The way this will work...
After reading our WORD (8/2/07) Issue 7, you will know the basics of what a query is, why it's important and a general outline of how to do it. I will provide examples, but this is for YOU to try it out without having to face rejection!
First:
Choose your "article," "magazine," and "editor. You can use the prompts below, or have fun with your own.
PROMPTS:
"How to Use 101 Bananas" for FruitLuvvers. Editor: Apple Deelish.
"The Quail" for Tragic Poultry. Editor: Ima Sosad.
"Jokes for the Humorless" for I Can't Laugh. Editor: Hea Haha.
Second:
Write your bio. I recommend you write a true one of yourself, using the tips in the WORD article. If you really, really want to, you can make it up.
Third:
Write your pitch. This is where your creativity comes in. Again, check the WORD guidelines!!
Fourth:
Send it to me! Email it to Gabrielle at innovativeteen@gmail.com . I will get back to you very quickly!
DISCLAIMER: I will not send you an email back telling you HOW ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE YOU ARE. Neither will I hand out gross flattery. This is a practice round. If I see a really great example of a bio, I'll tell you. If I think you should condense the query, I'll tell you. It's just a good way to practice the art of querying.
Can't wait for Sunday? comment here!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Stories for Children reminder
Reminder: if you have a story appropriate for elementary aged children, get it ready for Stories for Children. Submissions open up again on September 1st, so be ready!
We spotlighted Stories for Children in Issue 2. If you missed it, lost it, or want more information, go on www.storiesforchildren.tripod.com.
We spotlighted Stories for Children in Issue 2. If you missed it, lost it, or want more information, go on www.storiesforchildren.tripod.com.
Happy With Layout
I've been playing around with our layout. Unfortunately I do not possess the talent of creating web layouts, so I'm victim to the whims of Blogger. I think this sets a great tone, don't you think? Professional yet... not stuffy. I don't do stuffy.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
What Writing Lit Have You Read? [Issue 6]
So, guys... what writing lit have you read? Whether it's for school or (admit it) for fun, what do you think?
Also: has anybody recently thought about submitting to a zine? or Innovative? Dreamed of it? had nightmares of it?
Also: has anybody recently thought about submitting to a zine? or Innovative? Dreamed of it? had nightmares of it?
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Quizzical Quandaries And Other Questions
Q is such a funny letter, isn't it?
Well, Innovative 6 is getting there. I've written WORD, know what I'm going to say in Spotlighted! and Bookshelf. This week's topic is How to Use Writing Lit. There's so many books, zines and blogs about the subject, how can you possibly choose the best things to read? What should you gain from them? Find out tomorrow!
If you are not yet on the Innovative email network, join in! It's free of charge and free of advertising, and your email address is considered private and will not be distributed to anyone. Send me an email at innovativeteen@gmail.com to get your WriTeen literary snack, every week.
LOOKING AHEAD... Next week I'd like to cover Quizzical Questions: What Queries Are and How to Write Them. This is a big topic but a very, very important one. So there's two special events that are going to happen to coincide with it.
First, at that time I will start accepting ideas from people who would like to write WORD one week.
The way that will work... I'd rather have ideas first, because I don't want you to write a 400 word essay and then get an email from me saying, that isn't what I'm looking for. We do enough of that in the writing world (and actually, that's one of the reasons we have queries...) So if you would like to speak to WriTeens about almost anything connected to the word "Writing", start talking to me. This is a great opportunity, whether you've been published before or not.
Second, again, because Queries are so important, we're going to practice! More on that next week, but think: pretending to write outrageous stories and see what I, representing THE EDITOR, will think of them. This will be one-on-one, but if yours is super good, I'll share them here.
That's all for now, folks! I'm 17 pages away from my rewrite being done, so I better chug along.
Well, Innovative 6 is getting there. I've written WORD, know what I'm going to say in Spotlighted! and Bookshelf. This week's topic is How to Use Writing Lit. There's so many books, zines and blogs about the subject, how can you possibly choose the best things to read? What should you gain from them? Find out tomorrow!
If you are not yet on the Innovative email network, join in! It's free of charge and free of advertising, and your email address is considered private and will not be distributed to anyone. Send me an email at innovativeteen@gmail.com to get your WriTeen literary snack, every week.
LOOKING AHEAD... Next week I'd like to cover Quizzical Questions: What Queries Are and How to Write Them. This is a big topic but a very, very important one. So there's two special events that are going to happen to coincide with it.
First, at that time I will start accepting ideas from people who would like to write WORD one week.
The way that will work... I'd rather have ideas first, because I don't want you to write a 400 word essay and then get an email from me saying, that isn't what I'm looking for. We do enough of that in the writing world (and actually, that's one of the reasons we have queries...) So if you would like to speak to WriTeens about almost anything connected to the word "Writing", start talking to me. This is a great opportunity, whether you've been published before or not.
Second, again, because Queries are so important, we're going to practice! More on that next week, but think: pretending to write outrageous stories and see what I, representing THE EDITOR, will think of them. This will be one-on-one, but if yours is super good, I'll share them here.
That's all for now, folks! I'm 17 pages away from my rewrite being done, so I better chug along.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Finding Time to Write
Well, it's Thursday and I'm in my first week of education after a very lazy and yet eventful summer. Things will take a while to get insanely hectic, however.
I've read a lot of articles about "finding time to write." But I think what matters, in the end, is that you want to do it. If you want it enough, you do make it happen. Maybe you only write a page a day, maybe the weekends are your only time at all, but you do make it happen. There was a good quote from "Putting Your Passion Into Print," where someone said that the difference between authors that make it and authors that don't, is who wants it enough.
It's the same with finishing books. I am the not-so-proud author of about ten or fifteen books that have never made it past Chapter 3. However, I have also proudly finished two books (one was only 80 pages, but it was done) and am on the way to finishing a third.
The best novel-writing method I've ever come across is National Novel-Writing Month (NaNoWriMo.org), where you write a 50,000-word first draft in 30 days. I've never actually done the "real" NaNoWriMo with thousands of other writers doing it simultaneously, but have applied the principles to a month that worked best for me. The creative rush is unbelievable; they are some of the best months ever. I had so much fun writing the first draft of "Charming" a year ago.
If you want to finish your book, I recommend NaNoWriMo whole-heartedly, or something like it. Something fun, creative, and so fast you won't have time to doubt yourself.
I've read a lot of articles about "finding time to write." But I think what matters, in the end, is that you want to do it. If you want it enough, you do make it happen. Maybe you only write a page a day, maybe the weekends are your only time at all, but you do make it happen. There was a good quote from "Putting Your Passion Into Print," where someone said that the difference between authors that make it and authors that don't, is who wants it enough.
It's the same with finishing books. I am the not-so-proud author of about ten or fifteen books that have never made it past Chapter 3. However, I have also proudly finished two books (one was only 80 pages, but it was done) and am on the way to finishing a third.
The best novel-writing method I've ever come across is National Novel-Writing Month (NaNoWriMo.org), where you write a 50,000-word first draft in 30 days. I've never actually done the "real" NaNoWriMo with thousands of other writers doing it simultaneously, but have applied the principles to a month that worked best for me. The creative rush is unbelievable; they are some of the best months ever. I had so much fun writing the first draft of "Charming" a year ago.
If you want to finish your book, I recommend NaNoWriMo whole-heartedly, or something like it. Something fun, creative, and so fast you won't have time to doubt yourself.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Do You Care for ChickLit? [Issue 5]
So, it can be frivolous and ga-ga, but what do you think about chicklit? Is it pointless? Sexist? Humorous? Fun? Exciting? Have you read any really good (or really bad!) examples? What about you men, who never read it? What do you think?
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