The Fabulist Flash

Number 9

Rainbow Glass Art Cards (Package of 6)

In This Issue:

1. This Week
2. The Writer's Bookshelf
3. 7 Ways to Woo Your Editor
4. Tip of the Week
5. About the Fabulist Flash

1. This Week

Welcome to our subscribers, old and new! I hope you're enjoying your subscription to The Fabulist Flash.

A few months ago some friends with a saxophone quartet, Sax In The City, asked me to help them write their group's bio. They've just finished their first CD and I now have my first "Liner Notes" credit. What a thrill. The CD, originally intended as a marketing tool demo, is terrific. If you're interested in hearing this unique group, CDs are only $10. Contact Don Rhynard, 212-568-3006, SaxInTheCityNYC@AOL.com, for order info.

Are you getting ready for the holidays? The TV ads are running and stores have holiday decorations out. It's hard to believe that The Season is upon us. In the spirit of the pending holidays, all of my art cards and mouse pads are $2 off. You need to take advantage of this offer now, because this sale ends November 16th. You can see the full line at http://gifts.kompes.com.

This week's feature article, "7 Ways to Woo an Editor" by Shelly Vaughan James, is great advice, direct from an editor, on how to send perfect submissions. Your future editors will be glad you read this article.

The December issues of The Fabulist Flash will focus on annual review and goal setting techniques. How do you review your writing year? How do you plan and set goals for the New Year? Visit our Writer Guidelines for more information on submitting your articles for consideration. If you don't have an article you can still share your ideas and suggestions by emailing them to me at: editor@fabulistflash.com

Please forward the Fabulist Flash to your friends and colleagues.

Until next week,

Gregory
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Gregory A. Kompes is a freelance writer and photographer. Learn more about Gregory and his work at http://www.Kompes.com
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What inspired your latest article idea? Email Aha@FabulistFlash.com
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2. The Writer's Bookshelf

Thinking Like Your Editor by Rabiner & Fortunato

A Review by Gregory A. Kompes

In my quest to learn more about the book proposal process, my literary agent recommended I read Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction--and Get It Published by Susan Rabiner & Alfred Fortunato.

If you're interested in writing serious (or not so serious) nonfiction, this is a MUST READ! The Authors don't just go through a step-by-step process of writing a book proposal, but instead get into the "editor" psychology behind why book proposals succeed or don't.

The book is presented in a comfortable format that goes through the big picture process in a narrative that reminds me of a good lecture. The voice of the authors comes through in a straight forward, personable way. It's like sitting across the table from your agent or editor, cup of coffee in hand, listening to them tell you how the business works.

I don't think this is the "only book you'll ever need on book proposals" type of book. If I hadn't read a few other books that explained how to write and submit proposals from a step-by-step basis first I wouldn't have understood all that the authors say in this one. No, this is more of a next step type of book. Learn how the actual writing process works first, then come to Thinking Like Your Editor to polish to your proposal. This title will add an extra layer on to the information that you already have in your head.

For this and others titles of inspiration to writers visit The Writer's Bookshelf.

3. 7 Ways to Woo Your Editor

7 Ways to Woo an Editor

by Shelly Vaughan James

As a good writer, you've read all the how-to books and articles on submitting a manuscript that will win the heart of an editor. You've seen lists like this one. I have, too. If you're like me, you filed away some points and let others slip from memory. Now, you check the basics with a quick read-through and mail off your future Pulitzer Prize winner.

During the seven years I served as Editor-in-Chief of a national cooking magazine, I was the recipient of multitudinous-shall I call them "remarkable?"-queries, cover letters, and manuscripts. Take it from an editor: these checklists aren't stale. Writers following these tips have a better chance of wooing an editor.

1. Get the Editor's Name Right.

You have the best manuscript you've ever written in your hot little hands. You have all the necessary information for mailing it, except you don't have the editor's name. Avoiding the temptation of addressing the cover letter "Dear Editor," you pick up the phone and call the editorial offices. Good! The young editorial assistant provides the correct editor's name; you hang up. Bad! Please, ask the assistant to take a moment to spell the name for you.

I know it sounds petty. Going through submissions, however, I could tell you exactly which writers took the time to call for my name, yet didn't request the spelling. For reasons beyond my comprehension, the name "Shelly" (without a second "e") sounds like "Sally" over the phone. I always winced at envelopes addressed to "Sally Vaughn James." The writers had the will, but they lacked the follow through. I had to question whether they could really come through with an assignment.

2. Adhere to the Writer's Guidelines.

Near the end of every year, the company's keeper-of-the-guidelines (the publisher rolled out over a dozen different magazines) sent a friendly e-mail reminder that it was time to submit next year's editorial calendar and writer's guidelines. I dutifully spent the time honing these works that would then be distributed to our regular writers and any others who requested them.

Yes, the guidelines seem anal. No, you are not an exception. If you're looking to make an editor smile, follow her guidelines precisely. She will notice.

3. Check Your Spelling and Grammar.

The spell check on your computer is a wonderful tool. Use it. Still, you must manually read your submission. Spelling errors and grammatical gaffes cause an editor to question your trustworthiness.

4. Re-Read Your Submission.

You can't wait to mail your masterpiece. Please do wait, for however long you need to get a more objective perspective. A sale two weeks later is always better than a rejection now.

5. Present a Pristine Paper.

If you wouldn't turn it in to your battle-ax English teacher, don't send it off to an editor. Coffee stains, correction fluid, penned-in additions are concentration breakers.

6. Keep It Professional.

Unless you know the editor personally or have written for him before, write a professional cover letter or query. My husband and I had a good laugh over one writer's hand-writing analysis of my signature as I was stuffing his SASE with a form rejection letter.

7. Know the Market.

What a joy it would have been if every submission I received had been on target. Alas, I'd say it was about a 50/50 shot. Busy editors are annoyed at off-the-mark submissions that waste time. Writers should be frustrated with themselves for waiting three months on a reply of "not right for us" when the manuscript could have brought delight to the appropriate editor for the piece-as well as a paycheck and a byline.

About the Author
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Shelly Vaughan James served as Editor-in-Chief of Home Cooking magazine for seven years. She also wrote the syndicated food column "Serving Up Midwest Memories." These columns may still be purchased through TheFoodSyndicate.com. Currently, Shelly is working on her first cookbook and her freelance writing from her home office in Pittsburgh. She lives here with her husband Bob and three-year-old daughter Bethany. You may contact her at ShellyVaughanJames@yahoo.com.

4. Tip of the Week

With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away it's time to give thanks for all you have and make a donation to your favorite mission or aid society.

When you stop in to make that donation of money, food, or time, interview the director, office staff, or volunteers. Use the interviews to write a piece for your local daily paper. It's good PR for a good cause, and that extra byline is nice, too.

5. About the Fabulist Flash

ISSN: 1554-0804

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