Rejected Writer Starts Worldwide Search for Stories

WriterPeople.com, a new Website launched for I Love to Write Day by a local freelance writer / rejected author, seeks stories for three anthologies to be published in 2005.

Apex, NC (PRWEB) November 12, 2004 -- "I Love to Write Day" will be just three years old on November 15, 2004. Its founder, Delaware author John Riddle, taught workshops at a recent writers conference where local technical writer Donna Boyette attended.

Boyette had written and sold several freelance business articles, but she knew that the market for short stories was not nearly as strong. After having a short story rejected by a literary agent at the conference, she decided to start a new market as a hobby. (She works full-time as a technical writer in Cary, NC.)

At the writers conference, I met many talented writers who dont understand how to market their work. I know I can expect dozens of rejections if I keep sending stories out, so Im going to put a few anthologies together. There are so many people with entertaining stories that cant find a publishing home," Boyette said.

She plans to publish the three titles, Truckers Anthology," The View from the Cube," and Guess Who Wrote this Story" (by parents for their children), on I Love to Write Day in 2005. That will give her a year to gather the stories, many of which she admits she will have to reject.

This could be considered self-publishing," Boyette said of her plans to use local technology company Lulu (www.Lulu.com ), but I think partner publishing is a more accurate term."

Boyette met with Stephen Fraser and Henry Hutton at Lulu headquarters in Morrisville, NC last week, where she was happy to find the anthology format is alive and kicking. Texas author Bob Gunner offers several short- story collections on subjects ranging from mysteries to weird Westerns" at Lulu.com.

Fraser said, We see more than 1,500 new books published each month on Lulu.com," which also enables artists, photographers, and songwriters to publish their works free of charge. Fraser encourages writers to work with an editor and perhaps an illustrator to perfect their work before publishing, but they dont have to, and there is no cost to authors. Published work can be purchased at rates set by the author or artist.

The Writer People anthologies (www.WriterPeople.com) will be available print-on-demand, so they wont be in bookstores unless the individual authors reach agreements with store owners and promise to buy back any unsold copies. The contributing authors will receive royalties on books sold, and, says Boyette, We can market online via Websites and blogs. Im hoping word gets out to low-technology folks who like to write, too. They just might need the help of their high-tech friends to order a copy of the book when its published, if their story is selected."

In the meantime, anyone who wants to can publish his or her own song, story or book at Lulu.com. Its always free, but it isnt always I Love to Write Day. Boyette encourages local schools and groups to celebrate the day, and she will be keeping interested parties posted with daily updates to her blog at WriterPeople.com. You will see blog entries at 4 AM and other odd times as I work around my full-time technical writing job and my kids and grandchild."

Interview Topics for I Love to Write Day (Nov. 15):
How to be a Part-time Writer: Donna Boyette, Writer People -- donna@writerpeople.com - 919-522-8272 (cell)Donna@WriterPeople.com - Website: http://www.writerpeople.com

Publish Free of Charge: Stephen Fraser, Lulu -- sfraser@lulu.com - 919-459-5858 ext. 222 or Cell: 919-247-1832 Website: http://www.lulu.com

Technical Writing and Publishing: Jack Tackett, local best-selling author - tackett@netwharf.com - 919-271-0325 - "Using Linux" and other titles

I Love to Write Day: John Riddle,-- ilovetowriteday@ilovetowriteday.org - 302-834-4910 -- Website: http://www.ilovetowriteday.org

Donna Boyette is taking November 15, 2004 (I Love to Write Day) off from work to celebrate by working on her free e-book in progress, How to Make Money while Youre Looking for a Job". She works as a technical writer for a telecommunications company in Cary, N.C. Several years ago, she was managing editor at a shopper" paper in the Washington, DC area, and she is excited to be working with other writers again. (Published clips available.)

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