Great StoryTelling Network  ... Connecting StoryTellers Worldwide

Volume 3, Issue 3 - 8 February 2006

Brought to you by Aneeta Sundararaj and Eric Okeke

To subscribe to this newsletter, please go to: 

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Please forward this whole newsletter to your friends and colleagues.

A WARM WELCOME TO ALL OUR NEW SUBSCRIBERS!

 

I.    Introduction

 

Hi   ,

 

The winner of Spiritual Clarity is Diane Pollock. Diane, please contact Jackie at hoppyataol.com and I'm sure she'll be delighted to send you a copy of her book. Congratulations, Diane!

 

I completed the review of Spiritual Clarity and you can follow the links below (Please look under the column, Articles and Bookclub) and read it. I highly recommend the book. And, as Jackie put it, "Now if I could just get someone to buy it!" So, to help her with some promotion, here's a link you can use to buy the book via Amazon.com if you so wish:

Spiritual Clarity

 

Steve Robertson has sent an interesting announcement about the fact that his book is not only now sold via Amazon, also about a review written about his book. Bottom Time.

 

Unfortunately, there are no Fascinating Stories. I received a few but none of them were suitable for publication. However, one lady, when rejected, asked me to recommend another ezine that would pay. This gave me an idea and, I have therefore added a new section called 'Paying Markets For Storytellers'. I receive many newsletters for storytellers. From experience, most of them just list out the little announcements made by others. I get immensely frustrated when I find that the links don't work. So, I've done something different. I list only one in each newsletter. I've personally gone to the site, sometimes sent in stuff, and so I know they do exist and the links work. In this newsletter, I'll list down as much information about the submission guidelines that the ezine requires.

 

I've added new articles, some new Storytelling Tips, a story for StoryAsia and Eric's story for StoryAfrica.

 

As for Eric, his biggest news is the launch of his blog, which I'm hosting for him for the time being, called, "I Want A Husband". Eric is due to publish an ebook (with the same title as his blog) in about a month's time. I've read only bits of it and he suggests a novel approach to help women find husbands! Go look see. You might find it interesting.
 

I still find some of my emails to you coming back. The thing is, it seems to happen with those using 'Yahoo' and I've been told by one that it's recorded as SPAM and/or under 'bulk' emails. So, please, do set your check your settings so that you'll receive this newsletter regularly.

 

I hope that you enjoy the read.

 

All the best,

Aneeta Sundararaj

editor@howtotellagreatstory.com

 

STORYAFRICA

StoryAfrica: Soccer Crazy Nigerians

... Soccer is one sport that bind Nigerians. It totally engulfs their passion especially when the national football team, the Super Eagles, are playing. The frenzy, the tension, the emotional attachment of Nigerians to soccer and their national team is so strong that big businesses now use continental football competition as a promotional medium to advertise and sell their products and services.

If the Eagles win any match, especially through penalty shoot outs, a storyteller can write a book in 28 days from the stories Nigerians tell the following day about the match as everyone relieves his/her passion, experience and emotional turmoil during the penalty shoot outs. Those who suffer from hypertension or cannot stand the tension during matches move away from their television sets when the tension becomes too much.

To read more, click here

STORYASIA

Now Playing Everywhere … except in Malaysia; except in China …

 

“Until now, Chinese net users who were blocked from accessing a site knew that the information was there and was being kept from them by their own government.
From now on, it is Google which will be keeping data from them, in direct contradiction of its own declared mission “to organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.””

New Sunday Times, February 5, 2006 page F10

This is an excerpt is taken from an article in the paper today entitled “Big Brother is Watching.” It’s essentially about Google switching its search facilities in China to servers based inside the country, which effectively means that they will adhere to the censorship laws there.

Does this mean, I wonder, that Chinese will now no longer be able to get information on the net about a movie like Memoirs of a Geisha as its release in China has been cancelled because … Er… have not figured out the because part.

To read more, click here ...

TIPS FOR STORYTELLERS

 

Branding for Storytellers?

 

... I've been in world of publishing for some time now; I have no doubt in my mind that a successful storyteller needs to not only have talent, it is necessary to be business-savvy.

One of the cornerstones of business is creating a brand for your product.

As a storyteller, it is worth your while to consider creating a brand for your stories. A manner in which you can do this is to follow Judy Cullin’s advice. She says:

Branding your book sets yours apart from all the others. Notice famous authors such as Trump, who uses his name in each title. You can brand parts of your book such as your chapter titles, headings within the chapter, tips, facts or quotes.

 

To read more, click here...

WHAT'S YOUR FASCINATING STORY?

How two boys I never met changed my life.

I was motorcycling solo in southern Mexico the year I became a grandfather. I was traveling from town to town, gradually making my way to Costa Rica.

In one town I visited -- I don't remember the name -- I stopped by a brick wall about two meters high. The wall surrounded a city block that housed the local market. It was hot in the mid-afternoon sun, and I was heading into the market where I could see shade trees.

The sidewalk by the wall was almost deserted. Two 8- or 9-year-old boys with a shoeshine box were waiting patiently on the sidewalk by the wall. I wondered why they weren t at school. I assumed they were very poor and had to work.


To read more, click here.

ARTICLES AND BOOKCLUB

Review of Spiritual Clarity by Jackie Wellman

 

This is Jackie Wellman’s first book and in one sentence, I found the book informative, entertaining and in many parts funny.

 

The book is divided into five sections which demonstrate the manner in which Ms. Wellman has conducted her study. It follows the natural progression when a study is made and this aids in making the book a pleasurable read.

 

In Section 1, Ms. Wellman begins by explaining the purpose of this work. She clearly states that it is a personal quest - one that began when she was given a unfavourable prognosis for a medical condition she suffers from. This is most evident when Ms. Wellman states:

When I hear someone say, “It must be God’s plan; we just do not understand,” it gets my blood boiling. How could God be involved in possibly giving my beautiful son HSP [hereditary spastic paraplegia

To read more, please click here

Or, if you would like to order the book, then click on this link -  Spiritual Clarity - and you'll be taken to  Amazon.com

BLOW YOUR OWN TRUMPET!!

 * Watch this spot

PAYING MARKETS FOR STORYTELLERS...

 

Espresso Fiction - Fast Food For Your Mind

http://www.espressofiction.com/information_writers.php

 

Can you write a great short story? Something that will captivate our busy subscribers?

If so, we’d love to hear from you. We are ALWAYS looking for entertaining stories. We want stories that challenge, intrigue, provoke, stimulate and resonate. Our subscribers enjoy reading fiction but rarely find time to read a novel or go looking for interesting short stories. If the story that we send them is the only bit of fiction they read all week, it has to be a great read - satisfying, refreshing, just like a good cup of coffee.
 

What are we looking for?

[Editor's Note: I've shortened this part. Please go to their website to get the full details]

We are expanding into different markets and now require a broader range of fiction, including fiction for children.

Stories will be classified under 5 brands:

 

Bubacino (suitable for 7-12 years) – stories must be between 1,000-2,000 words. The stories for this group can cover a range of genres and topics (such as humor, fantasy, adventure etc) but no heavily moralistic or didactic stories will be accepted. The stories must primarily be entertaining. This does not limit submissions to those that are purely humorous but all stories should appeal to the child’s sense of fun, their need for adventure, and their desire to make sense of the world around them.

 

Hot Chocolate (13-17 years) – stories in this category must be between 1,000-2,500 words. Again the preference here is for stories that are entertaining rather than instructional.

 

Mocha (18-24 years) and Espresso (25+ years) - the word count is between 1,000-3,500 words. For this category we will consider ANY genre (except science fiction or fantasy) as long as it is WELL WRITTEN and ENGAGING.

We want to publish something different each week - we don't want all stories about relationships or children or all set in one particular country - a bit of everything is the idea, just like if you choose novels to read (although some people do choose the same genre each time, we are catering to the general market rather than specific categories at this stage).

Short Black (18+ years) – Flash fiction - the word count is 200 words or less. The aim of this category is to provide satisfying and entertaining snippets that people can read while they wait for something (could be a plane or bus or bank teller or child etc).

You can submit up to 3 stories in one category at any time.

To get a feel for the quality we want, REGISTER with us and we will email you two espresso stories that have already been published. You can also fill in your details on the sample story page to receive ‘Wheels’

 

What’s in it for you?

*Feedback
At the bottom of each email story, readers are asked to vote on the story and make comments. Subscribers can also discuss each week’s story through our discussion board. Voting results and any feedback we receive will be forwarded to you approximately three weeks after your story is sent to subscribers.

*Payment
We pay a flat rate of US$30 per story published. Payment is via Paypal. If you prefer not to use Paypal then you can take the payment in the form of an Amazon gift voucher for the same amount.

 

TELL EVERYONE ABOUT ...

Corey Rudl Section

 

Quite simply, due to overwhelming demand, the offer has been extended.


If you would like a Trial Copy of this system, with a 237-page guidebook and over 4+ hours of audio instruction that demonstrate the exact strategies a self-made eBay millionaire used to earn an average of $22,000 a DAY on eBay, it's urgent that you visit:

http://www.auctiontips.com/trial-system/t/814293 

... and fill out BOTH of the forms, including your shipping address, right away.

Don't underestimate the value of the information in this trial. The strategies that Brandon reveals in his system took him EIGHT years to learn, and cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars in research and testing! To get your Trial Copy of the "eBay Millionaire" system right way, visit:

http://www.auctiontips.com/trial-system/t/814293 
 


Hi:

I just discovered that my novel, Bottom Time is now registered on Amazon.com 

 

The trouble is that there is only one review and it is by a professional  reviewer who gave it 4 out of five stars and I think it is a pretty poor review anyway.  He misses the point of good humor in the college days and the different types of women in Robbie's life.  He seems to focus on the diving which was really a small part of the story.  It makes me wonder if he read the whole book.

 

If you have read the book and feel like it would you write a review for me.  Just a short one would be fine.

 

Here's the link: Bottom Time

Thanks,
Steve Robertson


How are people going to know about your great storytelling resources [books, websites, newsletters, forums, e-books, manuals, ideas, thoughts, tapes and so much more] if you don't tell them? Here's your chance - Send info about your stuff and we'll post it here for free. Please keep the number of words to no more than 125. Send an email to editor@howtotellagreatstory.com with 'Tell Everyone About ...' in the subject line.

WHAT OUR READERS ARE SAYING ...

And we can both be thankful to Aneeta for providing yet another way of making the world smaller through networking.

Dr. Neill Neill

 

Yes, one of the beautiful things about Aneeta's work is that it brings people together. 

Rosemarie Skaine


Hi Aneeta,

... Your new web site is good and easier to read. Thank you.

Leola Huey


Dear Aneeta,

...

I meant to tell you earlier that I greatly enjoyed reading your blog. I especially liked the article on self- publishing. It was very informative and the feedback from Singapore was good too. Well done!!

Saradha
 


... I have started working through your e-book, How to tell a great story, and am enjoying it.

Gopal Ramasammy-Cook


Aneeta,

...  This is so exciting having my book read in other countries. 

Jackie Wellman

 

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