convention (NASFiC) in 2005 http://www.Cascadiacon.org

Deadline for submissions: November 1, 2004

Payment: $0.05 cents per word if accepted, paid upon publication

Projected publication date: September 2005, premiering at Cascadia Con, the 8th North American Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention in 30 years.

Two centuries ago, the Lewis and Clark expedition ventured into the unknown to connect the new American nation to the Pacific Northwest, an area now known as Cascadia. They encountered many surprises along the way, and these changed their view of the world. Today, we celebrate humanity's explorations of the new frontiers of space, environment, technology, mind and being. How will we forge into this future where nature meets machine and man is forced to choose between being a spiritual element or a living part of technology.

Authors are invited to submit stories to the Cascadia anthology. To be considered for publications, stories must fit the following criteria:

o Part of the story will be set in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, northern California, British Columbia or Alberta).

o The story will be written in one of the speculative fiction genres (science fiction, fantasy, horror, alternate history, magic realism, etc. Genre breaking submissions are encouraged (sf/f and mystery; sf/f and romance, etcetera).

o The story will include elements or themes which involve the relationship between technology and nature, invention and environment, perhaps of how to change the world, or change a person, without destroying them.

o Anthologies with a geographical theme often contain stories with utopian or dystopian settings. These would be welcome, but clichés should be avoided. Humorous stories must actually be funny. Cultural commentary is fine, but contemporary political satire that is likely to become dated quickly would not be preferred. We want to see stories around Washington State, not Washington DC.

o It is anticipated that most of the stories will be short stories (up to 8,000 words) with some novelette-length stories submitted (up to 20,000 words). In order for a novelette-length to be considered it would have to be of exceptional quality and probably from a known author.

Submission Guidelines:

1. Manuscripts (Mss) must be on clean, white paper.

2. Mss must be typed, double-spaced on one side only.

3. Mss pages must be numbered.

4. Author's name must appear on every page.

5. If story has been previously published, written permission to reprint the story must accompany the submission and prior publication information must be included.

6. Story must be accompanied by a page with the following information: Author's name, author's nom de plume (if applicable), author's permanent address, author's email address (required), author's phone number. Author biography - 200 word maximum. If any of this information is not supplied, submission will be discarded.

7. A business-sized envelope with first class postage for response.

8. Manuscripts will not be returned.

9. No e-mail submissions will be accepted.

10. Do not send submissions signature required or certified. Use delivery confirmation forms if author desires to see whether or not submission has been received.

11. Submissions should be sent to:

Cascadia Anthology

Windstorm Creative Ltd.

Post Office Box 28

Port Orchard WA 98366

Anthology@cascadiacon.org

***

The Dabbling Mum is currently seeking articles dealing with Christianity. We want articles that have a conversational tone, share insight through anecdotes and scripture references, and teach a life lesson without the reader realizing he/she has been taught something.

For complete writer's guidelines and needs please visit:

http://thedabblingmum.com/writers_guidelines.htm.

Payment: $15 to 20 per ORIGINAL article. Buys exclusive electronic (online) rights for six months only and non-exclusive print rights with indefinite online archival rights. May reprint offline immediately after publication.

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CONTESTS

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2004 Mona Schreiber Prize for Humorous Fiction and Nonfiction

Writers of comedic essays, articles, short stories, poetry,

shopping lists and other forms are invited to submit. Works up to 750 words in length should be typed, double-spaced,

accompanied by a money order or check for $5 to cover administrative costs, payable to "The Mona Schreiber Prize." No limit to entries but each must have a separate fee. Put contact information on the first page.

No SASEs, please. Include e-mail address for notification of winners. All entries must be postmarked by December 1 for a December 24 announcement of three winners: 1st: $500. 2nd: $250. 3rd: $100. All receive copies of "What Are You Laughing At?: How to Write Funny Screenplays, Stories and More" by Brad Schreiber.

Entries are not returned and must be unpublished. Humor is subjective. Uniqueness is suggested. Weirdness is encouraged.

The Mona Schreiber Prize for Humorous Fiction and Non-Fiction

11362 Homedale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90049.

For more information and to read previous winners:

http://www.brashcyber.com

***

Every two months The Dabbling Mum, a national parenting publication, joins forces with three new small businesses to give away a minimum of $60 in prizes. This month is no exception.

Current writing contest:

All entrants must write an original 500-word essay beginning with the following sentence, "A bright sunny day, $100 cash in my pocket, and my family is all I need to..."

Contest begins: June 1, 2004

Contest ends: July 29, 2004

Winner announced no later than the 10th of the following month.

Prizes distributed within 20 days of notification.

For more details visit:

http://thedabblingmum.com/contests/index.htm

***

~**~ Scribe & Quill Contest and Book Giveaway ~**~

* What's it all about?

It's about a contest at Scribe & Quill.

Betsy DeJesu, publicist at Penguin Group (USA) Inc. for author Jeff Davis ("The Journey from the Center to the Page: Yoga Principles & Practices as Muse for Authentic Writing") has donated a copy of his new book to Scribe & Quill. The book release date is June 3, 2004.

* What's the book about?

"The Journey from the Center of the Page" shows writers how yoga can help them become better at their craft by using postures, breathing, and mindfulness techniques. The lessons teach writers how to reach out and discover their true writing style.

Even if you have never tried yoga, this book shows you how to overcome writer's block, deal with negative emotions, build compassion for your characters and write with a clear, truthful voice. The book inspires writers of all kinds.

* What do I have to do to win?

Send Scribe & Quill an introductory statement of no more than 350 words on "How I Jump-Start My Writing." The deadline for submission is July 5, 2004. Our editorial staff and contributing writers of Scribe & Quill are ineligible for the contest. That gives one of our readers a chance to win a REALLY good book. Send entries to editor@scribequill.com. Be sure to keep a copy for yourself.

* Who's the Judge?

Judging will be by the editorial staff of Scribe & Quill. Selections are final. We are not responsible for late, lost or misdirected e-mail entries.

Get those writing endorphins to kick in and send us your entry.

*************************************************************

Pen & Pentacle's Magick & Mystery Writing Contest

http://www.penpentacle.com

Editor: Raven Athena Rowan (pen_pentacle@yahoo.com)

Deadline for submissions: September 1, 2004

Selected winners (first, second and third-place winners) will be featured in a special Pen & Pentacle Anthology to be published by October 31, 2004.

Attention pagan writers! Pen & Pentacle will celebrate Samhain 2004 with the release of the Magick & Mystery Anthology published in Adobe PDF e-format. Pagan writers/authors may submit nonfiction and/or personal essays for inclusion in the anthology.

Guidelines are as follows:

+ Entries must be of a non-fictional nature -– preferably a personal essay or commentary about your journey on the pagan path.

+ Entries should have a word count between 1,000 and 2,500 words maximum.

+ Entries should have a pagan and/or magickal slant to them. Examples of what we want include (but not limited to):

=Lessons you have learned while walking the Path.

=Your relationship to the Divine nature of the universe and how that translates/makes sense to you.

=How you came to be a pagan and how that decision affected your life.

=Specific outgrowths of relationships with patron deities.

=The process of coming out of the closet with your pagan beliefs and what it was like for you.

=Affinities and connections to certain divinatory techniques, such as scrying, tarot, runes, etc.

=Explanation and exploration of your favorite Sabbat/ritual.

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Submission Guidelines:

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1. Manuscripts will only be accepted via electronic means, preferably attached in Microsoft WORD, .rtf or straight .txt format.

2. Manuscripts must be double-spaced with the page number and author's name (or pseudonym) and e-mail address at the top of the first page.

3. Work submitted must be original and must not have been published elsewhere.

4. Please include an author bio of no more than 100 words with your submission.

5. Writers may enter only one entry per person or e-mail address and word count must not exceed the guidelines. Those entries exceeding the word count will be discarded.

6. Writers must be able to send/receive money via PayPal (http://www.paypal.com)

7. Pen & Pentacle asks for first-time print and electronic rights to publish your material in our anthology, through our newsletter and on our Web site. We ask that you wait until after publication of the anthology before submitting your entry elsewhere for consideration.

8. To cover associated operational and administrative contest costs, Pen & Pentacle requires a nominal $3 entry fee for each contest submission.

9. We are looking for a diverse assortment of entries, so we must receive at least 10 entries in order for the contest to be held. If we receive less than 10 entries, the contest will be cancelled, entry fees will be refunded (via Pay Pal) and the anthology will not be published.

10. Pen & Pentacle (and its staff members) is not responsible for late, misdirected or lost e-mail entries. PLEASE keep a copy of your entry. We will send confirmation of every entry we receive. If you do not receive a confirmation within a week of sending your entry, please notify us via e-mail to be SURE we received it.

11. Contest submissions should be sent to pen_pentacle@yahoo.com. Please put CONTEST ENTRY in the subject line of the e-mail message. Your entry fee should be sent at the same time you forward your entry to us. Send your $3 entry fee via PayPal to editor@penpentacle.com and be sure you put your name and the title of your entry (or entries) in a notation along with your PayPal payment.

12. Cash payment, certificates and publication will be awarded to the winners as follows:

1st Place –

- $40

- Publication in the Samhain issue of Pen & Pentacle

- Publication in the Magick & Mystery Anthology

- Grand Prize Winner's certificate

2nd Place –

- $30

- Publication in the Samhain issue of Pen & Pentacle

- Publication in the Magick & Mystery Anthology

- Runner-up Winner's certificate

3rd Place –

- $20

- Publication in the Samhain issue of Pen & Pentacle

- Publication in the Magick & Mystery Anthology

- Honorable Mention certificate

If you have any questions about the contest, feel free to e-mail pen_pentacle@yahoo.com

*This contest notice may be published elsewhere without specific permission as long as the entire contest announcement is published without alterations or omissions.*

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FEATURED POEM:

Madonna'd Matrons

By Joyce Faulkner (katieseyes@aol.com)

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Madonna'd matrons,

White parafined faces fixed,

Carry perfect peach children on slick celluliteless hips,

So taut they click, like the staccato shutter

That stamped them onto filmy celluloid.

Polished eyes stare.

Flat manufactured mannequins

Who never ooze sour sweat or sweat sweet ooze

Down wet fickle thighs

At the taunting smells of hoary husky males.

I envy them

Their yawning diffidence,

Their stone jug breasts,

Their sawdust labyrinths.

I admire the cool gloss,

And wonder if their photogenic charm,

Peeled from the paper backing and blown into three dimensions,

Would crack like shiny lead paint on swollen wood,

And form a crisp black and white mosaic,

A collection of chips, brittle and beautiful,

But never quite whole.

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FEATURED ARTICLE:

The Many Forms of Talent:

The Art of Collaboration

By Joyce Faulkner (katieseyes@aol.com)

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When I was in Africa, I learned a story about the honey-guide bird and the ratel more commonly known as a honey badger. The honey-guide has a, pardon the expression, bird's eye view of the countryside. The badger has sharp teeth and long claws that allow him to tear into wood and hardened mud. The bird has a taste for wax and the badger loves honey, which gives the two of them a common goal -- finding beehives. Their interests are different enough so that there is no competition should they come upon one, so these two little critters work together. When the honey-guide spots the treasure, it creates a ruckus leading the badger to that location. The badger tears into the beehive and eats the honey, leaving the wax for the bird to collect. It's an amazing example of cross-species collaboration.

As writers and business people, it is in our best interest to recognize our own strengths and weaknesses. That's not always easy to do. With an intensity matched by few other professions, we are protective of our work. We worry that someone will steal our ideas. We fall in love with our own words to the point where we can't see any flaws. We resist the suggestions of others because we think we know what's best for our projects.

In fact, those of us who succeed in this business do so because we recognize the value of a team. We welcome the talents of others into our lives and our projects with grace and enthusiasm knowing that the final product will be all the more professional, creative and unique for their input.

For example, a novel needs a variety of talents to bring it together aside from the author. Having help with the research is handy and expands the range of your inquiry. Having an editor evaluate the content of your work makes it richer and more relevant. A copy editor ensures that your story is well constructed and your writing is grammatically correct. A proofreader finds typos, misspellings, word misusage and other tiny errors that we don't see after 50-odd revisions. Agents find buyers for your manuscripts; publishers create the actual product for sale. Then your team grows ever larger. Designers define the format, artists illustrate. Marketers plan your sales strategy. Publicists help you implement it. Reviewers create demand for your novels. They also give you feedback. Booksellers get your books into the hands of readers. Readers tell their friends about you -- or, horror of horrors, they don't.

It's a cast of thousands -- an army of people contributing to your project. Like the honey badger in search of a honeycomb, we aren't likely to find the treasure unless we trust others with different perspectives to guide us.

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BOOK REVIEWS

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RATING LEGEND:

**** Quills = Excellent

*** Quills = Good

** Quills = Fair

* Quills = Poor

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"Shadow's Wake" by Loretta Justice

Reviewed by: Rita Porter (beepmybeep2@mchsi.com)

Publisher: Treble Heart Books (http://www.trebleheartbooks.com/)

ISBN: 1931742669

Rating: * * * ½ Quills

http://www.trebleheartbooks.com/JusticeSynops.html

Callan Nevins is attempting to create a normal life for herself and Connor, her young son away from the small town she grew up in, along with all the speculation about her psychic powers. Finding out she hasn't outrun her childhood nemesis, The Black Gull known as Bianca Dias Calacantis, Callan takes the offered help.

Rosemary Sabin, Sam and Dr. Ostherhaut team up with Callan to help prepare her to take on Bianca. Rosemary teaches and shows Callan the beginnings to her psychic beings. Hoping to avoid any danger to those she loves, Callan has set out to best The Gull. Many things Bianca does seem to lower Callan's self-confidence. Most seem to be petty revenge acts for ignoring the plea to join Bianca in her corrupt life. Callan has had enough.

When things turn deadly serious, Callan has no choice but to face Bianca in a bid to be free of the hold. A final confrontation is bound to happen. Callan must protect those she loves and stop The Gull.

Though the paranormal psychic things Loretta Justice has written about seem far fetched and somewhat unreal, a lot of the abilities are actually accomplished by very few. Justice writes a convincing paranormal story for the reader. Her characters are believable in their actions and behaviors.

Justice's style of writing made this a very pleasurable read. Nothing too off the wall to follow and not overly in-depth so the reader gets lost in mere speculation of facts. There are lots of conflicts differing in context -- some inner, some very complex. It's strange how one thinks he or she would react to a moral choice. Justice showed a good example between good and evil with this story.

***

"Lord Brother" by Carolyn Kephart

Reviewed by: J.M. Cornwell (jcornwell@peoplepc.com)

Publisher: Sterling House Publishers

ISBN: 1563152770

Rating: * * * Quills

http://www.sterlinghousepublisher.com/pages/2001books/lordbrother.html

Ryel Mirai stands before Srin Yan Tai and gathers his strength and Jinn's reins as he is hurled into time and space to emerge outside Hallagh to face the first step on his journey to send Dagar into the nothingness beyond the Void where Dagar hops from body to body in an attempt to take over Ryel's body and return to the world to plunge all into darkness and evil. Facing a daimon born sickness, trial by combat and the forces at Dagar's command, Ryel treads a path that will either bring him to his knees, host to Dagar's rai (soul), or to wield power and magick stronger than he dared believe possible in mortals.

Lord Brother takes a while to find its footing, counting on the reader to know what happened before this sequel to "Wysard." The story fumbles and stumbles, catching at loose strands of story lines, until coming out on the field of battle when all becomes clear and takes off like a brilliant comet, fizzling a bit at the end.

Carolyn Kephart takes too long to get to the point and lingers over inconsequential details when she should keep the excitement going and the story moving. Kephart also has a tendency to misuse and misspell words that bring the story to a jarring halt as the reader attempts to figure out what she really means.

Despite its obvious flaws, "Lord Brother" is definitely worth the read for the rich details, emotionally moving scenes and fascinating characters.

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The Zen of Scriptwriting Services

Produced Writer/Filmmaker/Author Don Vasicek makes scripts competitive in Hollywood. From original idea to marketable script, Vasicek's Zenistic approach to scriptwriting neutralizes the competition. See for yourself today. http://www.donvasicek.com.

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"Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper: A Novel"

by Harriet Scott Chessman

Reviewed by: Sonali T. Sikchi (sonali_sikchi@hotmail.com)

Publisher: Plume, Penguin Group

ISBN: 0452283507

Rating: * * * Quills

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0452283507/scriquil/

Exquisitely conceived and elegantly written, this wisp of a novel ushers readers into the often overlooked art world of Mary Cassatt, an American and a Parisian Impressionist, and her older sister Lydia, who is dying of Bright's Disease even as she recounts these five episodes from her life. Each episode centers around one of Mary's paintings of Lydia produced either in Mary's studio or their apartment in Paris and carefully limns the impact of art on a person close to a great artist.

Not much seems to happen in this book on the surface, and yet so much is happening in the ephemeral emotional realm: a paintbrush fluttering across canvas, cider spilling in the grass, a needle embroidering a wildflower, the smells of Paris.

Lydia is deeply impressed by Mary's art and talent, yet does not think that Mary is truly unusual. This expectation of extraordinariness in everything and everybody is what sets Lydia apart from the others in the story, including the famous Edgar Degas, who tells her, "You show me how to live, if only I could do it as you do."

With deft, quicksilver touches, Chessman catches the nascent tendre Lydia holds for her sister's friend and lover Degas, the insecurity Mary feels about her skills as a painter leading her to believe only in Lydia as her muse, the tugs and pulls of Lydia's relationship with each of her family members, her aching loneliness in her pain, and her terrible fear of the world continuing beyond her dissolving without a trace.

Susan Vreeland's "Girl in Hyacinth Blue" and the movie Red Violin have art as the centerpiece, whose stories are told through various people, whereas Chessman has chosen to tell the story of one person through the paintings. Where Vreeland's book and the movie are peopled with complex and memorable characters, Chessman's book ultimately fails to satisfy, because in its short length, she fails to plumb the depths of anyone, giving everyone's personality a cursory treatment with everything hinging on Lydia's illness.

Chessman's use of French phrases in the conversation between the sisters is jarring. Both Lydia and Mary were born and brought up in Philadelphia. It is difficult to imagine them being so immersed in French in their adulthood as to use it in day-to-day conversation amongst themselves at home.

Despite these shortcomings, Chessman is able to carry the reader from the first page to the last on the strength of her pitch-perfect prose. A longer treatment styled after Tracy Chevalier's efforts would elevate this book from graceful to truly memorable.

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One-stop shopping!

Need to finesse a book project before submission? Need a wordsmith to write professional innovative copy?

Seattle-based freelancer Sonali T. Sikchi can help you with the writing, copywriting, substantive and developmental editing, proofreading, querying, project management and research required for your project. Visit http://sonali_sikchi.home.comcast.net to find out about her professional career and services.

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Get your copy of Boulder's best-selling paperback (according to the Daily Camera)! Order "The People's Republic, Stories of Boulder, Colorado" directly from http://www.boulderweekly.com and get free shipping as well as a personalized autograph from the author, Colorado freelancer Rob Sheely.

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"The Body of David Hayes" by Ridley Pearson (http://www.ridleypearson.com)

Reviewed by: Mindy Phillips Lawrence (mplcreative1@aol.com)

Publisher: Hyperion

ISBN: 0786867256

Rating: * * * Quills

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0786867256/scriquil/

Best-selling suspense writer, Ridley Pearson, has 11 novels under his belt. Of these, "The Body of David Hayes" is the ninth in the series showcasing Detective Lou Boldt. Although most of Pearson's novels show Boldt as a methodical, hard-boiled detective, this novel combines his police work with his relationship with his wife, Elizabeth "Liz" Boldt, who has made a mistake in years past that comes back to haunt them both.

David Hayes is the mistake. Liz Boldt remembers the fling they had years before when Boldt tells her Hayes has been paroled. The past now threatens both her job and her re-established relationship with her husband.

Hayes is released from prison after serving a sentence for embezzlement and heads straight for Liz, an executive at the bank where he committed his 17-million-dollar wire fraud, to get the code to retrieve the money. Liz is paralyzed with fear when she hears his voice on the phone. After his release from prison, Hayes is contacted by a group of people that threaten his life to get the missing millions. He sees Liz and her security clearance as his only hope.

When Boldt finds out his wife is trapped between her job, Hayes and a developing crime case, he finds himself caught between his duty as a detective, his resurging jealousy from the past and his fear for Liz's safety. When Hayes disappears, Boldt realizes there is something deeper going on.

Pearson brilliantly researches what he needs to research to make his book hang together. He doesn't fill his pages with extraneous statistics or overly descriptive words. He interweaves the personal and professional strands of his characters' lives together to write a fascinating, suspenseful book.

"The Body of David Hayes" is a fast-paced story that holds the reader's interest until the final page. Pearson is an organizer. He has pulled each section of this novel into alignment with the other to make a smooth, well-researched book that is fascinating to read.

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Ideas, information and inspiration for writers -- you'll find all three for free when you subscribe to "WriteSuccess," the biweekly ezine that helps people pursue *successful* writing careers! Visit http://writesuccess.com or

mailto:writesuccess-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

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"The Organized Writer: 30 Days to More Time, More Money

and Less Frustration!" by Julie Hood

Reviewed by: J.M. Cornwell (jcornwell@peoplepc.com)

Publisher: BookLocker.com

Rating: * * * Quills

http://www.booklocker.com/books/937.html

How many times have writers bemoaned the fact they missed a deadline because they forgot it, didn't get a response back from a publisher, editor, interview subject, or expert or couldn't find a needed file? In many ways, it's like losing the keys to your car when you're in a rush. Julie Hood offers ways to get a handle on personal and writing productivity in "The Organized Writer: 30 Days to More Time, More Money and Less Frustration!"

With tips on everything to cleaning and organizing the clutter in your office and setting up filing systems for paper and computer to getting a handle on email, magazines, bills and family life, Hood has an answer -– and a form -– for just about everything. "The Organized Writer" is thoroughly structured and Hood takes the reader through the trials and tribulations of getting a handle on her own writing, even to the point of admitting to areas where she still struggles. Hood has made her suggestions and techniques easy to absorb by setting everything up in small bites taken a day at a time, much like a daily vitamin.

Hood’s tone is informative and conversational and the tricks and techniques contained in her book are helpful in most regards. She does have a tendency to be a bit repetitive when explaining how to handle the transfer of information into files on the computer, especially when dealing with cut and paste techniques in Microsoft Word, but otherwise the tips are helpful and I even learned a couple new tricks. Her lists for research venues and databases are pretty comprehensive, although she did miss a couple of very handy and useful Web sites. Considering how many Web sites are created and deleted on a daily basis, this is a forgivable oversight.

Although I am not by nature a really organized person, I did find some of her forms and template designs useful, but I doubt I would be able to keep such a tightly organized office and there are more than likely more writers out there who will feel the same. However, organizing some of the files and building document templates, not to mention the hair pulling at tax time that can be averted by paying attention to the simple and straight forward techniques Hood outlines in her sections on taxes, will afford a substantial savings of time that would be better used for productive writing. It is obviously impossible in a book of this length to delve into everything about taxes, especially since the laws and deductions change from year to year, but I am surprised the online sites available to help with tax preparation and storage of yearly tax files were not included with the excellent tax information.

While organization is not for everyone and some writers will certainly balk at changing old habits, "The Organized Writer" is definitely worth having on the shelf to pick and choose what best works for you, even in spite of the repetition of basic skills and tools. The forms and templates alone are worth the price and the time to go through this book.

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LIVE TO WRITE. WRITE TO SELL.

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PERSONAL VIEW:

Alzheimer's Disease

By Dale "Sierra" Seawright (http://www.geocities.com/sierra_seawright)

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After seeing the television coverage of the death of Ronald Reagan and the steadfastness shown by Nancy Reagan, I have to have my say. I applaud Mrs. Reagan on her stance concerning research to combat and cure this devastating disease. What worse situation can one be in than to see a loved one taken to a place where they can't be reached -- a place where I am sure there is no order, no logic...only confusion and emptiness?

As a caretaker for one with Alzheimer's, I pray for the cure that is taking my loved one. As the child of a mother that suffered from this disease, I watched as she slowly left never to return. Now I watch as my wife makes that same slow journey. A journey which, to me, has no rhyme or reason.

Far be it for me to step on the beliefs of others who would slow the discovery of a treatment, dare I say a cure, for Alzheimer's. To quote President Reagan, "I will take 60-percent in a compromise and work for the rest next year."

A great word is 'compromise'! In this great land where all are welcome and accepted, is there not a 'compromise' that will help those like my wife and mother avoid this journey to such an alien place? If there were a way for me to take the place of either of my loved ones, I would do it gladly and with no hesitation to spare them from the agony and frustration that has to come with Alzheimer's.

If anyone quotes me when I am gone, let it be with this: "Let me go when my work here is done. Let me not linger in a twilight between heaven and earth, but allow me swift passage one to the other!"

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THE LAST WORD --