WRITERS' Journal

Table of Contents
November/December 2006
Volume 27, Number 6

      .....Editor's Note, by Leon Ogroske 

I am queried several times a year for the WRITERS’ Journal editorial calendar. My response is that we don’t have one, because we offer our readers a plethora of articles on a variety of subjects in the order we receive them from writers. Many publications have seasonal or topical issues, which may or may not be of interest to a particular reader. If I do not have any interest in writing technical articles, why would I purchase a magazine devoting itself to the subject? If I am not a novelist, should I purchase a magazine whose sole objective is to offer advice to novelists? Granted each genre of writing can cross over into some other genre, and there may be a speck of help I could use, but why not just get a "variety" writing magazine? We are the complete writer’s magazine.

This issue introduces Carolyn Howard-Johnson with her short column, "Vocabulary Review," on page 7. Many of you may be familiar with Carolyn’s book promoting prowess. She and Janet Smith ("Marketing Helps") beat similar paths—fun ladies; relentlessly promoting.

Oftentimes we receive article submissions regarding writer’s block. No one ever put it quite like Jim Becket does in "The Contest." On page 13, Jim takes the reader into the mind of Jack Nahman who is trying to write a story for entry into our Write to Win! contest. Jack approaches the challenge; see how he handles the various aspects of story writing. Perhaps he should read our contributors articles "Fiction Fever" (page 43) and "What Happens in Your Story?" (page 44).

Word puzzles can be a restful diversion from our writing and at the same time create inspiration and challenge us intellectually. On page 23, Margaret Shauers explains how she makes money by creating puzzles.

We have contest winners galore in this issue. Short Story and Write to Win! contest honors are well earned, bringing the cream to the top of the entries. Poetry prize winners, although only two, submitted similarly themed, well-created, winning poems. Photo contest winners once again display the creativity that entrants are capable of producing. Congratulations and thanks to all of you.

Leon Ogroske, editor

Columns

  4       .....Readers' P.O.V.

  5       .....Massaging the Muse, Lynne Pisano
           Supersize Your Heroes

  6       .....Marketing Helps, Janet Elaine Smith
           E-Books—EZ Money—for Free? 

  7       .....Vocabulary Review, Carolyn Howard-Johnson
           Folk Etymology

  8       .....Effective Screenwriting, by Christina Hamlett
           Spec Scripts: Your Calling Card to Hollywood's Front Door
           Until your screenplays or teleplays start getting the attention they deserve from agents, directors, and producers, the bulk of what you write will be done "on spec." "Spec" is short for "speculation" and means exactly that: Maybe you'll sell it, maybe you won't. (Hence, the wisdom of having a day job to keep your creditors happy in the meantime.)...

 11      .....Photography Techniques, by Ronald D. Kness
           Photographing Sunsets
           Sunsets are one of the most intriguing subjects to photograph. No two are exactly alike. The thing I like most about sunsets is their fleeting nature. While they are here at the end of every day, they do not last long....

 57       .....For Beginners Only, by Emily Jean Carroll
           The Writer's Voice(s)
           Voice. What the heck is it? A writer's voice can't be heard, can it, unless it's an audio book and the author is reading it? What is "voice" in writing?...

 58      .....Words...Tools of Our Trade, by Betty Garton Ulrich
           Is That really What You Meant to Say
           I'm sure you always mean what you say, or at least, what you intended to say. It's surprising how often the wrong word—or even the wrong placement of a word—can change what you meant to say, sometimes with anywhere from ridiculous to disastrous consequences....

 59       .....WRITERS' Journal Market Report, by Laurie Graziano
            November/December 2006 Market Report Plus, Joan Clipp of PolymerCAFE Magazine
            Did you ever think of writing as extending your conversation? Writing is a twenty-four-hour-a-day activity. Of course, you aren't always putting pen to paper or finger to keyboard—but the thoughts keep coming. (Your writing becomes an extension of everyday activities and conversations molded into written expression.)...

                   Markets: PolymerCAFE, Time Out New York Kids, Florida Classic Home, Rocky Top News, Robb Report Luxury Resorts, Husky Blue & White, Time Out New York Student Guide, Expose, Running Times Magazine.

Feature Articles

 13       .....The Contest, by Jim Beckett
            Abandoned by the Muse
            "The town looked deserted..." Jack Nahman stared at the four words he'd just typed. They seemed promising, pregnant with unlimited potential. But Jack wasn't moved. This was the first time he'd entered the contest in six months, having taken a break from the disappointment of not winning. The story had to start with these words. Usually, Jack could just start typing and ideas would crowd into his mind, fighting for a chance to be chosen. But not this time....

 15       .....Your Character's Car, by Darryl Brooks
            A Car Can "Show" Your Character
            In making the movie 48 Hours, there was very little script or rehearsal. The movie was mostly shot in sequence, and the story grew and changed as it progressed. Early in the filming, in one scene, Nick Nolte walked out of his girlfriend's house to get into his car. The director, Walter Hill, had parked an old beat-up Cadillac convertible in the street with one wheel up on the curb. Seeing that car and how it was parked told Nolte more about his character than any direction would have....

 19       .....But That's the Way It Really Happened, by Marcy Campbell
            Turning Fact into Fiction
            Among the many useful writing exercises in the book What If, by Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter, is one titled "Learning to Lie." The exercise asks the writer to jot down one true thing that happened to her and two lies. These sentences are then read to a group to discern the truth....

 21       .....Promoting Your Book, by Rekha Ambardar
            Getting the Word Out
            A writer friend with a publishing track record of thirty years or so never believed in promoting his books. He constantly maintained that his job was to write the. Promoting them? That was his publisher's job. Yet, his book sales did not reflect the lack of the author's promotional efforts. He was lucky. Today, however, authors cannot rely on their publishing laurels alone. Because of the tremendous number of books being published each year, it is imperative that authors do as much as they can to promote each new book in order to build sales....

 23       .....Puzzle your Way to Extra Cash, by Margaret Shauers
            Like Words? Make Them Pay!
            Writers like words...words like puzzles. Connect the dots for extra cash. I don't earn a fortune puzzling, but by spending a day a week at it, I take in about $200 a month. If I could shake my addiction for writing fiction and articles, I'm positive that playing with words could provide an actual income....

 41       .....Travel Writing—Get the Inside Edge on Special Events, by Susan Miles
            Careful Planning Is the Key
            Timing, planning, and preparation are everything when it comes to writing about festivals and exhibits.....

42        .....Writers' Notebook
           Critique Group, by Pat S. Baker
           Analysis by Factiva, a Dow Jones and Reuters Company, by Shannon Sullivan
           The Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Writers, Dena Harris, writer/speaker, denaharris.com

 43       .....Fiction Fever, by Martha J. Morrison 
            Well-Developed Characters Help Write My Stories
            It's time to write another story. I've been spending most of my writing time lately on queries and cover letters and have an urge to be more creative. I don't have any plot or character ideas, so where do I begin?...

 44       .....What Happens in Your Story?, by Suzanna E. Henshon
            Plot and Character in Children's Fiction
            Ask children what they like in stories, and they will usually mention plot and characters. Plot keeps a story exciting and keeps children burrowed within the pages of a book rather than turning on a television or finishing homework. Characters draw readers into the story through quirky habits, compelling qualities, and actions. As the events of a story unfold, children need an emotional connection to the characters; it is equally essential for young readers to see a resolution in the story line or chain of events....

 46       .....Word Excursions,  by Robin M. Allen
            Enrich Your Writing While Tooling Along the Back Roads of Your Mind
           Intense concentration hour after hour can bring out resources in people they didn't know they had.—Edwin Land....

Fiction

 27       .....Down Came the Blackbird, by Deborah Carron
            First Prize Winner of 2006 Short Story Contest

 28       .....When Larry Met Caroline, by Kirk Ort
            Second Prize Winner of 2006 Short Story Contest

 30       .....Last Will, by Loralee Leavitt
            Third Prize Winner of 2006 Short Story Contest

 32       .....The Messenger, by Ryan Schow
            H. M. Winner of 2005 Horror/Ghost contest

 36       .....Fate's Way, by Courtney Mroch
            H. M. Winner of 2005 Romance Contest

June 20, 2006 Write to Win! Winner

 38       ....."War Relic" "The town looked deserted...," by Mary Anne Wright

Poetry

 48       .....Every Day With Poetry, by Esther M. Leiper
            "The Forms of Time"
            An analogy: Every human is run by a double-faced clock, a clock like Janus, the Roman god of doorways, who looked simultaneously forward and backward and who thus—in ancient statuary—is portrayed with two faces....

 53       .....Esther Comments On..., by Esther M. Leiper
            The Winners—April 2006 Poetry Contest
            I am sitting in a lounge chair reading entries to the latest WRITERS' Journal poetry contest. It is May; the dandelions, tansy, and chives are thriving. Wind riffles my hair and also riffles the stacks of poems before me. One stack is that from which the winners will come, and the other is where the winners are not. Each stack is held by a white quartz stone around which paper corners flutter...

Photo Contest Winners

  64      .....In the Gazebo, by Melissa Mannon
            First Prize Winner of May 2006 Photo Contest

             .....Windansea Beach, by Laurie S. Deal
            Second Prize Winner of May 2006 Photo Contest

             .....Brooklyn Bridge up Close, by Janet Hicks
            Third Prize Winner of May 2006 Photo Contest