So you’ve come to Gather.com with a dream: to be a published author. It’s a dream that millions share. A hardcover book, perhaps leading to a movie, and of course topping the best sellers list goes unsaid as the utmost excitement in becoming a published author. This is a dream for people full of passion who know beyond a doubt that they would go through everything required to see their dream come true, even if there were no financial gain. If I have described you then this monthly newsletter is just right for you.
The Write Connections will provide aspiring writers at Gather.com a connection to news and information about the publishing industry as well as helpful tips to speed you along to fulfilling your publishing dreams. Are you ready for The Write Connections? Good, because the first issue is coming to you right now!
The Write News on Gather
The members at Gather.com are chock full of helpful tips and information for aspiring writers. Here are some noteworthy groups and articles to check out:
First Chapters: This Gather Group is sponsored by Gather Inc. and book publisher Touchstone/Simon & Schuster. Do you have a fiction manuscript just waiting for the right publisher to pick up? Well, now you have the opportunity on Gather to see that dream come to fruition. The first three chapters of chosen finalist will be reviewed by Gather members and a panel of judges to decide which novel will win a publishing contract, a $5,000 cash prize and promotion by Borders. If you enter this contest, leave a link in a comment below so other Gather members can read and rate your entry. Readers with awesome comments can also have the chance to win between $500 and $10,000 in Borders gift cards – it pays to read and comment! Check out this group for complete details.
Business and Craft of Writing: This Gather Group owned by Nick Soutter, a professional writer and editor who is represented by the Donald Maass literary agency, contains all the articles Nick has publishing on Gather in a series also entitled Business and Craft of Writing. These articles provide valuable information on topics ranging from agents to the rules of writing and grammar. There are also articles by other Gather members on the topic of writing. It is a great group and one I recommend to any aspiring writer.
What Do Pubs and Agents Want? An Author's View: This article, written by Patty Kelley, a nonfiction writer/author who has had traditional book deals and has worked with agents, tells aspiring writers about challenges that are new to the modern day author in the publishing industry.
The Write Tools
The featured writer’s tool for this issue is a must have book for any aspiring writer who does not yet have an agent: Guide to Literary Agents 2007, by Joanna Masterson. Once I began reading this book I could not put it down. The reason? Not only will this book provide you with 450 listings including information on more than 750 literary agents in the US and internationally, but it also has sections providing in-depth steps to preparing your manuscript, writing your query letter, completing your synopsis or book proposal, understanding publishing jargon, what to expect from an agent, and much more! The book includes an easy to use index to help you find agents by name, company, or genre. I cannot imagine starting the path toward publishing without using this book.
Travel Write
Need a cure for writer’s block? Want to get connected with other writers, agents, editors, and publishing representatives? Often these things can be accomplished by doing a bit of traveling. Here are a few upcoming writing conferences:
February 21-24, 2007 – Arizona State University Desert Nights Rising Stars Writers Conference (Tempe, AZ): “Join us for four exhilarating days in sunny Arizona, where writers can hone their craft in a vast selection of workshops and network with distinguished writers, teachers, editors, and agents. This year’s conference—ASU’s fiftieth—will feature innovative course topics for writers at all levels and many opportunities for interaction with faculty and participants.”
April 20-22, 2007 - American Society of Journalists and Authors Writers’ Conference (New York, NY): “The 2007 conference offers dozens of great seminars and individual opportunities to work with editors, established writers, and other experts to help you sharpen your writing, marketing and technological skills.”
July 11-14, 2007 - Romance Writers of America 27th Annual National Conference (Dallas, TX): “Enhance your writing and knowledge of the ins and outs of publishing at more than 100 workshops; get the inside track and let your voice be heard at panels and round-tables featuring publishing professionals; schedule a one-on-one pitch meeting with an acquiring editor or literary agent; attend parties and network with the stars of romance fiction”
Various 2007 - Christians Writers’ Market Guide: List of 2007 Christian Writers’ conferences.
Tip: Writing conferences are a great way to network with other writers. If you have a manuscript or proposal ready for publishing, though, writing conferences can be your key to attaining an agent or even contracting directly with a publisher. Look for conferences that indicate there will be agents, editors, and/or publishing representatives present. Remember that a reputable agent, editor, or publisher will not charge a reading fee.
That’s all for this issue of The Write Connections. If you have suggestions or helpful links for other aspiring writers, please feel free to comment below. To keep up with all The Write Connections issues, click here and join.
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Comments: 35
This newsletter is awesome.
Bren
Jerome - I'll be sure to look up some UK conference listings for the next issue!
I've been using Gather to share tips from established writers I've met, such as Alice McDermott, John Irving, Tom Wolfe and Neil Gaiman. Feel free to take a look at them -- the old and the new -- for different perspectives on the craft of writing!
I look forward to the next issue.
I am glad people are finding this helpful. I try to post on topics that I myself want to know more about as an aspiring writer.
You stated under the heading "The Write News on Gather" that help and tips are readily available here, but you did not give warning of the potential pitfalls that can be found as well. Some subsidy publishers and POD companies, which have advertised on Gather, prey on the hopes of the unwary and can bring great disappointment and financial loss to someone who is searching for that dream come true. There are people and situations for which such companies are well suited, and many established authors began their careers through these services, but there are gray areas in which unscrupulous publishers will operate and I do feel that some caveats are in order, if for nothing more than to remind people that a researched, informed decision regarding their work is always the most prudent course.
I think that YOU are doing a wonderful service for Gather members and I applaud your efforts!
I thank you for your information and I wish you continued success for The Write Connections!
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976930541
I'm a new member here ar gather. I just published my first Poetry book called:
By The Servant's Hand" Anyone for Poetry! You can see the book on www.publishamerica.com . My book was named " The Book of The Week! This week!
If you go to the Publisher's web-site, you'll see it to your left. It sure surprized me when I received the letter from them last Friday. I feel so honored! I hope you all will take a look. I'm glad that I'm able to come in here to share my news with you.
I wish the best for all of you who are working hard to get Published.
I would love to get to know you and see what all we have in common. Write soon!
And if you do check my book out, I would like to know your comments. Thanks!
Writerlover
I've been remiss in my functions as moderator/owner of my group I'm Published ... I'm still learning!
Anyway, I am late coming to this article. It is the type of article that definitely should find a home there. I am trying to feature it, pray I find the right buttons so I can do it properly. :-)
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with the people on Gather. You're one of the best hidden assets here!
I'm delighted to be here, my travel trying to locate the right place has come to my doorstep. I hope I can be helpful to you! I've had a long road waiting for that right moment in my life. One thing I can say is, never give up on your dreams! Not on yourself and what you're hoping and wishing to accomplish. You can do it!!!!
I hope to get to know you here, I just created a group too. There's things I don't know how to do, but I quess, I'll figure it out. By the way guys, thanks for sharing!
Writing to succeed is hard and it takes determination not to stop. I know first hand, it's hard to find the right Publisher to Publish your work. My Poetry book, includes some of the first Poetry I ever writtten. If you hold the dream of being a Published writer, never give up or give in.
Your dream will come true, sometimes we just don't know when that day will come. Trust me when I say; it's right before your eyes! The internet to me, before I found Gather. Was my source of finding the Publisher for my Poetry book. Some poems were from around the 1980's.
When I first started writing seriously. Now here in the 2007 era my book is Published! Before I began my search, I had no computer or type writer. I prayed and prayed. Some of you already know the title of the book " By The Servant's Hand".
It has a variety of poems, some about being a chirstian, friendships, family, love etc. Just to memtion a few. It also includes my bio, so you can read a bit about me. I want to be an inspiration to you who are still working hard to find the publisher. This is why, I say " Never give up on your dreams"
I hope this note has helped you in some way. I waited over 20 years for my moment. This doesn't mean you will, cause now we all have better resources to find the right publisher for our work. The internet will work for you as it did for me.
Type in Publisher's in the search bar... it will take you to a list to look over.
This is how I found mine. God bless you all in your writing careers.
writerlover
I would like to say sorry for taking a while to get to your article. I have been away from gather for a while and I am finally getting to the 3000 plus emails I have awaiting me on here to go through. so I am starting from the most recent received to the first I ever received.... So now I am finally able to read your piece. Thank you for sending me the link to this article.
Now second thing:
Thank you for sharing this... def great information that you shared with us... :o)