AC Writer Shares Print Publication Success and How-To's

Writing online at sites like Associated Content is great. But print publications aren't quite dead yet. There are still opportunities for writers to see their names and ideas on actual printed pages, and it can pay considerably more. Take advantage of this additional option before it's gone.

During just the last quarter of 2009, five pieces of my work were published by three print publications, and two more pieces scheduled for 2010.

One of the most successful print trends of the last decade is Anthologies; collections of work on a certain topic by an ensemble cast of writers. However, beware of anthologies that offer to put you in print for no pay, no free books, and want you to buy the books. It's a rip-off. Poetry anthologies are the worst of these.

Chicken Soup for the Soul® is probably the most popular, well-known anthology series. The company puts together volumes on many different general and spiritual topics and is always looking for new contributors.

My story, "The Value of a Good Husband" is included in the Dec. 2009 Chicken Soup for the Soul® anthology, "True Love" (mine on pp 215-217). The books are sold online and distributed to stores. I've already seen a stack of these at a local Barnes & Noble outlet. So this puts the writers on bookstore shelves.

Yes, the contributors to even the best anthologies only get a one-time fee for each piece, but also will get several or more free books to give away, or to sell at their own price and keep the money. Plus, once a good anthology accepts a story, the writer may get automatic e-mails soliciting stories for future volumes.

Writing for reputable paying anthologies can fetch between $50 and $250 for one 850-1,000 word story (if/when they go digital, this may change).

Three of my skits were published in Standard Publishing's Special Programs for Special Days®, a non-denominational Christian catalog of new dramatic and comedy sketches for use by churches and organizations.

(I'm unauthorized to give direct manuscript submission links for the two companies mentioned above. Go to the websites and look for "Writer's Guidelines" or "Submission Guidelines." Other general websites are mentioned below.)

Three devotional-type stories were picked up for use in the national Sunday School curriculum of a church denomination other than my own. This was by invitation only to writers who had met the editor at a Writer's Conference.

Writers' Conferences are great places for seriously aspiring writers. They can be expensive. But choosing one where they have editors and agents available for meetings is worth it. I wrote for three years for a magazine whose editor I met at a conference, and also found Standard Publishing and the Sunday School curriculum company that way.

Search for "Writer's Conferences" online (or your faith and then "Writers' Conferences" for faith-based conferences). Some events feature only published authors as speakers and advisors, but no offers to meet with representatives from publishing venues. This is good for beginners going simply to get critiques and ideas. Published authors may still be powerless to get you an audience with their publisher or agent.

Disadvantage to writing for print:
A huge drawback is the wait. The response time to find out if an article is accepted can be 2-6 months. Some pay upon acceptance. Others don't pay until the item is actually in distribution, which could be even further down the road. Not the instant gratification of online writing.

Website tips:
-The Writer's Market and, for those who so desire, Christian Writers' Market, reference books contain hundreds of pages of magazines, specialty markets, writing contests and book publishers along with editor contacts, what kind of proposals each publisher accepts, whether they take unsolicited manuscripts and how to submit. They're available online, at libraries and in bookstores.

-Writing a book? The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award has a competition for General and Young Adult Fiction. No entry fee. Also considering previously self-published novels. Winner gets a paid contract with Penguin Books.

-Enter "anthologies seeking submissions" in your search engine and you may find this website (Absolute Write.com) which lists publications looking for fresh articles and stories from new writers (don't pay attention to payment amounts given...they fluctuate).

If you haven't delved into some of these resources, you may be missing a whole other side of a writing career.

(Sheryl is also the author of "What Every Christian Should Know about the Jewish People: Improving the Church's Relationship with God's Original Chosen Nation" . Published through on-demand. That's a whole other article of do's and dont's!)

(DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: cmp.ly/0 - Writer is not receiving any remuneration for writing this content or listing websites herein, and will not receive any payment for items sold at the linked sites as a result. However, cmp.ly/3 - Writer has a connection to "True Love" and "Special Programs for Special Days" because of receiving a one-time nominal payment for her contribution.

Sources:
Found the Amazon Book Contest at: Practicing-Writing.blogspot.com.