Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Little Bitty Book Bytes
Little Bitty Book Bytes is a brand new publishing company looking for authors of great short stories. We are looking to publish 3,000 - 5,000 word stories on a new website we are launching this summer. We are interested in stories of different genres, focusing on thrillers, mysteries, romance, fantasy and humor. No erotica, please. We are paying flat fee of $0.05 / word for publishing online. At the end of every year it is our plan to publish an anthology of the best short stories from our site that year and if an author's work is selected for that, further payment will be determined. If you think you have a well written short story, please send an introductory letter and your story to info@littlebittybookbytes.com
Sunday, April 12, 2009
2010 Pen To Press Writer's Retreat
Announcing the 2010
Pen to Press Writers' Retreat!
This is a one of a kind writers' retreat you simply can't pass up! Come excited and leave inspired, ready to improve your writing and get that manuscript published!
Pen to Press Retreats are five intense, hands-on, inspiring days that teach participants how to shape and present a saleable manuscript. You'll learn in a variety of settings, from workshops to one-on-one mentoring sessions to seminars. To that end, you will write and revise, have portions of your manuscript critiqued, and revise some more. This is a remarkable opportunity to transform your writing!
To top it off, throughout the last two days of each retreat, all of our participants are given exclusive, one-on-one time with agents and editors to whom they can pitch their work.
With this retreat under your belt, who can stop you?
ActivitiesParticipants will be assigned to a class of 20 and a team instructor. (Our instructors are all successfully published authors, many New York Times and U.S.A. Today Best-sellers, award-winners, and all are excellent teachers.). With this group, you will spend five days working on specifics to improve your manuscript. During classes and panel discussions, you'll learn details about characterization, plot, dialogue, pacing, voice, marketing, pitching, contract negotiations, etc., all of it geared around your specific work.
Agents and editors will be on hand the last two days of the retreat, and they'll be there to spend one-on-one time with you, our participants . . . writers who now have a polished pitch for a promising work!
We've even established a payment plan to help participants who are accepted into the 2010 program stretch the cost of the retreat out over time.
Join Us
The dates for the 2010 Pen to Press Writers Retreat are May 25-29, 2010, and the location will be in beautiful downtown New Orleans, Louisiana.
Interested writers must submit a two page synopsis of a completed novel or novel in progress along with the first five pages of that novel. From those submissions, a maximum of 160 participants will be selected.
To find out more about the 2010 Pen to Press Writers' Retreat, visit our website at www.pentopressretreat.com. There you'll find in-action videos and testimonials from past participants. So jump on over to the website and have a look. And we hope to see YOU at the 2010 PPW Retreat!
WWW.PENTOPRESSRETREAT.COM
Pen to Press Writers' Retreat!
This is a one of a kind writers' retreat you simply can't pass up! Come excited and leave inspired, ready to improve your writing and get that manuscript published!
Pen to Press Retreats are five intense, hands-on, inspiring days that teach participants how to shape and present a saleable manuscript. You'll learn in a variety of settings, from workshops to one-on-one mentoring sessions to seminars. To that end, you will write and revise, have portions of your manuscript critiqued, and revise some more. This is a remarkable opportunity to transform your writing!
To top it off, throughout the last two days of each retreat, all of our participants are given exclusive, one-on-one time with agents and editors to whom they can pitch their work.
With this retreat under your belt, who can stop you?
ActivitiesParticipants will be assigned to a class of 20 and a team instructor. (Our instructors are all successfully published authors, many New York Times and U.S.A. Today Best-sellers, award-winners, and all are excellent teachers.). With this group, you will spend five days working on specifics to improve your manuscript. During classes and panel discussions, you'll learn details about characterization, plot, dialogue, pacing, voice, marketing, pitching, contract negotiations, etc., all of it geared around your specific work.
Agents and editors will be on hand the last two days of the retreat, and they'll be there to spend one-on-one time with you, our participants . . . writers who now have a polished pitch for a promising work!
We've even established a payment plan to help participants who are accepted into the 2010 program stretch the cost of the retreat out over time.
Join Us
The dates for the 2010 Pen to Press Writers Retreat are May 25-29, 2010, and the location will be in beautiful downtown New Orleans, Louisiana.
Interested writers must submit a two page synopsis of a completed novel or novel in progress along with the first five pages of that novel. From those submissions, a maximum of 160 participants will be selected.
To find out more about the 2010 Pen to Press Writers' Retreat, visit our website at www.pentopressretreat.com. There you'll find in-action videos and testimonials from past participants. So jump on over to the website and have a look. And we hope to see YOU at the 2010 PPW Retreat!
WWW.PENTOPRESSRETREAT.COM
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Write Your Novel In Nine Months!
Jonathan Maberry's WRITE YOUR NOVEL IN NINE MONTHS
DATE/TIME: Begins Thursday, May 14; 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Nine 2-hour sessions meeting once per month, plus reserved monthly peer critique group
FEE: $200.00
LOCATION: The class will meet in the coffee shop at the Borders Bookstore in Valley Square Shopping Center (on Route 611 just north of Street Road/132 in Warrington). The store is in the center of the mall.
DESCRIPTION: This writing-intensive program takes that idea that's been knocking around in your head all these years and gets it onto the page. This 9-month course covers every aspect of writing and developing the novel, including: Building your platform; Creating a flexible book outline; Creating Real Characters; Developing the story idea; Developing various versions of the storyline synopsis; Writing and Finishing the First Draft; Identifying Your Market; Insider tips on the writing business; Learning how to find an agent and/or publisher Outline the Novel; Preparing for Revisions; Preparing for Revisions; Publicity; Searching for Agents and Publishers; Setting a Practical and Possible Daily Word Count; The writing contract step-by-step; Time management for writers Working the markets; and much more.
BONUS is that both a literary agent and a film agent will be scouting the finished books for potential clients!
INSTRUCTOR: Jonathan Maberry is a multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author of PATIENT ZERO, GHOST ROAD BLUES, BAD MOON RISING and several other novels including the official movie adaptation of the Benecio Del Toro & Anthony Hopkins remake of THE WOLFMAN. Jonathan writes for Marvel Comics, Universal Pictures, ABC Disney, among others. He is also the author of numerous short stories, nonfiction books, plays and over 1200 feature articles for major magazines.
TO REGISTER FOR THIS PROGRAM: Contact Jonathan via e-mail at jonathan_maberry@yahoo.com, or via phone at 215-808-0945 to reserve your spot today. If responding by e-mail include the name of the program in the subject line, and provide us with your contact information.
CHECK/MONEY ORDER: Payable to: Jonathan Maberry — PO Box 84 — Southampton, PA 18966
PAYPAL payments can be made to cryptopedia07@yahoo.com
CASH: During class only; please don't send cash via mail.
DATE/TIME: Begins Thursday, May 14; 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Nine 2-hour sessions meeting once per month, plus reserved monthly peer critique group
FEE: $200.00
LOCATION: The class will meet in the coffee shop at the Borders Bookstore in Valley Square Shopping Center (on Route 611 just north of Street Road/132 in Warrington). The store is in the center of the mall.
DESCRIPTION: This writing-intensive program takes that idea that's been knocking around in your head all these years and gets it onto the page. This 9-month course covers every aspect of writing and developing the novel, including: Building your platform; Creating a flexible book outline; Creating Real Characters; Developing the story idea; Developing various versions of the storyline synopsis; Writing and Finishing the First Draft; Identifying Your Market; Insider tips on the writing business; Learning how to find an agent and/or publisher Outline the Novel; Preparing for Revisions; Preparing for Revisions; Publicity; Searching for Agents and Publishers; Setting a Practical and Possible Daily Word Count; The writing contract step-by-step; Time management for writers Working the markets; and much more.
BONUS is that both a literary agent and a film agent will be scouting the finished books for potential clients!
INSTRUCTOR: Jonathan Maberry is a multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author of PATIENT ZERO, GHOST ROAD BLUES, BAD MOON RISING and several other novels including the official movie adaptation of the Benecio Del Toro & Anthony Hopkins remake of THE WOLFMAN. Jonathan writes for Marvel Comics, Universal Pictures, ABC Disney, among others. He is also the author of numerous short stories, nonfiction books, plays and over 1200 feature articles for major magazines.
TO REGISTER FOR THIS PROGRAM: Contact Jonathan via e-mail at jonathan_maberry@yahoo.com, or via phone at 215-808-0945 to reserve your spot today. If responding by e-mail include the name of the program in the subject line, and provide us with your contact information.
CHECK/MONEY ORDER: Payable to: Jonathan Maberry — PO Box 84 — Southampton, PA 18966
PAYPAL payments can be made to cryptopedia07@yahoo.com
CASH: During class only; please don't send cash via mail.
Guide To Literary Agents
This is a link that every serious writer should check out!
http://share.mkt32.net/mson/2009/04/09/meTGffpiXFKD/index.html
http://share.mkt32.net/mson/2009/04/09/meTGffpiXFKD/index.html
Sunday, April 5, 2009
If you happen to be down the shore in the Wildwood area in June, the Seventh Annual North Wildwood Beach Writers Conference at the Wildwoods Convention Center is scheduled. The bummer is that it's during the week (Tuesday and Wednesday, June 2nd and 3rd.). This year, speakers are Suspense Novelist Patricia MacDonald; Young Adult novelist Carol Plum-Ucci; Dan Poynter; Charis Conn, contributing editor Harper's Magazine; and actor, playwrite Gayle Stahlhuth - her topic is "Writing for the Stage", and several more presenters. You can access their new website: www.nwbwc.com and/or email the coordinator Carolyn Miller at nwbwc09@gmail.com.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Professor Keene
Attention all writers
Bram Stoker award winning author Brian Keene will be teaching an eight-week course on writing and selling your novel at York College of Pennsylvania, (York Campus) beginning this September. If the class is successful then he will begin teaching it every semester. More information as it becomes available.
I became aware of this the day after I spoke to a class of writing majors at that same, York College. I think its wonderful that York College exposes their students to real-world sucess stories. A trait that sets them apart from most colleges.
Mr. Keene is not affiliated with the Central Pennsylvania Writer's Organization, however he is my good friend. He has a wealth of knowledge that he has always shared with anyone who asked. I have personally learned a great deal from him, and I know you can, too. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from one of fiction's brightest new stars.
Bram Stoker award winning author Brian Keene will be teaching an eight-week course on writing and selling your novel at York College of Pennsylvania, (York Campus) beginning this September. If the class is successful then he will begin teaching it every semester. More information as it becomes available.
I became aware of this the day after I spoke to a class of writing majors at that same, York College. I think its wonderful that York College exposes their students to real-world sucess stories. A trait that sets them apart from most colleges.
Mr. Keene is not affiliated with the Central Pennsylvania Writer's Organization, however he is my good friend. He has a wealth of knowledge that he has always shared with anyone who asked. I have personally learned a great deal from him, and I know you can, too. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from one of fiction's brightest new stars.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
The Hourglass is Full
Greetings, fellow jugglers of time and intention.
October's meeting was like a grande cinnamon mochaccino, with an extra shot. There were nine writers in attendance.
Since Rich Barley was busy trolling through some swamp in South Carolina, it was up to Ralph, our brand-new VP, to take the helm. And what a fine surrogate he turned out to be.
First order of business was the new order of officers. Carol Causey has taken over the treasury, trimming my own duties down to simply secretary. Todd Watson has relinquished his title in public relations in order to explore the long-abandoned office of Education Coordinator.
Alison Beard has taken on the task of alerting the public to our presence. Already, her efforts have managed to attract our newest member, Dave Patton.
Dave hails from Lebanon area, although he did a long stint with Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York. Now that he is free to focus on writing, we look forward to seeing what develops.
And speaking of discovering potential, our next meeting, on November 20th, will be entirely devoted to UnTapped Talent, a new publishing company in Hershey.
Rena Wilson Fox and Maria Montesano Boyer will take center stage to talk about their unique approach to the business. Also on hand will be Arthur L. Ford, the author of Shunned, UnTapped Talent's first published book. It promises to be a full two hours!
Another opportunity to consider in the near future is the 2009 CPWO Writing Contest. The official rules and further details will be announced to the general public in January. We decided not to have a regular meeting in December.
Ralph managed to steer us through an entire hour of business discussion before we even noticed the clock. Now, that's good!
Somehow, we still had time to hear Carol's latest adaptation of her "Because I Was Late" poem.
Ed Guion was able to read two whole stories from his fourth edition of Curmudgeon Vignettes. The first was about a guy named Harlen and his discount dentures.
The second story recounted an experience he had as a soldier during the Korean War. It's the tale of his brave attempt to fashion a leather jacket from a pattern, with minimal instruction. Diane said his words "capture the feeling of every girl who ever took Home Ec."
Todd read a creatively educational piece about cut glass production which also led to a discussion about character description.
Alison shared a letter she wrote to Keith Olbermann of MSNBC, nominating her 82-year-old grandmother for "Worst Person in the World" just because she's afraid to vote. We all agreed with her grandmother, that Alison should win "Worst Person" just for writing the letter.
After spending almost two whole hours with his newfound friends, Dave Patton decided it was safe to share the beginnings of a story he wrote for a writing class.
The emphasis was on setting a scene. He took us, quite vividly, through the mind of a glamorous woman, into a fancy hotel room and "the morning after." Whew!
Folks, the energy and ability that exists in the body of the Central Pennsylvania Writers Organization today, is bursting at the seams. I won't tell you how many hours it took me just to condense our two hour meeting into this letter. I even stayed up to watch the clocks fall back.
But writing is a lot like the hourglass. Just when you think it is empty, one turn, and you are overflowing anew.
Much more to come, Rita
October's meeting was like a grande cinnamon mochaccino, with an extra shot. There were nine writers in attendance.
Since Rich Barley was busy trolling through some swamp in South Carolina, it was up to Ralph, our brand-new VP, to take the helm. And what a fine surrogate he turned out to be.
First order of business was the new order of officers. Carol Causey has taken over the treasury, trimming my own duties down to simply secretary. Todd Watson has relinquished his title in public relations in order to explore the long-abandoned office of Education Coordinator.
Alison Beard has taken on the task of alerting the public to our presence. Already, her efforts have managed to attract our newest member, Dave Patton.
Dave hails from Lebanon area, although he did a long stint with Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York. Now that he is free to focus on writing, we look forward to seeing what develops.
And speaking of discovering potential, our next meeting, on November 20th, will be entirely devoted to UnTapped Talent, a new publishing company in Hershey.
Rena Wilson Fox and Maria Montesano Boyer will take center stage to talk about their unique approach to the business. Also on hand will be Arthur L. Ford, the author of Shunned, UnTapped Talent's first published book. It promises to be a full two hours!
Another opportunity to consider in the near future is the 2009 CPWO Writing Contest. The official rules and further details will be announced to the general public in January. We decided not to have a regular meeting in December.
Ralph managed to steer us through an entire hour of business discussion before we even noticed the clock. Now, that's good!
Somehow, we still had time to hear Carol's latest adaptation of her "Because I Was Late" poem.
Ed Guion was able to read two whole stories from his fourth edition of Curmudgeon Vignettes. The first was about a guy named Harlen and his discount dentures.
The second story recounted an experience he had as a soldier during the Korean War. It's the tale of his brave attempt to fashion a leather jacket from a pattern, with minimal instruction. Diane said his words "capture the feeling of every girl who ever took Home Ec."
Todd read a creatively educational piece about cut glass production which also led to a discussion about character description.
Alison shared a letter she wrote to Keith Olbermann of MSNBC, nominating her 82-year-old grandmother for "Worst Person in the World" just because she's afraid to vote. We all agreed with her grandmother, that Alison should win "Worst Person" just for writing the letter.
After spending almost two whole hours with his newfound friends, Dave Patton decided it was safe to share the beginnings of a story he wrote for a writing class.
The emphasis was on setting a scene. He took us, quite vividly, through the mind of a glamorous woman, into a fancy hotel room and "the morning after." Whew!
Folks, the energy and ability that exists in the body of the Central Pennsylvania Writers Organization today, is bursting at the seams. I won't tell you how many hours it took me just to condense our two hour meeting into this letter. I even stayed up to watch the clocks fall back.
But writing is a lot like the hourglass. Just when you think it is empty, one turn, and you are overflowing anew.
Much more to come, Rita
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