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Around the Bloc
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1. Note from the Editors
2. The Editor’s Corner –Lydia Rule
3. Featured Article by Jamin Goecker
4. Submission Checklist- Debra Weiss
5. Poem- Maddee Schrader
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Psalm 90:9a
… we spend our years as a tale that is told.
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1. Note from the Editors
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This edition’s theme is all about submissions--those lovely query letters and articles we send out in hopes of snaring a publication. Sometimes, submissions can be scary. However, fear should not keep us from submitting. After all, what good is a masterpiece if it stays hidden within your computer’s archived documents? J
Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work! We have some submitting to do!
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-Debra Weiss
-Nathan Biberdorf
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2. The Editor’s Corner –Lydia Rule
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Submissions… It’s the process of allowing another person (i.e. the editor) to critically evaluate your work and decide whether or not it should be published. Below is a list of submission tips to help you boost your courage and your chances of publication success! Enjoy!
Start—The most obvious starting point is the starting point. LOL Send out those submissions! Don’t let fear keep you from e-mailing an editor!
Use the rejection letters—Rejection letters are nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, they make wonderful wallpaper, paper hats, origami pieces, scrap paper … J If nothing else, save those rejection notices and start a writing portfolio! As an example, I used my past rejection letters, publications, and writings to take a Prior Learning Assessment class at my college. I received 3 credits from the class, and those rejection letters helped provide proof and documentation of my writing experiences.
Be professional and polite—When sending a submission, make sure your manuscript follows the publication’s guidelines. And, if the editor rejects your submission, don’t be rude! Thank them for their time and then politely ask if they’d be interested in looking into a different article you’ve written.
Manuscript formats—Use standard font and marginal spaces throughout your submission. Editors prefer manuscripts that are in a functional format and ready to print! A brilliant article with a sloppy format is less likely to be published.
Invest time—Getting published doesn’t happen overnight. Don’t set your hopes on just one publication! Sending out simultaneous submissions will increase your chances (as long as the publication will accept simultaneous submissions). It can take a while before you hear back from the editors, so plan accordingly! Investing time means you should constantly be sending out submissions!
Try, try again—Just because one publication doesn’t want your article, doesn’t mean that another publisher will feel the same way. J
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3. Featured Article by Jamin Goecker
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Publication Pot Holes
You’ve sacrificed hours perfecting your words. You’ve beaten punctuation. The message
grips the reader. What are you missing? Publication! Pot holes dot this trail, but knowing where they are goes a long way towards bringing you closer to your destination.
Pothole #1: Query Letters
Be aware of whether or not your publication wants a query letter. A query is a one-page-max document telling the exhausted editor why your writing is different from the mountain of submissions he receives. Made sure you’ve used the right work in every census or the editor will be anointed with your submarine. Do you get the pork?
Pothole #2: Deadlines
Keep the deadlines. Check if they prefer conventional mailing. Include an SASE if they do. Some like e-mail, but check if they want your manuscript in the body of the e-mail or as an attachment.
Pothole#3: Proofreading
Never trust Destiny in this arena. Increase your chances every opportunity you get. The time you spend refining your piece is pure gold.
Pothole#4: Marketing your Submission
The best book you can buy in relation to publishing is Sally Stuart’s Christian Market Guide. Also, check out the publication’s website. Most publications have a website, and they usually post their submission guidelines.
The most important thing you can do is read the material they’ve published and observe details. What’s the audience like? How sophisticated is the vocabulary? How many anecdotes do they have? How long are their articles?
Anyone can type and come up with a snappy title. However, it takes a writer to be passionate enough to proofread, cut, and rewrite a work till it’s publishable. Good luck!
Bio: Jamin Goecker’s a military brat. He’s been that way since he turned six and his dad joined the Air Force. He’s viewed life from
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4. Submission Checklist- Debra Weiss
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Submitting your work to an editor is a big step and you want to appear professional. As you double-check your work on last time, consider these points:
· Did you use white copy paper with one-inch margins on all sides?
· Do you use plain fonts (Times New Roman or Courier New) and black ink?
· Is your font readable? Did you use the 10pt font minimum?
· Did you include your SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) with adequate return postage?
· Are you certain you typed the editor's name correctly?
· Is your envelope addressed to the correct editor?
· Is your cover letter error free (no misspellings or grammar mistakes) and neatly typed?
· Most importantly, did you read and comply with the guidelines?
By following the simple steps above, you will have a better chance creating a professional impression that will stand out to an editor.
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Bio: Debra Weiss is a freelance writer living in sunny
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5. Poem- Maddee Schrader
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The Break
The silence hangs so heavy, dense
A thick, dark sheet of fog between us two.
A deep part of my soul cries ‘Speak’;
But then my stubborn lips seal as adhered.
I lodge hard in the couch, stare at the rug.
I try to keep my gaze from him, avert my eyes
When the thought comes bright and new.
In old days, when King Herod, Caesar
Lived in palaces of marble, mansions on high cliffs
Stone was separated from its mother lode
By placing lengths of wood in cracks already formed.
Then they would wet the wood; it then expands
To force the stone apart; to separate forever.
In such discomforting quiet, I come to realize
The silence, disagreement is our wood
And we ourselves the cracking stone.
I can not break away; I will not split apart
I will dry up the wood, and try to mend the break.
I reach across the table; I dare outstretch my hand.
I am so wrong, forgive me. I never want to harm.
I never want to shatter, break the love I’ve found in you.
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