>>> Item number 16215 from WRITERS LOG9308C --- (289 records) ---- <<< Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1993 18:00:06 JST Reply-To: WRITERS Sender: WRITERS From: Mike Barker Subject: FAQ: Writers Compendia (Rel. 4) Please feel free to keep this, pass it on, suggest (or better write) additions or corrections, and let me know whether it is useful. mike (aka tink for the duration, I think) --------------------------- Writers Compendia (Rel. 4) August, 1993 This is a short collection of topical material that is often discussed on Writers (some network newsgroups use the term FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions). miniature table of contents 1. Working with listserv 2. A short reference library on writing 3. Selected Vocabulary for the networks: 4. The Dare to Be Bad Challenge (thanks to Ken for the good words) 5. Title Challenges 6. Round Robbins 7. Style notes ------------------------------------- 1. Working with listserv To join the list: send email to LISTSERV@NDSUVM1.BITNET (bitnet) or to listserv@vm1.nodak.edu (internet) with SUBSCRIBE WRITERS yourfirstname yourlastname in the body of the message. If you want to show us something: send it as email to WRITERS@NDSUVM1.BITNET (bitnet) or to writers@vm1.nodak.edu (internet) (everyone will get a copy automatically) To make it easy for us to recognize your work: put SUB: in the subject line for submissions put CRIT: in the subject line for critiques put RE: in the subject line for followups put TECH: in the subject line for techniques of writing put FILLER: in the subject line for items of interest unrelated to writing use a plain subject line for other items To take a short vacation: send email to listserv with SET WRITERS NOMAIL when you leave. Then send email with SET WRITERS MAIL when you're ready to listen again. To leave the list: send email to listserv with SIGNOFF WRITERS To get a list of members: send email to listserv with REVIEW WRITERS in the body of the message. To look at the writers archives: send email to listserv with /ship writers 19307 /ship writers 19340 in the body of the message. You will get email with directions for further access (note the correction in 19340!) Selected useful historical messages: send email to listserv with body topic /ship writers 19323 cover letter format /ship writers 19378 cover letters and postage /ship writers 19328 dare to be bad challenge For more information about Parsons, Iowa, read the Parsons M&I. Back issues available by sending listserv email with /ship writers xxxx in the body (replace xxxx with the appropriate number from this list). Parsons M&I issues volume number V1N1 2104 V2N1 4288 V2N2 5765 V2N3 7640 V2N4 13637 V3N1 13638 V3N2 13697 V3N3 14869 Stylebook (for Parsons M&I writers) V.2 13735 To find out what else listserv can do for you: send email to listserv with INFO or HELP in the body of the message. If all else fails, and you need help, send email to either CAREY@NDSUVM1 (Pat Carey) or NU021172@NDSUVM1 (Marty Hoag). Although both are quite busy, they also are friendly and helpful. Be patient if you ask them for help. 2. A short reference library on writing Magazines, Marketing Guides, Workshops misc.writing - usenet news group about writing (see FAQ in news.answers for details) fiction@psuvm.psu.edu, writing@psuvm.psu.edu, novels-l@psuvm.psu.edu - mailing lists for another email writers workshop (contact Chris Conn sascmc@unx.sas.com for details and to join the workshops) Gila Queen's Guide to Markets - monthly guide to submissions P.O. Box 97, Newton NJ 07860-0097 (checks to Kathryn Ptacek) 1 year subscription $24 (US), $28 (Canada), $40 (Overseas) Locus - SF world review 'zine 34 Ridgewood Lane, Oakland, CA 94611 Locus Publications, P.O. Box 13305, Oakland, CA 94661, $35.00/year Mystery Scene - Mystery world review 'zine 3840 Clark Rd. S.E., Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market - yearly paperback by Writer's Digest listing markets Poets and Writers - monthly magazine on writing 72 Springs St., New York, NY 10012 $3.50/copy Publishers Weekly P.O. Box 1979, Marion, OH 43306-2079 $97.00/year Subscription inquiries: (800)842-1669 SF & Fantasy Workshop - 1193 So. 1900 E. Salt Lake City, UT 84108 newsletter, mail critiques, and more Scavenger's Newsletter - monthly guide to submissions 519 Ellinwood, Osage City KS 66523-1329 (Janet Fox) $2 for sample copy - checks written to Janet Fox 1 year sub $14 (bulk) $18 (1st class) $17 (Canada) $23 (Overseas) Science Fiction Chronicle - SF world review 'zine P.O. Box 2730, Brooklyn, NY 11202-0056 ($30/year) The Report - writer's quarterly Pulphouse Publishing, Box 1227, Eugene, OR 97440 $2.95/copy, $10.00/four issues The Writer - monthly magazine on writing Writer's Digest - monthly magazine on writing Writer's Market - hardback published by Writer's Digest listing markets The International Directory of Little Magazine and Small Presses Dustbooks, P.O. Box 100, Paradise, CA 95967 Books on Writing Characters & Viewpoint - Card Fiction Writer's Handbook - Hallie & Whit Burnett Honk if You're a Writer - Arthur Plotnik How to Write a Damn Good Novel - Frey How to Write Plots that Sell - Rockwell good ideas about some of the many places to find plot ideas How to Write SF & Fantasy - Card How to Write Science Fiction - Matthew J. Costello Not recommended - very little help. On Writing the Short Story - Hallie & Whit Burnett Plot - Dibell Revision - Reed Science Fiction Writer's Workshop-I - Barry Longyear Scene & Structure - Jack M. Bickham excellent micro-level approach Steal This Plot - June and William Noble bits and pieces from a variety of "literary" sources Structuring Your Novel - Meredith and Fitzgerald a "literary" approach to novel writing Telling Lies for Fun and Profit - Lawrence Block The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers - John Gardner The Art of Poetry - William Packard The Elements of Style - Strunk and White the little book The Fiction Writer's Silent Partner - Martin Roth lists and more lists - excellent creativity aid The Issues at Hand - James Blish More Issues at Hand - James Blish Theme & Strategy - Tobias Writing the Novel - Lawrence Block Writing Down the Bones - Natalie Goldberg 3. Selected Vocabulary for the networks (some writers specific) :-) - smiley. indicates humorous content 8{) - Groucho marks. AIUI - As I Understand It (abbrev.) BTW - By The Way (abbrev.) chase, wild goose - see wild goose chase FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions (abbrev.) flame - along with related phrases, refers to a strong, angry message goose chase, wild - see chase, wild goose IMHO - In My Honest Opinion or In My Humble Opinion (abbrev.) OWC - Obligatory Writing Comment (abbrev.) QOTD - Quote Of The Day WOTD - Word Of The Day wild goose chase - see goose chase, wild 4. The Dare to Be Bad Challenge (thanks to Ken for the good words) The Dare to be Bad challenge is a writing strategy designed to help beginners get published. It requires that you write a new story every week, and send them all out to magazines. When they come back, send them out again. And again, and again. In the meantime, keep writing. The reason it's called Dare to be Bad is that some weeks your writing is going to be pretty awful, and you have to dare yourself to finish it, and mail it out, anyway. Note that we aren't talking about spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors here. You must prepare your manuscript to the best of your ability each week; you just have to be willing to live with the fact that you aren't going to be writing Hugo-winning fiction for quite a while. The original group of writers who started the Dare (among them is Kris Rusch, the editor of F&SF) claim that every person who has followed the Dare for over two years has become published. No exceptions. Kousen's Corollary to the Dare to be Bad challenge: If you do decide to participate, for gosh sakes don't tell any other writers about it, except those already in the Dare. Otherwise you'll waste all your time defending yourself, and still be accused of being a "hack." 5. Title challenges - these are interesting phrases proposed by a member as possible titles for you to write a piece (story, poetry, or other form) around. Feel free to participate either by proposing a title challenge or responding to one. 6. Round robbins - another form of writing exercise, consisting of continuing a story in progress with a short section of your own, then letting someone else pick up, and so on. One variation that has been used included proposing a word (or words) to be used in the next section. 7. Style notes: From time to time, there are flame wars about email signatures, lack of content, profanity, sexism and other forms of prejudice, and other matters. These are my suggestions about these topics: email signatures - keep it short. if you want to include cute sayings and other material, consider varying it - seeing the same message repeated again and again for months does not show off your creativity well, does it? Please remember that while most people have relatively inexpensive (or apparently free) email, there are some who have to pay for your sig - and it can be irritating paying for the same wasted bytes again and again. Many people find it best to send most messages without a sig, and on occasion include addressing information only. lack of content - there are actually two points normally brought up here. One is the question of focus - of trying to keep the list mostly directed toward topics and discussions of writing, of reducing the noise to signal ratio. The other is less common here, but plagues most lists from time to time - the "me, too" message which basically adds nothing to the on-going discussion. I think both problems can be addressed by asking you to think (whenever possible) before posting - to push even the shortest email message into being the best writing you can do. If you really have nothing to add, and you can't think of a witty way of covering it up - when you post, expect barbed comments. profanity, "forbidden topics", and so forth - again, we are writers, trying to be the best writers we can be. In submissions (to this list and elsewhere), the question is always whether this is the best way to communicate your point. When "shock tactics" are used purely for shock, very little happens. When they are integral parts of what you are saying, when they bring out the point or characterize, they can be profoundly moving parts of your writing. Again - do the best writing you can. One suggested way of handling material which you think may be offensive to some members of the list is to state clearly at the beginning what kind of material follows (somewhat like providing movie ratings - except we trust you to clearly and accurately judge and label your own material...). sexism and other forms of prejudice - we are humans, with backgrounds and beliefs which lead us all into mistakes again and again. As part of your commitment to writing, you need to look at these problem areas which cause misunderstandings and breakdowns in communication. On this list, at least some of the stumbles are likely to bring fast, even harsh responses. I recommend you consider it part of your personal liberation program, opening you up to wider and different areas of human experience, which will make you a better writer. And if people are too overbearing - let them know that in their haste to explain, they are destroying rather than building communications. We all need critiquing at many levels. Other matters: keep it short. do the best you can as a writer. listen. ask questions. And have fun. -------------------------------------