I've signed up to Kristen King's 2007 Query Challenge. Submitting 120 queries this year shouldn't be too hard (@2-3 a week , provided I get cracking!).
Watch this space for updates!
--------------------------------
Jan 2007 : Zero queries, two submissions
Feb 2007: 2 queries, 2 submissions
Mar 2007: (Target : 15 queries, 10 submissions)
www.newbie-writers.com is a great site for all writers, both new and experienced. There's lots of stuff that you can learn or share your wisdom & ideas with other writers.
I highly recommend the forum. It is a very friendly and warm place to submit your work or to learn the craft. I have posted many Calls for Submissions over the past few months and I hope some of you may find this useful in your search for new markets.
2006 was a fulfilling year for me as a writer. Although I had far fewer published credits than I would have liked, the ones that did come through were good ones.
Essays were published in Woman's Era, Christian Science Monitor and in Releasing Times (January).
Funnily enough, a query letter to Dignity Dialogue was published as 'Letter to the Editor'!! This is inspite of the editor replying back to my query for an article! How much more specific does one need to get?!
--------------------------
My goals for 2007 are simple : Get a minimum of 50 published clips. Sounds like a lot? Watch this space!
The top 10 blogs for Writers in 2006 are listed here : http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2006/12/05/top-10-blogs-for-writers/
There's a lot of interesting reading there, loads of tips and tricks to get a freelance career going.
In India, the periodicals to write for are the newspapers and national magazines. There is no concrete data on guidelines and what they pay, as yet. Some efforts have been made in the past, though and at WB, we'll try and collect this information in one place.
To start with, here are links to some magazines in India. Guidelines will be added/edited as and when available. Comments, suggestions and information welcome.
Femina
Woman's Era
Savvy
New Woman
Good Housekeeping
Cosmo India
Health and Nutrition
Society Interiors
India Today
Business Today
Design Today
India Today Travel Plus
Golf Digest India
For more periodicals, visit this site : http://www.allindianewspapers.com/magazines.html
There's a new group for writers in Mumbai (Bombay). Anybody interested may take a look at their website : http://writersclubbombay.googlepages.com/home
While you're at it, take a look at ours too :)UNDISCOVERED AUTHORS - UK
http://www.undiscoveredauthors.co.uk/---NO ENTRY FEES
Undiscovered Authors, the UK’s first national competition is aimed at seeking out new literary talent on any subject.The top national prize is £10,000 and there are regional prizes of £1,000 per category. The competition is divided into 16 regions in the UK and Ireland. A winner from each region will be entered into the national final to be announced in April 2006.
Registration is simple, register online for your entry code, and when you have completed your synopsis and sample chapter (please see entry requirements), simply email it to them before the deadline of December 31, 2005.
November is Nanowrimo month.
Nanowrimo is the National Novel Writing Month held each year in well, November. If you want to push yourself a bit further than usual or just take a leap into writing a BIG project, register and start thinking of your plot. You can start writing on November 1 and finish 50,000 words by the 30th. Let us know if you are taking part and how it goes.
PS: If you have 'extra' great ideas for characters, plots etc, do let us know! Some of us have a severe case of Writers Block that we need help with!
I can't imagine a life
without words.
No books, no newspaper,
no email
Can you imagine how dreary that
would be?!
What would we do with our
time?!
You say we could go watch
a movie
or look at the swans on the lake
but to do that everyday?!
I would die
if the words were taken
away from me.
I need my books to read
and my paper to write on
I need my words like a fix
without which
the day has been wasted.
Life with words.
It's what God intended it to be.
I'm sure books are His favorite
hobby too :)
