The Pagan Writers' Guide: Writing for the Pagan and MB&S Publications: Writing for Pagan and MB&S Publications (Compass Points) - Softcover

Draco, Melusine

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1782791086 ISBN 13: 9781782791089

Verlag: JOHN HUNT PUB, 2013

Inhaltsangabe

I want to be a pagan author and write for the pagan community…can you tell me how to get published? Writing for the pagan community is no different from writing for any other readership – but we need to learn the basic rules before deciding whether we have any talent worth pursuing. Regardless of our own personal levels of esoteric learning, we need to go back to the basics of creative writing and see what tricks of the trade we can utilise. We will see why editors and publishers are inundated with submissions of a certain kind – and what we can do to give our writing ‘editor appeal’. We will learn how to develop ideas via lateral thinking, and develop the art of ‘seeing’ through an editor’s eyes.
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Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorinnen und Autoren

In addition to being the commissioning editor for Compass Books, Suzanne Ruthven is also editor of the popular quarterly creative writing magazine, The New Writer (which she produces in partnership with literary agent, and publisher, Merric Davidson). She lives in County Tipperary, Ireland.
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In addition to being the commissioning editor for Compass Books, Suzanne Ruthven is also editor of the popular quarterly creative writing magazine, The New Writer (which she produces in partnership with literary agent, and publisher, Merric Davidson). She lives in County Tipperary, Ireland.
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The Pagan Writers' Guide

Writing for Pagan and MB&S Publications

By Mélusine Draco

John Hunt Publishing Ltd.

Copyright © 2013 Mélusine Draco
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-78279-108-9

Contents

About the Author...........................................................
viii
Chapter One – In The Beginning There Was The Word..........................
1
Chapter Two – Pagan Magazines..............................................
28
Chapter Three – Pagan Book Publishers......................................
44
Chapter Four – The On-Line Pagan Community.................................
55
Chapter Five – A Pagan Reference Library...................................
63
Conclusion.................................................................
85

CHAPTER 1

In The Beginning There Was The Word

'I want to be a pagan author and write for the pagan community' ...'Can you tell me how to get published?'

Two separate postings on the Internet suggested that paganwriting has finally moved from the 'hidden' into mainstreamwhere readers are becoming more circumspect in their choice ofmaterial; and that it was time to produce a serious guide forwould-be pagan writers. Firstly, in answer to the blog posting,writing for the pagan community is no different from writing forany other readership – so we need to learn the basic rules beforedeciding whether we have any talent worth pursuing. After that,it will depend on the level of our own expertise as to whetheranyone will look favourably on our submissions.

Pagan publishing has now spread across the world and thereis no shortage of opportunities for writers, whether it be in printor on-line. The pagan voice is 'heard on every wind' and thereare markets everywhere in the English-speaking world. The onlinecommunity spreads the word to the furthest reaches of theglobe, and book reviews give pagan authors far more coveragethan they could have generated in years of traditional marketing.

One mainstream review was in response to TraditionalWitchcraft for the Seashore and the second posting – on AndyLloyd's Book Reviews – suggested there might be an opening fora serious guide. 'The learning is multi-disciplinary, and feelsalmost as if one is studying a textbook written by a poet. Yet thescience collated in these pages is interesting and pragmatic,'wrote the kindly Mr Lloyd. 'Intermingled with the factual informationis much about rituals, superstitions, beach treasures tocollect for magical means and, of course, spell-casting.'

Generally speaking, today's paganism falls into four differentelements, which in turn separates the different approaches andlevels of magical practice, and subsequently, the writing. Eachcategory requires that it should be written for, and read by,followers at that level of 'learning' to avoid any misunderstandings.A considerable amount of magical writing can beincomprehensible to those who have not been schooled in thatparticular path or tradition – so we begin at the beginning andwork ourselves up through the spheres of Knowledge, Wisdomand Understanding. And we start by accepting that there is adivide between the various approaches to paganism and magicalpractice.

• Animistic: The belief that everything animate andinanimate has its own life force, such as that which formsthe basis of shamanism, Shinto, Aboriginal, NativeAmerican, etc.,

• Eclectic: Selecting or borrowing from a variety of styles,systems, theories, beliefs, etc., as commonly found inmodern paganism and Wicca.

• Syncretic: The attempt to reconcile different systems ofbelief; the fusion or blending of religions, as by identificationof gods, taking over of observances, or selection ofwhatever seems best in each; often producing a seeminglyillogical compromise in belief. This approach is found inmany aspects of Western Ritual Magic, and the initiatorybranches of the European and British esoteric groups.

• Synergetic: Combined or co-ordinated action; increasedeffect of two elements obtained by using them together.The combining of ancient wisdom with modern magicalapplications, as in the case of the Egyptian MysteryTradition, Old Craft, the Norse traditions and Druidism.

Regardless of our own personal levels of esoteric learning, weneed to go back to the basics of creative writing and see whattricks of the trade we can utilise. We will see why editors andpublishers are inundated with submissions of a certain kind – andwhat we can do to give our writing 'editor appeal'. We willlearn how to develop ideas via lateral thinking, and develop theart of 'seeing' through an editor's eyes, i.e. visualisation.

Back To Basics

How many times do we read (or heed) the advice about hookingan editor's attention? How many writers fail to appreciate that ifthe editor (or publisher) isn't hooked right from the start oursubmission will be rejected? And it doesn't matter whether weare talking about non-fiction or fiction, short stories or novels,poetry or prose – it must have something to make the readerwant to turn the page. If it fails to entice in the openingsentences, then we will be lucky if the professional reader evenbothers to go to the next paragraph.

Exercise

What exactly is a hook?

It is a simple device for introducing our subject with impact,rather than long-winded preamble. That opening line or firstparagraph is the most important part of the whole piece. It maybe a challenging statement. A question. Brilliant use of languageor analogy. Evocative description of a person, place or thing. Andit doesn't matter how brilliant the rest of our work may be – aneditor isn't even going to read it unless we've hooked theirattention right from the start.

Our first exercise is to study a selection of pagan magazines.

We may already subscribe to one or more; in which case we willbe familiar with the differences in house-style. Begin by readingthe editorial and any submission guidelines – these are includedin the magazine, or found on the website – and make notes aboutthe type of material in each publication. Into which categories dothe majority of these subjects fall? Divination ... herb craft ...Tarot ... astrology ... healing ... crystals ... witchcraft ... magic?Which of these are your favourite subjects – and the one youknow most about?

Now check the opening lines of each article and see how eachwriter has introduced their subject. Is it with a bang – or awhimper? Are the title and sub-title eye-catching? Do they makestrong, bold statements to introduce the topic, or paint a subtlerpicture? Is there a clear indication of what the article is about?Make a note of those beginnings you find striking ... and thosethat don't raise any interest at all. Now try writing a few introductions– one or two sentences – to your favourite subject, whilewe have a quick look how pagan publishing has evolved.

In The Beginning ...

Things were in the past a lot different with pagan or esotericpublishing. There were no glossy subscription magazines,although Psychic News (1932) and Prediction (1936) magazinescould be found on the top shelf at the larger newsagents. The1960s and 70s saw an embryonic...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: JOHN HUNT PUB
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2013
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1782791086
• ISBN 13: 9781782791089
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 86
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar