~~Hedgehopping~~
*For beginning writers who write for children*

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IN THIS ISSUE:
~~Debbie's Desk
~~Article: Writer's Guidelines: Are
They Worth the SASE?
~~Article: Journals: Idea Catchers for Writers
~~NEW! Featured Site
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Debbie's Desk
~~~~~~~~
Hello again, everyone! And welcome to all the new
subscribers out there. We are growing everyday,
and have received some very encouraging letters.

I have added something new this month.
In each issue we will have a Featured Site that I hope
will help you out in your search for information for the
beginner.

This month it is The Institute of Children's Literature.
They are a super school and live up to all the promises
they make in their ads and on their web site. So
take a look and let me know what you think.

And also let me know what you think about this issue.
If you have any suggestions on how I could improve
anything, just drop me a line.
And, as usual, thanks to all of you for your continued
support.
Happy Reading!
Debbie
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Writer's Guidelines:
Are They Worth the SASE?
by
Debbie Stauffer

With the rising cost of postage, many of us may be tempted to
skip the process of sending off for writer's guidelines. If you have
your Writer's Market, you already know everything about your
intended market, right?
Well, yes and no.
Writer's Market or Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market
both give you a list of publishers, and enough information to narrow
your search for the perfect market for your submission. They tell
you which magazines accept fiction, which ones are looking for
sports stories, and both will point you in the right direction if
you are looking for religious markets.
But, writer's guidelines are more like a personal interview with
the editor. He sits you down and spells out exactly what he is looking
for in a much more detailed way than what they have room for in
the market guides.
For instance, the listing in Children's Writer's and Illustrator's
Market for Pockets Magazine, tells us it is a "Christian devotional
magazine for children ages 6-12," with the average word length
being 800-1400 words. But, while reading over the writer's guidelines
from Pockets, I find, "Please note: We are now publishing one story
for younger children in each issue, written for 5-7 year olds. It should
be no more than 800 words."
That little bit of information could be just what it takes to get
your foot in the door at Pockets.
Other things I find in the guidelines that are not in the Children's
Writer's and Illustrator's Market are:
1 Each issue is built around a theme, and themes are set each year
in December.
2. They particularly need articles about children involved in environmental,
community, and peace/justice issues.
3. They have an annual fiction contest with a prize of $1,000.00.
And keep in mind, these are just the EXTRAS from one magazine.
For every listing in the market guides, you can probably find twice as
much information in their guidelines.
Twice as much information may just double your chances of
selling your work to them. Or, in the case of Pockets Magazine,
double your chances of winning a contest with some serious prize
money. So you might spend .66 and come out with $999.34.
Are writer's guidelines worth the SASE? I'd say so, wouldn't you?

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Journals:
Idea Catchers for Writers
by
Debbie Stauffer

Sooner or later, once word gets out that you are a writer,
someone will ask, "Where do you get your ideas?" And, as
you know, ideas are everywhere. If your mind is open, ideas
will constantly be rushing in and swirling around inside your
head.
The real problem is finding a way to keep them from rushing
right back out, never to be heard from again. This is when you
discover that keeping a journal is the perfect way to catch those
ideas and set them down on paper until you know what to do
with them.
I have kept journals for years, even before I knew I wanted to
be a writer. They are nothing fancy, as a matter of fact I keep
them put up and only my husband has read them. Too much
bad grammar, misspelled words and thoughts out of order to ever
be read by anyone else!
But, what I didn't realize at the time was that I was plucking
things out of thin air and capturing them forever. These snatches of
memories would be long gone if I hadn't written them down while
they were fresh on my mind.
And that is exactly why most writers keep a journal of some
kind with them at all times. It doesn't have to be anything more
than a small notepad that you keep in your purse or pocket.
Just something you can grab when an idea pops into your head.
If you think of the perfect title, write it down. It doesn't matter
whether or not you know if it's for an article, story, or book, grab
it while it's there.
Or maybe you think of the perfect name for the character
in your story. Write it down right then, don't wait. You may
think that your idea is too brilliant to ever be forgotten, but
believe me, you will forget.
I was caught just the other day without a pad of paper. I had
the perfect idea for an article I wanted to write for this newsletter,
and afterwards I couldn't remember it for the life of me. Will I
remember? I don't know. But I do know that if I had written it
down, you'd be reading it right now!
A journal is the perfect idea catcher, and like the ad for the
credit card says, "You should never leave home without it!"

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Did you know you can write opinions on products that you love or
hate, and get paid cash for useful advice? Join Epinions.com and
start earning today! My first check is already on its way!
Check out the site:
http://hedgehopping.epinions.com/welcome.html?member=Deblanells
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FEATURED SITE
~~~~~
This month's featured site is The Institute of Children's Literature.
I am still a student there and have only good things to say about
them and both of the instructors that I have worked with. This is really
worth checking out.
http://www.institutechildrenslit.com
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Don't forget to visit the Hedgehopping web site!
http://homestead.com/Hedgehopping/index.html
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That's all we have for you this time. I hope you enjoyed this
issue and please feel free to forward it to anyone who you know
that might be interested in joining us.
See you in April!
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