Saturday, April 24, 2010

Third day

THE THIRD DAY of the NFL Draft was sort of anticlimactic for me. For the three days, the Dolphins wound up drafting about four linebackers, a defensive lineman, an offensive lineman and two defensive backs. And I had never heard of any of them before Thursday.

This may be a great draft, or it may be a stinker. There's no way to tell.

It was interesting that the Dolphins announced that Randy Starks will be moved to nose guard. That came out of left field. I wonder why they didn't do that when Jason Ferguson was hurt last year.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Second day

THE DOLPHINS STILL haven't picked anyone I'd heard of before the NFL Draft. Jared Odrick (Penn State DE) yesterday and Koa Misi (Utah LB) today. Misi fills a need at rush linebacker, but I wonder what they were thinking with Odrick. Unless Odrick can play nose guard, they still need a nose guard and a safety.

Here's a Palm Beach story on why the Dolphins picked Odrick in the first round. Sounds like he could play nose guard.

They have a third-round pick left tonight and several picks tomorrow. Some of those guys probably won't make the team.

They did it again, drafting John Jerry (Ole Miss OG), another player I'd never heard of. And they still need a nose guard and a safety. Sigh. I hope he's a good guard.

What happened?

I'M STILL TRYING to digest what happened in the first round of the NFL Draft. Jimmy Clausen, Mel Kiper's boy, wasn't drafted. Tim Tebow, not Mel's boy, went 25th to Denver. To Kiper's credit, he said he'll root for Tebow even though he hadn't pegged him to go that high.

My team, the Dolphins, picked a Penn State defensive tackle I never heard of, Jared Odrick. I'm still looking for information on him.

The Raiders took a responsible pick (LB Rolando McClain, Alabama), which surprised me. I expected something off the wall.

The 49ers did a nice job with two solid offensive linemen.

I'm curious to see where Colt McCoy (Texas) and Clausen (Notre Dame) go today. And who the Dolphins take.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Talking baseball: Phil will wait



Years ago, my friend Todd
and I were rushing to Atlanta for a Braves game, and we were late. To calm him down, I told him that Phil Niekro would hold the first pitch until we got there. It quickly became a game for us.

Phil will wait.


We drove about 80 miles from western South Carolina, got through Atlanta, paid our parking fee, rushed up and bought outfield tickets, and ran to our seats in centerfield.


Niekro, rubbing the ball in his glove, turned to us and appeared satisfied that we were there. Then he turned toward the plate to throw the game's first pitch.


Play ball!


(Not surprisingly, the first pitch was a knuckleball.)



******
I first became a baseball fan in 1969. The folks I knew in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia were making fun of the Baltimore Orioles, who had won a ton of games that year but lost to the New York Mets in the World Series.

The O's were considered failures, even though they lost to a team that won 100 games in the regular season. So I became an Orioles fan.


I remember the great satisfaction when I got on the school bus in October of 1970 and heard that the O's had beaten the Cincinnati Reds four games to one in the Series.



******
I just learned that Mickey Mantle hit his 500th career home run against the Orioles in 1967. You can see it on YouTube.

It was hard for an O's fan to watch the Yankee fans celebrating, but I liked Mantle, too.


******
The Orioles' recent season ended with a thud, as they lost to the Royals in four straight. In fact, my favorite National League team, the St. Louis Cardinals, lost to the eventual champions, the San Francisco Giants. Ironically, I went into the playoffs hoping the Orioles and Cards wouldn't play in the World Series. No chance of that.

It was a terrible end to a great season. Now I'm looking forward to March.



******
I've enjoyed the Baltimore Orioles' season immensely, as they recently swept the Detroit Tigers in the divisional round of the American League playoffs. They'll play the Royals in the AL championship series.

I was trying to remember the last time I enjoyed the Orioles this much. It had to be 1983, the last time they won the World Series. I was so happy then that I didn't know what to do.


I've rooted for the Orioles since they lost to the Mets in the 1969 World Series. They've been to the World Series four times since then, and I've come away happy twice (1970 and '83).



******
I was a big fan of Mickey Mantle when I was a kid; that was pretty common. All of the black kids who lived nearby swore by Willie Mays. We were both right, I guess. They were terrific baseball players.

There's a story in the NY Times today about Mantle. The writer had met Mantle years ago and was disillusioned by the man, who was nothing like the legend. She wound up writing a book about him, and I'm interested in reading it.

I can understand her feelings. As a former sports writer, I've met a few of my heroes, and they often weren't what I expected. Sadly.

******
Jim Kaat and Greg Maddux might have been the best defensive pitchers I've watched, but Mark Beurhle of the Chicago White Sox made one of the greatest plays of all time.

It appeared that a batted ball hit Beurhle on the leg and bounced toward foul territory. Beurhle ran past the Cleveland Indians baserunner, snagged the ball with his glove (on his right hand) and flipped it between his legs to the first baseman, who caught it with his bare hand.


It might have been the best play I've ever seen. It'll be hard to beat that on highlight reels.



******
I never realized there was so much to know about the on-deck circle until I read this story in the N.Y. Times. Some major leaguers stay in the on-deck circle, and others stray far from it.

I like the idea used by little leaguers; have the guy in the on-deck circle face the batter's back. Less chance of getting hurt.


I do wonder, though, how much advantage a hitter can get by moving closer to the catcher. If it weren't an advantage, they wouldn't do it.



******
If you're a baseball fan, you might check out the Baseball Almanac online. I didn't realize that someone hit 36 triples in a season (Chief Wilson) or 309 triples in a career (Sam Crawford). Wow! Two American Leaguers had 26 triples in a season, Crawford and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.

By the way, I just found this quote about Jackson: "I copied (Shoeless JoeJackson's style because I thought he was the greatest hitter I had ever seen, the greatest natural hitter I ever saw. He's the guy who made me a hitter." - Babe Ruth



******
My friend Todd and I were sitting in centerfield at Fulton County Stadium, and we were rooting for the players we could see best, centerfielders Brett Butler of the Braves and George Hendrick of the Cardinals.

They were both good centerfielders, but Hendrick was slightly distracted.


At one point, Hendrick was leaning against the wall and talking to some girls in the outfield seats. Suddenly, we all heard the crack of the bat! Hendrick turned, said something we couldn't hear and raced toward the infield. He made a diving catch near the infield, turning a little flare to the outfield into an adventure.


Butler took a more traditional approach to playing the outfield.


According to Wikipedia, the 60-year-old Hendrick is a coach for the Tampa Bay Rays. In 1997, Butler released an autobiography called Field of Hope: An Inspiring Autobiography of a Lifetime of Overcoming Odds.



******
I saw a story the other day on the greatest centerfielders ever, and they listed Willie MaysJoe DiMaggioMickey MantleJunior Griffey and Jim Edmunds. Great defensive players all, but I'd add the Orioles' Paul Blair and the Cardinals' (and Orioles') Andy Van Slyke.

It's hard to name just five of anything when you're talking about baseball. Now, with catchers, I'd start with Johnny Bench and add...



******
In the 1970s, I was watching a baseball game in my room, and my mother came in and asked who was pitching. She wouldn't have known more than one or two pitchers, and they would have had to be Baltimore Orioles.

I'm an O's fan, but the Orioles weren't playing. I think it was the Astros and Reds.

"It's Joaquin Andujar and Santo Alcala," I said absentmindedly.

"You're kidding," she replied.

"Do you think I could make up names like Joaquin Andujar and Santo Alcala?" said I.


*******
I always knew that Bob Feller was a special baseball player, even though I never saw him pitch. Because of his age (92), I'd been expecting him to die for awhile; he finally did today.

I knew that Rapid Robert threw three no-hitters for the Cleveland Indians, but I learned today that he threw the only no-hitter on opening day.

EMAIL: tgilli52@gmail.com  TWITTER: EDITORatWORK



BLOG ENTRIES FROM THE AUTO RACING JOURNAL
(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)
(the book of great NASCAR stories)

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Magazine markets

DATABASES OF WRITER'S GUIDELINES

Freelance Writers

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

Aurealis, Australia

Australian fantasy and science fiction magazine. Looking for science fiction, fantasy or horror short stories between 2000 and 8000 words. Pays $20 to $60 per 1,000 words, but assume the lower rate for unsolicited submissions. Open to submissions during two reading periods: Feb. 1 to April 7 and Aug. 1 to Oct. 31.

Australian Yoga Life, Australia

Magazine and web site designed to be a complete source for yoga in Australia. Not linked to any one style or school of yoga. Welcomes contributions from yoga practitioners.  Pays up to $500 for articles of up to 2,500 words.



Room Magazine, Canada

Quarterly literary journal by and about women. Accepting original short stories, poems, creative non-fiction, and art. Room publishes original work by women. Pays $50 for up to 2 pages, $60 for 3 pages, $80 for 4 pages, $100 for 5 pages, $120 for 6+ pages, and $250 for cover art.




National magazine aimed at the avid home gardener. Readers are city gardeners with tiny lots, country gardeners with rolling acreage, indoor gardeners, rooftop gardeners, and enthusiastic beginners and experienced veterans.Fees range from $125 and up for short news items, reviews, or how-to pieces (200 to 400 words), to $350 and up for features (about 500 to 2,000 words). 

The ezine of The New Fly Fisher television series.  Features should fit the following categories: Personal fly fishing experience in specific destinations; Tactics and techniques in fly fishing and tying; How to target specific species; Famous fly fishers/tyers and teachers of fly fishing/tying. Pays up to $400 for major features (2,200 to 3,500 words) with supporting photos and graphics, and $100 to $200 for shorter pieces.


A literary review publishing fiction, non-fiction, reportage, memoir, travel writing, literary essays, humour, documentary and themed photographic essays, photography, art and poetry from and about Asia. Non-paying market.

Business Plus, Ireland
Business magazine published 11 times a year and focusing exclusively on the activities of Irish companies or companies based in Ireland.  Paying market.

The Diplomat, Japan
An international current-affairs magazine for the Asia-Pacific region. "If you seek compensation, please indicate this clearly in your pitch, and whether the article has been published elsewhere. Any payment must be agreed by the editor in advance."
 
U.S. MARKETS
A cycling magazine published nine times yearly by the Adventure Cycling Association. Dedicated to bicycle travel and cycling adventures worldwide, including epic, cross-country cycling tours, shorter multi-day trips, and mountain-bike treks, as well as featuring bicycle-gear reviews, and other bicycle-travel news. Paying market. Only accepts ideas and submissions for publication between June 1 and October 31, each year.

Analog will consider material submitted by any writer, and consider it solely on the basis of merit. We are definitely eager to find and develop new, capable writers.

We have no hard-and-fast editorial guidelines, because science fiction is such a broad field that I don't want to inhibit a new writer's thinking by imposing Thou Shalt Nots. Besides, a really good story can make an editor swallow his preconceived taboos.
Basically, we publish science fiction stories. That is, stories in which some aspect of future science or technology is so integral to the plot that, if that aspect were removed, the story would collapse. Try to picture Mary Shelley's Frankenstein without the science and you'll see what I mean. No story!

One of Atlanta's leading resources for information on business and the business lifestyle, including wealth building, technology, careers, entrepreneurship and politics. Approx. 50% freelance written. Welcomes queries from experienced freelance writers. Paying market.

An online news and information resource for working adult professionals who are returning to college to attain an undergraduate or graduate degree. Pays $55+ for original features of 1,000 to 1,500 words. Also considers reprints.

A bimonthly wild-bird magazine. Each issue has material that will appeal to the novice birder as well as the more experienced bird watcher. Paying market.

Black Belt
Martial arts publication covering all styles and their techniques, training methods, history, philosophy, and health and fitness teachings—as well as interviews with prominent practitioners. Feature articles with good photos receive $150 to $300.

A Christian-oriented magazine for boys ages 9 to 14, published seven times per year by the Calvinist Cadet Corps, a ministry of over 650 boys' clubs throughout churches in the United States and Canada. Looking for fiction stories; articles about sports, camping, athletes, or nature; craft and hobby projects; cartoons; puzzles; and illustrations. Pays $0.05 per word and up.

A lifestyle magazine that encourages and supports Catholics in a variety of life stages and circumstances. Topics include marriage, practical spirituality, parish work, parenting, grandparenting, homemaking, relationships, good looks. Features are approximately 1500 words and pay $500 upon publication (for this payment, your article may be published in any Catholic Digest publication). Last Word department pays $500 for 550-700 words.


Cruising Word publishes articles about live-aboard sailing, sailboat chartering, cruising destinations, and gear. They pay $25 to $1,000 per article. There guidelines are not freelancer friendly. For example, they ask that you submit an article exclusively to them, but do not state a time frame to expect a response. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
1859 Oregon's Magazine

A quarterly, regional lifestyle magazine covering how Oregon lives, work and plays. Topics include lifestyle, politics, business, art, homes, design, and more. Articles are written primarily by freelance writers. Payment varies from $0.30 to $0.50 per word with web-only content at a lower rate.

Monthly climbing magazine. Covers rock climbing and mountaineering, with its steep ice routes, alpine classics, and expeditions to the world's great ranges. International in score, but with a strong North American emphasis.

(The) Funny Times
The Funny Times is a monthly magazine of humor and satire in a world gone totally insane. We read thousands of cartoons in order to find and collect the "best of the best" each month

EatingWell

EatingWell prefers pitches via e-mail. Our staff is small, so it may take up to a month to get a response from an editor. If after a couple of weeks you don’t hear from us, we welcome a friendly follow-up e-mail. Describe your idea in two to three paragraphs. Be sure to explain “why now” and tell us where the story fits into the magazine. Share a bit (just a few sentences will do) about your experience: What other publications do you write for? What story topics interest you most? Please do not attach clips (we’ll request them if we want them); rather, sell us with great writing in your pitch. Even if your idea doesn’t “hit,” if your pitch is well-packaged (specifically for EatingWell) and written in a compelling way, we’ll be impressed—and likely to keep you in mind for future assignments.

Georgia Magazine According to the web site, it is the “most widely read magazine for about about Georgians.” (think Atlanta or Augusta, not the country.) They celebrate the people of Georgia, as well as Georgian history. Pay starts at $500 for features. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.


Harper's

Writers wishing to submit nonfiction to Harper’s Magazine are invited to send queries to the address below, accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The magazine will neither consider nor return unsolicited nonfiction manuscripts.

Harper’s will consider unsolicited fiction. Unsolicited poetry will not be considered or returned.


All fiction submissions and nonfiction queries must be sent by mail to:


Harper’s Magazine
666 Broadway, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10012

Narrative magazine

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2003, Narrative is dedicated to advancing literary arts in the digital age by supporting the finest writing talent and encouraging readership across generations, in schools, and around the globe. Our online library of new literature by celebrated authors and by the best new and emerging writers is available for free.



National Geographic Traveler is the world’s most widely read travel magazine. Through powerful storytelling and photography, each issue inspires curious readers with stories that show the transformative power of travel. Go beyond the usual tourist fare for authentic experiences—many from a local’s point of view—with expert advice and tips for travel that is sustainable and smart.

Northern Virginia Magazine
As with any potential job, prospective writers should do their homework. Pick up a few issues of the magazine and identify our style as well as the kinds of stories we typically publish. First and foremost, we seek profile stories (1500-1800 words) with interviews of the region’s most prominent or notable figures. Immediate attention will be paid to queries aiming to spotlight these individuals in a way that is both current and relevant to the region. Do not come to us with a story “idea” without the resources to execute it. If you want to write a profile on Mr. Prominent CEO in the region, you better have access to Mr. CEO. Contributors who are unable or unwilling to conduct interviews in person are better served elsewhere.

Old Liquors magazine
Hey there, we are looking for great content for our website Old Liquors Magazine. Think Buzzfeed meets Robb Report, Punch, Liquor.com, Decanter and Whisky Advocate. We are ambitious and are looking for equally ambitious contributors in the field of Fine Spirits and Wines, Travel, Men’s Fashion, Cars, Yachts, Private Jets, Jewellery, Watches and other related lifestyle subjects.

Orion magazine
The Orion Nature Quarterly was founded in 1982 as a program of the Myrin Institute, a private operating foundation based in New York. The magazine quickly won a devoted readership and became known for its grounding in literature, the arts, and a philosophical exploration of how we live with the natural world.



Poets & Writers
Available by subscription and on newsstands of most major bookstores, Poets & Writers Magazine reaches a national audience of 100,000 readers from emerging to established literary writers. The magazine has a strong following among both students and faculty in creative writing programs across the country. In addition, many of its readers pursue creative writing as an avocation, often pairing their literary lives with other careers.

Power for Living (375,000 annual readership/circulation) 
This weekly take-home paper for adults is filled with inspiring articles about famous and ordinary Christians whose insights demonstrate following Christ. Featuring reports on unique ministries, world missions, spiritual trends, and issues that affect families. Includes stories that are written by or about well-known authors on key faith concepts, social concerns, prayer, and much more. Well-suited as a church bulletin insert or in any doctor's waiting room. 
  
PTO Today
Magazines for leaders of parent-teacher organizations. They’re published 6 times a year. They publish articles about parental involvement, leadership, fundraising, working with school staff, etc. They pay $200 to $700 for features. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Lake Superior Magazine 
Regional magazine of the Lake Superior region. They publish photographs, cartoons, articles about people, places, and events in the region, as well as shorter articles on specific topics of interest. They pay $75 to $400 per article. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Narrative magazine
How to Send Us Your Work: We accept submissions only through our electronic submission system. We do not accept submissions through postal services or email. You may send us manuscripts for the following submission categories: General Submissions, Story of the Week, Readers’ Narrative, or a specific Contest. Your manuscript must be in one of the following file forms: .doc, .docx, .rtf, .pdf, .txt, .odf, .mp3, .mp4, .mov, and .flv.

Orion magazine
From its website: Orion’s mission is to inform, inspire, and engage individuals and grassroots organizations in becoming a significant cultural force for healing nature and community.

Providence

Journal of Christianity and American foreign policy. They cover the intersection of faith and theology with national security and foreign policy. They pay $100 for website articles, and $250-$1,000 for print articles. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Psychology Today
We are looking for good, clearly articulated feature ideas–and writers with talent to bring these ideas to life. Nearly any subject related to psychology is fair game. We value originality, insight, and good reporting.


An American general-interest family magazine, published monthly. Accepts queries for dramatic narratives, articles about everyday heroes, crime dramas, adventure stories. High-paying market. Also pays $100 for jokes and 100-word stories. See joke guidelines at www.rd.com/submit-joke and stories at www.rd.com/100-word-stories-submissions/ 

Salon

Salon covers breaking news, politics, entertainment, culture, and technology through investigative reporting, commentary, criticism, and provocative personal essays. Our articles and original videos bring a variety of voices to the discussion and make the conversation smarter.

Scientific Reports is an online, open access journal from the publishers of Nature. We publish scientifically valid primary research from all areas of the natural and clinical sciences.

Shimmer aspires to publish excellent fiction across lines of race, income, nationality, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, geography, and culture, and therefore encourages submissions of diverse stories from diverse authors. This includes, but is not limited to: people of color, LBGTQIA, women, the impoverished, the elderly, and those with disabilities. We are not interested in acquiring fiction that denigrates or perpetuates stereotypes of the above groups.


A publication that pokes fun at politics, news, relationships, food, technology, pets, work, death, environmental issues, business, religion and the human condition in general. Pays $25-$40 per cartoon and $60 for each story. 


Published quarterly, the Gettysburg Review considers unsolicited submissions of poetry, fiction, and essays, from Sept. 1 through May 31 (postmark dates). New submissions received from June 1 through Aug. 31 are returned unread. We welcome submissions of full-color graphics year round.

From Wikipedia: The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States, and the most widely read weekly journal of progressive political and cultural news, opinion and analysis. It was founded on July 6, 1865, as a successor to William Lloyd Garrison's The Liberator, with the stated mission to "make an earnest effort to bring to the discussion of political and social questions a really critical spirit, and to wage war upon the vices of violence, exaggeration, and misrepresentation by which so much of the political writing of the day is marred." It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City. It is associated with The Nation Institute.
Our goal is to remain unique, with content that provides additional perspective on the ever-evolving American scene. Before sending us a manuscript or query, look through recent issues of the Post to get an idea of the range and style of articles we publish.
The Writer is dedicated to expanding and supporting the work of professional and aspiring writers with a straightforward presentation of industry information, writing instruction and professional and personal motivation. In the pages of our magazine, writers share experiences, expertise, struggles, advice, successes and suggestions.

The Writer's Chronicle
 

In general, the editors look for articles that demonstrate an excellent working knowledge of literary issues and a generosity of spirit that esteems the arguments of other writers on similar topics. In writing essays on craft, writers are often tempted to use their own work as an example. The editors do not welcome such articles. For our readers, we provide the model of a writer reading another writer carefully and productively. Please keep in mind that 18,000 of our 35,000 readers are students or just-emerging writers. They must become expert readers before they can become accomplished writers, and we therefore expect essays on craft to show exemplary close readings of a variety of contemporary and older works. Essays must embody erudition, generosity, curiosity, and discernment rather than self-involvement. Writers may refer to their own travails and successes if they do so modestly, in small proportion to the other examples. Again, we look for a generosity of spirit—a general love and command of literature as well as an expert, writerly viewpoint—in the essays we publish.
Writer's Digest
Writer’s Digest, the No. 1 magazine for writers, celebrates the writing life and what it means to be a writer in today’s publishing environment.

EMAIL: tgilli52@gmail.com or nc3022@yahoo.com TWITTER: EDITORatWORK.


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