HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: chuq@gallant.apple.com (Chuq Von Rospach)
Newsgroups: misc.writing
Subject: Re: Publisher production times
Date: 11 Sep 92 15:35:13 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc.

charless@sco.COM (charles stross) writes:

>novel, which I was made an offer for in March this year, will not 
>now be published until March-April 1994. Aside from the obvious
>(why does it TAKE so LONG?), this leads me to ask; is it my 
>imagination, or is the lead time on the midlist growing longer
>for everyone? I'm not the only author I know who this has happened 

Nope, it happens a lot, and it's been happening for a while. The primary
problem seems to be (at least in the SF field) a chronic inventory glut.
Some publishers, like Berkley/Ace, simply have too many books contracted
for, and because many publishers have been slimming down the line and
publishing fewer titles, it takes them longer to get what they've contracted
for out the door. Most contracts have a 24 month reversion clause (two years
from signing or the author owns it again), which is why you see so many
books come out coincidentally about 2 years later.

In a 'normal' (as normal as publishing ever gets) world, it takes about a
year for a manuscript to wander in one door, get processed, get marketed,
get sold, get shipped and wander back out the other door. A lot of that time
is spent waiting, because while they're doing that book, there are dozens of
other books screaming for attention, also. That's the key reason why things
seem to take forever in publishing: there are 200 other titles that also
need to be put through the production process in a given year, and the
editor's primary job is to juggle all of them around so that the proper ones
hit the back door at the proper time, because the truck doesn't wait if
you're late, and the truck won't load you up early. It's a massive,
semi-controlled chaos that somehow works in total, but looks really bizarre
if you look at any single title or element.


-- 
Chuq "IMHO" Von Rospach, ESD Support & Training (DAL/AUX) =+= Member, SFWA
  chuq@apple.com | GEnie: MAC.BIGOT | ALink:CHUQ =+= Editor, OtherRealms
Newsgroups: misc.writing
From: Alan_Barclay@mindlink.bc.ca (Alan Barclay)
Newsgroups: misc.writing
Subject: Re: New Definition of SF et al.
Date: 5 Sep 92 08:18:00 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Distribution: world

















CY>For example, Geoff Ryman's wonderful novella "Love Sickness," whic concerns
a lesbian relationship between a woman and a polar bear.  The speculative
setting is not window-dressing; it's used to bring out human dimensions that
would be difficult to evoke in the real world.  But it's not "soft SF" by your
definition, although other parts of the novel containing "Love Sickness," _The
Child Garden_, are.

It seems to me that in this story "Love Sickness" the key element is the
lesbian relationship between woman and polar bear.  This is a cultural/social
speculation and as such is Soft SF by my definition.  If I've failed to include
all nuances in my definition, I apologize.

Anyway, I'm tired of this subject, I've wasted god knows how many hours
defining SF when I could be writing it.


Alan
From: jerryn@glnserv.UUCP (Jerry Norris)
Newsgroups: misc.writing
Subject: Re: Editing on Computer or Hardcopy
Date: Mon, 07 Sep 92 07:56:52 CDT
Organization: Vermi-net, Houston, Tx. 77098

bf455@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bonita Kale) writes:

> Seems to me the eye movements for reading onscreen are so different from
> those for reading on paper that you lose the feeling of naturalness
> or comfortableness you're striving for.  The whole thing is uncomfortable,
> so you are (or at least, I am) less likely to notice the little jolt of a
> mistake or an awkwardness.

I think (two words that get more people in trouble because they do less of
it than they actually _say_ they do) that the question of editing "online"
or "offline" is more a matter of personal preference.

Writing is a personal thing in most instances.  Because of that, we all
have things that we feel comfortable with; ways of doing things which
cause the creative beast within to stir and do things to words, phrases,
etc.  I, personally, cannot stand to write on anything but a monitor and
keyboard.  I find that I can do my editing on a computer as well.  But it
doesn't mean that everyone can.  I feel more comfortable using my word
processor (actually, they must be worderators.  Right?) than using
pen(cil) and paper.

So, if you have the money to spare and want to buy a huge monitor and a
nice worderator that will make it look almost exactly like paper, or if
you need something that will give you "more text" to look at, then go
right ahead.  If you feel more comfortable looking at a printed page, then
go right ahead (I know that all of you who have been looking for my
permission are breathing a sigh of relief).  In either case, the important
thing is to continue writing.

later,
jerry.

email address:  xcluud!glnserv!jerryn

All flames judged on original content and local color, with preference
given to those using cobalt as a coloring agent.
Newsgroups: misc.writing
From: charless@sco.COM (AutoPope)
Subject: Re: Publishing Children's Books?
Organization: The Somewhat Contagious Operation, Inc.
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 12:51:21 GMT


In article <1992Sep9.201123.15884@sqwest.wimsey.bc.ca> marcy@sqwest.wimsey.bc.ca (Marcy Thompson) writes:
>
>Mildly related question: is there *any* sort of writing whose practitioners
>*don't* find themselves routinely accused of not being serious?

Humourists.

Every time I see a review of the latest Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams, 
the reviewer bends over backwards to say how deeply serious a business
humour is.

And no, I'm not kidding.


-- 
this signature rescued by the .sigfile liberation front
Newsgroups: misc.writing
From: "glenn devlin" <glenn.devlin@canrem.com>
Subject: any screenwriters out
Reply-To: "glenn devlin" <glenn.devlin@canrem.com>
Organization: Canada Remote Systems
Distribution: misc
Date: 13 Sep 92 21:20:00 EST

 Ho, John
 I'm one of the few screenwriters out here. A wee bit about 
meself - I entered the Nissan Focus Screenwriting Competition in 1988
and was nominated for my script, "Wrath of the Dragon." 
 Are there any echo conferences out here dedicated soley to
screenwriting?

 Cheers, Glenn
---
  DeLuxe 1.12 #9662  Annie, go get my computer.
--
Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario, Canadas
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044
From: 3px@mace.cc.purdue.edu (Lisa Michelle Purvis)
Newsgroups: misc.writing
Subject: Re: Desktop Publishing, Fonts, and Submissions
Keywords: desktop publishing fonts submissions
Date: 9 Sep 92 17:33:06 GMT
Organization: Purdue University

In article <1992Sep9.150257.4287@lambda.msfc.nasa.gov>, thigpen@lambda.msfc.nasa.gov (Keith Thigpen) writes:
> There was a thread a while ago that addressed the issue of font selection,
> (actually the entire issue of dressing up a submission using DTP). At the 
> time I was unable to get to the net but saw some of the subject lines.
> 
> Is is standard to use Courier font? I hope not. It may be readable, but it
> seems so, uh... pedestrian. 
> 
> Anyway, what were the conclusions of this thread?

Hi, Keith!

I'm not sure what the consensus of the group was, but I can tell you that
I've spoken with 3 editors (oops!  One by mail) in the past couple of months 
who have asked that submissions be made in Courier font.  They said it is 
much easier to read, et. al.  In response to that, I changed over to Courier 
immediately.  It was a difficult switch since DTP is what I make my
living at, but if that's what the editors ask for, that's what I'll do.  Of 
course, the above has been from my unpublished experience and in no way 
simulates the published experience.  Also, I don't want to revive the Great 
Courier Debate again, but you might consider using Courier. 

Hope this helps.

Lisa Purvis
3px@mace.cc.purdue.edu
From: lsefton@gallant.apple.com (Laurie Sefton)
Newsgroups: misc.writing
Subject: Re: Work in Progress:Magic
Date: 4 Sep 92 21:27:19 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc.

Crawford_Kilian@mindlink.bc.ca (Crawford Kilian) writes:

>Chuq asks for details about my source on Aztec magic etc.--the book is titled
>Aztec Medicine, Health, and Nutrition, by Bernard R. Ortiz de Montellano. New
>Brunswick NJ: Rutgers Univ. Press, 1990. ISBN 0-8135-1563-7 (paperback). Now I
>need to get my hands on some kind of Nahuatl dictionary...any suggestions? I
>don't think Berlitz has a pocket guide.

Just had to ask....
Montoya, Jose de Jesus. UN VOCABULARIO NAHUATL CONTEMPORANEO Y ALGUNOS
       DOCUMENTOS ANTIQUOS SOBRE LA SIERRA DE HIDALGO (Mexico, D.E.A.S.,
        I.N.A.H., 1981)


AUTHOR:   Anderson, Arthur J. O.
TITLE:    Rules of the Aztec language; classical Nahuatl grammar. A
translation
            by Arthur J. O. Anderson, with modifications, of Francis Xavier
            Clavigero's Reglas de la lengua mexicana.
IMPRINT:  Salt Lake City, University of Utah Press [c1973]
          viii, 114 p. 23 cm.



AUTHOR:   Karttunen, Frances E.
TITLE:    An analytical dictionary of Nahuatl / Frances Karttunen.
IMPRINT:  1st ed.  Austin : University of Texas Press, 1983.
          xxxiv, 349 p. ; 24 cm.

Bierhorst, John. A NAHUATL-ENGLISH DICTIONARY AND CONCORDANCE TO THE
CANTARES MEXICANOS (Stanford, Calif. : Stanford University Press, 1985)
*****************************************

-- 
lsefton@apple.com	It's a goalie thing--you wouldn't understand....
Join the San Jose Sharks mailing list--send mail to 
sharks-request@sonofsun.apple.com
Disclaimer: My views, not Apple's
Newsgroups: misc.writing
From: hal@HQ.Ileaf.COM (Hal Wadleigh)
Subject: Re: Desktop Publishing, Fonts, and Submissions
Summary: Courier
Keywords: desktop publishing fonts submissions
Reply-To: hal@HQ.Ileaf.COM (Hal Wadleigh)
Organization: Interleaf, Inc.
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 92 13:50:32 GMT

Conclusions: you don't HAVE to use Courier font, but it's what the editors
want.  They don't HAVE to read your submissions, either.

Newsgroups: misc.writing
From: sasafw@dobo.unx.sas.com (Fred Welden)
Subject: Re: Publisher production times
Originator: sasafw@dobo.unx.sas.com
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 18:44:11 GMT
Organization: Dobonia


In article <1992Sep11.153513.17906@gallant.apple.com>, chuq@gallant.apple.com (Chuq Von Rospach) writes:
|That's the key reason why things
|seem to take forever in publishing: there are 200 other titles that also
|need to be put through the production process in a given year, and the
|editor's primary job is to juggle all of them around so that the proper ones
|hit the back door at the proper time, because the truck doesn't wait if
|you're late, and the truck won't load you up early. It's a massive,
|semi-controlled chaos that somehow works in total, but looks really bizarre
|if you look at any single title or element.

Amen.  One of my primary duties when I worked in the biz was scheduling
435 titles a year through production.  The real art was in knowing
when to let something sit on the shelf--I invented something I called
the "circular calendar" for scheduling the workflow, a calendar that
seems to be intelligible only to me, my wife, and one friend of mine
who is an advanced mathematician used to some TRULY bizarre concepts.

My supervisees never understood why they had to leave title A alone
while they did line corrections on title B, when title A was supposed to
come out in March and title B was supposed to come out in September.  In
the end, most of them learned to take it on faith, and we got the books
out just in time.  The ones who couldn't take it on faith ended up
screwing up the schedule every time they tried to work on the next task
in intuitive order.

So another explanation for the increasing lead times occurs to me: a
loss of faith among Production Department employees throughout the
industry.  Hardly surprising, considering, for example, the apparent
evaporation of Macmillan's retirement funds, and a general uncertainty
as to what corporate logo will head your next paycheck.  [Sorry, only
partially sarcastic here, so no smiley.]


-- 
--Fred, or another blind 8th-century BC  |  sasafw@dobo.unx.sas.com
        Hellenic poet of the same name.  |
Newsgroups: misc.writing
From: mtan@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Maureen Tan)
Subject: Re: Publishing Children's Books?
Followup-To: misc.writing
Organization: UIUC
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 22:03:40 GMT

In article <1992Sep9.201123.15884@sqwest.wimsey.bc.ca>,
marcy@sqwest.wimsey.bc.ca (Marcy Thompson) wrote:



> Mildly related question: is there *any* sort of writing whose practitioners
> *don't* find themselves routinely accused of not being serious?


Sure.  There's *significant* women's literature, which I never mastered
'cause I couldn't stay depressed long enough.

And then there's interpretive science writing.
 I can  do this kind of writing  because in grammar school I figured
out how to ask the same dumb question in many different ways
until I finally got an answer I understood.  This is a especially great
field if you really want to impress people  with all the
complicated stuff you know  in spite of the fact that you are
nothing but a writer and  didn't become a *real* professional.
(Of course, you never admit that your *real* profession is
writing  suspense.)

Hmm.  That sounded a little cynical...    Must be the time o' day.

The truth is, respect or no, I'd rather be a writer than anything else
I can imagine.  Except maybe a multi-millionaire living on an exotic
South Sea island and having to spend so much time with my boats,
horses, and cars that I couldn't possible set fingers to key board.  (I
wonder if I'd eventually buy a dictaphone???)
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Timor: Horta cautious on UN talks initiative
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1992 00:18:55 GMT

/** reg.easttimor: 348.0 **/
** Topic: Ramos-Horta cautious on talks **
** Written  7:55 am  Sep  4, 1992 by gn:tapol in cdp:reg.easttimor **
Horta cautious on UN talks initiative
 
Source: BBC World Service report
Date: 3 September 1992
Byline: Iain Simpson
Abridged slightly
 
[Throughout this report, Ramos-Horta is referred to as if he
were the Fretilin representative. In fact, he is the official
spokesperson of the CNRM, the National Council for the Maubere
People.]
 
                   ----------------------
 
The UN Secretary-General Dr Boutros Ghali (in Jakarta for the
Non-Bloc Summit), has invited the foreign ministers of
Indonesia and Portugal to hold informal discussions on the
question of East Timor. He said the talks would probably take
place during the UN General Assembly in New York which starts
this month. The last round of talks broke down late last year
following the cancellation of the planned Portuguese
parliamentary visit to East Timor and the killing of civilians
on 12 November.
 
The latest offer of talks has drawn a cautious reaction from
the East Timorese resistance movement:
 
Jose Ramos-Horta, the independence movement's European (sic)
representative said:
 
"We will not accept more than one or two meetings between the
Portuguese Foreign Minister and his Indonesian counterpart
because I don't think they need more than one meeting or two
to discuss the format for the Timorese to be involved."
 
He said the Portuguese are not only aware of the concerns of
the East Timorese but are effectively following the proposal
for talks laid down by Fretilin (sic). He says Fretilin (sic)
are prepared to sit down for talks with the Indonesians at any
time and without preconditions, as long as the talks are held
under UN auspices. So far, Jakarta has not been willing to
meet officially with representatives of Fretilin, apparently
fearing this would lend the organisation some legitimacy. But
Mr Ramos-Horta says the clock is ticking and Indonesia will
soon have to agree to talks.
 
"Time is running out for Indonesia. There is a consensus in
the UN in New York among experts observing the situation in
East Timor and in Indonesia that Indonesia cannot continue at
this pace for the next three to five years," he said.
 
If it is eventually included in the talks process, Fretilin
(sic) says it will demand an immediate end to the hostilities
in East Timor, the release of all the people it classified as
political prisoners and an improvement in the human rights
situation on the island.
 
** End of text from cdp:reg.easttimor **

Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
From: "Gail M. Pietrzyk" <pietrzyk%a1.quaker.upenn.edu@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu>
Subject: Quaker Boat Recycling
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Resent-From: "Rich Winkel" <MATHRICH@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu>
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 22:29:32 GMT




------- Forwarded message

Posted: Wed, 09 Sep 92 00:00:01 -0400
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 92 10:31:01 -0400
Author:


                          Quaker Boat Recycling, Inc.

      For the first time ever, it is possible to play a different role in the
Columbus Celebration.  Quaker Boat Recycling, Inc., an non-profit corporation,
is seeking hundreds of boats, either sail or power, for donation to desperate
Caribbean fishermen.

      In September 1990, Hurricane Hugo caused millions of dollars in damage
to the Puerto Rican fishing fleet.  Many of the losses were uninsured.
Hundreds of fishermen remain unemployed for lack of boats.  Your donations
could be the difference between impoverishment and a return to a viable
livelihood.  Pollution problems and overfishing in coastal areas suggest that
Caribbean fishermen especially need boats large enough to travel economically
to the more plentiful fishing sites more than 20 miles from shore.

      Boat donors will receive a tax adjustment to gross income of 50% of 100%
of the boat's Marine Survey value on their federal taxes.  With ever-rising
annual storage costs for boats, many boat owners are paying enormous fees for
boats they wish to sell!  Simply trying to recoup the storage costs could
price your boat too high for the current resale market.  Wouldn't recycling an
unwanted but seaworthy boat to needy third world fishermen be an attractive
alternative?

      Shipping costs to send the first fifty boats will be paid for by the
Governor's Office of Puerto Rico.  Many of the fishing cooperatives in Puerto
Rico are anxious to see these donations arrive.

      In the future, Quaker Boat Recycling hopes to extend its efforts to
assist fishermen in Belize and Mexico.

      Your support can help.  Those making donations of $25 or more will
receive our newsletter.  For more information about Quaker Boat Recycling,
please write:

                          Quaker Boat Recycling, Inc.
                                 P.O. Box 211
                             Lewisville, PA 19351

E-mail inquiries should be sent to:  pietrzyk@a1.quaker.upenn.edu



------- End of Forwarded message

Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
From: "Roger (812)857-9818" <MORRISR%ucs.indiana.edu@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu>
Subject: Request for Info: Argentina ecology, nat'l parks, conservation
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Resent-From: "Rich Winkel" <MATHRICH@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu>
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 19:29:49 GMT


For a study of policymaking relating to conservation, national parks,
and environmental protection in Argentina, I would appreciate hearing
from anyone who is aware of particular cases, disputes, debates, or
policy discussions about such issues in Argentina.

Jack W. Hopkins
School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405
BITNET: Hopkins@iubacs
Tel: 812-855-0732
FAX: 812-855-7802
PeaceNet: cdp!jhopkins.
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Today's Quote...
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 08:35:13 GMT


   "With regard to freedom of expression there are basically two
   positions: you defend it vigorously for views you hate, or you
   reject it in favor of Styalinist/Fascist standards."
	--Noam Chomsky., "Force and Opinion," _Z_, July/Aug. '91.

[For more about Z, email harelb@math.cornell.edu]


##################################################################
Mail contributions to hbar@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
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Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
From: aforum@moose.uvm.edu (Autonome Forum)
Subject: AF/ATS: Kurdish journalist murdered
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: University of Vermont -- Division of EMBA Computer Facility
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 20:17:16 GMT

posted by: AF/ATS

11 August 1992

PRESS RELEASE

WRITER HUSEYIN DENIZ HAS NOW BEEN MURDERED TOO!

Gundem newspaper correspondent, writer and member of International
PEN, Huseyin Deniz, resident of Ceylanpinar (the Kurdish province
of Urfa) was subject to an armed attack two days ago and died
yesterday. He was shot in the head from behind at close range. He
died in hospital.

Huseyin Deniz has been working as a journalist in the Kurdish
region for the past ten years and also researched on folklore
there. Along with writing a column in our paper and working as a
correspondent he reported for the National News Agency and
Cumhuriyet newspaper and his work was frequently published in books
and research papers from his post in Ceylanpinar.

The attack was the third attack on Gundem personnel within the last
ten days. Last week, Diyarbakir/Gercus correspondent Yahya Orhan
was killed and after that our Diyarbakir correspondent Burhan
Karadeniz was the victim of an armed attack in which he was
seriously wounded.

What is the reason for this slaughter of journalists?

For the past 3 months our daily newspaper has drawn attention to
reports concerning state terror, abuses and torture in the Kurdish
region along with the operations of the contra-guerrillas. As with
the murder of our colleague Hafiz Akdemir two months ago, the
perpetrators have not been identified. Moreover, government
spokesmen have not even considered it necessary to denounce these
attacks upon our members of the press. This increases our
suspicions that the killers are being protected. The official
inquiry into the Huseyin Deniz case raises these further. After the
event, relatives of Deniz who informed our paper stated that a
vehicle belonging to the civilian police had been stationed outside
the Viransehir office of our correspondent for a considerable
period and that those who came and went had been under
surveillance. Only prior to this morning's attack, no police were
seen anywhere near the workplace. Eye witnesses said that two
unknown youths ran from the scene of the attack for no apparent
reason. 

We call upon all members of the press worldwide who seek to report
the truth to take a stand against this slaughter of Kurdish
journalist.

Hasan Bildirici
Gundem Editor in Chief


--
                     Autonome Forum: aforum@moose.uvm.edu
                          "Solidarity is a Weapon!"
--

Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Today's Quote...
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 15:03:31 GMT


Orwellian Double-speak of the day:

	"Amory Lovins is Research Director of the Rocky Mountain
	Institute, an organization...seeking `ideas which transcent
	ideology, and harnessing the problems solving power of free
	market economics'"

[From flyer announcing talk by Amory Lovins during anti-James-Bay
activities week, Cornell U., Fall 1991]


##################################################################
Mail contributions to hbar@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
(Contributions only; correspondence to my usual (Cornell) address)