E D I T O R  N O T E S

My favorite advice for writer's block is, "a glass of red wine and some decent music." There are times when I haven't felt like writing but rarely a day when I haven't set down words; my most significant act.

Writing is a performance disguised by the neatness of typography. The performance comes because the writer is a conscious person communicating in a distinctive voice.

This performance is enacted in a nearly pre-conscious state like the original dances of the Greeks and the advent of theater. It is a constant movement of energy like the cold ocean moving under the surface of the warm ocean.

So "writers block" could be characterized as "stage fright." Whatever you might call it, plenty of people have put forward their solution.

One of the better books about it is On Writer's Block by Victoria Nelson. She has a psychological view and prefers that writers give up any excuses.

"Not everyone with a desire to write, after all, becomes a writer...Many avid readers harbor a secret desire to be a writer because they believe the pleasure to be gained from writing is identical to that gained from reading."

If they only knew the truth of the matter.

Nelson is an accomplished writer herself and her book is a treatise on the act of writing. It's slanted more for the fictionalist but all writers can get something out of it.

I knew of one writer who quit writing the moment he was disillusioned of the pursuit of fame and fortune.

But if writing is driven by vanity it doesn't stand a chance against reality. The writer has to see herself as a builder, as someone constructing a piece that will support an idea, information, or story. And that effort is connected to every effort to make things whether it's a computer, a bridge or a presidential candidate.

The finished piece always looks easier than it took to make. Talented writers often write for a long time by a kind of wonderful imitation of writers they've admired. But then, when that runs out the writer is lost because he doesn't have the constructive principles to continue.

The best advice to any writer is "find your own way." We make reality by doing, failing, and moving on. Do that enough times and eventually you stick a good staff into a bright and clean underground spring.

By the way, if one glass of wine doesn't work try the second or third one.

Strategies to overcome writer' block.

Overcoming writer's block.

Article on writer's block in New Yorker Magazine.

How to overcome writer's block from Page Wise.

Jamie Walker has some excellent things to say about the condition.

How to get rid of writer's block.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>s h o r t   t a k e s <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

IRG Syndicate has launched IRGSyndicate.com, a new portal for editors, journalists and webmasters to download royalty-free content and photos for their publications and websites. The site features articles in business, health, lifestyle, trends and technology

Bloglines now claims it has over 100 millions articles indexed by its service. Do these represent the freshest and most diverse voices on the net? It sounds good but an old, foolish head is going to ask, "why go through all of this when I can read Mark Twain?" And a new, emerging Mark Twain is not going to head to the center of the massive slushpile known as blogville. What is popular and hip one moment is a waste of time and effort the next.

However, employers and editors would be wise to rake through all the muck and find a few gems stuck there.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> t h e   f r e e   p r e s s <<<<<<<<<<<<<

The story of the pranksters who rigged a story about an American held captive in the Middle-East and beheaded on a video is very instructive. In a way, false information and rumor are like a computer virus and should make the media a bit more skeptical and prudent. The journalist has to be the one who counters the obvious. If the journalist is just another tropism moving to the stimulus of being first to know, then eventually nothing is going to be believed.

Journalism is only one area of American life that is going to go through a sea-change as the winds of reform begin to sweep through the satiated land.

Blogs and other "grass-roots media" are eroding the advertising model that supports traditional media, says San Jose Mercury News columnist Dan Gillmor, author of "We the Media." It's an interesting concept but will fail on several counts.

One, the substitute for an "advertising" model will be an "ideological" one. You will get the news with a slant and the cost of admission will be that slant. The majority of people have about thirty minutes of time per day to "get the news." I don't think they're going to participate in this media rave that journalists want to initiate. In fact, "news" will proliferate to such an extent it will be like turning the tap on in the morning.

The greater question is, "what are they going to do with all that news? How are they going to channel it into useful areas?"

Why do many readers find blogs more credible than traditional media? "News organizations are often monolithic and reluctant to admit agendas," observes Jeff Jarvis of CondeNet.

Well, the truth is the reader has so much choice now no excuses can be made on the public's behalf.

It's up to the free person to go read The Nation, the Weekly Standard, the National Review, Reason, Mother Jones and simply mix all the fine thoughts and opinions together and come out with an account of what appears to be true or, at least, what is significant. This is the responsibility of the people, not the mass conglomerates.

Go ahead and do that very thing!

You can get the more extensive article on market ideas from Sunoasis X 2004 by subscribing today. You pay what you believe it's worth to you for a whole year of resources, articles, tips, and market information.

T H E  W R I T I N G  L I F E 

Writers will benefit when they start to understand that a piece of writing has many destinies. That a piece of writing that is interesting and useful to a thousand people is useful to many thousands and beyond. Therefore each piece of writing can reach many more people than the publisher allows for. The publisher does a wonderful job to get readers, to increase all of that but the potential is still beyond the reach of any single publication.

Writers will benefit when they understand that people will pay them for what publishers will pay them: Expertise, communication, resource.

____________________________________T H O T S

Discover the difference between information and cultural resource.

Information is the stock ticker; cultural resource is the man or woman who knows precisely when to buy and when to sell.

When the rhythm is good we see the blank page or screen as infinite in dimension, as complex as the dreams we long to see again.

Painters are great teachers in the use of space, in that the artist wrestles from the blank canvas a freedom full of toil and joy.

A stimulated writer grasps the world at once and lets a hundred lit cities energize his or her mind.

Some relatively new experiences: the tactile air corridor, the quick formation of ad-hoc communities, the Earth experienced from outside its own boundaries, casual conversations at 600 mph, seeing vast amounts of good and bad every day, life free of gravity, getting to know a person who, in the past, would have been hidden by time and space constraints.

Form, aesthetics, architecture are some of the key words of this present time.

The Featured Article in this month's Sunoasis X 2004 is, When You've Been Violated: What To Do When Someone Steals Your Ideas or Articles By Angela Hoy

For the fuller article on the writing life, try the preview by going to this link: www.sunoasis.com/premium.html

For Freelancers Only

The feedback we've gotten is superb. We're proud of the quality of people who have subscribed to Sunoasis 2004. So, please continue!

***************paid advertising*****************

R E S O U R C E S

We came across an interesting anomaly called Word Count. Go check it out. It's fun. Some guy has indexed the 86,000 most popular words in English. Cuss words, names, it has everything. It's one of these simple pleasures that gets addicting after awhile.
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C r a f t :
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How to write a better weblog.
Writing tips from science fiction writer Robert Sawyer
Book of Famous Quotes

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O r g a n i z a t i o n s :
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Romance Writers of America
Songwriter's Guild of America
Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America
Golf Writer's Association of America
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P r i n t P u b l i s h i n g :
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What magazines are doing to try and get more readers.
Why offshoring journalism jobs is not a bad thing.
One magazine publisher that's been doing well is Meredith based in Des Moines, IA.
The phenomena of Christian fiction.
A veteran journalist laments the inability to write long 40,000 word pieces any longer.
The academic press is going through a sea-change.
Review of the book, "Art of the Interview." The author laments the decline of the magazine interview.
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e p u b l i s h i n g :
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There's no Napster for books yet, but creators of text and images still have to deal with a lot of the same digital rights management issues perplexing the movie and music industries.
Slate could get as much as $12 million in a sale.
Is the internet making newspapers more contrite?
Blogs have had "essentially no effect" on the political season, says Vanity Fair writer Michael Wolff. "The blogs at the convention is just a bunch of (garbage)," says the editor of the Daily Howler blog.
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M e d i a:
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"You'd be an idiot" not to sell a good story to the press, says Monica Lewinsky. "Advertisers, television stations, news anchors -- everyone else is making money. Your story is a commodity."
The demand for celebrity news has spawned a mini-boom in celeb magazines. Bauer is launching a new title, Life & Style Weekly. "We help create the celebrities," asserts Bonnie Fuller of Star Magazine.
Global PR Blog week

S U N O A S I S  O P I N I O N

Sunoasis Opinion is a new page that contains some of our responses to things. No thinking man or woman should let the world pass without a few comments to throw in the way.

C A R E E R  A D V I C E

Sunoasis Career Newsletter is free and is full of interesting stuff, Q and A, links, and other resources you've expected from Sunoasis.com the past six years. To subscribe just go here.

Ask a question about your career!

A T    C/ O A S I S

Yammie, the Cat by Bruce Holland Rogers
On the subway ride back to their apartment, Beverly squeezed Karl's hand. She said, "Let's get off here."
"Here?" The train was stopping at the Rosedale station. They were miles south of their stop.
"Here. I want to walk." She gripped the handrail and stood.

Pelham's Saturday Morning Frolics by R.F. Marazas
He stepped naked onto his moon splashed lawn and had the crazy sensation that he would sink and drown. He did not drown. Too many manhattans gurgled in his stomach, keeping him buoyant.

Chapter Two of Strange Lands and People by Martha Nemes Fried
The week I started to work for China Relief Mission, Gilpatric was in London for a conference. His chief Chinese aide sent a bulletproof limousine to pick me up each morning and chauffeur me home each afternoon.

Hey, we even have a new literary newsletter and you can get it free if you click here!

M A R K E T S  A N D  L E A D S

3 Promotions Managers wanted in Mason, Ohio (near Cincinnati)
(Associate, Promotion, Senior managers)

Coordinates the creation of customer-focused, innovative, results-oriented promotions for Thomson Higher Education's teaching and learning materials (including textbooks, print and electronic supplements, and online courseware). Promotions include direct mail pieces, selling tools for sales reps, in-book brochures and ads, back cover copy, journal and convention ads, e-marketing materials, public relations pieces, and other pieces as necessary. The Promotions Manager's goal is to meet agreed-upon marketing/promotional objectives in a timely, cost-efficient manner.

For full ad go here: www.sunoasis.com/promotionsmanager.html

Copywriter--Product Detail
QVC, Inc., a $5 billion company, is an e-commerce leader, marketing a wide variety of brand name products in such categories as home furnishings, licensed products, fashion, beauty, electronics and fine jewelry. QVC reaches over 85 million homes in the United States. The company s world headquarters is located in West Chester, PA.

To help continue our success, we are in search of a talented and experienced Copywriter for QVC's Product Detail Division.

Under the general supervision of an Editor, perform copywriting duties associated with the creation and maintenance of Product Detail pages for QVC.com in an effort to maximize online sales. The Copywriter is responsible for prioritizing and completing work in a fast-paced environment with clearly defined deadlines. Also responsible for creating benefit-oriented copy that informs and encourages our customers, ultimately resulting in increased sales. The copywriter will also be responsible for maintaining Product Detail accuracy and style consistency.

For full ad go here: www.sunoasis.com/qvc4.html

Financial Services Communications: Multiple Open Positions
Writer, Copy Editor, Proofreader

Bring your creativity and editorial expertise to The Vanguard Group, one of the world's leading financial service companies and a great place for communications professionals to advance their careers. We have a number of job openings at our beautiful campus near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, just a short drive from Philadelphia. In addition to a workplace that values teamwork, diversity, and a healthy work-life balance, we offer a comprehensive and generous total rewards package, including competitive total cash compensation, medical and dental plans, tuition reimbursement, and a 401(k) profit-sharing plan.

For full ad go here: www.sunoasis.com/vanguardnew.html

The New York Software Industry Association (NYSIA) is searching for a Director of Communications. NYSIA is a not-for-profit trade association of software and information technology companies in the New York City area. We are the leading high tech trade organization in New York City and have over 600 company members. This position will report to the President of the organization.

The Director of Communications is responsible for editing, publishing, and the majority of the writing for NYSIA's weekly email newsletter, the NYSIA Hotwire. In addition, the Director of Communications will serve as writer/editor for the NYSIA Web site. He/she will also produce promotional literature and other communications products as required.

The ideal candidate is a fast and prolific writer and used to quick turnarounds and meeting deadlines. He/she will have at least 3-5 years of experience in journalism, corporate communications, Web site content development, or related fields. Experience in the software/IT industry is a big plus. We are looking for a creative, productive writer/editor who can work in a flexible not-for-profit environment and produce results. A Bachelor's degree is required. Experience with Web and email marketing techniques is a plus as well.

In short, we are looking for someone who loves and understands the English language and can use it effectively and productively to communicate our message to New York's high tech community.

Please forward resume and cover letter in digital form only (text email or Word document) to dcomm@nysia.org. Make the subject line "NYSIA Director of Communications." Please provide your salary requirements.

NYSIA offers competitive salaries, a comprehensive health care plan paid 75% by the company, a complete set of benefits, and an exciting and creative working environment. NYSIA is an equal opportunity employer with a policy of encouraging diversity in the workplace.

Marketing Specialist/Copywriter
Location: Southern California Great Benefits, An easy commute, and a chance to let those creative juices flow, what more could a hard-working, enthusiastic professional ask for? The California Credit Union League has an immediate full-time opening for a Marketing Copywriter to let their fingers dance across the keyboard for print and electronic media.

Successful candidate must have a thorough understanding of marketing principles; at least 2 years experience copywriting, editing, proofreading and desktop publishing. Credit union or financial industries experience a plus. Bachelor's degree preferred. Send cover letter, resume and salary history to:
Email: jobs@ccul.org
Subject line: Reference job code 200406
or
Attn: Human Resources
California Credit Union League
9500 Cleveland Ave. Suite 200
Rancho Cucamonga, Ca. 91730
http://www.ccul.org/
No relocation package available.
EOE
M/F/V/H

On Sunoasis X 2004 there are market listings for Travel publications that pay very good rates. Many are directly linked to their writer guidelines. Subscribe today and get a year's worth of resource for only $10.

Job Links for new leads!

Colossal Directory of Children's Publishers

How to find foreign writing markets.

The National Writer's Union has a list of markets that pay $1/word and up.

Job Links for new leads!

If you have any suggestions about markets you want guidelines for, just drop a line

C O M M U N I T Y

The international Cat Writers' Association (CWA) announces its 11th annual writing competition for published writers, photographers and editors in print, on-line and broadcast media. The CWA offers corporate-sponsored special awards of $500 to $1,300, as well as its own Muse Medallions to winners in 38 categories.

More information on the CWA competition!

The Society of Professional Journalists invites you to join the journalism community in New York City, September 9 ­ 11, 2004, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel for the 2004 SPJ National Convention.
www.spj.org/convention.asp
Or call 317-927-8000, ext 207.

Shaw Guide for Writing Conferences in August.

A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S

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Thanks to Lynda Lester from the Digital Information Group of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado for her generous contribution to Sunoasis! Thanks Lynda!

F Y I

Put an ad in Sunoasis 2004 and reach its 4,400 subscribers. Just $25 a month! Contact mailto:eide491@earthlink.net

Are you ready to transform your written or spoken words into manuscript format for submission to publishers and agents? With over 10 years experience, I offer professional, personable and reliable services in transcription, wordprocessing/typing and proofreading. For information about rates please email me at susansiegmann@yahoo.com

Staff of experienced editors, including several published authors, will edit your fiction and nonfiction Free sample and critique. First-time writers our specialty. http://www.alphaediting.com/

Looking for a seasoned Web content, PR, and marketing writer?

With a career spanning 30 years and a client list that includes a number of the world's largest corporations, Jeff Berger has the credentials to deliver the results you want on any project. Jeff specializes in high technology, finance, and hospitality; see http://www.jmbcommunications.com/ for a spectrum of writing samples. Email him at info@jmbcommunications.com or call (508) 830-3456.

Sunoasis--You're amazing! A mere five hours after I sent in the text for my classified ad I got a call for a writing project, and within two days, the project was mine. Thanks so much for your invaluable services! Debbie Lerman, freelance writer
http://www.sunoasis.com/classif.html

E T C/ E T C/ E T C

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David

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