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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

1. [Editor Notes]
2. [Resources]
3. [The Digital Writer]
4. [Career Advice]
5. [At C/Oasis]
6. [My Virtual Space]
7. [Markets]
8. [Community]
9. [Acknowledgments]

E D I T O R N O T E S

I'm among the few who truly admires journalists. And I'm acutely aware that great journalists and editors make great publications.

I recommend this month's issue of the Columbia Journalism Review with its cover story of, "The Fall and Rise of Magazine Writing."

I love this story of the two writers in Washington D.C. who have produced the only online tech publication still in operation. What do they do? Send out an e-mail with links. Sound familiar?

Narrative journalism is getting some play recently. The Poynter Institute had a conference at Harvard University and here's a good report on it. It's an old subject but is meaningful when renewed for another generation.

I have noted in the Job Log that journalism is going through a sea-change at the college level as it assesses itself and figures out how to produce excellent journalists.

Facts

There are now nearly 5,500 eBooks available from major publishers that include AOL Time Warner Book Group, HarperCollins, John Wiley & Sons, McGraw-Hill, Penguin Putnam, Random House, Simon & Schuster and St. Martin's Press.

According the Pendulum Pen Writers' Survey, 97 percent of the 400 journalists, authors, poets, designers and other communications professionals asked, still used a pen.

Henry Miller said once it took a writer one million words before he began to find his true voice.

What resources are the writers or journalists adding to themselves to provide for a richer experience? That is a more important question to ask than, "what common link pool do you pull from?"
http://www.corante.com/blogging/
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/10.05/mustread.html?pg=2
http://www.infotoday.com/LU/may02/conhaim.htm

When I started Oasis in 1996 my instincts were right on target: The Net will become a cultural force when it is edited by people with some experience and knowledge. The only thing I've insisted is that, on the Net, the writing has to count. It has to tell a story, be funny, be thoughtful, come from the heart of the person, be enriched or complex because of the persistence of vision. Anything less is tripe. It's the first time I can remember when creativity had no obstacle and could build at will. Not that the audience is prepared for it because, in the main, they are not. They are satisfied with helpful hints.

Come on people, awaken.

Even the Arab world is turned-on to POD.

Blogroots:

Seriously now, blogging is a step up the ladder from basic directories, perhaps, although people will get tired of them. The persistent ones will be shimmied upward towards the mainstream.

One obvious trend: Bloggers tend to be technocratic types who have the same opinions, the same outlooks, and use the same terms. The exciting prospect is that they are preparing the infrastructure for the authentic writers, journalists, and editors to migrate when the investment capital online reaches a critical mass.

The influence can be seen in articles like this one.

Less obvious trend: The attempt to coordinate blogging into authentic, on-the-spot news sources, beginning with coverage of city amenities. If, for instance, you were a food maven and had the time to do restaurant reviews, a blog kept up daily might attract some interest. And if a series of these blogs could be collected under one theme, it might prove interesting. However, you enter into the same problem as did the enthusiasts in 1996. Who supports it? However, it's a trend worth looking at.

I have read a few literary blogs that blew my mind. They are by young, ambitious writers and I'm jealous of their verve and resource.

Innovation is still the key value on the Net. E-newsletters, e-Books, blogging, links, access to new resources, among others are key innovations that can enrich things a bit. Fascination with the changing dynamics of mass media misses the mark, if it assumes the content should stay the same or will stay the same.

The Tablet PC is the beginning of something positive since it turns the computer into, primarily, a reading device.

What does the technology require of the reader? That's another large question. So what if a woman in Portugal can receive every newspaper in the world and most of the learned journals as she strolls along the Tagus River? What is she going to have to learn in order to make the Net effective, so she can derive the fullest value from the technology?

R E S O U R C E S

Time management for writers: It's a handy article from Poynter Online and speaks directly to writers. It introduces the interesting concept of time management as a form of patience rather than of pressure.

MetroFreelance is a new web site that allows freelancers to list their availability for freelance work. The service is free.

This article contains reasonable tips for freelancers.

The Online Journalism Review has an excellent article on using the Net for research.

A valuable site for research is Gary Price's, The Invisible Web.

Sometimes, talking to a reference librarian or buying a resource book is worth hours and hours of searching on the Net.

The Best Reads This Month
Literature is created on both sides of the frontier that divides fact from fiction..."

Some Basic Writing Resource Sites

Writing Help

Garbl's writing resources

Kim Banks Wordiness, Wordiness, Wordiness List

T H E D I G I T A L W R I T E R

The Digital Writer became a bold elitist once he understood that he could never compete against pro wrestling, porn, or eighteen-year old rockers for the hearts and minds of the people. This did not create sadness but, rather, elation as he felt released from the bondage of the market system.

Click for full column!

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

These are difficult times for writers but not impossible ones. More writers are going the freelance route and joining the Free Agent Nation. Career Assessment is becoming more and more crucial.

The most interesting projection I've seen is the fact there will be a shortage of workers in the next fifteen to twenty years. Everyone will be working at something. Young people should anticipate this trend. Baby-boomers should prepare to work into their 70's, in a service that utilizes their skill and knowledge.

The new technology allows for mobility. That's ideal for writers. The wireless networks will be efficient in a few years. It's an exciting time to be a writer. Writing is the act of bringing resource to people and you can make a living doing it. The more you learn and know the better positioned you will be as the digital/wireless publishing system begins to mature.

So many questions have been asked at Sunoasis Jobs this year! Common ones come from college students looking for direction in what to take to prepare them for a writing or editing career. There have been a good many questions about copy writing and book publishing.

I find myself recommending two books in particular: Careers for Bookworms and Other Literary Types by Marjorie Eberts and Margaret Gisler.

100 Best Careers for Writers and Artists by Shelly Field.

My own hope is that the Net will become a career path for those who can tolerate a bit of nuttiness.

A T C/ O A S I S

We have two new, excellent pieces of writing at C/Oasis this month. Greg Beatty pulls out an old Mark Twain piece on "corn-pone opinions," and contrasts that with today's "Quarter-pound opinions," and hits the nail each time.

David Alexander writes like a surfictionist and is very good at it. We are always proud when we can run a topnotch fictionist who takes the art seriously and applies excellent mind and skill to it.

The Poetry Editor has been meditating on writer's block and has some excellent links, poems, and riffs on the subject.

There's always an assortment of surprises so look around and enjoy yourself.

M Y V I R T U A L S P A C E

The hypothetical citizen has come to one conclusion about politics: There was a vast and sterling ship everyone was proud of. And the citizen could choose the crazed, drunken crew or the paranoid, sinister captain to run it. And it took enormous fortitude to separate out the beauty of the craft from those who had the arrogance to believe they could possess her.

Read on

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

CREATIVE DIRECTOR/COPYWRITER Leading, growing national dietary supplement marketing corporation seeks a seasoned Copywriter for its North Canton, Ohio facility.

This position is responsible for creating direct mail direct response and retail advertising copy. Must have examples of proven direct response promotions, along with a track record of success through written solo promotions or equivalent media. P.O.P., Internet, T.V., Radio experience a plus.
View the Full Ad

Job Links for new leads!

Syndicates:
Ampersand Communications

Ag Features: "We only take writers that will produce a weekly feature (column, puzzle, cartoon, or photo) related to agriculture or rural life."

New Magazine Launches:
INDY'S MEN MAGAZINE
MODERN DOG
ONLINE AUCTION BUSINESS
SHOW PEOPLE MAGAZINE
READY SET
THE FEDERAL PAPER
HRO TODAY
FUEL CELL MANAGEMENT
AUSTIN WOMAN MAGAZINE
THE WAVE MAGAZINE

If you have any suggestions about markets you want guidelines for, just drop a line: eide491@earthlink.net

C O M M U N I T Y

Shaw Guide for Writing Conferences in December.

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

Over the past several months subscribers have asked if they can donate anything to keep the publication going. I've resisted going this route, but now that Amazon has set up its "Honor System," those interested can donate to the maintenance of Sunoasis 2002.

F Y I

Put an ad in Sunoasis 2002 and reach its 4,400 subscribers. Just $25 a month! Contact mailto:eide491@earthlink.net

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Unique stationery sets, reading aids, writing instruments, desktop gifts, and handmade paper products in unusual, intelligent designs. We make it our top priority to ensure that the products we present will make you, or someone you love, a very happy reader.

For the ultimate in self-expression to compliment any reading taste, visit us today @ http://www.papermoonstationers.com

Master speech writer and trainer: Make your speeches inspire and motivate your audience. With years of training and experience in speech writing and delivery, I can help you develop the perfect speech for any occasion. Coaching for delivery is also available. call 306-546-5717 or email jhillyer@devry.com

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

Sunoasis 2003 is fully protected by copyright. Sunoasis 2003 can be distributed in any way deemed intelligent by the reader as long as it is distributed in full for non-commercial uses. Reprint rights belong to the authors. Contact them if you wish to use their material. Unauthorized use of any material is strictly forbidden.

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You can always reach me at eide491@earthlink.net Please do if you have any advice; anything you'd want to see put into Sunoasis 2002. If there is any problem with the delivery in your mailbox, let me know. I try to format it correctly but problems can arise.

Let's all meet again in January 2003!

David

Contribute to the Sunoasis Joblog! If you find a resourceful story on writing, employment, careers, etc. just fill out the box below and send away. The most resourceful will get posted.

Go to December Sunoasis Blog!

David

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