E-zee Writer - January 2005

YOUR FEEDBACK

We have had a huge response to the Feedback section this month so I am including a few more than usual for your interest. Last month, David requested some help with his research on Delilah:

"David wanted some info on Delilah. Well, I must say that this has to be approached with careful analysis. You'll notice that in Latin the name Delilah means 'pleasant' – different from the Biblical-Hebrew interpretation(s). Samson (and it's Samson not Sampson) met Delilah in the valley of Sorek (Vale of Sorek), which is in the land of the Philistines. Israelites were under Philistine rule at the time. Although there is a great chance that Delilah was a Philistine woman, Delilah was not a famous temptress as commonly perceived by a lot of people today. The woman in Gaza (see Judges 16 v 1-3) is the harlot whose name is not supplied, and Samson had a one night stand with her. She is not the same as Delilah whom Samson later met in the Valley of Sorek (Judges 16 v 4). It would have been difficult for the harlot at Gaza to get Samson to tell his secret. On the other hand Delilah might have presented herself as a naive beauty (bad assumption by Sam) genuinely looking for love, and as such 'interested in her new man's secret formula'."

Velani Bhebhe, UK

"Using www.google.com I came across this web site http://www.virtualchurch.org/samson.htm with a story of Samson and Delilah in "non-technical" language.

"Through further search I realised, as David had already discovered, such short references of religious character is all the on-line resources offer. One could refer to the Church and it's archives or libraries for more information, or even articles of interpretation; it may be of a religious nature, but it could bring more insight and some bits of information.

"Another way is to research the times rather then the story itself. On the whole, I believe only David's passion for the subject and his own creativity can truly bring 'The Loyal Maiden' to life. The story and the times are so ancient, I wouldn't mind even if she comes entirely out of the author's imagination, I would be the first in line to read the book. Conn Iguldenn in his 'Emperor' series didn't always stick to the exact history, nevertheless his Julius Caesar was the one who truly captured me. I can hardly wait for the third book to be released. The best of luck to David!"

Olesya Marsh, UK

Many thanks to both of you for getting in touch. We wish David well! Now here's a response to Carol Anne Strange's feature article last month, 'Write About What You Know':

"Come off it, Carol Anne!

"Not all of us have special areas of interest, limitless finances and all the time in the world. In fact many students of the Bureau, I guess, have full-time jobs which they hate, live in Dullsville (a suburb of Reality), and what time is not spent screaming at the kids goes on trying to do the Comprehensive Writing Course!

"Writing should be an escape, too, shouldn't it? Not everyone wants to write about hobbies (which there is no time for) and life experiences (which are boring). Certainly I have nothing to offer on either front, which is why I'm [writing] fiction."

Jack Orchison, UK.

"I have been a subscriber to E-zee Writer for a few years and have always enjoyed reading the Newsletter. I have never got involved in any of the writing competitions as the stuff I write is really colloquial and not many people outside of the rural area's of Ireland would, or could, relate to the stories. They are generally local folk tales, about real people who lived here long ago and they are often quite hilarious and, sometimes, just a tiny bit sexist. Folklore is often like that!

"However, I was reading about the E-zee Writer's 'Baby Competition' a while back and I had intended, at the time, to enter a 'Haiku' poem, which I felt might be of interest to your readers. Unfortunately, I got suddenly ill from a heart condition and I am only now back 'on the rails', in a manner or speaking and feeling a lot better. Anyhow,the Haiku is as follows:

With one final push
My role in life changes
As your cry is heard

"I enjoy reading the Newsletter, which is always of
interest, and it is great to note the 'success' stories
of the people the Bureau has helped."

Michael O'Gorman, Ireland.

"I am very grateful for the issue you sent me this month that allows me to hear from others. This brings union amongst many prospective writers around the world. Thank you, keep it up."

Alexander Wambua Muindi Ndivo, by e-mail.

Please send any queries, questions or comments to the Feedback section – it's always good to hear from you.

Send your feedback to:ezeewriter@writersbureau.com with 'Feedback' in the subject line.

E-zee Writer Top Tips For Writers	Issue 51
Sponsored by The Writers Bureau	January 14th 2005
Hello and Happy New Year to you all! I hope that you all had a wonderful break and have decided to start the new year on a flurry of resolutions... especially when it comes to finding the time to sit down and get some ideas on paper. There's something that happens in a lot of writers' brains at the point between inspiration and completion – and it generally involves a lot of procrastination! Well, if you are one of the many who is looking for a little inspiration and encouragement then this month's E-zee Writer should have something for you. Maggie Kingsley may inspire you with her article on Harlequin Mills & Boon. This can be a profitable area that you haven't considered writing for due to mistakenly held beliefs about the company. Or perhaps you'll find inspiration in the lively Feedback section or in the Writers' Clinic; remember, this is YOUR e-zine so have a read and get involved in the debate. Look out too for details of a BRAND NEW course launched for the new year by the Writers Bureau. As ever, we have a selecetion of useful sites for writers and if this still fails to inspire you then you can always procrastinate for a little while longer looking at past issues of E-zee you've not read before! Teresa.	Index Student Stories Feature Article Your Feedback The Writing Clinic BRAND NEW COURSE! Useful Sites for Writers End Note The Writers Bureau Sevendale House, 7 Dale Street Manchester, M1 1JB, England ezeewriter@writersbureau.com Tel: +44 161 228 2362 Fax: +44 161 236 9440
WRITERS BUREAU STUDENT STORIES "I just wanted to say that since completing the short course on Novels & Short Stories, I am now writing a monthly piece for The Dalesman magazine, and have also recently had two short stories for a monthly glossy women's magazine accepted. "Thanks to my tutors for all their helpful advice, and support." Jacquie Gaunt, UK "I am an old student of yours and had won the Certificate of Competence on completion of the course in creative writing. "I am happy to inform you that I have just published my first book – a collection of short stories titled WALLS AND OTHER STORIES. Some of these stories were part of my assignments for the Writers Bureau. "A copy of the book has been air mailed to you for your perusal. I want to thank you and the Writers Bureau staff who have enabled me to come up with writings that have been popular with readers both in India and abroad." Randeep Wadehra, India Thanks to Jacqui and Randeep for their stories. These successes serve as a great reminder that persistence and hard work do pay. For additional help in breaking through as a writer, why not join one of the courses that Jacqui and Randeep studied. For details of all our courses please visit: www.writersbureau.com/resources.htm If you are a student of The Writers Bureau and would like to share your writing successes with other E-zee Writer readers then send an e-mail to: ezeewriter@writersbureau.com with 'Success Story' in the subject line.
FREELANCE MARKET NEWS an essential guide for freelance writers For up-to-date market information Freelance Market News is invaluable. Issued 11 times a year it's packed with information on markets in Britain and around the globe. You get all the latest news and views on the publishing world, and every subscription comes with free membership of The Association of Freelance Writers. Your membership entitles you to discounts on books and competitions, a free appraisal worth £18 and a Membership Card which confirms your status as a Freelance Writer. For full details and to subscribe visit: www.writersbureau.com/fmn/
Harlequin Mills & Boon – The Myth and the Reality by Maggie Kingsley Harlequin Mills & Boon publish the books that everybody has heard of, but nobody admits to reading, and yet Harlequin sells 200 million books worldwide each year, or six books a second. Harlequin books are sold in more than 100 international markets, in 26 languages around the world from Japanese to Finnish, Mandarin to Turkish. So, with those kind of sales numbers and that kind of distribution, it must be easy to write for the company. All you have to do is create a shrinking virginal heroine who is looking for Mr Right, and a powerful Alpha-type hero who will crush your heroine to his manly broad chest and you’re home and dry. Wrong. Harlequin Mills and Boon may never have been trend-setters in the world of publishing, but from the company’s foundation in 1909 by Gerald Mills and Charles Boon it has always been quick to see the changes in society and to ensure that its books reflect those changes. But, what about ‘The Formula’, I hear you protest? Surely you must write to the Mills & Boon ‘Formula’ to have any chance of success? There is not and never has been a formula. Mills & Boon were certainly one of the first publishers to issue publishers’ guidelines. Nowadays, most publishers do it and writers accept that it makes sense to find out what a publisher wants before sending off their manuscript to them; but when Mills & Boon first did it writers were shocked and shrieked, ‘Formula!’ Yet, if you apply a little logic to The Formula, you’ll see that it can’t possibly exist. The company print 50 new titles each month. If there was a kiss on page 28 of every book, and a love scene on every page 100, do you think Mills & Boon would have existed for almost a hundred years? Of course not. The only formula – if you can call it a formula – for a Mills & Boon book is that the hero and heroine should, by the end of the book, have made some sort of commitment to one another. They don’t have to get married, or even be thinking of getting married, but the reader should be left with the feeling that this couple will stay together. Does this ‘happy ending’ make the books formulaic? Only in the sense that crime novels are also formulaic because we expect to discover who the murderer was by the end of the book, and yet that doesn’t stop us reading them. But isn’t part of the formula the fact that you must have an inexperienced, naïve heroine and a suave, sophisticated hero? Well, in the past there were certainly a lot of those characters in the books but the company have also always published grittier books. In Wardour Street Idyll, published in 1910, the heroine falls in love with a married man whose wife is a drug addict, and in many of the books published in the 1930s and 1940s the heroines were not only divorced but often older than the hero and wielded the power in the relationship, both emotionally and financially. Today’s Harlequin Mills & Boon heroines – and the company has been Harlequin Mills & Boon since 1971 when the Canadian based company of Harlequin bought it over – have jobs which reflect today’s world. They run their own businesses, are consultants in charge of their own hospital departments, work as go-getting private detectives or are IT experts. They can be single, divorced, widowed, or a single parent. They can be as young as twenty or as old as fifty, but the last thing a modern HMB heroine is looking for is a Mr Right to sweep her off her feet. She is in control, or wants to be in control of her own life, and it is the hero’s task to convince her that there is room in her life for him. As for our hero… he, too, can be single, divorced, a widower, or a single parent. He can be any age from twenty-five upwards but whether he is a doctor, a high-flying businessman, a farmer or the local joiner, he must be as adept with a condom as he is at opening a can of beer or a bottle of wine. Anybody who thinks they can sell a romance to HMB with a sweet and virginal heroine who wants nothing more from life than a domineering, alpha hero to sweep her off her feet will find her – or his – manuscript winging its way back to them quicker than you can say, “Get yourself into the twenty-first century!” What few people realise is that Harlequin Mills & Boon do not simply publish one ‘type’ of book. They currently publish fifteen different imprints which range from pure romance, which can be tender or sexy, crime romance, medical romance, romantic comedy, historical romance, and fantasy. In 2005 the company are bringing out a science fiction imprint, and a hen-lit line which will focus on heroines who are 50+; women whose children have left home, who are widowed or divorced, women who want to change their lives but who are not looking simply for another husband. Is it easy to write for Harlequin Mills & Boon? No, it’s not. Harlequin Mills & Boon receive more than 20,000 unsolicited manuscripts each year and perhaps buy three of them. It’s not easy to create a believable story in just 55,000 words. You have to be able to create effective cameos, good, strong characters, and your writing has to have your readers wanting to turn the pages. But, surely, it is trash written by illiterates for morons? Of course some of it is badly written, but then a lot of mainstream books are badly written, too. There are many superbly written Harlequin Mills & Boon books which could stand alongside mainstream books without blushing in comparison. But don’t the books have a lot of sex in them? Some do, some don’t, but the focus of the story is never on the sex but on the relationship. Erotica has a small and limited market, but romance is hugely popular. It’s fascination with the human condition which makes the difference. The detractors of Harlequin Mills & Boon may always try to tell you that the books are written for uneducated, sexually repressed voyeurs. Well then, yes, they are. Just as crime novels are for repressed murderers and psychopaths with a taste for necrophilia. Maybe it’s time to re-consider your options and take a look at some of the stimulating titles under the Harlequin Mills & Boon banner. AUTHOR'S BIO Maggie Kingsley writes Medical Romance for Harlequin Mills & Boon, as well as historical novels for other publishers.
YOUR FEEDBACK We have had a huge response to the Feedback section this month so I am including a few more than usual for your interest. Last month, David requested some help with his research on Delilah: "David wanted some info on Delilah. Well, I must say that this has to be approached with careful analysis. You'll notice that in Latin the name Delilah means 'pleasant' – different from the Biblical-Hebrew interpretation(s). Samson (and it's Samson not Sampson) met Delilah in the valley of Sorek (Vale of Sorek), which is in the land of the Philistines. Israelites were under Philistine rule at the time. Although there is a great chance that Delilah was a Philistine woman, Delilah was not a famous temptress as commonly perceived by a lot of people today. The woman in Gaza (see Judges 16 v 1-3) is the harlot whose name is not supplied, and Samson had a one night stand with her. She is not the same as Delilah whom Samson later met in the Valley of Sorek (Judges 16 v 4). It would have been difficult for the harlot at Gaza to get Samson to tell his secret. On the other hand Delilah might have presented herself as a naive beauty (bad assumption by Sam) genuinely looking for love, and as such 'interested in her new man's secret formula'." Velani Bhebhe, UK "Using www.google.com I came across this web site http://www.virtualchurch.org/samson.htm with a story of Samson and Delilah in "non-technical" language. "Through further search I realised, as David had already discovered, such short references of religious character is all the on-line resources offer. One could refer to the Church and it's archives or libraries for more information, or even articles of interpretation; it may be of a religious nature, but it could bring more insight and some bits of information. "Another way is to research the times rather then the story itself. On the whole, I believe only David's passion for the subject and his own creativity can truly bring 'The Loyal Maiden' to life. The story and the times are so ancient, I wouldn't mind even if she comes entirely out of the author's imagination, I would be the first in line to read the book. Conn Iguldenn in his 'Emperor' series didn't always stick to the exact history, nevertheless his Julius Caesar was the one who truly captured me. I can hardly wait for the third book to be released. The best of luck to David!" Olesya Marsh, UK Many thanks to both of you for getting in touch. We wish David well! Now here's a response to Carol Anne Strange's feature article last month, 'Write About What You Know': "Come off it, Carol Anne! "Not all of us have special areas of interest, limitless finances and all the time in the world. In fact many students of the Bureau, I guess, have full-time jobs which they hate, live in Dullsville (a suburb of Reality), and what time is not spent screaming at the kids goes on trying to do the Comprehensive Writing Course! "Writing should be an escape, too, shouldn't it? Not everyone wants to write about hobbies (which there is no time for) and life experiences (which are boring). Certainly I have nothing to offer on either front, which is why I'm [writing] fiction." Jack Orchison, UK. "I have been a subscriber to E-zee Writer for a few years and have always enjoyed reading the Newsletter. I have never got involved in any of the writing competitions as the stuff I write is really colloquial and not many people outside of the rural area's of Ireland would, or could, relate to the stories. They are generally local folk tales, about real people who lived here long ago and they are often quite hilarious and, sometimes, just a tiny bit sexist. Folklore is often like that! "However, I was reading about the E-zee Writer's 'Baby Competition' a while back and I had intended, at the time, to enter a 'Haiku' poem, which I felt might be of interest to your readers. Unfortunately, I got suddenly ill from a heart condition and I am only now back 'on the rails', in a manner or speaking and feeling a lot better. Anyhow,the Haiku is as follows: With one final push My role in life changes As your cry is heard "I enjoy reading the Newsletter, which is always of interest, and it is great to note the 'success' stories of the people the Bureau has helped." Michael O'Gorman, Ireland. "I am very grateful for the issue you sent me this month that allows me to hear from others. This brings union amongst many prospective writers around the world. Thank you, keep it up." Alexander Wambua Muindi Ndivo, by e-mail. Please send any queries, questions or comments to the Feedback section – it's always good to hear from you. Send your feedback to:ezeewriter@writersbureau.com with 'Feedback' in the subject line.
THE WRITING CLINIC If you have a question you want answering then send it to: ezeewriter@writersbureau.com with 'The Writing Clinic' in the subject line. We only answer your questions in this section of the e-zine and not individually. Hello folks, The Writers Bureau journalism course advises writers not to give in to requests from interviewees and organisations who ask to see copy prior to submission. However, the managers and PR folks I have contacted have all asked to see my copy beforehand. I have tried fobbing them off with mutterings about editors changing things anyway, and gently suggesting that they should trust me. One person I never heard from again. Either I am contacting a bunch of control freaks (possible) or I need to do something to convince them of my reputation. How do others do this? I am an ex-academic and researcher with a long list of publications (all in specialist magazines however) and I do refer to this briefly on initial contact, but the problem persists. I’d love to hear how others deal (diplomatically) with this thorny issue without frightening some potentially useful people away. Many thanks, Penny Garrod, UK. THE WRITING CLINIC'S ANSWER It's over to you readers! What experiences have other writers had in similar circumstances? We'd all be interested to hear how you have overcome this perennial problem and will print the most helpful responses. * I have been registered to your newsletters and I've been going through lots of them. They are really educating but my problem is: are the procedures you teach applicable in any country? I have five articles, two novels, and I'm writing the third one, 200 poems, most of which are love poetry, and a book for children. I don't really know what to do about them and to be honest, I don't know the techniques of sending them to editors and requesting a fee, or to publishers. I would really appreciate it if you could be of some help to me. Chineze, Nigeria. THE WRITING CLINIC'S ANSWER Dear Chineze, The advice which we give you in the course for contacting editors and publishers and trying to sell your work is the same for every country around the world. The names of magazines and publishing houses might be different, but the steps you should follow when offering them your work are the same. But one thing about your email worries me. You say that you have five articles, two novels, 200 love poems and a book for children already written. The golden rule for selling articles is that you should come up with an idea, find a potential market and then tailor your work so that it fits the style of the magazine exactly. There is little point in simply writing a piece and then trying to find a market for it. This is not the best way to succeed. As regards the books, you should be looking for publishers who produce the kind of novels you have written. Are they romances, thrillers, historical or some other genre? Browse in bookshops and on the Internet and note the names and addresses of suitable publishers. Also, check out the market books such as The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook (British publishers) and The Writer’s Market (American publishers). If you can locate a publisher’s website, check out their submission guidelines. Most require only a synopsis and three sample chapters to start with. Poetry is notoriously difficult to sell. There are a number of small press magazines that accept verse and a wide variety of poetry ezines on the Internet. Do a search using 'poetry ezines' and you should find a selection. But payment is usually poor – or non-existent. There are, of course, competitions to enter – again, search on the Internet. But you are up against other poets, and you must beware of the scams. These include bogus competitions which accept your money but no-one wins and others which declare everyone a winner and promise to publish your work – if you buy a copy of the book. The quality of the other work in the book is usually very low but the price is very high! So, Chineze, before writing any more articles, poems, or novels, settle down and start to do your market research properly so that you improve your chances of actually selling your work. And, as most of our students will tell you, there's no better way to learn all the skills you need to become a successful writer than by studying to do so. For a truly international approach to study, why not consider the brand new Write For Profit Using The Internet course? Full details are provided below. Note:** If you are a student of The Writers Bureau and have a question relating to your course please contact the Student Services Department direct at: studentservices@writersbureau.com
The Writers Bureau is proud to announce the launch of a brand new course:
Write For Profit Using The Internet The Internet has proved to be an invaluable tool for writers – from researching subjects and contacting experts to finding markets and getting published. This brand new course will show you the techniques, shortcuts and sites that will help you, as a writer, use the Internet to the full and save hours in front of the screen. But it’s more than just a guide to using the Internet as a resource. Your course will also show you how to tap into the huge international market that has arisen from the development of this media. And through your assignments your tutor will help you to make your work suitable for publishing on the Internet.
For full details, including course content, structure and fees, along with details on how to enrol, go to: www.writersbureau.com/wficprofit
USEFUL SITES FOR WRITERS We are pleased to include a message from www.writethismoment.com which is, "an exciting new community for creative non-fiction writers. Our focus is to build a comprehensive resource for non-fiction writers of all standards from around the world. This is your opportunity to be part of a focused family of wordsmiths with the emphasis on sharing, learning and experiencing the success of publication. We hope you'll join us!" Is your work suffering because you simply have not got to grips with basic grammar principles? I can guarantee that there is nothing more likely to put off an editor than work that is littered with errors. The following monthly ezine gives you all the help you need to brush up the basics and it also allows you to submit your own grammar queries: www.grammarcheck.com "My name is Nick Daws. I am the author of over 30 books, seven correspondence courses, four multimedia tutorials and numerous published articles and short stories. I also research and write Web page content, e-mail newsletters, pay-per-click advertising campaigns, information products, and so on. "In response to the growing number of enquiries I receive from aspiring (and established) writers, I have decided to launch my own e-mail newsletter, E-Writer. This contains hints, tips, 'tricks of the trade' and market info for writers. Subscribing is free. You can also view the archive of previously published newsletters." www.nickdaws.co.uk "The Literary Calendar has been online, in one form or another, for over ten years. The main focus is the list of literary events..., but you can also find other literary related pieces of information throughout the site. Registration is free and allows you to add comments, receive the calendar by mail, and participate in the Literary Calendar's resources." http://english.yasuda-u.ac.jp/lc/
END NOTE That brings us to the end of this month's issue. Next month Lesley Cryer takes you through one of the essential basics, that so many writers get wrong, in her article, 'Show Don't Tell'. If you have a website suitable for writers – let us know. If we like it we'll publish your site address for FREE. As usual, if you've any suggestions or would like to comment on content then please contact Teresa at: ezeewriter@writersbureau.com And don't forget – if you've enjoyed this issue of E-zee Writer and found it useful, tell your friends about it so that they can subscribe too! www.writersbureau.com/resources.htm THE WRITERS BUREAU, SEVENDALE HOUSE, 7 DALE STREET, MANCHESTER, M1 1JB, ENGLAND.