FROM MY MAIL:

Dotti wrote to ask if I could devote a column to listing reprint markets. I'm listing a few in Jon's ezine this month (see above for link). Plus I'll try to include some in future columns. (Do read listings through--I do give this information when it's available.)

The guidelines from Hullabaloo are different from my listing last month. (Also see my appeal for a current URL; the one I gave last month doesn't work.) Hullabaloo, 954 Gayley Ave, Los Angeles CA 90024: Deidre Cutter, Editor. This magazine features a different country each issue. Fiction of 800-1000 words, nonfiction to 500 words. Poetry to 16 lines. Pay is from .20 word up. Will consider reprints. UPCOMING COUNTRIES ARE: Finland, Australia, China, Brazil and Egypt. Email: editor@hullabaloomagazine.com.

Jan Knight will retire from Pockets the first of July. She has been a great editor to work with--she will be missed! Lynn Gilliam is currently an assistant editor there.

And Carolyn Cunningham will be leaving W.O.W. at the end of June. Another great editor to miss! The new editor has not been named. She advised me to watch www.wowmag.com for upcoming details.

Adventures is the new name of the former Listen (International Church of the Nazarene.) Unlike many of this magazines here, Adventure is buying at least some material. The address & information: 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City MO 64131. Donna Fillmore is editor. This Church of the Nazarene publication uses stories of 300 to 400 words (none shorter or longer) for 5 and 6 year-olds. No articles. The pay is .05 on acceptance and they buy MULTI-USE rights. They do not mind if reprinted in non-competing publications, but do not buy reprints. Email: gpryor@nazarene.org

Creative Classroom has suspended publication.

I checked and The Scripture Press publications are all still in a pick-up cycle and are using reprints. These magazines are Primary Days, Counselor, Power Station and Real Time.

(Australia) Grow, PO Box 603, Kenmore 4069 Australia: Lyn Hurry, Editor. This Christian publication encourages children 8-13 through positive articles and stories. No preachy material. Fiction, true life, and articles on social issues. No pay. Queries and submissions can go to Hurry at growmag@bigpond.com.

Meryln's Pen has ceased publication.

Transitions Abroad, 18 Hulst Road, Amherst MA 01004-1300. This magazine for travelers of all ages uses some travel articles for teens. In-depth articles based on solid research. No sightseeing, destination pieces or personal travelogues. Query, with outline. Articles to 1500 words; pay is $1.25 per column inch on publication for 1^st rights. Email queries okay: editor@transitinsabroad.com.

Muse no longer accepts unsolicited material.

My Friend has a theme list available. Send SASE to: 50 St. Paul's Avenue, Jamaica Plain, Boston MA 02130-3495: Sister Maria Grace Dateno, Editor. For Catholic children ages 6-12. They want well-written fiction of 150 to 1200 words that grabs imagination and gently teaches a lesson. Also uses articles 150-900 words, puzzles and jokes. Pays from $70 to $150. Email: myfriend@pauline.org. Website: www.myfriendmagazine.com.

Boys' Quest, 103 North Main Street, Bluffton OH 45817: Marilyn Edwards, Articles Editor. The publishers of Hopscotch put out this magazine for boys 5-13 (emphasis is on mid to older age range). They want secular articles & fiction (action oriented) of 200-500 words. Wholesome and innocent. They also buy puzzles and pay around $10 each. Pays .05 word for 1st rights on publication. Now list buying reprints! NOTE: They hold material for ages, but do use. They have a theme list. Email: hsbq@wcoil.com. http://www.boysquest.com.

Today's Christian Teen is now an annual college preparation guide and no longer accepts submissions.

Campus Life, 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream IL 60188: Christopher Lutes, Editor. This Christian magazine for high school and early college students uses articles, 750 to 1500 words, and fiction, 1000-1500 words. Pays .15 to .20 word on acceptance for 1st and one-time rights; $50 for reprints. Occasionally accepts reprints. Best way to break in is with 1st person experiences or as-told-to 1st person stories. Get theme info and DO query. This is not a beginner’s market. Email: clmag@campuslife.com. Website: http://www.christianitytoday.com/.

Dotti Enderle has an e-book that was illustrated by Candace Hardy. It's called "Because I Said So" and is available at www.writers-exchange.com. All of her royalties on this goes to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

CHECK OUT my classes for children's short story writers:

http://universalclass.com/arts/creativewriting/classes/2371.htm

and http://universalclass.com/arts/creativewriting/classes/3499.htm

I said biography, but should have said bibliography for: http://www.easybib.com/. Shirley sent the site in last month!

Randi wrote to warn everyone that Confetti magazine has not responded to her January submission despite several emails.

Glynis writes that both Celebrate and Discoveries are closed to submissions at present. I know I've reported this before, but haven't for awhile. Most of the Nazarene Sunday school publications work on a 3-year cycle. They buy quite a bit when they are buying, but then are closed until the next cycle begins.

Mary Chambers--who just landed an assignment with AppleSeeds Magazine--passed her letter from the new associate editor:

Hello Writers,

A quick note to introduce myself... I am Annabel Wildrick, and I am working with Susan Buckley as Associate Editor of AppleSeeds Magazine. My background is in the visual arts and education; most recently, I’ve written a variety of educational materials including teacher guides, magazine articles, art activities, and more. I’m married to a theater-artist-turned-science-teacher; we have a son in first grade, and a 3 1/2-year-old daughter. Life is never boring!

Barbara Burt, who was co-editor of AppleSeeds with Susan, has left the magazine to pursue other writing projects. So, I will be working with Susan to plan the issues, assign your articles, and help edit them. From now on, I’ll be available to answer your writing questions; your articles and reference materials should be sent directly to me.

I’m really excited about working with all of you, with Susan, and everyone at Cobblestone!

Thanks,

Annabel

Also from Mary:

- Holidays & Seasonal Celebrations has ceased publication, but manuscripts are being forwarded to the Education Center, Inc. by "The Mailbox" books and magazines. They accept activities for grades 1-6 but only pay in gift certificates for products at the Education Center. Visit their web site at: www.themailbox.com <http://www.themailbox.com> for more info.

And I don't know if you track book publishers as well but if so:

- Harcourt is no longer accepting unsolicited manuscripts, queries, or illustrations for adult or children's books.

From Georgia: The Carus Magazine Group has announced more flexibility in acquisition of rights for new stories and poems. The revised policy can be found on the Cricket Magazine submission guidelines web page: <http://www.cricketmag.com/pages_content.asp?page_id=25> Effective March 31, 2003, Cricket Books announced a moratorium on unsolicited manuscripts. Manuscripts received before that date will be read. Updates for manuscript submission will be posted at their web site: http://www.cricketbooks.net Cricket normally purchases the following rights: For stories and poems previously unpublished, rights vary. Payment is made upon publication. For stories and poems previously published, Cricket purchases second North American publication rights. Fees vary, but are generally less than fees for first publication rights. Payment is made upon publication. Same applies to accompanying art. For recurring features, Cricket purchases the material outright. The work becomes the property of Cricket, and it is copyrighted in the name of Carus Publishing Company. A flat fee per feature is usually negotiated. Payment is made upon publication. For commissioned artwork, Cricket purchases all rights plus promotional rights (promotions, advertising, or any other form not offered for sale) are subject to the terms outlined below:

(a) Physical art remains the property of the illustrator.

(b) Payment is made within 45 days of acceptance.

(c) Illustrator may use artwork for self-promotion.

Also From Georgia: Connect For Kids, Susan Phillips, Executive Editor. 1625 K Street NW, 11th Floor, Washington, DC 20006 EMAIL: susan@connectforkids.org /ym/Compose?To=susan@connectforkids.org&YY=2158&order=down&sort=date URL: <http://www.connectforkids.org> This weekly, online publication is looking for "freelance writers to do solutions-oriented coverage of critical issues for children and families." We seek to provide regional success stories, good information, and profiles of people who are making a difference in the lives of kids in their communities. The idea is to inspire and provide solutions people in other areas can apply locally. Readers are adults who want to help kids. Subjects of interest include: foster care, children's mental health, early learning, after-school programs, environmental solutions, literacy and safety programs and other issues affecting kids and families. LENGTH: 800-1,200 words PAYMENT: $700-$1,000. RIGHTS: Buys all rights, but only for a 3-month period of exclusivity after publication on web site. REPRINTS: No SUBMISSIONS: Send a professional query via email and be sure to include clips and/or links. The editor would like to see strong queries that outline how you will get the story. GUIDELINES: <http://www.connectforkids.org/information1537/information_show.htm>? doc_id=140766#writers

From Shirley: I just subbed to Humpty Dumpty and received a form letter back stating that they currently have a moratorium on new material.

Check the Children's Author's Bootcamp site for information about the latest Boot Camps (in Anaheim and Chicago)!

Shirley wants to know if Explore magazine is still around--and if anyone has a URL for it. The one I had listed no longer works. (Shirley--I'm not sure if it's the Longman (Australian) Explore or not. If it is, the URL still works for me:

(AUSTRALIA) Longman Magazines, PO Box 1024, South Melborne Victoria 3205 Australia: Debbie Lombardo, Editorial Contact. This publisher produces quarterly educational magazines: COMET (12-15) fiction & nonfiction; CHALLENGE (10-13) fiction & nonfiction; EXPLORE (8-10) fiction 1000/nonfiction 200-800; EXPLORE (8-10) fiction to 800; nonfiction 200-600; COMET (5-7) fiction & nonfiction 50-200 words. Buy all rights; pay $80-$300. Website has guidelines and upcoming themes: http://www.longman.com.au/magazines/index.html.

Does anyone have the URL for Hullabaloo? The one I gave last month no longer works.

Is All About You accepting freelance? Writer's Market Online has removed them from the listings--at the magazine's request.

Note to letter writers: Thank you for your emails. I read them all and I try to answer as many varied questions as possible. I also have a backlog so it can take time. If I don't use your letter in the column within two months, it's for one of the following reasons. (A.) I've answered a very similar question in the past. Please check the FAQ section and the Archives. (most now available at http://www.odsys.net/bookbarn/Childmkt_Archives/. (B.) I no longer publish letters where I must do more than very minor grammar and spelling corrections. This includes the many letters I get where no capitalization is used. Editing letters takes too much time—and such letters hardly indicate a serious commitment to writing. Believe me, editors never take poorly constructed writing seriously! (C.) I do not critique writing and no longer respond to emails requesting such services.

Hi, Lily.

Net means after expenses. Only a very few offer on retail so that's usual. The bad think about net is that it also includes the discounts they give bookstores, etc.--but that's pretty usual, too.

With 7 books I think I'd go for the advance/royalty thing (if they will at least pay the advance as you send in each book and you don't have to send in all 7 before getting anything). With 7 of them, you should build readership. You might actually want to pay an agent to handle the contract for you. (Who might then sign on as your agent for future sales.)

Margaret

Hi, Regina. I teach some, too--but not books. Just short stories. I've no experience with any other online courses for book writers, but I'd check out what the instructors have published before taking any course.

Hope this helps.

Margaret

Hi, Charlotte:

You could ask the publisher to recommend an agent since he/she asked. It's pretty well luck of the draw to find one for a new writer. The process can be more time consuming than marketing.

How long has the writing been in at this publisher? Book publishers, especially, are common for taking up to 6 months--no matter what they say in listings. You can write, enclosing either a postcard or SASE and ask if the item arrived and is still under consideration. Definitely after 6 months (and some writers query after 3), I'd find out. If you get no response within another month, send a letter with receiver confirmation required, and formally withdraw it from consideration.

Hope that helps a bit.

Margaret

Hi, Britney:

Good luck with your book, but the answer to book publication is one every author must find for herself. First, go to the library and check Books In Print. Publishers with current Jonah titles won't be interested. While there, also see which other religious publishers use similar material.

Next, go to the library shelves and read titles from the publishers you're interested in. If the library doesn't have them, ask them to get them on interlibrary loan.

Check www.writersdigest.com to learn titles of books about getting children's books published. To find the ones most helpful to you, also have your local library get titles on interlibrary loan (if they don't already have them). Once you've read a couple of those and made sure your book is following publishing standards, find the new issue of Writer's Market or Sally Stuart's religious market directory. This will give you the address of publishers. Either find their catalogs online or send self-addressed, stamped envelope to get them direct from the publisher. Study and follow the guidelines they also will send. Then begin submitting.

I know this isn't easy or as much fun as writing. But becoming published is at least 50% marketing, and possibly more in the beginning. Again, best of luck!

Margaret

JUNE TIP: Summer is hectic and this tip is good for all hectic summer months. FORCE yourself to write at least one page a day--even on vacation. Often, you'll find that, once started, you'll end up writing five or 10. And if you only write one page a day? You'll still have 30 pages at the end of June; 31 each in July and August. Better still, you won't be out of practice when you decide it's time to "get back to work" in the fall.