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"The word persists; the word, spoken or unspoken, frames every feeling, every new thought, wrenched or reclaimed from the universal matrix, chaos"

-- Sir Osbert Sitwell.

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

The talented move in a maze of markets and opportunities; strange little alleyways lit up by red candles and funny smiles. Writing talent can take you on an escalator ride from the penthouse to the sewer. The fact that talent can now play large in the new medium is a boon. It is an expanding, chaotic, even frustrating new medium, but it is real and here to stay.

And print publishing isn't out of the picture at all. It might be getting long in the tooth but can fend for itself. One publishing system does not cancel the other out. And we do not support the biblioclasts among us. We like to think we are, if not a bibliognost, at least, a bibliophile.

Three novels have been written about the decline of book publishing.

"The marketing strategy," he says, "should begin before the writing process starts and certainly during the writing of the book." So says one of the cantankerous men profiled in this article. Anyone who believes in what they write and takes responsibility for it has added value to the culture, in my opinion. It is the form of the act that does it.

A self-publishing primer from the Washington Post "Jeffrey Kleinman, of Washington's Graybill & English Literary Agency, represents self-published clients only after they have sold 5,000 copies on their own. Says Kleinman, "If the writer can't sell it, how can anyone else?"

We come back to the idea that new generations will have the digital habit formed in them at an early age and print may seem an odd thing to get into. We hope not but understand some of the sociology involved. Young people love to see old and venerable worlds disappear.

Americans between the ages of 13 and 24 spend more time with the Internet than with other forms of media, according to a report from Yahoo! and Carat North America.

In any case, we try to present digital publishing as an interesting story for our times.

We mentioned Drudge a few issues ago as an example of a guy making pretty good money on the Web. The author of this link is making between $60,000 and $80,000 a year through sponsorship and advertising. So, it can be done. He cautions, "If anyone told you life as an independent is easy, well, dream on. If you work for yourself, you're working all the time..." The irony is that he's a laid-off, dot.com reporter.

This is even more interesting. Did you know that a journalist raised over $14,000 in donations from his web site to fund a trek to Iraq during the war? Makes for some interesting scenarios! How about a fiction writer raising expenses from readers for her next novel?

I see my old union, the Communications Workers of America, now represents newspaper journalists. I was a card-carrying member of that union in my days of working construction at the phone company.

That was a long-time ago and I trust things have changed.

There are labor problems at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis.

All of this is coming into focus because the labor department is going to start classifying journalists as, "creative professionals," who will not get, by law, overtime.

Writers are underpaid and underappreciated but they have one great competitive advantage: They know things. And knowing things can be a great power as long as it's handled right.

There are layers of good information sources that have been built up over the last six years. We've done our fair share. Competitive advantage dictates that the winners will know how to extract the most meaningful information and get to the best sources as they are developing their stories. It takes a learning curve or two.

Read first, however, this caveat about how the Web is making journalists lazy and apt to be duped by hoaxes.

AP has put together a Monday-Friday resource called the FACSNET Daily News Briefing

A terrific research tool is The Journalists' Toolbox

Power Reporting is another rich resource.

CyberJournalist.net, from the Media Center of the American Press Institute

The JournoList,is a British-based site that asks what kind of answers journalists are looking for and links them to a set of such resources.

For more information we recommend Marylaine Block's site.

JOURNALIST EXPRESS

The Library of Congress
These are excellent links from TheCapitol.net. Repeats some of the above links.
Newsblotter.com

Some biblio takes:

• Biblioclast - A destroyer of books.
• Bibliognost - Having a deep knowledge of books.
• Biblioklept - A stealer of books.
• Bibliomaniac- A bibliophile in whom the love of books has become an obsession; many bookdealers and certain collectors.
• Bibliophile - A lover of books.
• Bibliophobia- A fear of books.
• Bibliopole - The people behind the booths at the book fairs.

T e c h n i c a l  R e s o u r c e s 

The hot thing of late has been writing news for smart phones. That presents a new platform for writers that requires a certain type of writing and a knowledge of how to get the writing to the smart phone.

On electric paper

The feedback we've gotten is superb. We're proud of the quality of people who have subscribed to Sunoasis 2003. So, please continue!

R E S O U R C E S

C r a f t :
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Find the time to write.
History Guide, has a great way to explore the over 3,000 resources available via browsing pages or a neat pull- down menu.
Overcoming the isolation in a writer's life.
Speech Accent Archive contains over 250 English-language speech samples in accents ranging from Afrikaans to Zulu.
Merriam-Webster Online
The perils of writing on spec.
Newsblotter.com
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O r g a n i z a t i o n s :
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Writer's Union of Canada
Canadian Authors Association
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writes of America
Mystery Writers of America
Western Writers of America
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e p u b l i s h i n g :
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Thoughts on online journalism.
According to this research about 2% of the Net population have blogs.
Blogging Headline News. This news site samples 12,000 RSS feeds, selecting about 5,000 posts three-times a day to feature in about 130 different categories. It's designed to be an "online blogging magazine."
Scholarly Electronic Publishing Weblog
Story of a writer who became her own publisher.
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M e d i a:
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The Bush administration says it would veto a large government-spending bill if it reimposed media-ownership caps that were recently relaxed by the FCC.

An outcome that scraps any part of the new FCC rules would be a rare defeat for the GOP and the White House, which had hoped the new rules would sail through.

FCC chairman Michael Powell never made a case for why relaxing rules on media mergers was in the public interest, which resulted in a populist revolt, writes Jane Black.

The growing public backlash against the FCC's media merger rules could cause discomfort for the Bush White House -- and claim the head of chairman Michael Powell.

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

What does it take to conduct a digital writing career? No, we are not going to develop an ehandbook. Not yet at any rate. I think these general thoughts are right on target:

(1) The print publishing industry has the capital and talent but it can not change.

(2) Young talent that is bursting with hope has a publishing system in front of it that says, "leap on my back and flourish! Here's good production value and here's stimulating, new forms of distribution." The beachheads will be made with that type of adrenaline.

(3) The Net presents the perfect psychological ploy for the writer: Your work has the potential of reaching millions of people. Despite the odds against that happening, the possibility is enough. That should inspire writers to try innovative ways to write and publish.

Click for full column!

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

We have a new career development page at Sunoasis Jobs.

An interesting headline in a human resources newsletter I get reads: "We are all self-employed." I think it points to the idea that we need to learn the art and skill of managing our own careers. It also means that the loyalty between employer and employee is long gone and the best relation to replace it is one of mutual respect.

I hear complaints from baby-boomers about age discrimination. Here's something to keep in mind though. The Employer is about to realize that there is a great shortage of a skilled labor force. This could be for any number of reasons but it means that higher-end skills will be desired and those skills are usually possessed by experienced people in their 40's and beyond.

Young people are always counseled to, "follow their passion," as far as occupations. What happens when you don't have a passion for any career? Simply ask a few questions:

1. What marketable skills and/or knowledge do I possess?
2. What are my priorities? Salary, job prestige, work-at- home?

One thing I've been hearing more and more about and that is the "informational interview." We have some resources about that at the career development page.

Find a person who is doing something you would like to do and set up a meeting in person or on the phone and plug him or her with some questions. Most people love talking about their work! Just approach them professionally and prepare for the interview. It's a great way to start networking.

When I left college I wanted to write for a big-city newspaper magazine. I called the editor and told him I wanted to talk to someone about a magazine writing career.

He set up an interview and I went down to the building on Market Street. It was during a driving rainstorm. I showed up in what passed as a suit in those days and he very graciously answered questions, introduced me to some writers, and took me around the large newsroom. In the back of my mind I was thinking, "why doesn't he just hire me on the spot?" But, it wasn't about getting hired. It was about breaking the ice and losing the fear and trembling we have at starting a career.

I keep reminding people that Sunoasis Jobs is filled with a great deal more resource than it first appears. On every regional page there is a link to an association or group that hosts free writing, journalism ads.

Take advantage of the fact!

Ask a question about your career!

A T    C/ O A S I S

C/Oasis has taken a summer hiatus from publishing. It still reviews manuscripts so don't hesitate to send things in. We should be publishing original material in September.

We present a pleasant reprise from the Classical Archives: The Poetry Editor meditates on Grackles and Solitude.

Meanwhile, explore the five new words at Wordbirth. Honeymoon; Filibuster; Hyena; Maroon; Meteorologist

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 key, after all, was whether the liberal democracies had any dreams left.

It literally didn't matter one iota how shiny and advanced the machines were or how sophisticated the weapons and intelligence was: Without its soul, a liberal, democratic culture would die. It was never going to outstrip the natural law of entropy that drove all energy downward into chaos and dissipation. Read on

M A R K E T S  A N D  L E A D S
Communications Specialist 
*Salary Information $46,309-$55,571     
*Department: Communications/Marketing 
*Location: Flint, MI
Description of Position: 
Manages the internal communication vehicles, assigns 
articles to staff members, determines appropriate means of 
available publications- memos, weekly newsletter, Intranet 
site, e-mail or interoffice mail to ensure accurate, timely, 
educational communications to all staff.
For full ad click here!

* * * * * * * *
IPRO, New York State's leading healthcare quality improvement 
organization, seeks an individual to write, edit, proofread 
and copy edit documents for healthcare providers/consumers. 
Plans/prepares stories for internal/external publications.  
Produce & track print projects i.e. brochures, reports, 
newsletters, etc. Interact w/external vendors i.e. designers, 
printers, mail houses, photographers, etc. 

Bachelor’s Degree in English, Journalism, Communications or 
related field w/min five years experience in health care.  
Superior writing, editing and verbal communication skills.  
Microsoft Word applications required. 
Please submit resume to:

IPRO, Attn: Human Resources
1979 Marcus Avenue
Lake Success, NY 11042
Phone: 800-852-3685 x425
Fax: 516-328-1551
Email: mmalone@ipro.org
www.ipro.org    EOE M/F/D/V
* * * * * * * *

Job Links for new leads!

New Magazine Launches:

MICHIGAN LOBBYIST
AUDREY
EDMONTON'S CHILD
VINTAGE BOATING LIFE
ACUMEN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES
FME Magazine (Fashion, Music and Entertainment)
MINORITY SUCCESS MAGAZINE

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

C O M M U N I T Y

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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F Y I

Put an ad in Sunoasis 2003 and reach its 4,400 subscribers. Just $25 a month! Contact mailto:eide491@earthlink.net

If you need someone for Layout & Design work, then contact Jack Landry at www.jacklandry.com I also write Resumes, and other material related to resumes.

PROFESSIONAL GHOSTWRITER/EDITOR AT YOUR SERVICE! EVERYONE HAS A BOOK INSIDE - LET ME PROVIDE YOU WITH THE KEY TO OPEN YOURS! COMPETITIVE PRICES, REFERENCES. EXCELLENT, RELIABLE COMMITTED CREATIVE WRITER, READY TO WORK FULL TIME FOR YOU. I CAN WORK WITH OR WITHOUT NOTES, HARD COPY, CASETTES, SCRIBBLES OR JUST A DREAM. CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER DETAILS. THE WORLD IS WAITING. JERINE WATSON.
JerineWatson@aol.com

I have written two stories about the "Jefferson's America and Napoleon's France" special exhibition to commemorate the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase at the New Orleans Museum of Art. One story 1,000 words, the other is 1,600 words. Includes summary of history and description of portraits. Art available. Contact Raymond V. Whelan, Journalist-at-Large, at raywhelan54@hotmail.com

Team of experienced professionals, which includes a Pulitzer Prize nominee and several published authors, will edit your fiction or non-fiction manuscript for today's tough market. Reputable firm. References. First-time writers our specialty. See us at http://www.a1editing.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

Editor/Publisher: David Eide
C/Oasis
Sunoasis Jobs
E-mail
My Virtual Space

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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Let's all meet again in August 2003!

David

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