Workshop Transcript
Finding Markets
with Janis Waldrop (Fields)
Workshop Transcript
Finding Markets
with Janis Waldrop (Fields)
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Danni25: Have we started yet?
Verla: in about five minutes, Danni
Danni25: Ok
dorii: Should be a good workshop tonight
Danni25: What's the topic?
*** Verla has set the topic on channel #Kidlit to Finding Markets WORKSHOP IN PROGRESS
Danni25: Just what I need
Verla: Hi, everyone...are you ready to start the workshop? Anyone want to set up the podiuum? Get the chairs straightened? Set up the Microphone?
Verla: Please get the room ready....I need help, folks...too hard for me to do alone...
redtail19: I'll help set up, verla
redtail19: here let me move that podium, it's too heavy for you
dorii: There! Room's all set!
hollyj: Dori, that was my chair
Verla: Goodie. Did anyone test the microphone?
dorii: Oops. Sorry, holly
Verla: Tap. Tap. Tap.
MsEdit: testing 1 .. 2... 3
Verla: TAP. TAP. TAP.
ClaraRose: testing... testing.... one two three...
redtail19: testing testing 1 2 3
MsEdit: works
Verla: good. It works.
MsEdit: lol
_Lyra: silly people in here (g)
JanWaldrop: That is good to know...I would hate to have to YELL
dorii: SCCCHHHHHHHEEEECHHHHHH.... oOOOOO Feedback!
Christyy: oh! my ears!!!
MsEdit: can't be any worse than your son's screeching, Christy!
Christyy: lol ms!
NOTE: lol = Laughing Out Loud
dorii: It's okay now.
Verla adjusts the microphone....no more problems folks!
Verla: (Be serious now, folks!)
Verla: Okay, Janis, do you want to introduce yourself and get started?
dorii: applause...applause
MsEdit: clap clap
JanWaldrop: Ok, sure....I am Janis Waldrop...a writer of over ten years publishing experience
JanWaldrop: I began in adult nonfiction but write predominantly for children now
JanWaldrop: Since, writing is my only means of support ( not counting playtex) I had to learn
MsEdit: now who needs to get serious?
JanWaldrop: ways to find markets
JanWaldrop: There are only just so many publication slots to go around so sometimes...I had to make my own
Danni25: Wow, you actually make a living at this?
JanWaldrop: Yes...a somewhat impoverished living...but a living
JanWaldrop: You are also going to learn how much I depend on my spell check :-)
MelLane: ANY living as a writer to me would be GREAT! So long as it is a living!
JanWaldrop: Well, today...the bulk of my money comes from material I sell online
dorii: Interesting, Jan
_Lyra: I didn't know there were THAT many online markets that paid
_Lyra: very interesting
_Lyra: I wouldn't have thought most paid...still not clear how they are funded
_Lyra: Of course I've sold to ONE online publisher myself
MsEdit: Two, Lyra <g>
NOTE: Lyra has also sold an article to Keystrokes Newsletter - an online newsletter for writers that Kate is the editor of.
katrapp: I've sold twice online
Danni25: I've had manuscripts accepted on the web for kids, but none pay
JanWaldrop: I find that online markets respond more quickly and pay more quickly
redtail19: I'm really surprised!
MelLane: How do you find these online markets? Search pages? Writing pages?
_Lyra: Good question
dorii: Seems like a little known market
JanWaldrop: One thing I do to find markets begins with the search engine
Danni25: Are they children's markets?
JanWaldrop: Mostly kids markets, Danni, but I do a little parenting still and a little writing articles
Verla: Ah...but...did you hear that, folks? MOSTLY kid's markets!
JanWaldrop: I look for web sites that target kids
JanWaldrop: I use a little program called web ferret to help me
katrapp: where does one find web ferret?
JanWaldrop: You can get the web ferret from <http://www.download.com>, Kathy
Verla: Is it only for IBM's janis?
MsEdit: web ferret is for PCs only...not for MACs
Verla: Okay. Thanks, ms Edit
katrapp: oh drat!!
JanWaldrop: There are probably some kind of program similar for mac...or you could use a meta search engine
zbell doesn't know how to use search engines effectively
Verla: I'm sorry, janis. I'm really a computer infant...(although I try not to let my ignorance show much....) what is a meta search engine? I only know about search engines like Alta Vista, Yahoo, etc.
JanWaldrop: A meta search engine will search several regular search sites at once
Danni25: Like savvysearch?
MsEdit: I think a meta search engine would be something like dogpile, which does a search through several search engines at once
Verla: dogpile? Where do you find that?
JanWaldrop: There are several online...you could go to Alta Vista...put in metasearch and it will show you one
Verla: Ah...input the word metasearch?
JanWaldrop: Yes, I think savvysearch and dogpile and Ask Jeeves are three of them
Verla: Thanks, msEdit! (It's so NICE to have a computer literate Mac person here!)
JanWaldrop: Yes, Verla...or just try dogpile...or Ask Jeeves...I love
NOTE: URL for Dogpile was supplied by MsEdit. Thanks, MsEdit!
MsEdit is going to have to try out AskJeeves
katrapp: is dogpile for macs?
MsEdit: katrapp, I think so. I think I've used it at least once.
Verla: great. Thanks, janis. Sorry for interrupting...please go on
MelLane: How does it work, Jan?
Danni25: can you search for online children's markets? What's the wording you should use?
JanWaldrop: In the ferret ( or meta search engine) I plug in kids and child
JanWaldrop: I get zillions of web site returns
JanWaldrop: Then I begin checking out the sites
JanWaldrop: I find a site that is professional and commercial
JanWaldrop: Most of the markets I work for are web branches of businesses
JanWaldrop: For example, I write for Kidz Own which is a branch of the Family Company ... a toy company
JanWaldrop: I am looking for a slick professional site...they are not all obvious about the company link
JanWaldrop: When I find a site that is professional and commercial and targets kids...I look to see if they have stories
JanWaldrop: Sometimes they do...then it is easy...you can email them for guildelines
Verla: So...you enter two words, kids and child?
JanWaldrop: Yes, those are the words I enter at least once a month to look for kid sites, Verla
zbell: How do you tell if they look professional and commercial? I'm not a very discriminating person
JanWaldrop: Professional sites are pretty...they have fancy graphics and nice format
JanWaldrop: Their layout looks more like a magazine...less like a handbill made in someone's basement
zbell: okay, thanks
_Lyra: approximately how many have you found by this method that PAY?
Danni25: Yes, we want money
MelLane: Money! Money!
Verla: lol! Calm down, folks. Let Janis talk and she will tell you where you can get money!
JanWaldrop: I make $100 apiece for the articles on Family Company
JanWaldrop: Kid stories...mysteries
JanWaldrop: The Family Company did not originally do stories or know they wanted to do stories
_Lyra: Sounds like FUN stories...how many words long?
JanWaldrop: They are multipart...pretty long...but they are not an open market...they love me ;-)
Verla: Hey, $100 an article is GOOD pay!
MsEdit: sure is
Verla: I didn't even get that much from my REAL magazine stories!
JanWaldrop: I suggested that stories would bring more kids to the site
JanWaldrop: The vice-president of the company was willing to try
_Lyra: Clever Jan!!! (VERY impressed)
zbell: Do you query an online market or send them a manuscript?
JanWaldrop: I wrote a WWJD story that got 1000 hit over a weekend
MelLane: WWJD story? That would be write up my alley!
MelLane: (pun intended)
Danni25: What is that?
Verla: Hey..what's a WWJD story?
Verla: (Good Danni...I'm not the only one who doesn't know what that is!)
Danni25: Ignorance loves company, Verla
JanWaldrop: WWJD -- What Would Jesus Do
Danni25: Oh, okay
Verla: Ah...thank you, Janis!
_Lyra: (I even knew that, Verla)
Danni25: Hey, no bragging!
redtail19: not every one is so up on christian terms, Lyra <g>
dorii: Are you their exclusive writer, Jan?
JanWaldrop: Yes, right now I am, though eventually they will get bigger than I can keep up with
JanWaldrop: I have been writing for them ever since
Verla: Ah...so in effect, you made your OWN market with them!
MelLane: Seems like the Christian market is bigger than I thought!
JanWaldrop: We did two WWJD stories, then they changed to a more interactive format
MelLane: What do you mean by interactive format?
JanWaldrop: I create stories with open forms...[child] [friend] [hometown]
JanWaldrop: The kids input the information and it appears in the stories
dorii: ahhhh!
JanWaldrop: I get a couple dozen fan letters a week from those stories
zbell: kewl!
JanWaldrop: Kids love to read about themselves
redtail19: kewl, JW
Verla: Oh, that's neat, janis. Do YOU have to design the input stuff? Or do they do it in the formatting when they put the stories up?
JanWaldrop: The idea was one I had, the company had the money to implement it and they have been happy ever since
redtail19: do you have to know the mechanics of it?
_Lyra: fan letters online--now that's GREAT!
Verla: A couple of DOZEN fan letters a WEEK? Wow. That's GREAT, Janis!
JanWaldrop: They use CGI to do the formatting...I just needed a basic format to follow for the fields
zbell: How do you get to that site, Jan?
JanWaldrop: http://www.kidzown.com
JanWaldrop: I am Miss Sassy
JanWaldrop: That company remembered me when they launched a doll line...so I did the picture books to accompany the dolls
JanWaldrop: You just have to be enterprising.
zbell: great! I'll have to get my kids to check it out
Verla: Are those picture books on line too, janis?
JanWaldrop: There is a little blurb about them at http://www.itsme.com
JanWaldrop: I think that is right
JanWaldrop: Professional sites get a lot of hits...company sites...you get a lot of exposure through them
dorii: What rights do they buy, Jan?
NOTE: You have to ask each one about the rights they want. Just like with paper publishers, they are all individual comanies with their own policies.
_Enchanted: How do you query an online company? Email? Snail mail?
MsEdit: enchanted, you first check out their guidelines
JanWaldrop: I email companies with an online presence
Ikeeper: thanks
Verla: Okay, Janis. Back to basics. (Sorry) What is an "online presence?"
zbell: thanks, verla, I wanted to know that
JanWaldrop: Many of the online companies do not have guidelines...some do...check the site thoroughly
JanWaldrop: Their web site is merely a promotion arm...it is their presence on the WWW
JanWaldrop: For example...the Family Company does not sell anything online
JanWaldrop: Some magazines have a print version and an online site -- an online presence
JanWaldrop: Owl for example is a print magazine with online (web) content also
JanWaldrop: So is Surprises
Verla: Thanks, Janis!
_Lyra: This is all so interesting, Jan
MelLane: On an average, how many web pages do you review before you get a market?
NOTE: This question did not get answered.
JanWaldrop: I also make my own markets closer to home
Danni25: Make your own?
JanWaldrop: When I need some stable money...I look for a need and fill it
Gaillynn: Jan give us an example.
JanWaldrop: I look for someone (with money) who relates regularly to kids
JanWaldrop: Like Pediatricians or Dentist
JanWaldrop: Then I create a little storypaper for them
Gaillynn: Then?
JanWaldrop: It can be personalized with the doctor's name
MelLane: Locally or on-line Jan?
Danni25: What is a storypaper like?
JanWaldrop: It only needs to run about two pages...a little story, a craft or recipe or puzzle...maybe a poem
_Lyra: Wow! This is all such a new concept...fascinating
Danni25: (Are the questions coming too fast for you?)
KarmaWilso: ACK! What new concept?
JanWaldrop: Like a little newsletter for kids
Danni25: For teachers?
JanWaldrop: Teachers do not have enough money
Danni25: Oh, right.
JanWaldrop: I like teachers but I need someone who can pay, Danni
redtail19: wow! talk about creative, Jan
Gaillynn: Who do you sell the storypaper to?
dorii: Jan. Is the 'story paper' a one time thing? or on-going?
Christyy: do you query them first, or walk in with it and show it to them?
JanWaldrop: So I create a little newsletter for kids...to be sent out by family practices in medicine or dentistry
JanWaldrop: No...I offer maybe six issues
Danni25: Dentists, pediatricians, who else?
zbell: Are you ever able to utilize Athletic corporations and such Janis?
zbell was thinking about the way certain clothing and athletic corps. promo to kids
JanWaldrop: I would try them zbell if I knew more about athletics off the top of my head
Ikeeper: What is the storypaper used for by the professional who buys it?
JanWaldrop: Very simply stories...maybe some simple health tips
MelLane: This is FASCINATING!!!!
Gaillynn: What do you get out of this?
JanWaldrop: I sell the newsletter to the dentist/doctor...you can get about $500
MelLane: How do you charge for those newsletters? And do you provide the copies?
KarmaWilso: $500??
Gaillynn: Do you have to continue publishing it -- ongoing?
dorii: Jan. you mean... you write up the 'story papers' and the dentists/peds mail them out to their patients?
JanWaldrop: $500 for six issues...which would be 24 pages of content
Christyy: do you sell one of each, or make copies yourself?
JanWaldrop: I don't provide the copies...I have done this a couple ways
Danni25: How do you sell it? Who do you talk too?
tinaeva1: So how do you sell the story paper to the professional?
KarmaWilso: Yea, how do you sell it?
KarmaWilson is sitting on the edge of her seat....scooting forward...
JanWaldrop: I send a sample to all the dentists/doctors I find with kid practice
JanWaldrop: The sample is one page
Verla: Does the dentist/ped then make their own copies? Ah...I see you are answering my question before I even ASK it!
Christyy: do you send the same one to all the doctors?
redtail19: do you use the same storypage for each dentist who subscribes, or does each one recieve entirely different stories/poems. etc?
JanWaldrop: I usually have a couple samples, Christyy & redtail...not many though
JanWaldrop: I create a banner headline incorporating the Doctor's name
JanWaldrop: I add a story about Mr Tooth...or whatever
Verla: Oh, this is REALLY good, Janis!
JanWaldrop: And a puzzle or recipe
JanWaldrop: And some health/teeth tips
_Lyra: WOW! (Need I say more?)
MsEdit seconds Lyra'
Verla: Or maybe both?
Danni25: Ooh, I have a tooth fairy story. Maybe I should make up a story page and use that for a dentist
Verla: What a GREAT idea, Danni!
_Enchanted: What about illustrations and pictures. Do you have to get rights and buy them somewhere?
JanWaldrop: I sketch really simple pictures
JanWaldrop: Or use public domain clip art
Verla: Ah..SHE is an artist...Oh. Okay. clip art is okay to use, then.
Christyy: where do you find that clip art?
LisaW1: I know a woman who does this kind of thing, Janis. But she is also an artist. Are you?
Danni25: This is exciting
Gaillynn: After the 6 issues, does the doctor continue on his own or is it over?
JanWaldrop: You can get clip art books or clip art on CD.
NOTE: Verla has quite a few clip art books she found in a local art/craft store. They are published by:
Dover Publications, Inc.
31 East 2nd Street
Mineola, NY 11501
Try writing to them and ask for their sample clip art catalog.
KarmaWilso: Is any clip art included in a desktop pub program public domain?
JanWaldrop: Some is...different desktop programs have slightly different restrictions, Karma
JanWaldrop: You actually have to (ACK) read the license
Verla: You just have to make sure that the clip art is okay to use commercially, folks. Some of it says, for non-profit use only.
MelLane: How do you do that, Verla?
Verla: Use a search engine and plunk in clip art, karma. You should get dozens of sites. And Mel, read the box or site. It will tell you how you may use it.
katrapp: unless you purchase clip art, i believe it is pretty much public domaine and since you have purchased the program with clip art you should be able to use it fine
KarmaWilso: I think mine must be. It has a whole section for business brochures
Christyy: if I have microsoft word and works, can I use their clip art legally?
JanWaldrop: I am not sure...you need to read the box/license
Christyy: this is the scary part
Verla: If you really need some simple art, why not pay a one-time fee to one of the artists on the CW list to do the artwork for you? Then you could use the artwork over and over and they would get credit/exposure, too.
dorii: How are the actual copies printed?
Ikeeper: What benefit do the professionals recieve from this?
JanWaldrop: Doctors and Dentist spend literally hundreds and hundreds of dollars on give aways to patients
JanWaldrop: They buy greeting cards, erasers, junk....this is one more thing
KarmaWilso: Coloring pages to use while the kids wait!
KarmaWilso: To take their mind off that nasty needle!
JanWaldrop: But it is personal...has their office on the banner
Christyy: this could fall under advertising, and their ad budgets are pretty big
JanWaldrop: Has a TIPS column from Dr Dan ( or whatever) even though I wrote the tips
Danni25: I've been targeting the wrong people. Forget magazines. I'm going for the dentists
KarmaWilso: So, do you walk into the dentist's office and say, "Hey, lookee here...."
KarmaWilso: Or do you mail a sample?
KarmaWilso: Or or or????
Danni25: Yeah, I was wondering the same thing, karma
Danni25: How do you charge, by issue, in bulk? How much do you charge (Have you answered that already?)
Verla: Danni...she charges $500 for six issues. About 24 pages. The doctors make their own copies.
Danni25: Wow, wow, wow
dorii: Can I REPEAT a question? WHO or HOW are the actual send-outs printed?
JanWaldrop: Sorry, dorii...I got distracted
JanWaldrop: I meant to go there
JanWaldrop: I send one copy to the dr...with his personized banner and tips column...he copies them
JanWaldrop: I have had one or two doctors who would pay more ( a lot more) if I print them
JanWaldrop: I don't do that any more though...don't have time
tinaeva1: What kind of paper do you use? Is it just copied or printed by the professional.?
tinaeva1: Are they colored or b/w?
JanWaldrop: I make them black and white...most doctors do not have a color photocopier yet
MelLane: Janis, does each issue have 24 pages, or do you mean a TOTAL of 24 pages?
JanWaldrop: Each issue has four pages...two pages front and back
Christyy: so all the doctors are purchasing the same newletter, different only by their personal info? same recipe, story etc?
NOTE: The answer to Christy's question was, YES.
Danni25: How often did they come out?
NOTE: The answer to Danni's question is: One Time - a set of six different newsletters for each professional to use.
KarmaWilso: stapled?
NOTE: Since the copies sold to the professional would be used to make their own copies for their offices, staples would NOT be used.
_Lyra: How many separate projects are you doing a week/month?
JanWaldrop: I usually only did doctors with little overlap...one in each town near me...same with dentists
dorii: How many dentist/ped clients do you presently have now, Jan?
JanWaldrop: Right now, I don't do this any more...I don't have time
JanWaldrop: And I make more money at other things
Gaillynn: Have you guys already talked about book markets -- not online markets?
JanWaldrop: Haven't done books yet...I am still on creating a market, Gaillynn
_Enchanted: Do you get a "contract" for this kind of work? Or does the payment serve as the contract?
NOTE: This question was not answered, but the logical answer would be to ask each publisher. Since they are all individually run, they would each have their own policies and procedures on this subject.
Danni25: Sorry if this is another repeat question. I'm having a hard time keeping up. How many copies do you make at one time?
Danni25: Or do they make the copies?
KarmaWilso: They make them, Danni
KarmaWilso: Unless otherwise arranged, and then you charge more.
Danni25: Ok, thanks
JanWaldrop: Dentists actually buy quicker...or so I find
MelLane: Wonder why?
LisaW1: more kids fear dentists
dorii: Umm. My son-in-law is a children's dentist.
Christyy: more money... all those fillngs and braces!
JanWaldrop: I don't know....maybe they want to build morale more, Mel
KarmaWilso: Do you mail them out? Or walk in the office and pitch the idea?
JanWaldrop: I mailed all my ideas
KarmaWilso: Great, thanks Jan.
JanWaldrop: My package was VERY professional looking
Verla: Great, Janis!
KarmaWilso: What was included?
JanWaldrop: I mailed to everyone in the area but only sold on a first come first serve basic per town
Verla: This is a wonderful idea. Make your own market by targeting pediatricians, dentists and doctors in your area.
JanWaldrop: I included a cover letter, explaining what they would get...any options they might have.
Danni25: Options like what?
JanWaldrop: Like they could have a puzzle, or a craft or a recipe...or alternate, Danni
JanWaldrop: My cover letter included pictures ( doctors like that)
JanWaldrop: And a sample ... one page...front and back
MelLane: Are you talking an 8.5 x 11 inch page?
JanWaldrop: Yes, MelLane...8.5 x 11
KarmaWilso: Pictures of what?
KarmaWilso: (Did that sound dumb?)
Verla: Yes, pictures of what, Janis? (Wasn't a dumb question at ALL, karma!)
JanWaldrop: Oh..I used this cute little Mr. Tooth on the dentist cover, Karma
JanWaldrop: And a teddybear in a cast on the dr one
KarmaWilso: Ah ha... in the letterhead??
Verla: Oh, cute!
JanWaldrop: I always wanted to make cute coverletters
KarmaWilso: Wonderful!
_Lyra: What OTHER things, Jan? What's the best for you to work/sell?
MelLane: LOL!
KarmaWilso: ME TOO!
Verla: I LOVE this idea!
KarmaWilso: Finally, it won't look "amentuerish"
JanWaldrop: Yes, Karma...you can break publishing rules....doctors don't know them
JanWaldrop: I printed on 25 lb paper so it looked really nice
MelLane: Did you let the other dentists/doctors know it was a simultaneous submissiion?
JanWaldrop: Yes, I told them I was selling to only one doctor in Hendersonville...first come, first serve
Verla: Ah..so the first dentist in town to respond with a paying offer got the package...and everyone else had to gnash their teeth!
KarmaWilso: My pediatrician might just bite on this. She's a real marshmellow (I don't mean I won't be professional though)
KarmaWilso: I can see OB's really snapping this up, with a more professional news letter with diet tips, and monthly examination charts.
KarmaWilso: As a pregnant woman I would have DIED for a newsletter from my Dr.'s office.
KarmaWilso: I read anything and everything. And what a great thing to include in cover letters for parenting mags!
tinaeva1: At the end of the 6 issues, did they renew?
JanWaldrop: Most tried to renew but I had moved on to other things
redtail19: did you then send them monthly, bi- monthly, all at once for the dr to disseminate on her schedule, or???
KarmaWilso: Ah, disregard my spelling. LOL
JanWaldrop: I had made three of the six already ( I should have done all six) and I offered the doctor the choice of weekly or monthly
JanWaldrop: Some chose weekly and I was kicking butt to finish
Verla: LOL! Funny, Janis!
JanWaldrop: So...that is an example of creating a market.
KarmaWilso: A GREAT idea.
dorii: great idea, Janis
_Lyra: What is your writing schedule & how much do you produce weekly, Jan?
JanWaldrop: I write about 5 hours a day, 5 days a week...I cut back for health reasons
JanWaldrop: And so my finance would still marry me, Lyra
JanWaldrop: I try to mail something every day
MelLane: e-mail or regular mail?
_Lyra: That's SO incredible!
Verla: Every DAY, janis?
JanWaldrop: Either, Mel
Verla: Wow.
Verla: That's great, Janis.
JanWaldrop: Yes...some of them are email queries
JanWaldrop: And I do puzzles and poems and crafts
JanWaldrop: As well as fiction and nonfiction stories
Verla: You are an inspiration to all of us.
KarmaWilso: Oh, I'm dying to make up my newsletters.
redtail19: whew!! I am so impressed!
KarmaWilso: What a FABULOUS IDEA!!!
Christyy: I'm starting tomorrow.... heheheeh
Danni25: Me too
MelLane: Me, too, Karma!
_Lyra: Jan, you are SO creative and resourceful
Danni25: No wonder you make a living
MelLane: How do you protect your stories when you sell them on-line? I mean, if they have the story, how can you be sure you'll get paid?
Verla: You don't worry about it, mel. You only go to professional sites.
JanWaldrop: If you are dealing with a big company...and usually I am, Mel, they have always paid just fine
KarmaWilso: I would never have had the guts.
KarmaWilso: Janis, did you include a business card?
JanWaldrop: Yes, Karma...I always include a business card
KarmaWilso: I guess I should have some made then.... sigh....
JanWaldrop: I am naturally shy, Karma, so I did all the marketing thru the mail
JanWaldrop: I would have died of embarrassment facing them and saying "You need this"
Verla: Look at what a SHY person can accomplish, folks!
KarmaWilso: Well, I'm not shy, but I might scare them off in person.
KarmaWilso: :-)
Gaillynn: Jan do you write Children's picture books?
JanWaldrop: I write them...have not sold one yet, Gail...except for a series commissioned by a toy company
_Lyra: Those COUNT, Jan...how many book sales?
MelLane: series? What kind of series?
JanWaldrop: I have 8 in print right now, Lyra...and getting the package to do three more this week
KarmaWilso: Did you use plain white paper Janis?
KarmaWilso: Or color?
Verla: KarmaWilson: She said plain white with black and white clip art/drawings on 25 lb paper
JanWaldrop: I use plain white paper..it's cheaper
KarmaWilso: Okay. Thanks.
JanWaldrop: If I were in an spending mood...I would do a color cover letter
KarmaWilso: Ohhhh.....
JanWaldrop: And put stickers on it...I love these things
dorii: Jan, I'm going to be really gutsy and ask how much you grossed last year?
_Lyra: Or maybe in a an average month...?
Verla: But you do NOT have to answer that, if you don't want to, Janis!
Verla: (Dori's gutsy question...)
Gaillynn: Not a good question.
KarmaWilso: Dori isn't shy either!
KarmaWilso: LOL
JanWaldrop: I did not make much at all last year, I had to go take care of my mom for 6 months
Gaillynn: I'm taking care of my mom and it is eating into my writing time.
JanWaldrop: now I make about $1500 a month...most months
dorii: Thanks, Jan. Appreciate your openess
Verla: That's a DARNED good income, Janis!
KarmaWilso: Hey, I made $400 this month, and I'm thrilled with that!
KarmaWilso: $1500 would be spectacular!!!
_Lyra: That's quite an accomplishment, Jan...so inventive
JanWaldrop: I may slack off a little after I am married in November
MelLane: That's more than I make as an abstractor!
JanWaldrop: Husbands need so much care and feeding
Verla: hmph. I did two software reviews last month, too, karma. But I only got paid $200!
_Lyra: True, Jan (g)
JanWaldrop: I also do software reviews...those are fun
JanWaldrop: I applied where you did Verla and got turned down
Verla: Karma and I do those, too, janis
JanWaldrop: So I made my own market
JanWaldrop: Now I get $300 for a review :-)
JanWaldrop: I can't accept rejection
dorii: These are all interesting and fresh ideas, Janis
katrapp: i would love to do software reviews....who does one contact?
Verla: Kat, I saw a notice on the CW (Children's Writer's) list asking for people to do reviews. I submitted my sample writings, etc, and was hired for the position.
NOTE: Information on how to sign up for the CW list is on the Writer's Tips page of this website.
MelLane: How do you create your online markets, Janis? How do you approach them?
Verla: She already told us that, mel...you missed it.
Verla: It will be in the transcript
Verla: WHEN I get it done!
MelLane: LOL! I was just thinking that, Verla.
Christyy: do this one quick verla!
Verla: I'm trying, christy.
_Enchanted: Maybe you can get Janis back again soon, eh Verla??
JanWaldrop: I wanted to offer a couple websites for market guidelines...does
JanWaldrop: everyone one have the Margaret Shauer site?
Danni25: I don't have it
MelLane: Not me, Jan.
Verla: I don't, janis
KT4YE: me too, neither
redtail19: nor i
Verla: Please share it, Janis?
JanWaldrop: http://www.inkspot.com/feature/shaurers/
Verla: Ah HA! Through Inkspot!
_Lyra: I think Janis should market herself to speak at SCBWI national
NOTE: SCBWI = Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators - there is a link to the SCBWI website on the Links page of this website
Christyy: she should!
_Lyra: This is quite a new frontier for writers
tinaeva1: Jan, this has been so interesting. Thank you. I'm quite impressed with what you have done.
Verla: AWK! Our hour is UP!\
MelLane: No way! Really?
Danni25: Extend the workshop!
redtail19: oh,nooo, not yet
Verla: Janis, would you PLEASE do a continuation of this workshop another night?
JanWaldrop: Time flies when one's hands are cramping
Verla: we only have 5 minutes left.
Christyy: please???????
_Enchanted: Maybe if we all say PLEEEEEZZZEEE , Janis will come back soon!
MelLane: LOL! Cute, cramping hands.
dorii: PLEEEZZZEEE
MelLane: Pretty PLEEEEEEZZZEEE!!!!
Danni25: Okay, any wrap-up, Janis?
redtail19: pleeeeeeeze
JanWaldrop: Sure...but it can't be soon
Verla: Hey...I was due to do next week's workshop...but I would Gladly postpone it...
JanWaldrop: Wedding plans and all
Verla: oh...too soon, huh?
KT4YE: Pretty please with suxxxxx nutrasweet on it
Verla: When is your wedding?
JanWaldrop: Ick...KT...make mine sugar
JanWaldrop: I am getting married Nov 12, Verla
zbell: lol, imagine a wedding taking precedence over our workshop!
redtail19: nutrasweet, blech! offer her sugar and cherries
KT4YE: That's out of deference to kia
Verla: hmmm.
Verla: And you couldn't finish this next week, huh?
JanWaldrop: I don't think so. I will be writing the Family Company books all week...I think it will be another 8
JanWaldrop: I hope some of you will try the newletter thing though
MelLane: I plan on it.
JanWaldrop: I would like to see the proud tradition continue
dorii: Well, we'll look forward to the next time you can do this, Jan
Verla: Let's see...how about Nov 10th?
redtail19: I think you've inspired a bunch of us, janis
Christyy: lol verla
KarmaWilso: I missed more!
Christyy: I definitly plan to try it!
Verla: WEG (Wicked Evil Grin)
_Enchanted: This was great, Janis. Thank you.
JanWaldrop: Sorry Verla I will be out of town...tsk tsk
Danni25: There'll be a lot of dentists and doctors with storypapers now
KarmaWilso: HURRY UP WITH THE TRANSCRIPT!!! (Kidding Verla! Kidding!)
Verla: Are you going on a week's honeymoon?
JanWaldrop: Thank you guys for letting me do this
JanWaldrop: It was fun
redtail19: thanks for *doing* it!
dorii: APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE!
Danni25: You were a great help
Verla: We could schedule you for the 17th....right AFTER the wedding....
Verla: heh heh heh heh heh!
dorii: Great workshop, Jan, Kia
_Lyra: I've fallen on the floor out of AWE!
JanWaldrop: No, the wedding is in TN and I am in NC...seems like I should be there for part of the prep
KarmaWilso: Wedding? You're going to let a silly little thing like a wedding stop you from doing a workshop for us?
redtail19: ooh, verla, you are wicked <G>
NOTE: <G> = Grin
KarmaWilso: Hrmph!
Verla: Janis...this was TERRIFIC of you to share all this information with us!
_Lyra: geez--details, details, Jan
KarmaWilso: :-)
MelLane: Me, too, Lyra. Imagine the possibilities, as they say.
_Lyra: I'm not a good sales-person, though...kind of meek
KarmaWilso: MEEK????
JanWaldrop: Pretend you are someone else in your letter, Lyra
dorii: That's why you use the mail, lyra. You can do it!
Christyy: you have such great ideas Jan! thanks for sharing them!!!
Verla: Okay, Janis...but we need you to contact me and reschedule another session ASAP!
KarmaWilson wonders if somebody stole Linda Joy's nickname?
JanWaldrop: Picture the most forward person you know...maybe Verla Kay....and pretend to be her
Danni25: I'm just worried I'll run out of ideas for a newsletter
KarmaWilso: Yea, Verla!
Verla: LOL! Cute, Janis!
_Lyra: Karma--I used to be quite shy...and sometimes I still am
KarmaWilso: You should HEAR her push nurses around....
JanWaldrop: Well, I really do recommend you have all 6 done before you market them
MelLane: LOL... that's a good one, Janis.
_Lyra: I think I met the most forward person I know at a recent convention (p.g --private grin)
Christyy: they're scared of her now at that hospital! hehehe
Verla: I am having a profound effect on Linda Joy, though, folks. You should see her now!
KarmaWilso: Good idea.
MelLane: Meek is an upgrade?
MelLane: <g>
KarmaWilso: Just do six, and every month, one more, to keep up.
Verla: Cute, mel!
Verla: Great idea, karma.
KarmaWilso: Janis, did you make the ones for an adjoining town completely different?
KarmaWilso: Or the same?
JanWaldrop: No, Karma...just different banner and tip headline...and a different game sometimes
Verla: janis....THANK YOU!!!!!
JanWaldrop: I also did a writing newsletter...marketed it through the college...got tons of $$ from that
_Lyra: Before I was a serious writer, I did a newsletter for fun for kids of friends which I distributed through the mail
Verla: Hip Hip HOORAY!
JanWaldrop: But what a job..phew
Danni25: Good idea. Can you use stories you've published already? (from magazines that buy first rights)
Verla: IF they only bought first rights, yes, danni
JanWaldrop: Yes, Danni, you can
KarmaWilso: This is sounding better and better.
KarmaWilso: I'm dying to do an OB one. I love pregnancy! Wanted to be a midwife.
dorii: Karma, you'd be great at a newsletter
_Lyra: I agree--go Karma!
JanWaldrop: Same concept Karma...you would do great with that
KarmaWilso: Gee, thanks guys!
zbell whistles, hollers and yells yippee for Janis
Verla throws confetti all over Janis...(scoop it up and save it for the wedding, janis!)
KarmaWilso: Okay, great!
*** Ikeeper has left channel #Kidlit
JanWaldrop: Thanks Verla
Danni25: Good. (How am I going to concentrate on midterms now?)
Verla: By the way...a wedding idea for you, janis. Instead of rice or birdseeds, my niece passed out miniature bottles of bubble stuff at her wedding and all the guests blew bubbles on the couple as they left the church. It was SO neat!
dorii: A warm and sincere THANKS, Jan. This was great!
KarmaWilso: COOL idea!
JanWaldrop: We are getting married with a JP at the mall
Verla: What's a JP?
JanWaldrop: Justice of the Peace
Danni25: (I didn't know that either, verla)
MelLane: At the mall?
_Lyra: Bubbles ARE fun...Verla even brought some to the SCBWI conference which she tried to blow off the balcony
MelLane: Why the mall?
Danni25: That's a great idea
_Lyra: The mall?
Danni25: And it fits in with the mall
redtail19: i luv bubbles
JanWaldrop: Just thought I would rain on Verla's parade...though you can get married at the Mall in Knoxville
JanWaldrop: It is a strange city
_Enchanted: Watch who you invite in this crowd, Janis. They have SILLY STRING!!!
Verla: Oh. Giggle. It doesn't HAVE to be a church, Janis!
MelLane: A Southern term, Verla.
MelLane: But a MALL?
KarmaWilso: LOL
Verla: This workshop is officially over, folks...
Verla: And Janis...do you realize you had 22 people for nearly the whole thing??????? That's a GREAT workshop!
JanWaldrop: I really enjoyed it, Verla
JanWaldrop: I have been teaching writing here at the college for ten years
_Lyra: Ten years? Long career, Jan!
MsEdit: I want to put a pointer to Janis's article on Keystrokes, on how she writes: http://www.writelinks.com/keystrokes/keys1-11b.htm#Hobby
JanWaldrop: Thanks Kate
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