NEW! Contribute to the Sunoasis 2003 blog. Details are at the bottom.

"A man will turn over half a library to make one book."

-- Samuel Johnson

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

Late one night a few weeks ago, I received a question from a college student in Tennessee who wanted to start his own magazine. "And how difficult will it be to raise money for this venture?" "Oh, it will be very difficult but you should try it and see what happens." I suggested to him that he start his own e-zine and learn how to deal with writers, advertisers, and subscribers in an environment that is not so capital intensive.

After all, we should allow ourselves moments of big, crazy dreams.

I did recommend an excellent book called, Starting and Running A Successful Newsletter or Magazine by Cheryl Woodard. It's published by Nolo Press. She was a co- founder of PC Magazine and has a good many tips and insights into building a magazine.

Electronic publishing could become an excellent proving ground for those who want to venture into publishing. You meet some of the same contingencies. Yet, experience some of the same satisfactions.

Check out the magazine associations in the Resources: Organizations box below.

An excellent review of the problems university presses are having in the current economy. Shouldn't academics and scholars take matters into their own hands and learn the delicate arts of digital publishing?

Whatever the fate of magazine, online or in print, the first rule that freelance writers should learn is this: Study the publication you want to write for! Editors say time and again that you should study over the past year of any magazine you intend to write for. Study it, absorb it, get a feel for it, and then you will be better prepared to convince the editor that you are the person to write for them.

The Boston Globe ran a review on two books about freelance writing.
Good stuff.

In the basic market research catalog I use to find leads there are over 5,000 magazines listed. That's quite a lot of content, every week, month, and quarter. Not to mention the tens of thousands of newspapers with precious space available for excellent content.

Those interested in magazines show check out the Folio:Show, a periodic conference and seminar sponsored by Folio Magazine.

I do look forward to the day when writers put an ear to the ground and listen for what the people are interested in and produce it before the print system catches up. I believe in the coming years writers will get very adept at such practice. The reading public is due for a change. They are tired of the old voices. They are tired of the old subjects.

I am reading through the Richard Curtis book about how to publish an e-book. It was written at the height of interest about such things. He mentions the significance of an ISBN number and I think it's important to go over a bit: The International Standard Book Number is necessary if you want to sell your published material through bookstores, libraries, amazon.com, etc. You buy a block of ten numbers for between $225 and $275. The company to go through is R. R. Bowker Curtis recommends that you register a number you assign to your published material with Bowker and get into their database.

Bowker states in a report that more than 150,000 new book titles came out in 2002. Or, about 3,000 new titles per week. It's a ravenous system but then, how many writers are trying to write a book? 10 times that, 100 times that total?

Nothing in publishing is easy. In that sense we're all in the same boat, digital and print publishing types. The unpredictable nature of it makes one pay attention to the distinguishing marks of a professional approach. Some of those marks include the ability to target markets, follow instructions, honest relations with editors, and other habits hard for many in the writing class to acquire.

The difficulty of publishing in print is the slowness, inefficiency, poor contracts, and poor marketing. But, the ease of publishing electronically raises problems too. There's a zero-sum quality when everyone is competing for the attention of everyone else. At the bottom are the purely manipulated. At the top are the pure manipulators. In the middle is everyone else, including the Editors of Sunoasis.

The ultimate aim of publishing is to make sure that the best information and best qualities of imagination and thought are begin passed efficiently to a signficant public.

Book publishing is in the doldrums

One thing Curtis point out is very true and writers should spend time understanding it. He says that publishers do not see writers as partners but as suppliers. The writer is supplying the content just as the printer is supplying the paper and ink. The publisher is not caretaking the writer's career.

The number one rule of contract writing is that you need to write for the market. The number two rule is that you need a contract. Take a look at these:

Standard Freelance Editorial Agreement
Standard Journalism Contracts
Internet Writing (Writer’s Guild-East)

Best blogging site? Try the Pepys diary that ran through the mid-1600's.

A few blogging search engines:
Feedster
Daypop
Technorati

"I would sooner pay attention to blogs than anything published in 'big media'," says John Naughton of the U.K.'s Observer. "Many blogs are thoughtful by comparison."

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

I've made some news feeds. They are interesting and productive I think. Here are the resources that allowed me to make them. Making An RSS Feed

The Search Engine Report, April 2, 2003

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 :
-----------
This is a wonderfully rich source of reviews on books
about different facets of writing. From the U.K.
A summary of copyright law by Ronald Standler.
It is linked to resources on the subject.
Great resource page about Plagiarism
and other writing follys.
American FactFinder
Biography resources from the Association of College and Research Libraries
Critical thinking on the Web.
Technical Writing Glossary
Book publishing glossary
Tips on writing obits
---------------------------
O r g a n i z a t i o n s :
---------------------------
American Society of Business Publication Editors
Western Publications Association
Independent Press Association
European Federation of Magazine Publishers
Society of National Association Publications
-----------------------
e p u b l i s h i n g :
-----------------------
Online publishing gains on print.
"In the near term, digitization will cannibalize existing revenues, and piracy threatens new business models," says Kevin Carton of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
How are digital newspapers faring these days?
India is catching onto to blogging.
On-line newspapers are popular in Eastern Europe
Poor management is making Gemstar shed it's e-book aspirations.

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

The new system exists to be understood. Our efforts are of the naked man washed up on the shore of some island and trying to understand how he will survive and, eventually, flourish. He doesn't want to let himself get tricked by enormous thirst into believing that the piss of a tiger is a pure mountain stream. Or get so overwhelmed he's left powerless in the constant changes that take place whether he's on the island or off it.

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.

What I've run into from being editor of Sunoasis are a remarkable group of writers, editors, copywriters, copy editors, many of whom have become part of the free-agent nation. They've all taught me a few things and I'm very grateful for it.

According to this story in the USA Today, salary is very much a consideration in the hiring of new people. "Higher benefit costs for employers make it nearly impossible to keep up without laying off higher-paid workers. Meanwhile, the temporary staffing industry is up 11.7% over a year ago."

Relocating? This article will help clarify some issues.

Some advice for those entering their career path.

We feel anyone interested in writing as a career, will benefit from these pages.

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

We also welcome back Word Birth by Jack Karasch. This months words are: Fahrenheit, Monopoly, and Epitaph.

My favorite epitaph comes from a guy in Cleveland, Ohio:

"Once I wasn't
Then I was
Now I ain't again."

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 

Here was his home, his city of birth, not so much a home but a sensibility with it's wide walking avenues lined with a variety of trees; and architecture that resembled the ideal integration of many people, a tolerance for difference.

The professionals gathered up in the hills. Down in the flatland were the working-class and poor. And then the broad middle of regular, student, working people, young professionals. And winding through all the groups were transient, fringe types, including writers and aging revolutionaries. 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:

AFRICAN-AMERICAN GOLFER’S DIGEST
RADAR
JAQK
BRAVO
CRM BUYER MAGAZINE
DiversityInc
ACCENTI
MARCH magazine
THE MOVEMENT
YELLOWSTONE-TETON COUNTRY
GUAVA
ADVENTURE SPORTS

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 July.

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

Want to keep Sunoasis going? Donate through the Amazon Honor System and wonderful things will happen!

F Y I

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

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/

Take advantage of 20 years of professional Information 
Technology experience. Research/writing/proofreading 
assignments wanted: 
> articles, columns, white papers, presentations, and 
marketing literature for 
- Host connectivity  
- Legacy-web Integration  
- Enterprise Application Integration 
- eBusiness  
- eCommerce  
- Synergy of business & IT strategy 
- articles and columns about space exploration and 
utilization 
>Qualifications and samples at 
http://www.jeffkrukin.com
Contact: Jeff Krukin at 
jkrukin@bellsouth.net

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.

Subscribe: oasis-l-subscribe@topica.com

Unsubscribe: oasis-l-unsubscribe@topica.com

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 2003. 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 July 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 Joblog!

Go to May Sunoasis Blog!

Go to April Sunoasis Blog!

Go to March Sunoasis Blog!

Go to February Sunoasis Blog!

Go to January Sunoasis Blog!

Go to December Sunoasis Blog!

David

Back to top of page