Creative Byline Gains New Publishers
Globe Pequot Press and Orange Avenue Publishing join Creative Byline, Inc., a web-based service that connects writers with editors.
Holland, Michigan July 7, 2008 – Globe Pequot Press and Orange Avenue Publishing have joined Creative Byline, a new web-based technology serving the publishing industry. Creative Byline’s innovative program streamlines the process of connecting writers to publishers, while keeping writers’ manuscripts secure and private. The two publishers join Dutton Children’s Books, St. Martin’s Press, and Tor/Forge in using the Creative Byline program.
Globe Pequot, based in Guilford, Connecticut, has published nonfiction works on health, style, fishing, nature, gardening, travel, art and reference, and much more. Founded in 1947, its imprints include skirt!, Lyons Press, Globe Pequot Press Life.
Gary Krebs, Group Publisher for Globe Pequot Press, says, “I’m thrilled GPP has joined up with Creative Byline. We are always on the lookout for creative new ways to find exciting book proposals. The subscription offers that and more—but with the immediacy of the web. We look forward to seeing what creative romances develop from this unique system, which is like an online dating service for book proposals.”
Through its imprint, Zest Books, San Francisco-based Orange Avenue publishes nonfiction books on issues and challenges of particular interest to teens. Founded as a book packaging company, Orange Avenue began publishing its own projects in 2006.
“We're a publisher with a unique audience,” says Hallie Warshaw, publisher and creative director for Orange Avenue and Zest. “Creative Byline's use of technology helps us target exactly the writers and subject matter that are right for us."
All of Creative Byline’s participating publishers receive submissions that match their criteria online through the Creative Byline website; they can change their criteria as the market changes. Creative Byline’s expert readers and process tools save them time in reviewing manuscripts. Convenience and quality make Creative Byline a source of choice for publishers, which in turn benefits writers.
Writers can identify editors interested in manuscripts like theirs and then submit digitally for a modest fee--$19 for full-length manuscripts, $9 for children’s picture books (roughly the cost incurred to print, package, and ship a hard copy of their work). Writers can find editors with specific interests, submit directly to them, and get a response much more quickly than through the traditional, paper-and-snail-mail-based process.
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Creative Byline Invites Writers to Honor Arbor Day
Creative Byline, Inc., a web-based service that connects writers with editors, hosts an online Arbor Day celebration from April 25 through May 2.
Holland, Michigan April 21, 2008 – Recognizing the impact of the submission and publishing processes on the environment,
CreativeByline.com offers writers a chance to make a difference—and be rewarded for it, as well. For each manuscript submitted between April 25 and May 2,
CreativeByline.com will donate $3 to the
Arbor Day Foundation’s Trees for America reforestation program. The writer submitting the manuscript will receive a 33-percent discount on the submission fee.
“We at Creative Byline certainly believe it’s worthwhile to produce books,” says Brad MacLean, founder and CEO. “But we encourage people to take advantage of opportunities to use technology to minimize consumption of natural resources when it’s not adding value. The manuscript submission process, to us, is an example.”
The U.S. is the world’s largest producer and consumer of paper, using 8 million tons or more of office paper alone each year. The mind-boggling numbers of 3.2 billion reams and 178 million trees can be translated into individual impact: Each ream of paper used requires about 6 percent of a tree.
The Creative Byline website equips writers to submit manuscripts digitally for a modest fee--$19 for full-length manuscripts, $9 for children’s picture books. Writers can find editors with specific interests, submit directly to them, and get a response much more quickly than through the traditional, paper-and-snail-mail-based process.
Three well-known publishers are signed on to Creative Byline: Dutton Children’s Books, St. Martin’s Press, and Tor/Forge. Their editors can provide descriptions of what they’re looking for now and rely on Creative Byline’s expert readers and process tools to save them time in reviewing manuscripts.
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Writers Find New Route to Publishing via Creative BylineA new web-based service enables writers to submit their book manuscripts or proposals to interested editors and get a quick response. Three publishing houses have signed on to CreativeByline.com, signaling editors’ interest in a new approach.Zeeland, Michigan March 31, 2008 – Writers have a new way to get book manuscripts in front of interested editors after the December 2007 launch of Creative Byline, Inc., a new web-based service. Specially developed software helps writers target editors and track responses. The same software lets editors communicate what kinds of manuscripts they’re looking for.
“It’s not uncommon for writers to wait for months to hear a response after they send a manuscript off to an editor,” says Creative Byline founder Brad MacLean. “And then what they often hear from that busy editor is just ‘no thanks.’ I had to believe that with technology and the internet, there could be a more satisfying experience.”
The first response a writer receives from Creative Byline is from one of the company’s own readers, who review submissions to make sure they’re ready to be reviewed by an editor. While not a complete and detailed critique of manuscripts, the review gives the writer enough information to complete or polish his or her work. “Writers have heard back from our readers in two or three days,” MacLean says.
The writer can search the Creative Byline site for editors with specific interest in their genre. When the manuscript is submitted, Creative Byline guarantees a response from the chosen editor within three weeks—or another editor can be selected. The Creative Byline review and submission to an editor costs $19 for full-length manuscripts and $9 for children’s picture books.
The Creative Byline website also contains helpful instructions for writers putting together a submission package, as well as links to resources that will help them develop their writing craft—or plan their next writing project.
Three well-known publishers have already signed on to Creative Byline: Dutton’s Children’s Books, St. Martin’s Press, and Tor/Forge. “They clearly see benefits for their editors,” MacLean says, “that make it worthwhile to subscribe as publishing houses.” Among the benefits are Creative Byline’s assurance that projects are truly ready for an editor’s review and the ability for editors to explore writers in new genres as the market’s appetites change. The company is actively working to engage additional publishing clients.
MacLean was introduced to the publishing industry by his wife, Christine Kole MacLean. Having published half a dozen books for children and young adults, she provided an ongoing case study in the frustrations of the traditional process and communication methods. With the problem clear, MacLean made use of his background as an executive with over 20 years of experience working for a Fortune 500 manufacturing company.
Before launching www.CreativeByline.com, MacLean spent two years researching the industry, interviewing editors, heads of publishing conglomerates, and writers. “I was sure it could be done better and faster,” he says.