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Sunoasis X 2005 V2 Issue 3
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David Eide
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Mar 30, 2005 20:00 PST
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S U N O A S I S X 2 0 0 5
Volume 2 Issue 3
March 2005
"There is so much to be said in favor of modern journalism.
By giving us the opinions of the uneducated it keeps us in
touch with the ignorance of the community."
-- Oscar Wilde
_____________________T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
1) [Professional Notes- Getting Assignments]
2) [Resource Notes]
3) [Markets and Leads: Science publications]
4) [C/Oasis- new stories]
5) [New Forms of Publishing]
6) [The Free Media ]
7) [Community]
8) [Etc/Etc/Etc]
http://www.sunoasis.com/sunoasisblog.html
Switch to the online version right now!
http://www.sunoasis.com/honor.html
I'm not charging for subscriptions but will use the Amazon
Honor System. I like to think I'm more like PBS than CBS.
Enjoy this issue! Forward any comments to:
eide-@earthlink.net
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WHAT IF YOUR WRITING DID MORE THAN JUST EARN YOU A
SIX-FIGURE INCOME? What if it could also help 3 million
people in 29 countries get access to clean drinking water
or protect 160,000 acres of timberland in Tennessee
and Oregon
Click here to learn more:
http://www.thewriterslife.com/fundraising/soc6/
__________________P R O F E S S I O N A L N O T E S
The wise man says, "We are here to learn." Fine. One of
the better lessons I learned when I started freelance
writing was, "be prepared." I was asked to chair a
session of a large trade show and convention by the
editor of the magazine I was writing for. I got the
bright idea to query the editor of Popular Science
because new technology would be on display at the
trade show. Would he be interested?
I sent the query and got prepared for the convention.
The query slipped my mind. And a day before I left to go,
the editor from Popular Science called me. I didn't have
a list on my desk, I was caught off-guard.
I stammered through a few minutes trying to convince him
that I could get something interesting for his magazine.
"What sort of new technology is going to be featured?"
"Well, um, they'll probably have the new O-rings for
big turbines. Energy efficiency you know?"
Nothing was produced from that exchange and the whole thing
nagged at me days on end.
Since that time I have always kept a list on my desk
of any questions or answers that may come at me by way
of the telephone.
I'm reminded of these things every time a person writes me
and asks, "I just want to make some money writing....how do
I get assignments?"
Ultimately your success in getting an assignment comes down
to your relation with the editor, clips, timing, and luck.
A professional writer should look at her writing and write
down three or four key words that mark that writing. Out of
those key words come valuable hints for searching possible
markets. For instance, in looking over my own writing I
come up with these keywords, "writing resource" "solar
power" "literary" "political opinion" "media employment." I
now have some context to further search for writing markets.
There are five basic ways to get an assignment:
1- Query
2- Referral
3- Answering ads
4- Getting an assignment directly from an editor.
5- Online auctions
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Query<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
What would a writer do without the query? It is a simple,
effective way to put an idea in front of an editor and
convince him that you are the person for the job. And
before you start to write a query consult the links in the
resource box below for samples and detailed analysis of how
to do them effectively.
There are all kinds of reasons why to send a query rather
than a finished piece of writing. For one thing, an editor
wants to "work with a writer." What if the editor wants
something changed or done differently? The query makes that
a more flexible option.
A finished piece can also communicate something bad to the
editor. "Hmm, this piece is being shopped around. It's been
rejected somewhere and now coming to me." Not a good
impression.
Look at it from the editor's point of view. She's inundated
with paper on her desk or e-mails on her screen. She
develops this strong instinct to eliminate as much as she
can. And so she looks at the queries very quickly. Does
something jump out and grab her? Does something connect to
a subject that is suddenly hot in her coverage area? Is the
query professional?
Anything less than that she will probably eliminate. And
so a perfectly good idea by a good writer could go down
the tubes.
Don't be the amateur who begs for attention. Ball your idea
up into a fist and hit the editor's mind with it.
The query is a kind of controlled mayhem. You are trying
to dazzle the editor in a very short space so take some
poetic skills with you when you begin one.
* * * * * * * * *
Be prepared: The editor could call you at home and discuss
your proposal. Know the article you plan to write in all
its possibilities.
Remember that editors are hungry for new and interesting
content. Hungry? More like ravenous. A writer needs to
believe that the story he is proposing is that new and
scintillating content. Time will tell but the psychological
game involved is important.
* * * * * * * * *
Let's focus on one of several factors that go into making
a good query: the slant.
I imagine the slant to be a line that intersects between
an idea and a series of possibilities that puts the idea
into motion. The idea of writing about the war in Iraq
is one thing. Why? What? It must be met with another line;
Iraqi soldiers who have split loyalties, for instance. Or,
the impact on the price of oil. Every idea must meet
with this intersecting line. Any idea I put down on a
piece of paper has several lines through it, indicating
a structure for the idea that will exclude something but
include other things. These intersecting lines can land
in fascinating places.
If you draw this on a piece of paper you will notice that
two intersecting lines create four co-ordinates; space
that can be filled with more ideas.
Training in journalism is very helpful. What is newsworthy?
What is the story behind the story? Why is that person not
talking to the press? Is that a hint of bribery I smell over
there?
We say it again and again, "editors want fresh ideas! Get
them and support the idea with research and excellent
writing and you will have a freelance writing career."
As writer Lisa Cool puts it, "...a good pitch letter sells
an editor on you- not just this one article."
The query tells the editor that you've looked at his
magazine, that you know your topic, you are familiar with
the territory and you will approach it like a pro.
* * * * * * * * *
http://www.gottawritenetwork.com/Articles.htm
Are electronic queries any different? Not really. What is
different is whether the publication is digital or print.
The digital publication is going to want a faster-paced
writing, with bulleted lists, chunked paragraphs and the
other de rigueur of online writing.
Make sure you look at the ways editors accept queries.
It's important to understand that editors judge manuscripts
using different criteria. These can be summarized as:
Content, the readability of the piece, and its possible
public impacts. Keep these in mind as you read back issues
of a magazine and formulate ideas to submit.
http://www.sunoasis.com/freelancetrendspotting.html
I do recommend looking at the article I wrote last year on
trendspotting.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Referral<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Writing is a lonely, singular activity. But publishing is a
contact sport. Editors and writers network. Editors,
especially, worry that the person they are dealing with is
unreliable and feel good if someone they trust has
recommended a new writer.
This happens a lot in trade publications and in business
writing. Editors like to believe they are on top of what is
going on in the publishing industry and believe they will
come across all the talented, savvy writers out there ready
to provide wonderful copy.
Make yourself available. It's no different from networking
when you are looking for a normal job. Let people know who
you are and what you can do.
One of the best ways to get an assignment is to know a
writer who has been published and have him or her put a good
word in for you with the editor. Believe it or not this
works. In fact, I've heard editors say they prefer this
because they trust writers who do good work for them and
know they won't jeopardize the relationship.
Internet forums, mailing lists, and message boards are
places where editors will troll for talent. Remember to be
prepared and to be resourceful on the Net. You never know
who is watching.
Make sure no one lies on your behalf and tells an editor you
can do something you really can't.
It makes sense to go on message boards and schmooze a bit.
Certainly take in local writing conferences and talk with
people.
Get into local writer's groups and make sure they are listed
in Chamber of Commerce directories.
Get yourself known by reference librarians because business
will often call them and ask for local writers.
>>>>>>>>>>>>Answering Ads<<<<<<<<<<<<<
I like to tell the tale of my first freelance writing
assignment. I noticed a small ad in the local newspaper. It
had a phone number, I called it, and for one year wrote
articles for a large book project. The book was a national
bestseller, the people were eccentric and the money was
good. That small, obscure ad opened doors and windows
without question.
Even though this is a popular way to find writing jobs our
experience is that the pickings are slim. Read the ad
carefully and make sure it sounds right to you, that it
spells out what you will do and has an actual address
rather than a post office box.
Sometimes companies or individuals who submit ads are not
experienced with writers. They have not developed a vigorous
network to pluck out writers when the need arises.
My advice to writers is to always go after an assignment
with vigor but ask questions and be skeptical of who you
are dealing with. Get everything in writing. Go online and
check out the reputation of the publication or organization
you are dealing with.
The most questionable ads want ten or fifteen examples of
your writing. I can remember one incident in the late 90's
when an "editor" simply took a bunch of submitted material
and sold it to the market under her name. Another thing to
understand is that some of the businesses looking for
freelance writers have little experience in hiring them.
Be prepared to make them understand all the work that goes
into a project.
What's shocking to me is how people believe that the
internet job notices will bring them the best freelance
opportunities. I've been running a job board for some years
now and while I have posted freelance jobs it represents
only a fraction of the assignments available.
Certainly, if you run into an ad that looks appealing to you
check it out and so on. But, the best way to get assignments
is to cold call on editors through email or regular mail and
offer up a letter and query. Get into the network by
demonstrating your talent and reliability.
| | | | | | | | | | | | >>>>>>>>>Getting called for assignments<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
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Ah, this is the moment when you know you've done some good
in the world. This is the moment when you have crossed the
threshold and made a mark. You will eventually get phone
calls from editors and offered assignments if you have
followed these simple rules:
1- Completed assignments on time.
2- Wrote what the editor wanted you to write.
3- Worked with the editor, not against her.
4- Did original work with interesting slants and resourceful
facts to back everything up.
The editor of a trade publication is the most likely to call
a writer for an assignment.
In any phone conversation with an editor be prepared to
discuss the angle of attack you are going to take, the
length, the tone of the piece, and so on. These are all items
you should list out and place on your desk for easy reference.
Be prepared.
When the editor is calling you for assignments it means that
the magazine will probably, not always, pick up legitimate
expenses, and guarantees some form of payment even if it's
a "kill fee."
A deadline is then set. Depending on the experience of the
editor she will either have an absolute deadline when all
the pieces of the magazine need to be collected, or will
set a deadline with a few weeks wiggle room. The editor
who does this is smart and realizes things can happen in
the making of an article, especially if it demands
complex research.
Once you agree to the terms she will usually send you a
letter of agreement or, even, a formal contract. Some
append an outline of what you talked about over the phone.
Make sure you stay within the parameters of the outline.
Develop criteria about how you accept assignments. Don't
accept something that is going to make you spend precious
time you could spend in more profitable pursuits. Writers
do turn down assignments from time to time.
Keep the editor informed if there is a problem with the
piece. Don't just disappear and let the deadline pass hoping
she won't notice. She will notice. And she will put the word
out that you are unreliable.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Online Auctions<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
These are competitors to the ad marketplace. The problem is
that there will always be writers willing to work for less
than yourself. And, on the other end, you have people who
don't know anything about writing and can't judge the
quality of this writer or that writer and simply hires
someone who will work for less.
Bid to the level of your expertise. There is no reason
to take a job below the price you can get elsewhere.
There seems to be two common complaints about online
auctions like guru.com or elance.com. One is that it's
difficult developing relationships with clients since the
jobs are usually short in duration. The jobs, too, are
usually put on there by people who have budget problems and
figure writers will bid down on projects to get them.
Nonetheless, there are contract jobs available and people
do use them quite a bit.
* * * * * * * * *
The bottom-line is to work every angle you can. By doing so
you will eliminate some techniques that don't work for you
and focus on the ones that do.
I've heard of writers developing a list of articles or links
to articles they've written. In fact, I've had these sent to
me as an editor of C/Oasis. If you have articles that can be
re-printed, develop a list and send it to editors with a
cover letter and order form. It works primarily in the trade
magazines.
The key in this racket is to justify long periods of
research with many articles that can be resold to multiple
markets.
* * * * *
Gleanings:
How many books "on writing" actually deliver the goods?
I have found precious few. I'm reading one now that, as
the old-timers would say, "has a lot to recommend it."
The Journalist's Craft, A Guide to Writing Better Stories
is edited by Dennis Jackson and John Sweeney.
In it a variety of journalists tell the stories of how they
write and why they write. "...there is music in
fine prose."
The book is a celebration of story-telling. And isn't
everything reduced to a story? We tell each other stories!
It's never been different. Our modern stories have more
facts and figures stuck in them but they are still stories.
For those slaving over a query letter consult the "Ten Pre-
Proposal Checks" by Amanda Bennett.
Also check out the latest issue of Poets and Writers. It
features an article by a character named Johnny Temple.
He's a rock musician and founder of the independent
press, Akashic Books. He urges writers to take up their
own cause and promote themselves.
It is both the best of times and worst of times for the
writing tribe. Read this article with your eyes wide-open.
"...writers should embrace the hard work that is now
required to promote their books." So saith Mr. Temple. And
I think he's onto something.
The best place to get to as a writer? Afraid of nothing
but curious of everything. The magic begins at that moment.
______________________________R E S O U R C E N O T E S
Query Letters:
http://www.bustersbookshelf.com/writing.htm
Writing a Bulletproof Article Query by Laura Backes
http://www.paullima.com/networds/query.html
21 Rules for Writing Stellar Query Letters by Paul Lima
http://makeashorterlink.com/?P2C6238CA
Carolyn Dekat has an extensive article on and ins and outs
of preparing non-fiction article writing. Recommended.
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/pubquery.htm
Sample query for a book.
http://www.agentquery.com/writer_hq.aspx
Advice in preparing a query to agents.
http://www.powernet.net/~scrnplay/Queryletterbk.html
Sample and good advice about the query letter.
http://www.sunoasis.com/research.html
Check out the Sunoasis Research page. It's been upgraded
and designed for writers and journalists.
******** advertisement********
http://makeashorterlink.com/?E2D6228CA
Read Nick Usborne's review of Bob Bly's course, "Selling
Yourself as a Copywriter - How to Earn $100,000 a Year".
******** advertisement********
=========================
For Freelancers Only:
=========================
http://makeashorterlink.com/?S4E6248CA
Freelance writers are reaching a settlement with publishers
including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and
Time Inc. in a copyright infringement case involving work
posted online.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?W207126CA
A sportswriter makes a case for freelance writing. He
includes all the usual stuff: multiply the distribution
channel for each article, one assignment should result in
more than one story, keep on top of relations with editors,
etc etc.
http://www.everyonewhosanyone.com/
This is a very odd site by a writer who posts his letters
to editors and agents but in the process has developed a
decent market list.
http://www.anthologiesonline.com/
Anthologies Online
http://www.ewritersplace.com/a417.php
The Wows and Woes of a Freelancer
http://freecontent.janktheproofer.com/BeaProofreader.htm
Do you want to be a freelance proofreader?
http://www.the-efa.org/Code2.html
A code of fair practice for freelancers.
____________________________________________C R A F T
http://www.etymonline.com/
Online Etymology Dictionary
http://members.aol.com/MacedonPg/writing.htm
The Craft of Writing
http://members.aol.com/Raven763/Article31Rejections.html
The reasons for rejections
http://makeashorterlink.com/?U227626CA
Concrete writing
______________W R I T I N G O R G A N I Z A T I O N S
http://www.aasfe.org/
American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors
http://www.adbusters.org/home/
Adbusters
http://www.ap.org/
The Associated Press
http://www.inma.org/
International Newspaper Marketing Association
http://www.nppa.org/
National Press Photographers Association
http://people-press.org/
The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
http://www.naww.org/
National Association of Women Writers
http://www.sabew.org/
Society of American Business Editors and Writers
______________________________P U B L I S H I N G
http://makeashorterlink.com/?O147656CA
Read about the 2005 National Magazine Award finalists.
https://webmail.pas.earthlink.net/wam/index.jsp?x=1867981506
The story of a young publisher in San Diego.
http://www.greenbay.co.uk/advice.html
Advice on Self-publishing
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/13/134613.php
A primer on self-publishing from the hub of self-publishing,
Rochester, New York.
__________________________M A R K E T S A N D L E A D S
SCIENCE MAGAZINES: Make sure you locate the
editor of a magazine, contact her and request a sample copy
and writer guidelines. If you think you have a story for
her, send an excellent query. Search back issues and try to
understand the type of articles the editor looks for.
We provide the guidelines or mail addresses and phone
number of the publications when available.
http://www.americanarchaeology.org/aatoc.html
American Archaeology
Pays $700-$1500 for feature article
www.archaeology.org
Archaeology
Pays $1500 per feature article
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/contactus1/
Popular Science
www.sciam.com
Scientific American
Pays $1 per word
www.stardate.org
Stardate
Pays $500-$1500 per article
www.weatherwise.org
Weatherwise
Pays $200-$500 for articles
==========================================
Don't hesitate to tell us what you are looking for:
http://www.sunoasis.com/oasisfeedback.html
There is an index of writer guidelines here:
http://www.sunoasis.com/sunoasismarkets.html
| | | | | | | | | | | | >>>>>>>>>>Job Openings<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
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Editor
Location: West Chester, PA
QVC, Inc., a $5.5 billion company, is an e-commerce
leader and we are in search of an action/results oriented,
hands-on, self-motivated organized and seasoned Editor
for QVC s Information Services Division.
For Full Ad:
http://www.sunoasis.com/qvc9.html
__________________________________________________________
Assistant editor wanted for financial letter
Location: New York, NY
America Surrounded!
Growing publishing company in need of assistant editor
for its publication New America Investor.
For full ad go here:
http://www.sunoasis.com/newamericanin.html
___________________________________________________________
Copywriter
Location: New York City
ACD-Copy, RX Pharmaceutical, Interactive
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Avenue e has an opening for an Associate Creative Director
(Copywriter).
This person will have responsibilities overseeing the
creative product on major pharmaceutical interactive
accounts. The ACD must have strong oral/written
communication, presentation skills, strong conceptualization
skills, experience managing multiple projects, interfacing
with clients and in developing creative solutions.
For full ad go here:
http://www.sunoasis.com/avenuee.html
___________________________________________________________
Writer/Editor
Location: Washington D.C.
Advancement Project, a national racial justice organization,
seeks a senior level writer/editor to join our
communications team in the Washington, D.C. office. We are
seeking an experienced writer/editor to produce a broad
spectrum of written materials.
http://www.sunoasis.com/advancement.html
____________________________________________C / O A S I S
http://www.sunoasis.com/faredodging.html
Fare-Dodging in Angola by Brendan Sainsbury
Picture the scene.
Benguela, Angola on a stiflingly hot Saturday morning in
October. It's 10 o'clock and Josera and I are tramping
through the dusty, sun-bleached streets with a detectable
sense of purpose.
http://www.sunoasis.com/secondencounter.html
Second Encounter By Xujun Eberlein
The shadow of the building has shifted from west to east.
http://www.sunoasis.com/whitespace.html
White Space By Gary Lehmann
Most pages of poetry consist of 99% white space and only 1%
print, and yet, critics for centuries have focused 100% of
their attention on the smallest aspect of poetry on a page.
It’s time to discuss white space.
| | | | | | | | | | | | >N e w f o r m s o f p u b l i s h i n g<<<<<<
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http://www.vnunet.com/news/1161773
The Internet surpassed radio as a source for political news
last year during the presidential election campaign, says a
new survey. Television remained the dominant medium for most
voters.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?J667266CA
Americans with broadband chose the Internet over newspapers
during the last presidential election as their primary news
source, says a survey by the Pew Internet & American Life
Project.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?G177126CA
Paul Maidment, executive editor of Forbes magazine: "People
are turning away from print and to the Web, because
essentially too much in those newspapers doesn't bear on
their life at all."
http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050324paul/
Has the internet fulfilled its promise as a news source?
http://www.journalism.co.uk/profiles/profile15.shtml
The London Times has its own take on blogging and the
new world of digital publishing.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?A287546CA
A judge has ruled that three blogs who published leaked
information from Apple must reveal their sources. A lawsuit
could quickly shut down most blogs, which are often
shoestring operations.
http://www.netimperative.com/2005/03/29/web_reach/view
The Internet now has even greater reach than magazines, says
a study from the American Press Institute. Web sites reach
51% of people, while magazines have a 42% reach.
| | | | | | | | | | | | >>>>>>>>> t h e f r e e p r e s s <<<<<<<<<<<<<
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http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05088/479138.stm
We wrote about legal quandaries last month. Here's a follow-
up on a story that should be a concern to writers, certainly
the media. The Supreme Court let stand, "without comment"
a defamation suit brought by two politicians.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?G5F6168CA
A call for more civil discourse in the media.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?S5A7626CA
The Washington Post and 50 media giants are in a legal
battle against an ex-UN official who claims he was wronged
by the Post's Web site. The case could test libel and
defamation laws.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?J2D7126CA
Journalism is reverting to partisan coverage, writes Kurt
Andersen. Bloggers are "a second-tier journalistic species,"
but "will be absorbed and then transmuted by larger media
entities."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?D4F7126CA
Young people are never far away from "instant visual
stimulation" -- television, video games, DVDs. Our
"distracted teens" no longer have the "spare time to
reflect, to think long-range thoughts."
_______________________________________C O M M U N I T Y
Applications are being accepted for the 2005 Kurt Schork
Awards in International Journalism. Two prizes worth
US$5,000 each will be awarded to a freelance journalist
covering foreign news and a reporter in a developing nation
or country in transition.
See the Tips Page for more information:
http://www.sunoasis.com/tips.html
* * * * * * * * *
APRIL 21-24, 2005 Travel Classics will conduct its first
international writers’ conference, at the Park Hotel
Kenmare in County Kerry, Ireland, April 21-24, featuring
keynote speaker Mark Orwoll, executive editor/International,
American Express Publishing and senior consulting editor,
Travel + Leisure. Registration is now open for this
conference, which will be limited to 35 writers on a space
available basis. Details:
http://www.travelclassics.com
APRIL 16-17, 2005 BETTER BYLINES, BIGGER BUCKS: SECRETS TO
SUCCESSFUL FREELANCE WRITING attracts hundreds of freelance
writers every year. Writers will hear inside information
from editors, agents and publishers, find inspiration, and
gain income-boosting ideas. Details:
http://www.asja.org
APRIL 23-24, 2005 The 10th annual Los Angeles Times
Festival of Books celebrates the written word through panel
discussions, poetry readings, cooking demonstrations, book
signing and music. The Festival affords book lovers the
chance to meet best-selling authors, publishers and other
literary figures. Details:
http://www.latimes.com/events
APRIL 29-30, 2005 THE NEW YORK ROUNDTABLE WRITERS
CONFERENCE,
Small Press Center (West 44th Street / NYC), All day.
Top editors, savvy agents, publicists, bestselling authors,
and publishers from top houses offer advice and tips on how
to get published in the competitive market of 2005.
Details:
http://www.smallpress.org
APRIL 29-MAY 1, 2005 THE SECOND ANNUAL GREAT AMERICAN
PITCHFEST
(Sheraton Universal in Los Angeles)
Helps aspiring writers and producers sell their ideas for
movies, TV shows, sitcoms, and documentaries to film and
television decision makers. Details:
http://www.pitchfest.com
APRIL 30, 2005 QUEENS BOOK FAIR will be held at the
Jamaica Farmers Market Harvest Room located at 90-40 160th
Street, Jamaica, New York. Details:
http://www.cbbooksdistribution.com
_______________________________________E T C/ E T C/ E T C
Editor/Publisher: David Eide
Sunoasis X 2005 is fully protected by copyright.
Please ask permission if you are going to use any or
all of this publication.
Reprint rights belong to the authors.
Contact them if you wish to use their material.
Unauthorized use of any material is strictly
forbidden.
Our hope is that we can help and enhance the world
of writing, publishing, and editing.
**********************************************
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