1/14/2004

*** katrapp has set the topic on channel #Kidlit to Workshop in progress: Meet Editor Julia Messina
Verla: Hello, Everyone. ;Welcome to our Workshop. Tonight we will be using a special moderated session. You will not be able to talk in the chat room until it is your turn. When a PLUS sign (+) is by your name, or it changes color, it will be your turn.
Verla: Please have your questions typed and ready to post when it is your turn. We will go in alphabetical order, with latecomers at the end. We'll fit as many questions in as we can before the end of the workshop.
Verla: Please do not ask personal questions about a manuscript you have sent or want to send to Cricket. Those questions should be asked privately, not during this workshop session. "Generic" questions of interest to everyone are fine to ask. Thank you.
Verla: NOTE: Chat room won't be on Moderated Status until after you have had a chance to greet/welcome Julia Messina, our workshop leader tonight. (After I do her introduction/bio.)
Verla: And now... here's her bio...
Verla: Julia Messina came to CRICKET via business, politics, academics, law, and publishing. After graduating from the University of Illinois, she began researching and writing legislation for Illinois state government offices.
Verla: A few years later, she moved to Italy, where she became a translator for the court system, the chamber of commerce, and the United States consular offices in Palermo and Naples, as well as a writer and translator of sales and marketing material for local Italian businesses and the Italian-to-English translator of two top Italian cultural publications: Sikania and Memus.
Verla: Julia has translated the book, Sicilian Lessons: The Films of Abbas Kiarostami from Italian to English and collaborated on numerous other publications. During her twelve years in Italy, she was also employed as an English lecturer at the University of Palermo.
Verla: In 1998, Julia Messina came back to the U.S. and began working for Carus Publishing. She is the Associate Editor at CRICKET, where she is responsible for content development of the December, March, June, and September issues. She also provides proofing, copyediting, and promotional services to Carus Publishing.
Verla: Ms. Messina is coordinating the nationwide celebration of CRICKET's 30th anniversary, where authors who have been published in Cricket Magazine Group publications over the past 30 years are reading their CMG stories in their favorite local bookstores and libraries.
Verla: CRICKET is promoting the events by publishing a monthly Calendar of Reading Events in the magazine and on its Web site (www.cricketmag.com) throughout the anniversary year (September 2003 through August 2004) in support of their authors.
Verla: We are VERY fortunate to have Julia with us tonight... and now... Here's Julia! <You may welcome her now!>
Agy: Woooohooooo!!! Stomp,stomp, welcome, Julia!!!!!
Tara: welcome Julia!!
andiw: Thanks for coming, Julia!
katrapp: Welcome!!!!
[NOTE: Many more welcome messages]
jmessina: I blush...yippeee
Verla: Would you like to say a few words to the group before we open it to questions, Julia?
jmessina: Sure. I'm delighted to have been invited to join you tonight
jmessina: I can't wait to see what you've got for me
jmessina: I have been extremely fortunate
jmessina: over the past year to have met many of the Cricket authors
jmessina: in my efforts to promote their work for the Carus Publishing magazines
jmessina: Great writers and great people, even if we've only spoken on the phone or via e-mail
jmessina: they've been the backbone that has enabled Cricket to become the high quality publication it is today.
jmessina: As an editor I'm honored and as a writer I'm humbled
Agy: What kind of themes of stories/art (if you take unsolicited art) are you looking for? what do you need? Thank you
jmessina: OK we do consider and accept unsolicited manuscripts
Agy: Artwork?
jmessina: While we don't post our themes, you can
jmessina: pretty much bet that we'll always be looking for holiday stories...
jmessina: multicultural stories,,,
jmessina: poetry about seasons and holidays and humorous pieces on just about any topic
Verla: Agy happens to be an excellent artist, Julia. Do you accept art samples? And if so, what should they send you?
Agy: thank you Verla and Julia!
jmessina: Artists can send their work to Ron McCutchan, the Cricket and Cicada art director or to Suzanne Beck, the Ladybug, Spider, and Babybug art director.
Verla: What should they send, Julia? Several samples? One?
jmessina: Please don't send originals: tear sheets and color photocopies are best.
jmessina: Our art director often says that her likes to see the best representation of the artist's work...
jmessina: if he/she is great at animals, send art representing animals.
jmessina: If he/she is great at people of a particular culture, send samples relecting that expertise.
Agy: thank you Julia
andiw: Julia, what makes a poem right for Cricket?
jmessina: poems...wow.. difficult question
jmessina: If you look at past publications, you'll see that we run about 5 or 6 each issue
Verla: Is there a specific length or topic you like better than others, Julia?
NOTE: CRT is Cricket Magazine
jmessina: in CRT they are the opening of the mag: some are funny, some are thoughtful, some are topical
jmessina: Poems have to fit on either 1 page or 2 (10 lines to 40 lines, no more
jmessina: Other than myself, not too many CRT editors like limericks, but I always put them in my March issues!
andiw: Thanks, Julia :-)
Amishka: since CPM went to buying all rights have you found the quantity and/or quality of mss coming across your desk lessen
jmessina: Amishka, great question and one I'd like to spend some time on
jmessina: Let me begin by saying that we are reconsidering that somewhat hasty decision
jmessina: For veteran writers to be offered an all rights contract was unacceptable both by the writers and artists and by the CRT editorial staff. We fought against that change tooth and nail
jmessina: We're still trying to come up with a solution that will satisfy the money people and the editorial/art people. It's tough, but like the sea we slowly but constantly erode the stones before us...
jmessina: Right now, the best advice I can give you is to say that
jmessina: This is America, and these folks understand business principles. If you don't like what you are being offered, you have to counteroffer.
jmessina: You have every right in the world to value your work and expect payment for it...
jmessina: similarly, publishing companies put a great deal of money and skilled editorial work into perfecting the manuscripts to make them the best they can possibly be, so Publishing houses have a point about wanting to make money.
jmessina: You can ask for whatever you think is fair, like everything else in life
Verla: So if you don't want to accept the all rights contract, you could request a first rights only contract instead, Julia?
jmessina: They can accept the counteroffer, or they can decline or suggest something else. Writing is business, and each part has to protect its own interests and try to make the best deal for itself
Amishka: Thanks Julia
jmessina: Hi, Anne Marie,
Verla: thanks for all that wonderful information, Julia. That's Very Helpful!
Anne_Marie: What makes a CRICKET story different from other stories?
Verla: ooooh... good question, AM!
jmessina: We try to pick stories that are "informative, engaging...blah blah blah
jmessina: We think that we have pretty good editorial judgment about the quality of the stories we publish, we look for...
jmessina: good flow, great idea transitions, sympathetic characters, defined settings...
jmessina: beautiful language that makes the reader want to continue on to the end. If we get something so full of errors...
jmessina: or so flawed logically that we can't bear to get through it, it doesn't have a chance
jmessina: I hope that helps
Anne_Marie: Very much. thank you!
barb: What kinds of stories catch your eye for Babybug?
jmessina: Simple stories that lend themselves to full-color illustrations: simple Clear ideas, concisely written
ChrisM: I've heard that Babybug/Ladybug send manuscripts out to first readers around the country, is that true of Cricket Mag as well, will you keep one in house if you recognize a name?
jmessina: Good Q. Thanks
[NOTE: Q = question]
jmessina: All of the Carus Publishing magazines [submissions] are read by 1st readers outside the office. But if we've published a writer a few times, that person's work comes directly to the editors in-house
jmessina: Also, writers we meet at conferences where we are the speakers always get through the 1st reader gauntlet by mentioning that we met at the conference...
Verla: Hmmm. Does this workshop constitute a conference, Julia?
jmessina: Networking works
jmessina: Yes it does, Verla
ChrisM: thanks Julia! Very interesting!
Tara: thanks!
Verla: (I'm speaking of ONLY those of you who are actually HERE... not just people who read the transcript later, folks!)
jmessina: If anyone [who was actually here in attendance] wants to submit, address it directly to me at Cricket and mention that I said it could by-pass 1st readers.[NOTE: Address it like this...Requested Material: Julia Messina] There you go...I must be crazy! I don't even know how many people are in this chatroom!
Verla: 26, counting you and I, (right now) Julia
Verla: So you don't have to panic.
[NOTE: we ended up with 32 in the chat room workshop - and there is a log/list of attendees who are allowed to use this bypass method of submitting to Julia.]
jmessina: ok, I've stopped holding my breath
CinderS: What would you recommend to a writer who is selling elsewhere fairly regularly but just can't seem to break in to Carus pubs?
jmessina: Boy that's tough.
jmessina: without seeing the work, I can't really say
jmessina: Just keep trying. Try to figure out why your topics are being bypassed or rejected outright. You could also just ask one of the editors, really.
jmessina: Only a few of us bite...
Amishka: which ones?
jmessina: Let me suffice it to say "Not me."
CinderS: Thanks, Julia.
Verla: Here's a question from someone else, Julia....What kind of story has a good chance of making it into Cicada?
jmessina: Great Q, thanks!
jmessina: Cicada is in evolution. It's finding its legs, and thank God its legs are no longer mired in the depressing teenage angst muck it sunk into for a while there
jmessina: There is a new emphasis on the less depressing things in life, much less averted suicide and arid English-professor pleasers.
jmessina: But what does it want...
jmessina: let's begin with clever humor. I think that it would like to be the New Yorker of the angst-ridden teen and college set. So funny and biting might make it through that particular editorial gauntlet
jmessina: They've done edgy pieces and some
jmessina: interesting fantasy pieces, both futuristic and twilight-zonish
jmessina: Anyway, Deborah Vetter and Tracy Schoenle are the editors for Cicada, so I recommend that you send your best writing to them
DeAnn: Thanks for being here, Julia. I've read that if a submission comes to you that is well written, but not in the right age bracket, you'll send it to the appropriate Carus mag. (I'm thinking of 'cusp' stories especially, here). How often do you think that happens?
jmessina: All the time. I pass things to my colleagues, and they pass them to me
jmessina: Just today I reviewed a poem
jmessina: that was too young for CRT but perfect for SPIDER, and I knew that SPIDER had a same-topic story on file, so I sent it with a recommendation to my friend and colleague Heather Delabre, the SPIDER editor
DeAnn: Great. Thanks so much.
katrapp: that is great news.
dystar: Hi Julia -- In a cover letter, should we list all of our publication credits, even if they are not for children's magazines?
jmessina: We do look at cover letters, but you only need mention things that could possibly interest us (unless you're looking to find a job--then list everything)
dystar: thank you, julia
Elaina: Hi Julia and welcome. I am new at learning about editors but this is my question. What is the hardest thing about being an editor and the easiest?
jmessina: The hardest thing about being an editor is writing rejection letters
jmessina: The easiest, or most satisfying, thing about being an editor is bringing a manuscript to its full potential and watching it be appreciated by the reading public. We hear from our readers, and if they love the story, we have the vicarious thrill of having had a small part in making it be the best it could possibly be
jmessina: Everything is the authors, we just fine tune
Elaina: That sounds uplifting and thank you Julia.
jmessina: Funny, huh? editors are the mechanics of the publishing world
Verla: here's one, Julia... does Cricket ever turn any of their stories into books?
jmessina: Yes. We turned Mary Stolz's Private Cat's Eye into a book, but I think that was a reprint. We are looking to turn a couple of our authors' stories into books. But that's on the QT...
NOTE: QT is "on the quiet"
Verla: can you tell us a little about how that works, Julia? Or is it pretty much "hush-hush?"
jmessina: Veteran CRT authors send us manuscripts, they get evaluated, and the editors try to find money in the budget to get the books made
jmessina: Send manuscripts to Debbie Vetter, Executive editor
jmessina: 315 5th Street, Peru, IL 61354
Verla: that's great to know, Julia. Thanks!
incogneato: Do you have a "dream submission?" That is, a story you come to work every day hoping to find on your desk? And has it ever happened--and if so, what was it?
Verla: fun question!
jmessina: Wow, what a question...I'd love to have read Harry Potter and had the good sense to convince the higher ups it was the winner it turned out to be..
jmessina: However... reality sets in...
jmessina: I don't know...I love Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Orianna Fallaci and other greats, so any of those would have been my dream manuscripts
jansgrandm: Julia, how long should we expect to wait from acceptance to publication?
jmessina: It depends...
jmessina: On average about a year, for poetry about 2 1/2 years
Verla: 2 1/2 years' wait for poetry? Wow! LONG wait!
jmessina: Wow...lots of poetry on file...
jansgrandm: Sometimes longer, I think. :o)
Verla: (sounds like stories are a better bet for sooner publication than poetry, folks!)
Verla: And how long does it normally take to get a response to a submission?
jmessina: 2 to 5 months to get a response to your submission
Jaina: Is fiction on the cusp of Spider and Cricket (a story about a 10 year old, for example) a harder sell in general? If it's too old for Spider but youngish for Cricket?
jmessina: Not if I'm looking at it. I am the editor who champions the younger CRT reader stories.
Jaina: Thanks. :D
Kate: My question is: Hi Julia! Are you looking for any particular non-fiction themes or topics.
jmessina: Think ahead into the year or even beyond. Is there a historical anniversary coming up that could interest readers? If so, write about it and submit it in plenty of time..
jmessina: Animals stories are good, but we have a ton on file and in our archives already, so if it isn't some very amazing creature, maybe you should look for a better topic
Kate: Thanks!
Verla: how much lead time do you need, julia?
jmessina: we work on an 8-month-advance schedule. For example, Today is 13 Jan? I just pulled together the October 2004 issue of CRT.
Verla: thanks, Julia
Pickles: What is the most optimistic news for children's publishing today, in your opinion?
jmessina: Great writers are emerging all the time. The old good ones stay good, and the new writers burst on the scene and have a positive impact
kimmar: What makes a fictional piece better-suited for a magazine than a book publisher, in your opinion?
jmessina: That's a really huge question, but I'd have to state unequivocably that it is word count.
jmessina: You have to know your market.
ponytailmo: Re the first reader gauntlet, does it help to get through the Cricket gauntlet if you have written for another Carus publication?
jmessina: yes
NOTE: pb's = picture books
shelly: Julia, how many pb's per year does Cricket Books publish? And what kind of pb's do you like?
jmessina: Amishka, thanks. We don't do picture books yet
jmessina: Marianne Carus, our founder and chief, says that she is looking for the "perfect" picutre book" manuscript before she OKs an expensive venture such as that. Hopefully she'll find one ...
Verla: Oh. back to the word count suitability for magazine vs book.... what IS the normal word count for stories for Carus? (Or do they have them on line somewhere?)
jmessina: The word count is online at www.cricketmag.com in the writers guidelines section
shelly: thank you, Julie
Verla: Jaina just gave me this direct URL, too... This is the general Submission Guidelines page. Each mag has it's own guidelines. http://www.cricketmag.com/pages_content.asp?page_id=6
Tara: Do Carus mags get fewer mss of poetry, fiction or nonfiction? (I'm wondering which genre has the least "competition"?)
jmessina: They are spread across the board evenly. Sorry
Tara: thanks
padhoti: Hi, I would like to submit a story to Cricket magazine, but it's a little over the 2,000 word limit (around 2,250). I noted a recent story that was around the same length. Is it acceptable to submit a long submission like this? (the story does not lend itself to a two part episode). Thanks!
jmessina: Yes. You may submit up to 2500 words, and if you have something that really needs more, we have also serialized great stories in the past
padhoti: Thank you so much! I was going by guidelines sent by SCBWI and didn't know how flexible you were. Wonderful to meet you!
words4kids: Julia, does Cricket want to see more fiction stories based on intriguing events or people in history? Or do you prefer more factual non-fiction articles?
jmessina: Tracy likes to see factual, nonfiction articles, Debbie and I prefer historical fiction and realistic fiction
words4kids: okay great, thanks
Verla: Oh, that's VERY helpful to know, Julia. Thank you!
Anne_Marie: What percentage of mss make it past the first reader? And if you get a scribble on a form reject, could that be from a first reader or does it mean the mss made it to an editor?
Verla: oh, good questions, AM!
jmessina: Let's see, Anne Marie
jmessina: 10% of the 200 or so weekly manuscripts get by the 1st reader, then 5 % of those get through editorial review.
jmessina: where's jansgrandma in all this?
jansgrandm: I'm right here!
jansgrandm: Hi, Julia
jmessina: Jansgrandma is wonderful. She is one of the CRT authors doing readings of her CRT work around the country. One of the many wonderful CRT authors and illustrators to whom I am personally truly grateful
jansgrandm: Now, I'm the one blushing
Verla: would you explain what CRT to those who aren't familiar with the term, Julia?
jmessina: tee hee he
jmessina: CRT means cricket in cricket country lingo
ChrisM: Julia, do you happen to know how first readers are hired?
jmessina: Yep... They send in their CVs and apply to Marianne, telling her how mush they love the mags and always have. Most of them are former interns or editorial staff, actually
ShirleyH: Julia: How were the Cricket authors selected to do the readings?
jansgrandm: I volunteered
Verla: thanks, Julia!
Verla: cass: Will you accept Spanish phrases in a ms?
jmessina: Yes, as long as they are correct and we can have them checked by an expert
jmessina: We are actually looking for more manuscripts in which Hispanics play a major role, so if you have one....send it!
cass: Great!
Jaina: Great (about the Latino stories thing!)
jmessina: You're welcome, Jaina.
Jaina: I just want to say thanks so much, Julia, for putting in all this time to answer our questions.
Verla: yes, and Julia's doing this from home with a sick child, to boot!
Amishka: she doesn't boot her child Verla
Verla: we REALLY appreciate your time and effort in our behalf tonight, Jlia
Verla: U;lial
Verla: Julia!
Agy: second it
Tara: thanks a lot Julia!!
ponytailmo: above and beyond Julia - thank you.
cass: Muchas Gracias!
DeAnn: thank you!
words4kids: appreciate it so much
andiw: Thanks Julia and Verla too
ChrisM: Thank you, I'm psyched to submit!
shelly: thank you julia!
p682: Thanks so much for your time and valuable info :)
katrapp: Thank you Julia
Verla: anyone have any last burning question for Julia?
jansgrandm: How's the bookstore doing?
jmessina: You are all welcome. This was my pleasure. I just opened a bookstore and am kind of exhausted, with that and the editing, but it is soooooo worth it. My bookstore cafe is called:
Common Grounds BookCafe, and you are all welcome to visit any old time you're in LaSalle, IL (329 Third Street, LaSalle 815-866-5167)
jmessina: Wish me luck...I'm going to need it in the independent book business!
NOTE: [multiple good luck wishes for Julia's new bookstore business]
Verla: We'd all like to say a BIG thank you to you, Julia. You were WONDERFUl!
Anne_Marie: Thank you so much, Julia. It was really enlightening. Good night, everybody.
Verla: this was VERY informative, Julia. Thank you so much. Did you want to give an address for all the people to submit to you who read the transcript?)
jmessina: Sure. Julia Messina, 315 5th Street, Peru, IL 61354
[NOTE: Many thanks here!]
Verla: thanks, Julia! GREAT workshop!
Tara: Again, many thanks Verla and Julia!! GREAT workshop.
Jaina: Thanks so much for having her, Verla. That was great.
Andrea: GREAT workshop, Verla!
cass: She's so eloquent about things...great fun to read
jansgrandm: She's really sweet
[NOTE: Many more thank you messages]
[End of Workshop Transcript]