HOT OFF THE PRESS! We love to share our information with writers, and we’re happy to pass some of our INSIDER’S SECRETS along to you. Feel free to print these posts to use as a reference. Pass the links along to your writer friends. It’s packed with great information. DEADLINE-DATED lists of anthologies, theme issues, and contests are included at no charge!

* * Whether you voted Democrat or Republican, our country has a President who can put words together. Read OBAMA, THE WRITING PRESIDENT.

* * If you need help PREPARING YOUR MANUSCRIPT (formatting and/or proofreading), you can find out how to get a quote at this link: http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Manuscript-Proofreading-and-Formatting.aspx.

* * Want to know the difference between a vlog and a litblog? We’ll answer your questions in BLOGGING 101.

* * In a previous article we listed the various reasons writers and other artists choose to adopt pseudonyms. Find out more in PEN NAMES II.  

* * WRITING NEWS: OF COMMAS AND MICE is for grammar geeks and those of you who want to get rid of your mouse forever.

* * DO YOU HAVE AN ARTICLE FOR OUR NEWSFLASH? For guidelines, visit http://WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Do-You-Have-An-Article-For-Our-Newsflash.aspx.

* * We have a level of service for every budget. CHOOSE ONE OF OUR THREE LEVELS OF SERVICE. http://WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Three-Levels-Of-Service.aspx

* * You’ve heard the horror stories. CREATIVE NONFICTION: HOW TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE will keep you on track.

* * Read a few, then SHARE YOUR FAVORITE WRITING TIP.

* * Read about our NEWEST E-book, entitled UNTANGLING WEB SUBMISSIONS: ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO PUBLISHING YOUR WRITING ONLINE. http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Untangling-Web-Submissions-Essential-Guide-To-Publishing-Your-Writing-Online.aspx

* * LOTS OF HELP for CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHORS—100 CONTACTS and Everything You Need To Know To Submit Your Children’s Book. Click this link to get our insider’s tips and tricks: http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/For-Childrens-Book-Authors.aspx.

* * We’re giving away a FREE REPORT that outlines industry-standard Manuscript FORMAT Guidelines when you order our E-book entitled REJOICE IN REJECTION. Go to: http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Rejoice-in-Rejection-e-book.aspx. 

* * THIS ISSUE'S WRITING PROMPT.

* * A librarian shares her knowledge in RESEARCH YOUR WAY TO PUBLICATION: USING YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY.

* * You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming ANTHOLOGIES, SPECIAL-THEMED JOURNALS, and CONTESTS. Visit: http://WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Anthologies-Contests.aspx.

↓ Scroll Down to Read These Exciting and Useful Articles!!↓

Obama at a book signing      Photo by \Ryan

Political issues aside, there’s something noteworthy going on in the White House these days. Pundits agree that our President, Barack Obama, has brought a valuable skill to the White House; even before he ran for office, he was an accomplished writer. 

Obama joins a number of other Presidents who can list “writer” on their resumes next to “President.” Abraham Lincoln set the bar impossibly high during his presidency, and his two-minute speech at Gettysburg is regarded as a classic example of concise writing—every word packed with meaning and subtleties.

Theodore Roosevelt was a professional writer before taking on the nation’s leadership. He churned out books from the time he was a senior at Harvard up until his death. And Jimmy Carter wrote An Hour Before Daylight, a memoir about growing up in the Great Depression, which became a best seller during the 1976 election year. It’s said to have helped him win the election against Gerald Ford. He also wrote his own campaign biography—a highly unusual practice. Many other former Presidents penned memoirs, but the majority of them were filtered through a professional ghostwriter. Most of our modern politicians rely heavily on speechwriters and staff to do the writing for them, which is not surprising—politicians and writers are usually quite different characters based on their chosen professions—one in the public eye, the other private.

Barack Obama is a rare combination of politician and writer. He published his first book, Dreams From My Father, in 1996, while he was a state senator, and it was not coauthored by a ghostwriter. His second book, The Audacity of Hope, was also a success, and in a review Michiko Kakutani from The New York Times called Obama “that rare politician who can write…and write movingly and genuinely about himself.”

He now comes equipped with his own team of writers, including the talented, young Jon Favreau, and there’s no doubt that writing Obama’s own material will have to take a backseat to more pressing issues, like the economy and the war in Iraq. Still, writers all over the world can look forward to a riveting presidential memoir after he’s served his term.

The New Republic’s David Samuels has this to say: “My own belief is that Barack Obama has the makings of an unusual and unusually effective President, because he might combine a writer’s sense of the dramatic moment, and of how language helps to shape reality, with the brain—and perhaps the soul—of a Harvard-educated technocrat.”

President Obama’s open letter to his daughters was published in Parade magazine last month, and in it he explains why he decided to “take our family on this journey” to the presidency. In his beautifully written and heartfelt letter, Obama describes his vision for the country and what he wants for the children of the nation in terms of education and opportunity—not just for his own two children.

“These are the things I want for you—to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That’s why I’ve taken our family on this great adventure.”

You can read the letter in its entirety here: http://www.parade.com/export/sites/default/news/2009/01/barack-obama-letter-to-my-daughters.html. And then check out this month’s writing prompt.

The term “blog” is a derivative of “Weblog,” a phrase coined by Jorn Barger to describe his online journal, Robot Wisdom. A “blogger” is the person behind the blog—a collection of online journal entries. And the “blogosphere” is the community of blogging sites as a whole. Got it? Here’s some history.

Back in 1995 FrontPage was released by Vermeer Technologies. It was one of the first Web publishing tools, and it was designed to allow ordinary people (those without coding skills) to publish their own Web sites. Two years later Ritual Entertainment hired Steve Gibson to write journal entries online full-time, making him one of the first professional bloggers. And today there are too many blogging sites to document.

Weblogs originally were defined by one single characteristic: the site had to contain a series of dated entries. From there Weblogs differed in scope and content, style and tone, but they all contained individual commentaries, personal thoughts, and links to related sites. A blog may contain videos, photos, sketches, even music. Read one person’s journal-type blog over a period of a year, for example, and you get a pretty good idea about what it’s like to walk in that person’s shoes for a while. It’s socially appropriate voyeurism.

Blogs also help filter the unbelievable amount of information floating around the Web. The writer behind a literary blog has filtered through a great deal of other literary sites and blogs and has linked to his or her favorites. Depending on the expertise of the blogger, this can save the reader valuable time. Blogging also creates a platform for anyone to be published. You can practice your writing by making regular entries, and you may find yourself an appreciative audience. Many bloggers develop confidence, even fans, through the strength of their blogs alone.

There are so many different types of blogs. From personal reflections on the nature of life to topic-specific sites, there’s sure to be a blog for everyone. The following are just a few types of blogs you may come across:

Personal or journal blogs. This type of online diary is the most common form of blogging, usually containing personal feelings, day-to-day activities and observations, complaints, favorite quotes or poems, trivia, aspirations, or essays. Absolutely anyone can maintain a personal blog, whether it’s for select eyes only or for a community of readers.

Political blogs. These have become an important part of campaigning and can contain long essays or short comments on hot topics or current events, links to articles, etc.

Business blogs. Some corporations use blogs for branding purposes, public awareness, or to create a more personable “face” for the public. Some business blogs serve to advertise or sell products.

Literary blogs (“litblogs”). These blogs focus on the literary community, publishing, and the craft of writing. They are further categorized according to genre and specialty.

Media blogs (vlog). These are blogs comprised of video clips.

S-blogs. Blogs dedicated solely to the art of spam.

Photoblog and sketchblog. These are comprised of photos and sketches, respectively, and serve as a showcase for artists looking to share or promote their work.

Legal blog (blawgs). These are blogs by law students or lawyers (“blawgers”).

Travel blogs. Modern travelers can share their experiences with those unable to explore the world. They can include restaurant and hotel reviews, little-known hot spots, photos, and videos.

News blogs. These blogs can cover anything from celebrity gossip to sports happenings, to local and national news events.

Magazine blogs. These not only provide additional exposure for a specific magazine, but offer additional content that’s not in the print issue. For a magazine that comes out monthly or even quarterly, a regularly updated blog is a way to stay current and prominent in readers’ minds.

Book blogs. These blogs offer serialized stories via postings every few days, much like the way Charles Dickens' novels were serialized in the 19th century. A cousin of the book blog is the "wovel," or Web novel.  

And, of course, there are topic-specific blogs for anything from fire suppression technology to the study of earthworms. There’s even a blog called Disapproving Rabbits, chronicling the “constant judgment, censoriousness, and general moodiness of the rabbit kingdom.” You see the possibilities:

Clawging: blogging about animals or women with inch-long nails.
Log Blogs: blogs about the logging industry.
Emo Blogs: blogs for emoters and high disclosers.
Flog Blogs: blogs for those with a penchant for violence.
Hog Blogs: blogs for pork lovers.
Frog Blogs: blogs for dissectors.
Char Blogs: blogs for outdoor grilling enthusiasts.
Toblogging: blogging about the great sport of sledding.

Feel free to chime in with some of your own. It’s addictive.

In a previous article we listed the various reasons writers and other artists choose to adopt pseudonyms or pen names. These varied from having a difficult-to-pronounce name to maintaining privacy, to distinguishing oneself from another writer with a similar name. In this article we’ll go over some of the other implications of choosing a pen name, including legal issues and other questions from writers.

Is there a directory of pen names?
Check out http://www.trussel.com/books/pseudo.htm or http://go.to/realnamesfor a fairly comprehensive directory of pen names in use. Also, use the Google search engine to see who else is out there with the name you’ve chosen. It could be a problem if there’s another author by the same name (or a prominent proctologist).

What about copyrights?
According to the U.S. Copyright Office: “A pseudonym or pen name may be used by an author of a copyrighted work. A work is pseudonymous if the author is identified on copies or phonorecords of that work by a fictitious name (nicknames or other diminutive forms of one’s legal name are not considered ‘fictitious’). As is the case with other names, the pseudonym itself is not protected by copyright. If you are writing under a pseudonym but wish to be identified by your legal name in the records of the Copyright Office, you should give your legal name and your pseudonym when filling out your application.”

What about publishing contracts?
Most publishing contracts grant the publisher the right to use your pen name in conjunction with your work and marketing efforts. Sometimes a publisher creates a pen name for the author in anticipation of future work under that alias. Make sure the associated contract is clear about both the rights and restrictions of the author and the publisher. (As with all contractual issues, consult an attorney who specializes in these matters.)

How do I get paid if I write under a pseudonym?
Anytime you submit your work, whether to an agent or an editor, make it clear what your real name and pen names are. If you’ve landed a publishing contract, your publisher should have a record of your real name and your social security number, and they should issue checks in your real name. The IRS will squawk if the author’s name and social security number do not match.

What if I want to freelance under a pen name while under contract with my real name?
Suppose you have landed a book contract that limits the number of outside projects you can work on. You still have bills to pay, so you take on outside projects under a pseudonym—without letting your publisher know. This puts you at risk for breach of contract and civil suits, not to mention harming your reputation as a professional. Instead, try to work out a compromise with your publisher and keep it legit.

Can I expose my boss if I write under an assumed name?
Defamation of character, libel, and slander apply no matter what name you choose to adopt. Exposing your boss’s secrets is likely to get you in serious trouble whether you go by Marty Fishbone or Truman Truthteller.

What about taxes?
Some folks think that using pseudonyms can reduce their taxable income. For example, Mary Smith has a regular day job but writes romance novels on the side under the name Mari Chevalier. She only reports her Mary Smith earnings to the IRS. Can you say tax fraud?

Using a pen name can also complicate matters of advances and royalties, as well as the sale of reprint and subsidiary rights. Again, consult a tax attorney for legal advice.

If you’ve ever been called uptight over grammar, this is the article for you. A Baltimore Sun writer answers the question “Why do commas matter?” Read more at:  http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/mcintyre/blog/2009/02/why_commas_matter.html.

Or—for some interesting technology news—check out this cool article about the future of how we’ll use computers. Say good-bye to your mouse! Visit this link to read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/3544963/Will-touch-screen-technology-kill-the-mouse.html

What is creative nonfiction?

Lee Gutkind, editor of Creative Nonfiction magazine, sums it up best: “This is perhaps creative nonfiction’s greatest asset: It offers flexibility and freedom while adhering to the basic tenets of reportage. In creative nonfiction, writers can be poetic and journalistic simultaneously.”

Creative nonfiction is a genre that holds great creative possibilities. It involves the use of factual events or characters to create dramatic nonfiction using techniques such as dialogue, scenery, and POV. It combines the fact-finding of journalism with the literary techniques of the fiction writer to create a dramatic story that just happens to be true. This is also called literary journalism, and, like journalism, it is a genre based on truth.

Suppose an author has written her memoir under the guise of creative nonfiction, but she has spiced things up with a near-death experience and perhaps a rape scene—things that never actually happened in her life. Ethically, this author must redefine her piece as fiction. The basic facts must be true in creative nonfiction.

If the same author wrote a biography about her great-grandfather, she has some license to fill in the blanks, as long as it doesn’t affect the outcome of the story. She most likely doesn’t know what her great-grandfather’s farmhouse looked like on the inside or what he liked in his coffee—ethically, the author has the right to create dialogue and other “facts” that make up the creative element of creative nonfiction. Some authors use disclaimers to make sure their readers don’t feel duped if names or minor details are changed.

Readers must assume that they are reading a biased interpretation of events as they view them through the author’s eyes. The basic facts are there, but the author is reporting his or her own version of those facts. The implied pact between writer and reader is this: I am telling you the truth, but the truth as it is filtered through my eyes.

Legal pitfalls:

While the people and places mentioned in creative nonfiction pieces are still around, writers often change the names of characters in their work to avoid conflict. As long as it doesn’t impact the story, changing Linda, the waitress at the Burger Barn, to Cynthia from the Hamburger Hut might save Linda some awkwardness. And if you’ve fudged the facts about her, changing Linda’s name just might save you from a lawsuit, but there is no guarantee. Linda can still sue you for defamation if she is obviously defamed, regardless of the name you give her in the book. Changing a person's name is not a guarantee of protection, but it might help.

Other ways to stay out of trouble:

Stick to the truth. In a defamation of character suit, an offending statement must be false for a plaintiff to prevail against you or your publisher. Untrue facts that negatively affect a person’s reputation or credibility are considered defamatory.

Be careful not to report facts that may cause damage to another person’s physical being or business. Revealing that Johnny from the bank is actually a mob snitch, even when the facts are true enough, can lead to physical harm to Johnny and legal hot water for you. And be prepared for an invasion of privacy lawsuit if you are exposing embarrassing or private facts about a person, even if they are truthful.

Protect yourself by getting written permission from people you wish to write about. And if they are no longer living, make sure you aren’t setting yourself up for a lawsuit from their family. (Obviously, you are fairly safe in writing about people who died long ago.) If the person is a public figure whose actions or background are a matter of public record, then you do not need permission, but be judicious about the facts you report. Senator Mucky-Muck may have an obsession with women’s feet, but leave his foot fetish out of your story, especially if it’s merely something you’ve thrown in to add some excitement to your story.

This article is for informational purposes only. For expert legal advice about your own publishing questions, always consult an attorney.

Do you have a short-and-sweet tip that might help your fellow writers? We’re compiling a list of Writer-to-Writer Tips. We’d love for you to share yours.

Send your writing tip to our Newsflash. Just e-mail your tip to Lisa@wrelief.com. No attachments, please.

A few new tips follow:

What If, Overused Words, Trimming, and Postage

S.L. Dwyer writes, “I keep a note over my computer that reads ’What if…’ and beneath that ’And then…’ This helps me to focus and keep the story moving forward.”

Charles Edward White recommends keeping a list of words that you tend to overuse. “Words on my list include: got, some, it, of, pretty, big, really, had, even, always, never, and special.”

Lee D. Wilson suggests that writers should “Get the the’s out” by deleting pesky articles and other unnecessary words. The, an, that, it, and a can clutter and bog down an otherwise tight sentence. “Careful inspection will reveal that we don’t need those tiny words in most cases, and where they are needed, we can also reduce supportive words that often get added into sentence content with them.”

Lisa, a Writer’s Relief staff member, offers a tip about mailing book-related items. “I mail my books and manuscripts via USPS using the ‘media mail’ rate because it’s often much cheaper. Yesterday I mailed a box of ten paperbacks for less than three dollars.” If your package contains only books and is not a rush delivery, ask about the media rate. Just be aware that the post office can technically open your package if they need to in order to confirm that it contains just books.

Write an open letter—a letter that addresses big issues and that may be suitable for public reading—to your children, yourself, or simply to the world at large. Express your hopes for the future, and tie them in with past experiences that shape you. Infuse your letter with passion expressed and see what develops.

Authored by Cindy LaPenna, the Head of Reference in a public library. She is the author of the book Around Bangor, a pictorial history of the Pennsylvania town she grew up in. She has had news and feature articles published in various newspapers, and her poetry has been published in Poetic Voices, A Common Sense, Perigee-Art, and the International War Veterans Poetry Archive.

Before writers write they do research.

Research can be a daunting task, especially for beginners. Even with the availability of online resources, you may still find yourself asking, “Where do I begin to find the information I need?”

Most library research is done through the Reference Department, so talk to the Reference Librarian on your next library visit. Don’t overlook this step, even if you think you can navigate the library on your own. Maybe you can but not everything is readily visible to the visitor. Librarians are trained professionals, and they are there to help you.

Try to be as specific as possible when speaking with the librarian. Instead of saying, “I’m looking for information on writing children’s books,” try saying, “I’m a freelance writer who needs information on how to write children’s books. I’ll need to know how to format my manuscript and need a list of publishers.”

If the librarian asks questions of his or her own, resist the urge to get annoyed or assume that he or she doesn’t understand you. Most likely, they are just trying to determine the best sources, which can be several in number and can be in various forms such as books, magazines, or subscription databases.

Keep in mind that while librarians are information experts, they are not geniuses in every field and don’t know every book ever published. They may not be able to tell you how to write the perfect query letter, but they should be able to direct you to the sources that can help.

Most libraries carry the “bibles” of the writing industry, such as Writer’s Market and Literary Market Place—two directories that contain contact information of publishers. Books In Print, which tells you just that, is helpful for market research, and The Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature will tell you what subjects have been covered in magazines. Beyond these basics most libraries have other sources all writers need from time to time, such as dictionaries, thesauruses, books of quotations, and books on grammar and the craft of writing.

To avoid frustration and disappointment—or worse, missed deadlines—don’t wait until the last minute to do your research or request materials.

Research, by its very nature, takes time and sustained effort.

Even if the library owns what you want, it might be checked out by someone else, or there could be restrictions involved with lending certain materials.

Most libraries today “share” their resources as part of a bigger network, so even if your library doesn’t own what you need, they might be able to get it elsewhere in a relatively short period of time.

In all likelihood you will need to become a patron (a card-carrying member) in order to take advantage of all services, so bring official identification with you, such as a driver’s license. Allow yourself time to determine what you need and what’s available, and give yourself, the library staff, and your career a chance to shine.

Staff Note: If you’re not the kind of person who has the time and patience to research ever-changing literary markets—if you’d rather be writing than researching—please check out our A La Carte Services. Our cutting-edge database contains detailed information on tens of thousands of agents and editors. We can create a strategic list of the most opportune markets for your specific work. We can also create each of your cover letters and save you valuable time. Click here for more information: http://www.writersreliefblog.com/post/Our-A-La-Carte-Service.aspx.

REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT OUR LIST OF WRITING CONTESTS and ANTHOLOGIES! You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming anthologies, special-themed journals, and contests. Find it by visiting:
http://www.writersreliefblog.com/post/Anthologies-Contests.aspx