Monday, Marclt;
AGGIELIFE
Monday, March 6, 2000
THE BATTALION
Page 3
BY JUSTIN GARRETT
The Battalion
Hidden publishing opportunities available for students
T wo strangers pass one another on a
busy sidewalk. Their eyes meet, and
the moment provides short-lived
respite from their daily routines as both find
something irresistibly strange in their
glances. The moment passes and they redi
rect their attention to their destinations. Each
is absolutely unaware of the promising op
portunities, such as this, they pass each day.
This painful scenario is played out all too
often in the lives of student writers. Due to
a simple lack of knowledge, they are left
with emptiness while they seek for some
thing right in front of them.
They should seek no longer, for a vast ar
ray of publishing opportunities hungrily
awaits to feast upon their talent.
The Texas A&M University Press Con
sortium is A&M’s very own publisher and
belongs to a network of university publish
ers. Although there is a common miscon
ception that university-affiliated presses
will only publish scholarly nonfiction ma
terial, in actuality they also print general in
terest books from a variety of literary disci
plines. Due to its location and publishing
status, the A&M Press is an ideal starting
point for local writers.
However, should one choose to venture
outside of College Station in search of for
tune and fame, one will not be disappointed
as there are numerous possibilities for pub
lication. The only problem is finding them
Luckily, most large bookstores carry
writer’s guides overflowing with resources.
Many of these guides contain listings of hun
dreds of publishers, magazines and other
helpful sources for getting work on the mar
ket. In better volumes, detailed descriptions
of what the particular agency is looking for,
contact information and the pay rate for a
piece of given length is also provided.
One such guide, The Writer's Market, has
full listings of agents, publishers, magazines
and even literature contests across the na
tion.The simplicity and efficient organiza
tion of these books leaves the writer with
only two timely tasks: producing work and
submitting it.
Because writers are generally extremely
busy, they may have little time for contacting
publishers and mailing manuscripts.
In this case, a writer may choose to work
through an agent. Agents are in constant con
tact with publishers and function similarly to
agents of other fields, working to promote the
interests of their clients.
In most cases the agents receive 15 to 20
percent commission on sales, giving them in
centive to locate the most profitable arrange
ment between their client and a publisher.
For those who would rather promote
themselves, literary contests can offer valu
able assistance in gaining much needed
recognition. Such contests commonly offer
cash or other prizes for winners. Many are
GUY ROGERS/Thk Battalion
held by publications who will print winning
work, providing the exposure beginning
writers yearn for.
Hundreds of contests are held each year
across the nation. Many of the contests held
by smaller organizations have little publici
ty, thereby narrowing competition and in
creasing an individual’s chance of success.
Given that there are so many contests,
finding one that is well suited to one’s writ
ing style is not a difficult task and is highly
recommended. The most common place to
learn of upcoming contests is in magazines,
newspapers and other publications.
Professionals advise that writers research
the contest they are considering entering. If
the same contest has been held in previous
years, one should attempt to obtain copies of
winning work.
That way the elements that may have
contributed to the work’s success may be
identified and then used to strengthen one’s
own work.
Despite these countless opportunities,
many young writers are still hesitant to pur
sue publication. Given that most successful
contemporary writers are in their late 20s
through early 50s, young writers may often
feel they will not be taken seriously because
of their age.
This is not the case. Many publishers ac
tually seek young writers because of their
fresh perspectives on the world.
“Readers want a view of an unknown
world. If a young writer can open the win
dow and make it accessible, the reader is re-
See Publishing on Page 4.
president and a senior®
that this year has gone
k to be done before the lee
)ril 21.
of work toward our platf®
events,” he said. "Oneofi
ople come up to you and!
m campus. It is positive!#
eyes and ears of the cam]®
ie people who are
nt position and each is"’
leadership experience.
I lurdsaidhe is ready to®
ill miss his fellow stud®
Ians to work at the Stated
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’resents.
DON’T GET BURNED!!’-*
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I Monday bunk Tank Schedule
10:00 Forrest Lane,
Corps Commander
10:30 Jessica Haider, HD
Tuesday Dunk Tank Schedule
10:30 Nima Pourrajabi, RA
11:00 Kim Novak, Coord.
StudentJudicial Services
11:30 Bill Anderson,
MSC President
12:30 Wade Countryman, Corps
Staff, University Relations
ports Editor
, Radio Producer
Web Master
Graphics Editor
Graphics Editor
to Editor
Editor
and Technology ^
Texas A&M University i 11 ®!
lews offices are in Ol35 et ;
1) E-mail: Thebattalioi
lip or endorsement
5-2696. For classified 31 ^
, and office hours are
is A&M student to picw;
ail subscriptions are SW
er or $10 a month.
5h Friday during the
ission (except Univeisitf
e Paid at College Stati® 3 .
5 Reed McDonald
83% OF ACCIES HAVE NOT USED
MARIJUANA IN THE LAST
60% OF A66IES HAVE NEVER
PRIVEN A CAR AFTER DRINK-
90% OF ACS HAVE NEVER
BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH
AUTHORITIES (POLICE,
ADMINISTRATORS, ETC)
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