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Expert: - 1/21/2008


Question
I'm a very good poetry and prose writer.I've always wanted to know how to get a job or a foot in the door writing for a greeting card company.What are the steps?Also am curious what is the procedure to getting your work submitted to magazine or other publications for article work or possibly short stories.I'm totally green to all of this but love writing.Thanks for your help.

Answer
Hi, Stephanie!

Sorry for the delay in responding, but apparently I missed getting your first email. But thankfully the nice people at AllExperts told me you were waiting, so here I am.

Unfortunately, I don't know much about the greeting card industry, but I know some people who DO. So, tell you what---I'll contact them and ask what the steps are to get started in that industry and get back to you as quick as I can.

For magazine work, I have more knowledge. I actually presented a seminar on freelance magazine work for a Florida group back in 2006. If you'd like, I'd be happy to send you the lectures, which will teach you how to write a query letter and do all the things necessary to get started. If you want to reply to this with your email address, I'll get them sent to you (they're too long for these little answer boxes.)  

Hope that helps, and let me know! :)

Cathy

Careers: Writing

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Cathy Clamp

Expertise

I'm happy to answer questions about any aspect of writing articles, short stories and novels, from the beginning kernel of an idea through completion. I can help with writing a query letter and synopsis to an agent or editor. I can explain publishing terminology and acronyms. I can also assist with questions about verifying the credentials of agents/publishers and how to proceed once you've been accepted for publication. I can teach the rules of formatting a manuscript, creating viable plots, characterization and flow in the following genres: romance, science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, suspense, horror, women's fiction, mainstream and mystery. I can also answer questions about writing for major print magazines in the outdoor genre (hunting/fishing/boating/travel.)

Experience

I'm a USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance for Tor/Forge Books . Along with a co-author, I've published fifteen mass market novels since 2004, and have contracts for four more books through 2011. I've also published more than two dozen feature articles in leading outdoor magazines.

Organizations
Romance Writers of America, Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Western Outdoor Writers, Horror Writers of America, National Association of Legal Assistants.

Publications
Magazines--Guns & Ammo, Fur-Fish-Game, Rocky Mountain Game & Fish, Deer & Deer Hunting. Many others. Novels/Anthologies--Tor/Forge Books, Western Reflections Publishing, BenBella Books, Running Press, Wild Child Publishing. Many others.

Education/Credentials
Published Author. Published Freelance Writer. Certified Paralegal with specialities in intellectual property (copyright, trademark, patent) and real estate.

Awards and Honors
USA Today bestseller, Waldenbooks Mass Market Paperback Top 20 bestseller, Nielsen BookScan Top 20 bestseller, Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, 2009, Write Touch Readers Award, EVVY Award, The Lories Best Paranormal. Many others.

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