Sample mags and the learning process

I don’t mind admitting that I’m an amateur.

While none of us at WWC is a stranger to writing, and in fact quite a few of us have experience on the business end of publication, none of us has done what we’re doing right now: starting a publishing house.

This is going to be an awesome and exciting year for us, starting with a learning experience like no other.

Right now we’re putting together a sample magazine. This is an exercise in writing, editing, layout, and design. What better way to learn to work together than going completely hands on with a project that should prove to be fun…and will also give us a chance to explore some areas that are (so we think) outside of our capabilities?

Oh, I’m not playing favorites in the least. I want my editors to learn layout. I want my graphic designers to try their hand at editing. Why? Because to my way of thinking the best way to excel in your own position, is to understand what those around you are doing….at least a little bit.

OK, that’s thinking outside the box. But then again, Written World Communications isn’t a company that’s well…usual. In the least. And you know something? I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Question: What have you done to stretch yourself lately?

Time for a change!

All right.

Up until now, this blog has been about my own adventures related to writing and publishing. Today this blog changes to a little different focus. Today, this blog reflects a dream...From the Ground Up.

Over the past year I've been working towards creating a publishing house. A traditional, royalty paying publishing house. The project is completely and utterly insane (or so some would have me think). Can I, and a small group of individuals, with very little start-up cash, begin publishing not just print books and magazines before the end of 2010?

Well, we think we can. And just to make it all fun, I'm inviting you along for the ride.

My name is Kristine Pratt and I am the CEO of Written World Communications, LLC. We're planning on launching five different magazines and four different book imprints over the next few years. A little...daunting? Well, we'll find out.

I'm inviting you to come along with us. Ask questions along the way. Share your insights, offer your opinions, just don't throw the rottens in that bushel basket by the door. I'm saving those for the naysayers.

Are you ready for this?

I certainly am!

Question: What's the craziest dream you've ever pursued?

Anime / Manga style Artist Wanted!

Are you the artist we're looking for?

If you've been reading this blog for awhile you'll already know I'm Kristine Pratt and I'm one of the partners over at Written World Communications, a fairly new company. While for the moment we're offering author services and website solutions, in the next two years we're expanding into the publishing industry through the creation of five new magazines. The first of which we'd like to release this fall.

Where do you come in? Well the first magazine is called "Gambatte!" and is a mag written for anime / manga fans BY anime / manga fans. For this magazine we need a website so we can launch properly and get started taking submissions. For this website and for the first advertising we would like some original artwork. We're looking for a fresh new character that captures the spirit of Gambatte that can be used (perhaps in different poses) for the website, business cards, brochures, and advertising copy.

Because we're a new magazine and have no idea what to expect at this point for sales we really have a small budget for art. But in addition to your pay you can expect to be featured prominently in our first issue as an original artist with a chance to showcase your work. We're also willing to work a deal that would involve free advertising if you so choose for your freelancing.

To give you a feel for the magazine, this is an idea of what we're about.

Gambatte! will feature more than just your usual reviews. We're looking for fans who want to show their love for anime / manga. We want to see fanfiction and fan art. We want to teach about Japanese culture in a fun and interesting ways. We want to talk cosplay, showcasing not just the costumes but giving some how to tips. We want to see original work done in the style of anime / manga. We foresee this being 90% freelance written with the other 10% being regular columnists.

Gambatte! is a mag that you'll be able to read online, that you can download and read at your convenience, and will also be available in print edition for an extra charge. Right now we're looking at publishing 4 times a year with the first issue being available in October of 2009.

If you're interested in working with us, then we'd like to see your work. Send us either some samples of work in attachment to this email or provide URLs so that we can check this out online. Please let us know what you would charge for an original image in three different poses. We're open to all media types so give us some ideas what you would charge for black and white and color images. We'd like to hear by June 21, 2009.

Also, if you're interested in writing for us, do let us know. We don't have formal submission guidelines just yet but we're really interested in hearing your ideas.

Any questions, please ask. You can reach me at kristinepratt at gmail dot com. We can't wait to hear from you!

tha mi Sgith

A century ago I stumbled into a tiny shop that held only treasures from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. This treasure trove occupied me for ages and when I left I had purchased something that was far too tempting to pass up. An album for a group called “Silly Wizard” large and flat, a vinyl record meant to be played at the audacious speed of 33 1/3. Anyone remember that?

 The song that captured my heart was Hame, Hame, Hame / tha mi Sgith. This translates out to “Home, Home, Home, I am Tired.”

 This has been my song for the last week in the wake of Colorado Christian Writer’s Conference (CCWC). Oh don’t get me wrong. I adore conference. I love meeting new people. How cool is it hearing about their projects, listening to their pitches? How utterly awesome and amazing it was to be on the other side of the table as Padawan Agent.

But by the end…oh I was ready for home.

 In the last week or so I’ve been struggling to get my feet under me again. I had totally underestimated the energy it takes to be faculty. I had never considered that from the moment I entered the building for breakfast until I left for the night, usually 12 – 15 hours later, that I was working. And my appreciation for the editors, authors, and agents who work at these things soared considerably.

 This week I’m finally getting back to work after sleeping a lot more, playing a lot more with the kids, and generally recovering. But much as I love being “hame, in my ain countree” I can’t wait until my next conference, and the chance to do it all over again.

 What about you? Tired after conference or exhilarated and ready to work?

Just What Do You Mean by "NO?"

"I'm sorry to inform you that your manuscript...."

As an agent-in-training, I get to experience every aspect of publishing. I love it. Every day I’m learning something new! Every day I get to deal with fantastic people and read the most amazing and interesting things.

Every day, I also have to say ‘no.’

This is probably the hardest thing I’ve had to learn in the last year. But..simply put…not every book an agent sees is ready to go into print. To be very blunt here, most of the books aren’t.

When I say ‘no’ to a manuscript I’ll word it differently depending on what I’ve seen. I take a lot of time and effort to put the right wording with every query or proposal that’s turned down. This is why, as a writer, it’s so important to pay attention to the reasons why. What you think might be a form letter might be – in part. But whatever text is chosen, it’s done so with great care. And more often than not, I try to take the time to make this personal enough so that you know what the real deal is.

“This novel isn’t quite ready…there…whatever words I’ve chosen” means just that. The writing isn’t polished enough, the descriptions might not be enough or might be too flowery or maybe that dialogue is stilted or not quite right. This one I dislike because it means you’ve sent it too soon. I’ve seen such fantastic ideas that hold so much promise and lost their chance simply because the manuscript needs more work. DO take the time to have others read your work before submitting it. DO listen to the advice you’re given. DO read your story out loud to make sure it flows and has the right cadence to the dialogue. A few extra days to polish can make so much difference.

“This didn’t really grip me…didn’t hold my interest…pull me in” means just that. Your book MUST compel me to keep reading. Keep me reading until I hit that last page and leave me wanting more. Anything less isn’t going to make it. If this was your reason it’s time to go back and polish again. Don’t quit just yet!

“This is too similar to something we already have.” This one is SO important and in fact I rejected a stunning manuscript today for this reason. This is one I would have put under contract had we NOT had a manuscript that was like it. What does this mean? No, no two manuscripts are exactly the same. But say we have a client with a book on parenting a Special Needs child. Then someone comes to us with a book about Special Needs children in general. They’re not the same, they might be very different. BUT they would be sent to the exact same market were we to try to sell it. It’s not fair to either author to pit these books against each other for that publisher. And how would the publisher like us to send them two books for the same open spot on their list? Not cool all the way around. If this was your book, take heart. Keep it in motion. Seriously. This is really not time to give up!

"We're sorry but we're not working in a market where we feel we can represent..." means just this. Every agent knows a certain percentage of the publisher out there. Quite honestly there's just too many publishers for anyone to have contacts in all of them. Sometimes we just have to be brutally honest...we can't do the job for you that you're asking us to do. Here again...keep sending that manuscript out. Just because we don't have the right contact, doesn't mean someone else doesn't.

So...sometimes we say 'no.' We're not out to get you...we're just trying to be as honest as possible. After all, I love seeing books get into print. I'd love to see YOUR book get into print. Don't give up quite yet, OK?

 What about you...seen any good rejection letters lately?

Seriously…THAT’S How You Use THAT?

Screwdriver
Originally uploaded by axle_13

“Mom, what in the world are you doing?”

Obviously my son never saw someone trying to use a nail file as a screwdriver. But then, he also has never watched MacGyver. Good thing too.

He watched me a moment as I very tediously removed the tiny screw and eased open the back of the toy that needed batteries replaced. “Why didn’t you just get a screwdriver?”

The question was a fair one, the answer somewhere along the lines of, “I didn’t know where one was and didn’t want to take the time to look.” The uncomfortable feeling following that thought hinted that perhaps it would have taken me less time to find the right tool for the job and use it than it had to use a nail file for the same task.

Tools were designed for a specific purpose. Sometimes we come up with other uses (think Duct tape) but for the most part, using the right tool, properly, saves time in the long run. Something I should have realized with my nail file endeavors.

Writing works the same way. Recently I’ve picked up a book on how to use Word properly and I am completely and utterly amazed.

Now before you think I’m new to computers, I’m not. I’ve been using Word faithfully for years. What I never realized is that all over this program is a wealth of buttons and shortcuts I never knew existed. Keyboard shortcuts have left me in awe. And the click of a button on the page sets me up for tracking changes? Who knew?

Before I get too sidetracked on the wonder of Word I’d like to make my point. Knowing how to properly use your tools cuts down time when it comes to getting your work done. This is time that can be spent polishing a few more words before bed or writing an extra page or two before picking up the kids from school.

So take a little time to learn how to not just USE your tools as a writer, but to MASTER them. The library is full of books on computing. And honestly, the time spent learning how to really put your program to work for you, will really pay off in the end.

What tools have you mastered for the sake of your craft?

The Unexpected Life

It's late and I should be sleeping.

We're midway through Spring Break in Colorado and I'm discovering what it means to work at home with five kids underfoot. This is the first time my writing career has been challenged in just this way and I'm wondering whether I'm staying afloat or merely treading water.

I live by  my whiteboard these days. I list off all the things I have to do. This includes everything from answering queries, to checking in with both my bosses, the copyedits and market research and all the other minutiae of a life well absorbed by the publishing industry.

At the same time...I have to remember to find that balance. It's vacation for the kids after all. And if I let it, I'll be at my computer working (yes I'll admit it) like I did today for 12- 14 hours. 

The other day I spent three hours in the park with the kids. Does that make a vacation? Well, not really. So when the copyedits are turned in at some point in time tomorrow (or today as the case may be) it'll be time to lay aside the projects in favor for something that I would mark in black on my board, the color I use for "Do This NOW." Maybe we'll bake cookies. Or take a walk. Or some other thing that involves making a memory or two so when the kids are older the first thing that comes to mind about dear old mom isn't, "Well, she worked a lot."

And you know something? As much as time can be of the essence in the publishing industry...I suspect that the business of writing won't go anywhere until the cookies get out of the oven.

How do you balance work and family?