Great StoryTelling Network - connecting storytellers worldwide ...

Volume 3, Issue 6 - 22 March 2006

Brought to you by Aneeta Sundararaj and Eric Okeke

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NEWSLETTER CONTENTS ...

  • From the Editor's Desk

  • Important Warning For Storytellers Worldwide

  • StoryAfrica

  • StoryAsia

  • Tips For StoryTellers

  • What's Your Fascinating Story

  • Blow Your Own Trumpet!

  • Articles For Storytellers

  • Book Club

  • Paying Markets For Storytellers

  • Blogs for Storytellers

  • Tell Everyone About

  • What Our Reader's Are Saying

  • Resources For Storytellers

  • Products We Recommend For Storytellers Who Would Like To Start A Storytelling Business

  • Subscriber Contest

  • Help Support Us

  • Freebies For Storytellers

  • Advertise With Us

  • How To Contact Us


 

I.   from the editor's desk ...

 

Dear [First Name],

 

I am really pleased to inform you that How To Tell A Great Story is now in its 5th edition. This is all thanks to the fantastic response and also the feedback I got from many of the readers of the 4th edition. Also, in response to many of their questions about copyright, I've added two new FREE bonus ebooks, one being Copyright Issues for Storytellers. If you'd like to invest in this ebook, please click on http://www.howtotellagreatstory.com.

 

The winner of a copy of Lynn Grocott's book, Cut The Strings, is Stephen LaCroix. Stephen, I would appreciate it if you contact Lynn at Grocott3@aol.com. Congratulations, Stephen.

 

The contest was, much like Jackie Wellman's Spiritual Clarity, very popular and, therefore, the contest for Lynn's book has been extended by another two weeks. So, if you'd like to try your luck again, please, do enter the contest.

 

Lynn is quite the fund-raiser and I've included her story in "What's Your Fascinating Story"

 

If you'd like to contribute to the many causes she believes in so wholeheartedly, you could help by investing in her book by clicking on this link:  Cut the Strings: The True Story of a Soul Reclaimed. You'll be taken to Amzon.com where you'll be able to purchase a copy of her book.

 

I've added more new resources in terms of books for storytellers and also a new section, blogs for storytellers. You see, there's an award called the 'Blooker Prize' which goes out to books based on blogs or websites. My wish is to encourage you to start a blog on your own and tell your stories freely. If you need further encouragement, then you only need to go to page I've set up which show cases a whole host of blogs. I've only had time to add a few so far but if you keep an eye on that page, I'll be adding more as I go along. You can find the link to the Blooker Prize under 'Blogs for Storytellers' and a whole page dedicated to blogs under 'Resources for Storytellers' - see below.

 

I've added more articles and you can read the excerpts below. Hope you find them and also this edition's Tips for Storytellers useful. I've also added a new story in Story Asia and it's all about how the ancient city of Patliputra got its name.

 

This edition's listing under 'Paying Markets' is 'Writing For Dollars' and for those who like to write feature articles, this is a valuable resource.

 

Here's to your storytelling success.

 

Aneeta Sundararaj

editor@howtotellagreatstory.com

 

How To Tell A Great Story (5th Edition)

 

Do people hold back their yawns every time you speak?

Discover How Everyone Will Be On The Edge Of Their Seats Every Time You Speak!

You can AVOID this by learning the secret  “R.P.I. Principle"©.

 

IN ADDITION ...

√

You will never tell the same stories over and over again!

√

You will have new stories to tell AND create YOUR own!

√

You will motivate people with your stories!

√

You will know exactly how to organise, sort and keep all the data for your stories.

√ You will get a guide to copyright protection and how to avoid being accused of infringing another person's copyright.

 

If you would like to know more, please click on this link for more details:

http://www.howtotellagreatstory.com

IMPORTANT WARNING FOR STORYTELLERS WORLDWIDE ...

 

About a month ago, Eric contacted me to tell me about the fact that he had sent his story to an agency in New York. He'd seen their ad on Google and clicked on it. It's called The New York Literary Agency and I was curious. I 'Googled' the name and was alarmed about what I found out. They're a hoax and in short, you'll lose your work even before you start ...

 

First though, here's their website: http://www.newyorkliteraryagency.com/

 

It's an impressive website and looks quite cool. However, I found out that there's quite a scam going on and in short, keep away from all of the following ...

  • Children's Literary Agency

  • Christian Literary Agency

  • New York Literary Agency

  • Poets [sic] Literary Agency

  • The Screenplay Agency

  • Stylus Literary Agency (formerly ST Literary Agency, formerly Sydra-Techniques)

  • The Writers [sic] Literary & Publishing Services Company

STORYAFRICA

 

WARNING: My experience with New York Literary Agency

 

How does a storyteller in Lagos, Nigeria feel when he has just concluded work on the manuscript of his first book and is eager to publish it for the global market?

 

Tall ambition but it is worth a try. Excited, curious or expectant? Any of these feelings is okay. It only shows the author of the work is rearing to fly and realise his ambition. Being his first work, he is eager to put it on print and in his haste and excitement, he can make mistakes especially if he does not seek advice.

 

This was my lot in January 2006 when I finished work on my first book. Besides publishing it in Nigeria. I had my eyes on the US, UK and the Canadian market. I had read some articles about how to contact publishers via agents. Apparently I did not read enough to make me cautious. And with the excitement building up in me, I searched the internet via Goggle.

 

I have forgotten the keywords I typed in. But practically every page I stumbled onto, one agency was very visible--- the New York Literary Agency. The name is so harmless and real, and any first timer will easily be taken in. If you want to publish your book without hassles, especially first time authors, their promo said, contact them. I did. And they replied.

 

They went through the whole gamut of who they are, how they work, their location in New York, submission requirements, a long list of questions and answers, reasons why they are not listed in certain publications for publishers and writers and many others. A long list of questions and answers for that matter apparently to impress and the gullible author off guard.

 

This agency made it clear that they are not in business to rip anybody off. They get paid when you the author gets paid. They want authors whose works they can sell. Then here is the pull: You can send them some chapters of your work or the whole for evaluation.

 

To read more, click here

STORYASIA

 

The Magic Shoes and Staff

 

Adapted from http://www.darsie.net/talesofwonder/india/MagicShoesandStaff.html

 

Passing along the Ganges in the area that is now Bihar, in the 3rd century BC, the mighty Emperor Ashoka was ruling from a city called Patliputra, now Patna.

 

How did it come to be known as Patliputra? Well, once upon a time, there was a small town called Chinchini. There was no rain for many weeks in Chinchini and there was a terrible famine. Three brothers became scared and decided to desert their wives and flee the country. The wives were at first very sad and lonely, but presently a great joy came to one of them which made the other two very happy as well. This joy was the birth of a little boy, whose two aunts loved him almost as much as his mother did.

 

One night all the three wives had the same dream wherein Lord Shiva appeared and told them that he had noticed how tenderly they cared for the new-born baby, and that he wished them to call him Putraka. They were also rewarded with the gift where they would find one hundred thousand gold pieces under the little child's pillow every morning, and that one day that little child would be a king.

 

It came to pass just as Lord Shiva predicted. Only, the King wished to meet his father and uncles. He engineered it so that feelers were sent out to all the people in his land. Soon enough, the king’s father and uncles heard of the King and decided to return.

 

For a time, they were all at peace. However, the king’s father was unhappy that he was not king. He began to plot to kill his own son.

 

One day, the king was deep in prayer and did not see or hear the evil men employed to kill him drawing stealthily close to him. At the appointed hour, the evid men lifted their arms to slay Putraka when suddenly, the heavenly guardian of the temple appeared and cast a spell upon the wicked men, whose hands were arrested in the very act to strike.

 

By the time Putraka completed his prayers, the spell cast on the murderers had also worn off. They dropped their weapons, prostrated themselves, and clasped their hands in an appeal for mercy to the man they had meant to destroy. Putraka looked at them quietly and sadly. He felt no anger against them, only a great thankfulness for his escape. The knowledge that his father wished to kill him shocked and grieved him and he decided to leave his country. As soon as it was light, he wandered off into the forest.

 

After some time, Putraka came upon two strong-looking men were wrestling together. He called out, "What are you doing here? What are you quarrelling about?"

 

They stopped fighting for a minute or two, and one of them said: "We are fighting for three very precious things which were left behind him by our father."

 

"What are those things?" asked Putraka.

 

"A bowl, a stick and a pair of shoes," was the reply. "Whoever wins the fight will get them all. There they lie on the ground."

 

"Well, I never!" cried the king, laughing as he looked at the things, which seemed to him worth very little. "I shouldn't trouble to fight about such trifles, if I were you."

 

"Trifles!" exclaimed one of the men angrily. "You don't know what you are talking about. They are worth more than their weight in gold. Whoever gets the bowl will find plenty of food in it whenever he wants it; the owner of the stick has only to write his wishes on the ground with it and he will get them; and whoever puts on the shoes can fly through the air in them to any distance."

 

Putraka was determined to get possession of the three treasures for himself.

 

"It seems a pity to fight," he said, "why don't you race for the things, and let whichever wins the race have them? That banyan tree over there would make a good winning post and I will be the umpire."

 

Instead of guessing what Putraka had in his mind, the brothers, who were very simple fellows, said at once: "All right. We won't fight, we'll race instead, and you can give us the start."

 

Putraka agreed, and the moment they were off, he picked up the bowl and the staff, put on the shoes, and flew straight up into the air with the treasures.

 

When the brothers came back, disputing about which of them had won, there was not a sign of Putraka, the bowl, the stick, or the shoes. They guessed at once what had happened and went home, feeling very ashamed for having been so stupid as to trust him.

 

Putraka came across a town, and especially, a little house he fancied. When he knocked on the door and asked if he might come in, an old woman opened it and welcomed him in. He gave her some money, and told her he would like to live with her, if she would let him do so. She was only too glad to consent, for she was very lonely; and the two lived happily together for a long time.

 

She said to him one day: "My dear adopted son, you ought to have a wife to keep you company. I know the very one for you, the only one really worthy of you. She is a princess, and her name is Patala. She is most carefully guarded in the top rooms of a great palace, as high as the summits of the loftiest mountains."

 

That very evening, Putraka started on his journey.

 

It was not long before Putraka came in sight of the palace. The young king alighted on the ledge of the window of the princess' room, and looked in. There, on a golden bed, amongst soft cushions and embroidered coverings, lay the most lovely creature he had ever beheld, so lovely that he fell in love with her at once and gave a loud cry of delight. This woke the princess, who started up and was about to scream out aloud in her terror at seeing a man looking in at the window, when Putraka with the aid of his magic staff made himself invisible. Then, thinking she had been dreaming, Patala lay down again, and the king began talking to her in a low voice, telling her he had heard of her beauty and had flown from far away to see her. He begged her to allow him to show himself to her, and added: "I will go away again directly afterwards if you wish it."

 

She gave her consent, and immediately afterwards the young king stood within the room, looking so noble and so handsome that she too fell in love at first sight.

 

They spent many happy times together until one day, he was caught by the King, Patala’s father. However, before he could be punished, he used his magic and escaped and took Patala with him.

 

He directed his course to the river Ganges. By the banks of the sacred stream the lovers rested, and with the aid of his magic bowl Putraka soon had a good and delicious meal ready, which they both enjoyed very much. As they ate, they consulted together what they had better do now, and Patala, who was as clever as she was beautiful, said:

 

"Would it not be a good thing to build a new city in this lovely place? You could do it with your marvelous staff, could you not?"

 

"Why, of course, I could," said Putraka laughing. "Why didn't I think of it myself?"

 

Very soon a wonderful town rose up, which the young king wished to be as much as possible like the home he had left, only larger and fuller of fine buildings than the one before.

 

The first thing Putraka and Patala did after the rise of their own town, which they named Patali-Putra after themselves, was to get married.

TIPS FOR STORYTELLERS

 

Three Tips to Write Winning Stories for the Internet.

 

If you want to write stories that web users will love to read and put to use follow these 7simple tips:


1. Make your stories scan ready.

 

Let me ask you this - how many times have to read word for word, a story off the screen of your computer. Most of us scan the page and scroll down to the end.

 

Therefore, when you write a story for the internet, make them 'scannable'. Some practical ways to make your text scannable are by using headings, sub-headings, bulleted list, numbered lists, easy steps and/or typeface variation.

 

2. Keep it short.

 

For most web users, this is important. You must keep the story short and this means that it is usually no more than 800 words. If you think this is impossible, let me tell you, it is. Most stories in magazines are no more than 800 words.

 

One trick, specifically for writing stories on the web is to start with the conclusion of your story. if grips the reader and he/she will want to know how this could have happened.

 

3. Title is Important

 

Dull titles will not capture your readers interest. It will make your article fade into the sea of other boring articles listed in article banks these days. You have to create a title that will reach out and grab your reader by the ear.

To get your article read, start with a sizzling title. Make it short. Create interest. Include the main benefit or solution in your title.

 

Hope those tips help.

 

Here's to your storytelling success.

Aneeta Sundararaj

WHAT'S YOUR FASCINATING STORY?

 

In an attempt to raise eleven thousand pounds to build a mother and baby unit I looked at various fund raising options and so I did a three sponsored mile swim this was so difficult as suffering with MS you get very tired.

 

I had a great trainer Steve Halls author of the Fit Body Initiative.

 

From this I raised six hundred pounds

 

I realised I needed to do bigger events to bring  in a bigger amount of money and so I concentrated then on raising events to bring in a good amount of people and cash at the same time. The first one was where we got one hundred people. It was at this one I launched book and decided a third of the royalties would go to the charity.
We had a three course meal, disco and also a couple of speakers

 

This event raised over two thousand pounds.

 

Then it was time to do an halloween party joint with my daughter.

 

Here we  got one hundred guests and decided to split the money with one third going to the mother and baby unit and two thirds to go to wyce in Gambia for a charity my daughter is involved in. Between us we raised nearly three thousand pounds. We had an auction, three course meal, disco and managed to get a free venue and auction prizes. On February the 18th 2006 I organised and held a black tie night. Valentines evening of fashion I got a free venue with  one hundred and twenty guests.

 

This proved to be really good and help came from all over with a sound and lighting company, auction prizes, raffle prizes, chocolate fountain provided free.

 

I had a professional photographer to take photos on the basis any profit to charity

 

I got sponsor for wine for reception drink and had dj from radio Stoke to host it

 

I had a toastmaster as auctioneer

 

Lord mayor came and we got lots of press publicity along with sponsor for flyers and tickets.

 

I was so lucky when a lady called Maria Parslow agreed to co-ordinate the fashion show in this it was an hour and half of entertainment with disc, buffet and auction.

then on from that, the reason why I did it was that I cannot think of anything worse than the fact 65 out of every 1000 babies die out in Cameroon, because there are no facilities such as a mother and baby unit!

 

Only eleven thousand pounds needed!!

 

That is less than our average family car!

 

I was elated to finally reach my target and was overjoyed to receive the email I have copied below from one of the doctors.

Dear Lynn,

Haven't been in direct contact with you before, but Cath & Judy have been keeping me posted about all you have been doing, and I have seen a photo of you, so feel I know you a little bit!  It goes without saying that I am deeply impressed by your efforts, and also very grateful. I know that these things are really hard work. More importantly, the staff in Bamenda are tremendously excited that ideas we have been talking about look like becoming a reality, and they send thanks too.  All the best, Alison

As for my next fund raiser I am aiming to raise fifty thousand pounds in one night . The date is set 18th September 2006, the aim is to get fifty companies to enter a team of three to play leverage investing one thousand pounds each.

 

We need to get three sponsored prizes:

one worth three thousand pounds

one worth fifteen hundred pounds and

one worth five hundred

 

The venue is secure already

 

The object of the night is to raise enough money to fund the unit for some time whilst other plans are put into place to ensure this project does not fail. This will take about twenty five thousand pounds.

 

The other twenty five thousand is to build a mother and baby unit in Gambia and a laboratory to test for anaemia.

 

a huge hug

Lynn x 

 

[Editor's Note: if you have comments/suggestions to help Lynn, by all means, please contact her at Grocott3@aol.com]

 

To tell your own Fascinating Story, please click here...

BLOW YOUR OWN TRUMPET!!

 

Delights and Passions - an interview Kathy Ide

(4 March 2006)

...  Aneeta: I understand you are a published writer. How did you get started?

 

Kathy: In 1988, a friend of mine invited me to attend a writers conference. Prior to that, I guess I thought authors were people who went to college, got a degree in Creative Writing, then went to work full time for a publishing house. At this conference I learned that most authors have regular day jobs and write in their free time. So I decided to give it a try.

 

To read more, please click here.

 


The Power of Approachability - an interview with HELLO, my name is Scott, 'That Guy with the Nametag'.

 

...  Aneeta: Now, the most striking thing about you is this: I understand that you’re the only person in the world who wears a nametag 24-7-365. Although this brings a smile to my face as I read it, I have to admit, of all the people I’ve met on the net, your name stays in my mind precisely because of this connection. Is it this kind of reaction you were trying to get at when you first started in this business? What were your aims? Why did you do this?

 

Scott: Thanks!  I’m honoured to be “stuck in your mind.”

 

My initial goal on November 2nd, 2000 was the same as it is today in 2006: to wear a nametag 24-7 to encourage friendliness and approachability.  Not to get everyone to wear nametags.  Not to become popular.  Not to make sure everyone knew my name.  But to increase the probability of more encounters with new people that would have otherwise not existed; because people become richer as a result.

 

I never had any intentions of writing books, publishing articles and becoming a professional speaker.  It just sort of happened.  Or maybe it evolved.  Either way, people first said, “Scott, you should write a book about this.”  Which is interesting because, when I was 7 years old, I actually DID say I wanted to be an author someday.  Kind of cool, huh?

 

So, when the book came out, I did lots of interviews on CNN, USA Today, etc., and companies then began to ask me to speak to at their meetings on my experiences.  After I gave my first speech on March 19th, 2003, some guy in the audience said, “Scott, you need to quit your day job and become a professional speaker!”

 

Wow. 

 

So I made some major life changes, started my company, and began a journey to combine my experiences, experiments, research and expertise into valuable information (speeches, books, cds, articles, etc.) that would help people and companies MAXIMIZE approachability – one conversation at a time.

 

To read more, please click here ...


 

If you'd like to be interviewed for this column, please contact me at editor@howtotellagreastory.com 

ARTICLES FOR STORYTELLERS

 

Secret of great editorial writing: Tell the story, and tell a story
 

Some days, we all feel like Bill Murray's character in the movie Groundhog Day. The same people, the same events, the same minutiae-inundating us over and over.

 

Then it starts creeping into our writing. The same old Thanksgiving editorial. The same old don't-forget-to-vote editorial. The same old dont-blow-your-fingers-off-with-Fourth-of-July-fireworks editorial.

 

Then it hits you. You're in a rut.

 

So what do you do?

 

You could always do what Bill Murray did in Groundhog Day. But for most of us, trying to seduce Andie McDowell isn't a practical approach toward improving our writing.

 

What's more practical is to take the advice of experts: Tell a story, and tell it with passion.


To read more, please click here ...

 


Seeing red…and yellow…and green…and: we owe our appreciation of color—what it is and how we perceive it—to scientists and artists. Do we also have some hungry primate ancestors to thank for the great pleasure it brings us? -

 

When the sun shines through a rain-darkened sky, one of nature s most celebrated wonders is revealed. In the arch that curves from the earth to the heavens, we can read the origin of colors. Sunlight seems to take on the color of anything it bounces off--a red rose or a green leaf--because all these colors lie within the light, waiting to be sifted out by an encounter with the tangible world. In the rainbow, raindrops do the sifting systematically; each band is part of a progression through the visible spectrum, from red to violet.

 

In the seventeenth century, when Isaac Newton showed how this happened, he seemed at last to have answered the question that had frustrated philosophers for centuries: What exactly is color? Yet Newton's was not the last word. Indeed, for some people it simply raised more questions. Painters struggled to understand how Newton's theory of light and color applied to pigments. The German Romantic literary figure Johann Wolfgang von Goethe decided that Newton's ideas about color were nonsense, and some scientists were ready to agree with him. Even today it would be unwise to conclude that we fully understand color.

 
To read more, please click here ...


Destroy 9 Myths that Block You From Completing Your Book

 

Many speakers, consultants, and small business owners alike feel confident with communicating their message orally. They can spout their message in an elevator speech with the accuracy of a scientist. But when it comes to putting it on paper, some grown men & women end up crying like a baby.

 

Through speaking and writing, I have discovered 9 myths that often block others from writing their best book now. I promise.

It's not hard once you know exactly what to do. Successful writers set up a system of writing. Destroy these myths and setup your system of writing with nine easy solutions.

 

Myth # 1 It's too hard.

 

Too many of us for too long have hid behind the words, "It's too hard." Now is the time to take charge of our fears and conquer them.  First things first, to overcome procrastination - the fear of failure- is to act now. Most times the bottom line of procrastination is fear of failure.

 

Solution: Act now. Select step one of an easy writing program and begin today. Or choose to sign-up for an easy 7 lesson ecourse "Jumpstart Writing Your Best Book Now. " Send any email to iscribe@writetowin.org Action will destroy fear. Each successful step of your system will deal a death blow to fear.

 

To read more, please click here ...

 


 

If you would like to submit your own article on storytelling, please click here...

BOOKCLUB

Review of The Compassionate Rebel – Energized by Anger, Motivated by Love

 

When I finished reading this book, I felt deeply honoured to have been given the chance to review this book and immensely humbled by the stories therein.

 

The immense effort put in by the four people (Berlow, Janke, Penshorn and Cota) is visible from the word ‘Go’. The book begins with an Introduction which is a short essay on the concept of the Compassionate Rebel. Who are they? What do they do? How do they do what they do and also how to use the book – it clearly sets out the theme for the book and on the whole, the book has succeeded in keeping to this. And, what it the theme? Perhaps, it is easiest to reproduce part of the text here: 

Ever day, the media take snapshots of our culture. And, though it is said that the camera doesn’t lie, what we see is not truth. In fact, we are being lied to about something very basic: who we are. … In The Compassionate Rebel, we take the camera, literally and figuratively, into our own hands and point it at people whose stories depict the rest of who we are. Through interviews, stories, and photographs, we share with you a hidden culture, and our hope is to reveal it in its full power and beauty. ...

 

Compassionate rebels are role models for the masses and mentors for activists. The are produces of democracy, rather than embittered citizens. They teach us how to protest without violence, how to revel without destroying and how to say no without saying goodbye. Compassionate rebels bring to our viewfinder people who are exploring their anger, rage and disappointment and seeking solutions to oppression, racism, abuse, troubles relationships, and economic woes.

Next is an explanation of the four ‘Story-Carriers’. We learn, amongst other things, that Berlowe is a freelance writer, journalist, educator, community organizer and activist. Rebecca Janke and Julie Penshorn, together, have done extensive writing and co-authoring of several books. Then, there is Todd Cota, the photographer who, I believe, took most of the pictures in the book. Throughout the book, there are little vignettes which reveal their lives, personality and no doubt, immense courage and belief in what they do.

 

There are Ten Chapters all together and in each there are on average five stories. Each story is relatively short, concise and precise. What makes these stories all the more special is that at the end of each story, there are two sections: One called Questions for Contemplation and the other, Resources for Reflection and Action.

 

To read more, please click here

 

If you would like your book/product to be reviewed, please click here to send an email with your request.

PAYING MARKETS FOR STORYTELLERS...

 

Writing for DOLLARS!
http://www.writingfordollars.com

Writing for DOLLARS! is a free, semi-monthly newsletter for writers who want to start selling their work or to increase their present writing income. It is distributed by e-mail free of charge. To subscribe, go to writingfordollars.com and enter your e-mail address in the subscription form that appears on every page. The debut issue was transmitted on December 1, 1997.

The Writing for DOLLARS! website is http://www.WritingForDollars.com, a great resource for writers on the Internet.

Email submissions/queries are preferred. You may query before sending a full article OR if you haven't written for us before, just send the article.

Payment before publication for exclusive first-use one-time rights in the e-mailed newsletter, Writing for DOLLARS!, after which AWOC.COM retains the non-exclusive right to archive and display the article online on its website forever.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

ARTICLES Length: 500-1000 wds. Pieces longer than 1000 wds may be accepted on rare occasions, but good, tightly written 500-1000 word pieces have a better chance of being bought. How-to-sell to specific markets, interviews with successful writers, new ways to make money as a writer, are some of the themes we want. If you
have some information that will help writers earn more, we're interested in looking at your idea or article. We pay! Payment: $15 for articles, $25 for solicited articles.

Reprints: We will consider articles that have appeared in print publications. We do not reprint articles that were first published on the Internet. Let us know when and where it was published. We pay $10 for reprints.

SPECIAL FEATURE Subject: How I Made My First Sale. (This is the subject... give your article an original title.) Length: 500-1000 wds. Tell the story of your first sale (the one that you received a check). The reader should gain some benefit from your
experience (bad or good).

How to query to Writing for DOLLARS!

Query with your article idea, writing credits, and the estimated number of words.

E-mail queries/submissions: Editor: Dan Case editor@WritingForDollars.com Put "Query:" or "Submission:" at the beginning of the subject line to get past our spam filter.

When submitting or querying by e-mail, please make sure your text is plain ascii, with no formatting codes (some programs insert HTML or RICH TEXT, go to the options menu and specify PLAIN TEXT). PLEASE do NOT send attachments -- include all text within the body of your message. Put a blank line between paragraphs so we will be sure to know where they are.

 

[Editor's Note: for a more comprehensive idea of the submission details, please refer to their website]

 

If you have a resource for a paying market or would like to be featured here, please contact editor@howtotellagreatstory.com and let me know about your market.

BLOGS FOR STORYTELLERS...

 

In this edition, I'll feature something called the 'Blooker Prize'.

 

The Lulu Blooker Prize is the world's first literary prize devoted to "blooks": books based on blogs or websites.

Awarded in three categories: Fiction • Non-Fiction • Comics

Prizes total $4,000:
• $2,000 to an overall winner
• $1,000 to the other category winners

Entries are closed for this year's competition but there's always next year and if you run a website, I think it's worth a try.

 

Books are the world's fastest-growing new kind of book and an exciting new stage in the life cycle of content, if not a whole new category of content. 

The Lulu Blooker Prize is sponsored by Lulu, the world's fastest-growing provider of print-on-demand books, including an increasing number of blooks. However, the judges are independent of Lulu and no favor will be shown to blooks published on Lulu.

Entry to the 2006 Lulu Blooker Prize is now closed. The short-list for each category is announced here, and the winners will be announced April 3, 2006. Entry will soon open for the 2007 Blooker Prize.

The link is http://www.lulublookerprize.com/

 

Here's an excerpt from the site to help you understand a little more.

What, exactly, is a blook?
 

A blook is a book with content that was developed in a significant way from material originally presented on a blog, web-comic or other website. This material includes the website's characters, themes, ideas or outline that ends up getting published as a printed book.

 

Scores of blooks have already been published, both by traditional publishers and self-publishers. Indeed, traditional publishing houses, ever in search of the next big name author, have begun to mine blogs and websites for new talent. In the world of self-publishing, more and more content is being developed first online. It is becoming ever easier for bloggers and other independent web publishers to make the transition into print by using web-based publishing services such as Lulu (www.lulu.com).

 

The launch of The Lulu Blooker Prize coincides with the 450th anniversary of Gutenberg's invention of moveable type, and it offers fresh evidence that the oft-touted rumor of the death of books is greatly exaggerated.

 

The full dictionary definition of a blook is as follows:

blook n. blook. A printed and bound book, based on a blog (cf. web log) or website; a new stage in the life-cycle of content, if not a new category of content and a new dawn for the book itself. cf. The Lulu Blooker Prize, ("The Blooker"), a literary prize, founded 2005, for blooks. [der. Eng. book, a bound collection of sheets of paper; blog (abbrev. web log, an internet journal, diary or personal website)]

RESOURCES FOR STORYTELLERS...

TELL EVERYONE ABOUT ...

 

Hi: 

I wonder if I could trouble you to go on Amazon and rate Bottom Time for me?  Bottom Time.
There is only one review and it is by a professional reviewer who gave it four stars out of five.  I guess I should be satisfied with that, but I'm not.

Thanx

~Steve Rebertson~
 


Hi aneeta sundararaj!

 

Just a note to let you know that my goal with the IdeaMarketers blog is to (each weekday) add tips, tools and strategies that will help you with promoting your business.  For example, if you have an ezine or contact list, you might find Friday's post, "How to Increase Your Email's Open Rate," useful.

 

Also there will be "extras perks" for those who read the blog - like special offers not publicly announced elsewhere. To get the ball rolling, there's one of these now at this link.

I hope you find the blog useful. Please jump in and ask quest.ions or make comments. I'd love for you to be a part of this!

 

Best wishes,

Marnie Pehrson

 

Take care,

Marnie Pehrson
 


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


I have just ordered your e-book and read your bonus #4 Great Storytelling Articles. WOW! did I enjoy. I heard a lot of wisdom coming from your printed words and look forward to reading the rest of your book. From what I've read so far, I know that I'm in for a treat.
I don't know what made me order (I usually don't fool with online orders) but I'm glad I did because I have already been blessed.
 
My name is D'lores and I am a newly retired teacher. Growing up with ten brothers and sisters you know that I have been telling stories all of my life. I have been telling African American folktales and stories for about eight years in and about my community. I am always looking for ways to better myself and build upon what I already know.
 
Looking forward to consulting with you (a first for me),
 
D'lores the Storiteacha

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


Dear Aneeta,

Wow! What a comprehensive blog!

I trust you're well. You are clearly providing a tremendous outlet for people across the planet who understand the sheer power of a story told with a genuine voice.

Stay well and continue doing that which you do best... which is to write and to write about writing.

Warmest regards,

Rajen

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