Workshop Transcript
Finding More Markets
with Janis Waldrop Fields
Workshop Transcript
Finding More Markets
with Janis Waldrop Fields
Close Window to Return
kia_: Huff Puff Puff....I made it!
katrap-: hi kia :)
NOTE: :) = a sideways Happy Face
kia_: Hi, everyone
woolfff: Hi, Kia
Don_S_: Ok Kia is here I can go for coffee. LOL
NOTE: LOL = Laughing Out Loud
kia_: Hi, everybody
Don_S_: Hi Kia.
kia_: LOL No you can't Don....I need the chairs set up for the workshop
kia_: and the podium put in place...
kia_: a glass of water for Janis...
Don_S_: coffee first I never do heavy work before coffee.
Harazin: This late Don? You'll be awake all night.
kia_: the microphone tested...
kia_: and plugged in. (It works better that way)
Don_S_: brb
NOTE: brb = Be Right Back (Or sometimes, BathRoom Break)
woolfff: I'd prefer to be a wallflower!
kia_: grin
kia_: NO wallflowers, woolfff
woolfff: Okay, Dr. Pepper and "plenty" of ice!
kia_ runs around and mops the floor!
kia_: AWK!
kia_: I came in with the wrong clothes on. I forgot to get DRESSED....EEEEK! Be right back....
woolfff: I'm afraid I don't know that sound.
NOTE: Kia is Verla's normal chatroom nickname
*** Verla joins #Kidlit
woolfff: Evening, Verla
Verla: Oh, whew! That's better. NOW I'm dressed for the workshop.
woolfff: Well, that's why we lost Kia.
Verla: How embarrassing to come in without my clothes on!
woolfff: LOL
Verla: (well, my WORKSHOP clothes, I meant!)
woolfff: So glad no one can see me!
Verla peers through the monitor and examines Woolfff
woolfff: NO FAIR!
Verla: :-)
*** JanFields joins #Kidlit
Harazin: Hi Jan
Verla: Jan is here...in her NEW clothes!
NOTE: Jan just got married and changed her last name from Waldrop to Fields
JanFields: Howdy
Verla: I came in without my clothes on, Jan...didn't realize it until I'd been here for a minute or two...but I raced out and got dressed as soon as I realized what I'd done.
JanFields: It is always good to notice these things before everyone arrives
Verla: Yes, it certainly IS
Verla: four minutes to workshop
JanFields: I get to use my dear hubby's computer tonight...I think he must have cleaned this monitor last year sometime
Verla: Okay..everyone....get ready for the workshop to begin
JanFields: Sure...who's leading?
JanFields: he he he
Verla: very FUNNY, oh fearless leader, Jan.
Verla: we will hold all hellos & goodbyes until the workshop is done
Dani257: The last one for awhile:-( (NOTE: This is the last workshop for three weeks...until January 5th)
_Lyra_: hello...goodbye
_Lyra_: hello again
_Lyra_: Jan--fearless of publisher!
JanFields: Yes, that's me...intrepid
*** ElinorRigby joined #Kidlit
woolfff: Elinor, I want to sing each time you sign on.
ElinorRigb: Go right ahead!
ElinorRigb: 'll sing with you, but silently, okay?
ElinorRigb: oops I lost my I
NOTE: (That was REALLY singing silently!)
Verla: Once we begin, please hold all personal chat until after the workshop has ended. But DO pop in anytime with questions and comments on the subject under discussion.
Verla: If your questions come too fast, we (Jan or I) will ask you to stop for a moment so she can get caught up.
Verla: If you ask a question and it is not answered, please repost it! It was obviously missed, as we try to make sure all questions get answered.
JanFields: Last time I missed some questions
JanFields: sniff sniff
*** Verla has set the topic on channel #Kidlit to Finding More Markets workshop in progress
Verla: Okay...Would you like to tell everyone a little about yourself and then begin, janis?
JanFields: Sure nuff.
JanFields: Good evvvening...I am Jan Fields. I have been Freelance Writing for over 10 years
JanFields: I make a living solely from my writing
Verla: (wow! I didn't realize it was THAT long, janis!)
JanFields: Tonight I am going to help you find new ways to get money for doing what you love to do.
ElinorRigb: cool
Dani257: Money is nice
Verla: Yea! MONEY!
JanFields: I have not made a sole living at it for 10 years, Verla, just the last couple
Verla: Ah...the truth comes out...
author: Hi, I made it in, are we starting soon?
Verla: right now, author
JanFields: Last workshop, I shared somethings I have done to make new markets
JanFields: Tonight I want to share some things other have done
Verla: yes, and they were WONDERFUL suggestions you gave in the Finding Markets workshop, Jan
find a new market for short writing pieces
JanFields: Thanks, Verla
Verla leans forward to hear better...
JanFields: I used to teach a course in fillers...one of the assignments was to
JanFields: I am going to tell you some of the interesting markets that people in my class created
Dani257: what are fillers, exactly?
Verla: Oh, NEAT!
JanFields: Fillers are short written pieces
JanFields: It is sort of a grey area in children's writing since so much of what we do is short
JanFields: But a filler is usually under 250 words
Verla: Like jokes and little tiny articles and stuff that magazines use to fill in the pages, right, jan?
JanFields: It can be a jokes, a recipe, a craft...right Verla
Dani257: okay
_Lyra_: fillers can also be pictures of pets or kids with captions
Verla: they CAN, lyra? Hmmm. I didn't realize that....
JanFields: Yes, photos are considered fillers, too....as are puzzles
_Lyra_: I sold a Teen quiz once...filler (g)
JanFields: So, one of my students liked crafts but she did not like the slow turn around in kids magazines
JanFields: So she decided to make a market for the craft ideas.
JanFields: One of the things she did was pretty cool
Verla: Made her OWN market for her articles?
woolfff: How do you make a market:
Verla: Are we talking magazines or on-line or what?
JanFields: She looked for a place that might want to build a relationship with children
JanFields: She found a candy store that sold bulk candy
ElinorRigb: ah
JanFields: She bought some and made crafts from the wrapped candy
JanFields: Sled and snowmen and robots...things like that
JanFields: cute stuff
Verla: a Candy store?
Verla: Oh...I see. Material to make her "crafts" from.
ElinorRigb: I see where it is going--- cool
JanFields: She typed up sheets explaining how these things we done...make them look good with her computer
JanFields: And sold the "candy craft" sheets to the candy store
Verla: Oh, clever!
Dani257: Cool
JanFields: The candy store gave them away for free...and increased sales of those kinds of candy
Verla: Using their OWN candy!
JanFields: Everyone was happy
Verla: Wow. What a win-win situation.
JanFields: That is what you need to look for
Verla: Do you know what she charged for the craft master sheets?
JanFields: I think it was about $20
Verla: So it wasn't a lot of money...but it was SOME
woolfff: Did she give the store a stack of sheets or just the one sheet for them to go with?
katrap-: and they made the copies?
Verla: At that price..they would HAVE to make their own copies, kat
JanFields: One sheet...they made copies
Verla: Ah...Okay.... One sheet per each craft?
JanFields: One sheet per craft
JanFields: $20 per candy craft....she sold them five different candy craft sheets
woolfff: fascinating!
katrap-: oh... lots more money
JanFields: But, technically they weren't "published" so she resold the crafts with first rights
JanFields: She notified the craft magazines that these crafts had been "tested" through a candy store...which made them sell more quickly
woolfff: Do you do this through the mail or person to person?
NOTE: This question was missed and was not answered at this time
Verla: (I want to know how she hooked the candies together to make the figures!)
ElinorRigby1 wants some of the candy
JanFields: They were prewrapped...she just used low temp glue to put them together.
Verla: Ah....so the sheets the candy story gave out were considered TEST sheets by the magazine, then.
woolfff: I'm guessing she asked for feedback from the store?
katrap-: tee heee.... feed back :)
JanFields: She got feedback without asking actually...they called, begging for more craft sheets
Verla: They wanted more figures and instructions on how to make them?
JanFields: Right...it had increased sale of expensive candy items
Verla: What a great idea for Christmas, folks, for next year!
woolfff: A great idea for Christmas money!!
JanFields: It also works for Halloween
JanFields: Or Valentines
Verla: EVERY holiday!
Verla: St. Patrick's Day...
Verla: New Year's
katrap-: and for parties!!
JanFields: Yes, many of the candy crafts made great party favors.
Verla: Fourth of July!
Verla: Birthdays
Windy2u: And area dentists did okay too!
Verla: Over the Hill
ElinorRigby1 wonders if Verla likes holidays. LOL
Dani257: Careful Verla, don't get carried away there:-)
Verla: Who ME, Elinor? NAW
woolfff: Was this sale made in-person?
JanFields: Yes, she went to the store in person
JanFields: I do not sell things in person, myself, I am kinda shy
JanFields: But some of the folks in this marketing exercise went to stores
Verla: Hmmm. I wonder what I could do with the Hershey's FACTORY that is about 40 minutes from my house?
JanFields: Another writer in my class liked to write recipes
katrap-: me too me too
Verla: Ah...recipes!
JanFields: But recipes can be hard to sell...well, to sell for much money anyway
katrap-: o o
Verla: yeah...so what did that writer do?
JanFields: So, she went to a small specialty grocer
JanFields: Sold them recipes using foods from the shop
Verla: Ah...sell the recipes to the grocery stores...and then they sell more of their ingredients to their customers!
JanFields: They ran the recipes in their store ads
Verla: yes! What a GREAT idea!
JanFields: It brought in new customers...looking for unusual items for the recipes
Verla: (Why haven't WE ever thought of any of these ideas?)
JanFields: The store paid $75 per recipe
Verla: Wow. Nice price.
woolfff: WOW
JanFields: It came out of their advertising budget
ElinorRigb: So really, fillers could turn into advertising/PR type of business
JanFields: It did for her
katrap-: wish I had a specialty store :(
NOTE: :( = Sideways Frowny Face
JanFields: Another writer had some kid stories she had never been able to sell
Dani257: That's me
Verla: Hmmm. I can identify with THAT author, jan!
JanFields: She was inspired by my in-class talk about newsletters
JanFields: So she printed a sheet with the story and a small coloring picture
JanFields: And sold them to OB/GYNs...one time shot
ElinorRigb: That's cool idea
JanFields: They gave them out to kids waiting on their moms...
Verla: Ah...a story and coloring picture, eh?
woolfff: That would be a good idea for a rebus.
JanFields: Sort of like some restaurants do...give the kid a story and picture and a couple crayons
katrap-: really short story
Verla: (this sounds like something I could do....IF I could get someone to do the artwork)
JanFields: Yes, they were very short stories
Verla: Yes, they would have to be very short stories
Dani257: How short is really short?
JanFields: The stories were from 100 - 250 words, Dani
Dani257: Oh, I have a story about that short. maybe...
woolfff: And what did she make off this idea?
JanFields: Do you mean how much, woolff? I don't know, she did not tell me
JanFields: If it was me, I would charge about $35.
DonaV: You could ask the OB/GYNs to subscribe to your "service" for a year...
JanFields: Since the story is not personal to the business...and because I would probably sell it to several doctors
JanFields: If you make it a service, Dona, you would need to personalize it somehow for the particular office
Verla: Kind of like the packets you told us about last time, jan!
JanFields: Kind of like that, yes...usually to hook a doctor or business long term, it needs to fit their need specifically
ElinorRigb: I used to write historical tours for a Chmber of Commerce
Verla: Ah...resources, elinor!
_Lyra_: cool
JanFields: Good...that is another excellent example of making a market
JanFields: I have written histories for churches, also
Verla: kind of like "ghost writing" for the churches and historical tour people, jan and elinor?
ElinorRigb: Ah, actually, I was the assistant director for Chamber in a city
ElinorRigb: I didn't get paid nuttin' :(
Verla: But you got the experience to go on and use on your own, elinor. And that counts for a LOT.
ElinorRigb: Yeah, well, the guy who wrote the slide presentation who was not an employee was paid $3,000
Verla: So go back and offer your services as a freelancer, elinor!
ElinorRigb: True!
ElinorRigb: LOL
Verla: Get paid $3000 and that's as good as a book sale!
Verla: Better than some!
ElinorRigb: True
ElinorRigb: But I don't live in that city now
DonaV: Verla, except that you're not building up a name
Verla: True, Dona (Not building up a name...)
JanFields: Another possible source for publishing short pieces is the local paper
JanFields: One man did a series of letters from Santa
JanFields: That he sold to the newspaper
Dani257: Santa answering the kids letters? Sounds like fun
JanFields: No, Actually Santa was just telling all the kids what he was doing, how he was preparing for Christmas
JanFields: He was doing special exercises to tone up and make up for all the cookies he would eat on Christmas Eve
JanFields: Stuff like that
ElinorRigb: cute
JanFields: But I imagine you could do a santa answers kid letters thing.
JanFields: The man with the Santa column sold to several markets around the state, markets that did not overlap
JanFields: I bet you could sell a local radio on call in santa
Verla: Yeah, but I kinda think you'd have to be a guy to get that one past the kiddies, jan!
DonaV: You could be Mrs. Claus
Verla: You could do one with Mrs. Santa, though!
Verla: We gals could, I mean.
JanFields: Yes, I imagine you would have to be a guy unless you did Mrs. Klaus
JanFields: But Mrs. Klaus would be fun too
Dani257: Maybe I could do a Santa Journal. Or a Mrs. Santa one and sell her 'diary' entries
Verla: Oh, how FUN!
^GailM: Mrs. Claus could have the real dirt on Santa.
^GailM: He snores.
JanFields: I expect he has gas too, Gail
^GailM: Right!
JanFields: Yes, or even an elf journal
Dani257: This is really great
Verla: (Actually, that's a great idea for BOOK, Dani....Mrs. Claus's diary!)
JanFields: That could be a humor column....elf woes
ElinorRigb: Radio spots with kids' ideas would work, wouldn't it? If you wrote kids crafts & stories and let stores sponsor a super-short spot in their name?
JanFields: Yes, Elinor...I would think radio for kids crafts would go too
Verla: Yes, I think that would work very well, elinor. (And I used to work in radio stations...scheduling all the programs. I know that radio stations are always looking for ways to get listeners interested and programs that they can sell to their advertisers!)
woolfff: ooh,ooh! sheets sold to a radio station that could be picked up by visitors...
JanFields: I didn't know radio stations got many visitors
Verla: HA! People are ALWAYS coming into radio stations, Jan
woolfff: Well, around here their always doing contests and such so you will stop by.
JanFields: Cool
Verla: Yep. They definitely do that, woolfff
woolfff: It's closer than Hollywood in the South@
woolfff: I lost my exclamation point!!
Verla throws some extra exclamation points to woolfff so she will be quiet and listen!!!!!
^GailM: I have a story about a lumber store. I tried to interest Home Depot and Eagle here in the Northwest. Maybe I need to send to Lowe's.
^GailM: Lowe's bought Eagle a month ago.
JanFields: Independent stores can be even better, Gail...it is easier to connect with the person who handles the $$
JanFields: Plus, they have a greater need for customer loyalty
JanFields: There are only so many magazines and publishers
JanFields: So you have to think creatively if you are to sell everything you write
MsEdit: only so many?
Dani257: You seem to be very good at thinking creatively
MsEdit: it's true there is a finite number of markets
MsEdit: however, that number is pretty big.
JanFields: Personally, I need to sell everything I write -- at least eventually
woolfff: I never looked at the other side of the writing picture before.
JanFields: If I have written something I really like but am having trouble placing, I try to think of some other way to get money for it
Verla: I like that idea, jan...and lots of times we write stories that are REALLY good...but publishers don't want them. This is a great way to get them into the hands of children...and get paid for them...and make a "name" for ourselves while we're trying to sell other stories more suited to the financial needs/wants of the publishing houses!
JanFields: It can also get you better know around your town, or city
JanFields: Then when you are promoting your book, someday, you have a built-in following
Dani257: How do you sell to a newspaper? Submit it like you would to a publisher, with a cover letter and all?
Verla: Just tell them what the story is for, Jan? Like...enclosed is a story I have written that I thought might interest you for the children's section in your Valentines issue of the newspaper?
JanFields: Yes, I use a super super super short cover letter....basically they do not care about your credits
Dani257: Good, I don't have any:-)
JanFields: To sell to a newspaper, though, you MUST put a copyright notice on everything
woolfff: so another newspaper can't pick it up for free?
JanFields: Actually, Verla, I tell them where the story should go in the paper and how important it is that we begin to build readership in younger kids
Verla: Wow....I didn't realize that, jan.
ElinorRigb: I think personal contact helps - a quick hi to the editor and handshake and then leave material with him
ElinorRigb: or her
ElinorRigb: I know. I did that
Verla: That's a good idea, elinor!
JanFields: Yes, personal contact is very good
JanFields: I find newspapers are somewhat easily manipulated by community spirit and helping the reader
Verla: Ah...good plan, jan.
JanFields: Newspapers, like radio stations are more immediately involved in the community than magazines
JanFields: They see themselves as having more responsibility
Dani257: Do the newspapers offer to pay, or do you have to let them know your services are for sale
Dani257: Suspicious mind I have
Verla: Yes, and how much do you CHARGE for the radio and newspaper stuff, jan?
JanFields: You have to let them know that they have to pay
Verla: Right...otherwise they will expect to get it for free, right?
JanFields: Right, which is not really their fault...they get a lot of press releases
JanFields: I normally include a line like...I am offering this at your usual freelance rate...
Verla: ah....SMART line!
Verla: That way you may get paid a lot more than you would ask for.
^GailM: $35 to 50 dollars seems fair.
JanFields: $20 - $25 is unfortunately a bit more likely
^GailM: CHEAP!!!!
Dani257: Hey, it's better than nothing
woolfff: by the word?
JanFields: They pay by the column inch, woolff
JanFields: Yes, very cheap...but quick money
JanFields: Basically, I do fast market fillers when I need quick cash
JanFields: The turnaround for money from most print magazines is slow slow slow
JanFields: Online markets are considerably better
Verla: I think a lot depends on the paper, too, jan. Some papers in big metropolitan areas charge horrific prices to their advertisers and can afford to pay more to buy things. (San Jose area is one...the normal charge for a tiny 1" add can be over $100)
JanFields: What they charge and what they pay is often not related
JanFields: When you can fill the paper with press release junk...why pay a lot for freelance?
Verla: hmm. Of course, jan! (I should have thought of that, myself)
^GailM: I was thinking I would advertise that I would wait at people's houses for repair people for $35 a day, providing the repair person designated AM or PM.
JanFields: Hey....that might net you some good money Gail
Verla: And you could be writing while you are waiting, gail. So you can make MORE money! Great idea
woolfff: Even when they don't show!
^GailM: I could write while I wait!
JanFields: Another way to fill a market niche is to see a need that is not being met and jump in there
JanFields: For newspapers or web sites or magazines.
JanFields: For example, I saw an online magazine that was for parents of teens
JanFields: I saw they had no software reviewer -- I pitched a column...now I have a job
JanFields: See if your local paper has someone to review kids movies, kids books, kids software
JanFields: Your personal market research (reading kids books) can turn into a column
DonaV: Jan, I do a column for a hobby magazine that I got by pitching the idea to the editor (over the phone)
JanFields: Excellent, Dona...that is exactly what I mean
JanFields: Columns usually do not pay a lot, but they are steady money
Verla: Grin, nice idea, jan...but I think if I tried to do a children's review column...my SCBWI Regional Advisor (who does that for our local paper already) would get a "wee bit" upset! LOL!
DonaV: This one is $75 for 4 doublespaced pages, bimonthly
Verla: Hey, that's not bad at ALL, dona!
JanFields: Sure, Verla...but for example. BrainPlay.com reviews movies, software, and toys for kids...but they have no book reviewer
JanFields: They pay big money...could be a good place to pitch a book review column
Verla: Ah...so are you going to be their book reviewer, jan?
JanFields: Nope, I don't like doing book reviews. I write articles for them
Verla: (Poor Brain Play website...they will be swamped with potential reviewers in the next few days! LOL)
Dani257: She might beat you over the head for sending her all those mad writers:-)
Dani257: mad=crazy
JanFields: With a good query, they might go for it. The editor is Lisa Price, don't tell them I sent you
Verla: Jan! How silly you are! You put her name and the name of the website into this transcript which is going to be posted for the entire WORLD to see...and then tell me not to tell her you sent us? HAHAHAHAHHAHAH
ElinorRigb: LOL Verla
JanFields: Oh well
JanFields: She used to like me, Verla
Dani257: Jan, you'd better join the witness protection program or something
Verla: hahha. Yeah. And "used to" might just be the definitive word there, jan...
Dani257: Or you could do a website review for kids for a newspaper
Verla: Oh...THAT's a GREAT idea, dani!
JanFields: Yes, Dani...most newspapers would love that
Dani257: How come I never thought of these ideas before?
JanFields: The Knoxville paper here has a small syndicated piece that introduces websites for kids
Verla: What a super idea! Play on the web and get PAID for it! I love it!
JanFields: I have sold LOTS of website reviews to different places...it is a popular thing if you can find the right slant
woolfff: Jan, you strike me as a great brainstormer.
JanFields: Price varies, though...I have gotten as much as $300 for a web site review article and as little as $25
Marianne__: Are these local papers, jan, or national?
JanFields: Those were ALL online markets, Marianne
Marianne__: Ok, thanks
JanFields: I got on BrainPlay by sending Lisa a query a day until she found one she liked
Verla: Oh, NO! We only have 8 minutes to go before the workshop is done...talk faster, jan!
Marianne__: Sorry, I came in late. You sold website reviews to other online sources?
JanFields: Right..I have done them for FolksOnline, BrainPlay, The Family Company and a couple other dinky ones
Verla: And to newspapers, marianne
Verla: also
Marianne__: I'm confused..
Verla: She finds great websites for kids, marianne, then sells an article to the local papers or other websites about the sites.
JanFields: Website reviews -- I only sold those to online markets, but I have SEEN them in newspapers
Marianne__: gotcha now.
Verla: (I stand corrected....)
Marianne__: ok, the fog has cleared. (:)
JanFields: I would sell to newspapers, Verla, but the local one here already buys from a syndicate
Verla: ah ha. (Verla thinks perhaps she should take a peek at her local newspaper once in a while...)
woolfff: And do you transact business with a website via e-mail?
JanFields: Yes, woolff, most of my business is transacted through email
Dani257: What about to print markets? Are those email, too?
JanFields: Yes, Dani, many are...The Writer just told me they would accept an email query
JanFields: You get much friendlier correspondance through email
Dani257: I wonder if my newspaper has an email address?
JanFields: They probably have several Dani...but they may not be adept with using email...many are not
woolfff: Do you sign contracts with these type deals or are you paid like contract work?
JanFields: I usually am sent a contract which I sign before payment, Dani
woolfff: and before sending your piece, or after?
JanFields: After, woolff
JanFields: usually
JanFields: With deals I generate, sometimes I make the contract...listing what both sides have agreed to
Verla: Ah...I like contracts...they make things safer and cleaner. No misunderstandings with contracts
Verla: Oh, DEAR....we only have four minutes left...any last comments or questions by anyone?
JanFields: I cannot think of any others off the top of my head
JanFields: Oh, and Your Big Backyard says they will take email queries too
Verla: They publish VERY few new stories, jan...
Verla: they reprint the old ones every few years....as their children/readers outgrow them they just reprint the same ones again for the next batch of kids.
JanFields: Yes, I have found that out Verla...but the email lady is very nice
Dani257: Just how did you get to be so market savvy, Jan?
JanFields: Bill collectors, Dani...
Dani257: LOL
Verla: LOL! I LOVE that answer, jan!!!!
JanFields: I decided that the only way to make a living doing this is to jump in and do it
JanFields: So...I HAD to find ways to make money
JanFields: I was single...only I had to live on my income
JanFields: Now that I am married, it is harder to be motivated knowing the lights won't go out if I watch Designing Women today
Verla: Well, you have come up with the GREATEST ideas, jan!
Marianne__: I'm a freelance writer, Jan. If we had to live on my income, we'd starve. (:)
woolfff: and what kind of a search do you key in for finding such markets on-line?
JanFields: Woolff....I kind of shop around, I check out website links from kid sites, I check out online sites for kids magazines...different things
Verla: So...do you still have MORE ideas you can share with us? Should we set up yet ANOTHER continuation of this session?
Verla: Finding Even More Markets?
woolfff: Yes, Verla!
Marianne__: Your're a great motivator, Jan.
DonaV: Maybe Jan would do one on brainstorming, Verla. :)
JanFields: Verla...NO
Verla: No? RATS.
Dani257: Jan, don't you think you should charge Verla if she wants to continue using your services? Could be a whole new market(WEG)
Verla: Hey, watch it, dani!
JanFields: Could be, Dani
Marianne__: LOL!
Verla fumes at Dani's remark...and mumbles...*I* don't get paid for the stuff on this website...or in this chat room...how does Dani expect me to pay others to come here?????
JanFields: Awww...Verla....I love you :-)
JanFields: THank you Dani
Verla: snifff....THANK you, jan!
DonaV passes the hat so we can pay Verla with cyber nickles
Verla passes the cyber hat with great enthusiasm to Jan...Here's your money for the workshop, jan. Enjoy your cyber money!
JanFields: Thanks Verla
woolfff: Jan, what classes do you teach?
JanFields: I used to teach magazine writing at a community college in NC
JanFields: I don't teach right now
JanFields: I LOVE teaching but it pays horribly, so I cannot do it very often
Marianne__: How did you get your job teaching, Jan? I don't have a journalism degree, but many credits. I've always wondered about that. If you could share..
JanFields: I just went over to the Community College and told them I would like to teach magazine writing
Marianne__: Really, just like that?
JanFields: They practically kissed me right there...no one seemed to care about my degree or my credits
DonaV: Jan, I did the same thing with a creative writing course...I showed them a lesson plan
Marianne__: I would like to teach, but no degree...
JanFields: Once I began teaching, there was so much positive feedback that they begged me to come back
Harazin: I teach Marianne. I do not have a degree
Marianne__: Do you Harazin?
Harazin: For the arts center
JanFields: You don't need a degree for Community College...continuing education
Marianne__: Did you have to follow a set curriculum?
Harazin: I make my own
Harazin: and set my own fees
JanFields: I made my own
Verla: Really, jan? Hmmm. You mean I could contact MY Junior College about teaching a writing course? (Of course, I probably CAN'T because AGAIN, my Regional Advisor does that. Sigh.)
Don_S_: Or adult ed.
Marianne__: They let you, that's great!
JanFields: THey don't LET you Marianne...they BEG you
JanFields: They send you letters
JanFields: They call you
Marianne__: Really???
JanFields: It's like Continuing Ed stalkers
Marianne__: Maybe I'll make a few calls tomorrow..
Marianne__: LOL!
JanFields: Have fun...you get to meet a lot of great people
Marianne__: I like people, that's my problem. (:)
JanFields: I have had soo much fun
Verla: But...do they pay you for that, jan? Or is it just a freebee?
JanFields: They pay...$10 an hour at the teeny college back home
JanFields: I haven't looked into the college here, in a city like Knoxville, they ought to pay more
Marianne__: I live around the Cleveland area, many community colleges here for me to check into..
Harazin: The bookstore here called and asked me to do fiction classes in the bookstore
JanFields: Wonderful, Harazin
DonaV: Congratulations, Harazin!
Harazin: I don't like to teach Dona
Verla: I LOVE to teach, hara!
Harazin: I like to write. I want to write.
Marianne__: But, Harazin, you're a teacher?
Harazin: Only for fiction writing--I am an RN
Verla: Oh..what a NEAT idea...give classes in the bookstore!
Harazin: Yep--sometimes editors show up
Don_S_: editors are so worried it's so political.
Verla: I wonder if MY local bookstore would go for something like that? They have not been overly receptive to any of my ideas so far...but I bet the one in Modesto that's an hour and a half drive from me would be interested!
Dani257: Go for what?
Verla: Dani, I'm wondering if the bookstore would go for me coming into their store and giving classes there
Harazin: Borders does it Verla
Verla: No Borders here, hara
Verla: NO bookstores here except the ONE.
DonaV: I've also gotten paid for giving workshops at writers conferences (though not all pay)
JanFields: Well, I hate to teach and run, but my honey is playing alarm clock...he keeps telling me what time it is
JanFields: I guess he misses me
JanFields: Or maybe he misses his computer
Dani257: No, you. Think romantically
JanFields: Yes, we've only been married a month, Dani...I am betting it is me
Don_S_: I like that - think romantically.
JanFields: Besides he is calling out the time from the bedroom
Marianne__: LOL!
Harazin: Thanks again Jan
Dani257: Bye, Jan. Thanks a lot
DonaV: Thanks Jan!
Windy2u: Thanks Jan...
ElinorRigb: It was great, Jan
JanFields: It was fun
Don_S_: Thanks Jan.
Harazin: Thanks Jan
ElinorRigb: Great job, Jan. Enjoyed it.
woolfff: Great workshop, Jan.
Dani257: Yes, I loved it
JanFields: Thank you
ElinorRigb: Bye, room. Bye Verla.
DonaV: Great workshop, Jan!
Marianne__: Thanks so much, Jan!
JanFields: You are welcome..thanks for listening
Windy2u: Thanks again Jan...go grab him!
JanFields: Ta ta
Verla: Well, hug him for us and tell him we are SO thankful he shared you tonight, jan...
Marianne__: Bye, Jan, thanks
JanFields: bye
Windy2u: She's great!
Harazin: Good workshop
Marianne__: Well, I certainly got something out of it!
Windy2u: Night all...
Verla: GREAT workshop...she gives such wonderful ones....great ideas!
Verla: I'm all fired up again.
Marianne__: (:)
----------- END OF WORKSHOP ---------
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