Saturday, December 4, 2010

Daphne Kalotay: Triumph after Rejection

Daphne proves that saving the Ghost of Rejections Past isn't a masochistic act. Keeping track of where we've traveled can pave the way to publication.

Your turn will come if you persevere. My Christmas Wish is that the New Year herald in book publication for all of us.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

HELP a SEMI-STARVING ARTIST

Please vote for my nephew, Chris Wiley, an actor/writer/swordsmanship instructor (in this economy, ya gotta diversify to pay the rent), currently in second place in the Dunkin' Donuts Create America's Next Donut Contest. Chris dubbed his donut creation, S'morgasbord, in the essay that landed him a spot in the finals. The 1st Place Winner will receive a year's supply of donuts, have their creation added to the DD menu, and be awarded $12,000 (writers can't live on donuts alone).

You can vote once a day, every day, from now through Monday May 3, 2010 at: https://www.dunkindonuts.com/donut/

Read more about Chris at these links:

Medford Man Goes for Dunkin' prize:
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/medford/2010/04/medford_man_a_finalist_in_donu.html

Three from Mass. Finalists in Dunkin' Donuts Contest:
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view/20100429three_from_mass_finalists_in_dunkin_donuts_contest/srvc=home&position=recent

Born in Birmingham, AL, Chris left the foothills of the Appalachians for Georgia, where he graduated from LaGrange College, and then headed for the footlights, becoming a company member of Atlantis Playmakers based out of Billerica, MA.
http://www.lagrange.edu/academics/theatre-arts/alumni.htm

He also had a non-speaking role in Indiana Jones IV (Crystal Skull), appearing most visibly when standing in front of a big oak that Indiana rides by during the motorcycle chase scene. Keeping his lips sealed required tremendous acting flair because Chris is descended from a long line of witty motor-mouths (on both sides of his family tree).

Anyway, the movie premiered two years ago and Chris cashed the check way back then. Did I mention even semi-starving artists can't subsist on donuts and witty essays alone? Please vote and vote and vote again for Chris W. so you can experience his S'morgasbord (based on the campfire treat s'mores) at a Dunkin' Donuts near you.

Thanks!!!
Janice Wiley-Dorn, aka the Doting Aunt
http://www.janicewiley-dorn.com/contests.html

SCN Novel Pitch & 1st Five Pages Contest Winners

SMOKE CITY NARRATORS
NOVEL PITCH & 1ST FIVE PAGES CONTEST

2009 WINNERS

1st Place - $150: SECOND CHANCES … Theresa J. GRANT … Newaygo, MI

Pitch: Four dead girls, three years in hiding, two men with secrets; for forensic anthropologist Jo Birch, one second chance. 

___________________________________________________
2nd Place - $75: CHIN LEE'S PLACE … Vance H. WHITE … Niceville, FL 
Pitch: Reporter Robert Gage turns detective in this hard-boiled thriller set in San Francisco on the eve of World War II. 
___________________________________________________ 
3rd Place - $40: The BODY of HELEN … Tracy KORETSKY … Berkeley, CA  
Author hasn't given permission to post their pitch. 

2009 Honorary Mentions
HM #1: MY NAME is SADIA 
             
by Erika Dusen TAMINDZIJA … Arlington Heights, IL

Pitch: A young slave navigates the 16th century Islamic World and struggles to regain her family.                       _____________________________________________________
HM #2: In the SHADOW of the LONE STAR
             
by B. J. BATEMAN … Damascus, OR
Pitch: In 1938 Texas, a runaway white girl finds work and love in a colored nightclub, cultivating friendships and inciting violence.

_____________________________________________________
HM #3: The THIRD STEP
             
by Ginger MARCINKOWSKI … Pella, IA 

Pitch: Two countries, two rivers, and her father's funeral cause a woman to confront the incestuous past that's haunted her life. 
_____________________________________________________
HM #4: KILLING RABBITS
             
by Mary Ann KOHENSKEY … Maryland Heights, MO
Pitch: Joe Detrie runs away from an abusive family but returns to rescue his younger brother and kill their father.  

_____________________________________________________
JUDGE'S COMMENTS on SCN WEBSITE:

Saturday, January 30, 2010

NOVEL PITCH & 1ST FIVE PAGES CONTEST: SEMIFINALISTS

Novel Pitch & 1st Five Pages of a Novel Contest
Sponsored by Smoke City Narrators

2009 SEMIFINALISTS by TITLE ONLY (alphabetically)

The BODY of HELEN
CHIN LEE'S PLACE
The END of ALL ROADS
The FIRST YEAR
IN and OUT of MADNESS
IN the SHADOW of the LONE STAR
INVISIBLE VAMPIRE
KILLING RABBITS
LETTERS from the DEAD
MY NAME IS SADIA
NO LIFE but THIS
RISEN
SECOND CHANCES
SHADOWS of the COMANCHE
SOMEWHERE HOME
The SOUND of INK
THICK and THIN
The THIRD STEP

Winners notified by end of the first week of February. A list of the winners posted by mid-February, along with a few comments by the final judge and contest director highlighting how the winners grabbed our attention.

We'll also give general pointers on how the entries that didn't reach the semifinalist level can be improved. We hope this will help writers find success when entering future contests or submitting their fiction for publication.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

PUBLISHING 101: What You Need to Know

"Here's your step-by-step guide to the publishing process–how it works, why you need to know and how you can play an influential role in your book’s success."
This article by Jerry D. Simmons appeared in the July/August edition of Writer's Digest. Simmons, who started his career in the publishing industry as a sales rep at Random House, worked for major publishers in sales and management for thirty years.

Creating a well-written informative or entertaining book may put writers on the first rung of the lofty ladder to publication. Simmons details what authors need to do to reach the top.

http://www.writersdigest.com/article/publishing-101-what-you-need-to-know/

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

SCN Contest Deadline Extended - Announcing Judge Cindy Dyson

Smoke City Narrators
Novel Pitch & 1st Five Pages Contest

DEADLINE EXTENDED to Saturday 10/17/09
http://www.janicewiley-dorn.com/smokecitynarrators/pitch1st5contest.html

**Novel Does Not Have to be Complete.**

We're pleased to announce our 2009 Contest Judge: Cindy Dyson, author of THE LAST QUERY: A New Approach to Crafting a Novel Query Letter. Dyson shows how-to hone in on the most intriguing qualities of your novel and your life, even if you lack writing credits, and shape them into a unique query.

Her query letter hooked Agent Marly Rusoff, who sold Dyson's first novel, AND SHE WAS, to Harper Collins.

Her nonfiction credits include many magazine articles, five nonfiction YA books and three literary biographies in Harold Bloom's BioCritiques college library series. Dyson grew up in Alaska and now lives in Montana, where she's working on her second novel. Learn more about her and her writing process on these websites:

Cindy Dyson's website:
http://www.cindydyson.com/

THE LAST QUERY:
http://www.cindydyson.com/shopping.html

Agent Marly Rusoff and Associates - Dyson:
http://www.rusoffagency.com/authors/dyson_c/andshewas/andshewas_CDyson_bio.htm

Dyson Interviewed:

http://mjroseblog.typepad.com/backstory/2006/02/_cindy_dysons_b.html

http://49writers.blogspot.com/2009/09/author-interview-cindy-dyson.html

http://www.harpercollins.com/author/authorExtra.aspx?authorID=27501&isbn13=9780060597719&displayType=bookinterview

Friday, September 18, 2009

NOVEL PITCHING III: Events with Pitch Opps Included in Tuition Fees


WORDS and MUSIC: A Literary Feast in New Orleans

http://www.wordsandmusic.org/

$$ See Various Rates Below. Some meals provided.
Thursday November 19 - Sunday November 22, 2009

Held at the renown Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter of New Orleans, LA. Hosted by the Faulkner Society. Director: Rosemary James.

Discounted rates at the Monteleone and a few other nearby hotels. Find bed-and-breakfasts a trolley ride away. Award-winning authors lead the Master Classes. Agent and editor critiques included in tuition fees.

The name says it all. I attended in 2001 and would return every year if my finances allowed. A few of my favorite features:

*Light refreshments available at the morning panel discussions.

*Luncheon speakers and gourmet dishes at famous restaurants in the Quarter, including Antoine's.

*Wine, bottled water and fruit at late afternoon poetry readings in small art galleries.

*Midnight poetry slams at sidewalk café in Pirate's Alley.

*Books made available onsite by Faulkner House Books, ready for autographs from noted literary authors.

*Dance on Saturday night. Casual Dressy.

*Prestigious contest with high-dollar awards - Novel: $7,500/ Novella: $2,500/ Novel-in-Progress: $2,000/ Short Story: $1,500/ Essay: $1,000/ Poetry: $750

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES:

Full Tuition Pkg. - Writers: $350

Students/Competition Finalists: $175

*Both packages above include the one-on-one agent & editor critiques.

*First 50 pages of your mss. sent to agents/editors prior to conference. 

*Each writer gets two 30-minute appointments with the agents/editors of their choice, whenever possible.

Overall Discussion Pass: $250 (Includes discussions, but not critiques)

Lunch (with speakers at famous restaurants) and Dinner Events (Buffet): Passes available in package plans or à la carte pricing.

Sunday Night - Buffet Banquet: Dressy. Speaker (The year I attended: Comedic actor/magician Harry Anderson), musical entertainment, awards presented.
 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

You need to rise early, stay up late or stay over a few days to find time to experience the Quarter on your own:

-Ride in a horse-drawn carriage and three different trolleys.

-Stroll through the Quarter.

-Loiter in indie used-books stores, unique shops and the French Market. (Loretta's makes the best pralines!)

-Sample Cajun, Creole, American and International Cuisine.

-Applaud day-time street musicians playing for tips.

-Crisscross down Bourbon Street nightly to the beat of a dozen bands playing blues, Cajan, country, jazz, rock 'n roll and zydeco.
===================================

GREEN RIVER WRITERS NOVEL-IN-PROGRESS WORKSHOP
http://www.greenriverwriters.org/nipw.html

$400+ for Full Workshop
An entire week during March of 2010. Exact dates TBA.

$ ?? for Afternoon Classes Only.

The economic slump forced them to cancel this year's event but they plan to resume the workshop in 2010.

Held in Louisville, KY. Hosted by Green River Writers, a 25-year-old nonprofit group. They live up to their motto, "Writers Helping Writers." Director: Jeff Yocom.

Accommodations available in nearby motels/hotels or inexpensive dorm-type rooms onsite.

First 50 pages of your mss. sent ahead of time to instructor of your choice . Upon arrival, each student receives the first 20 pages of every mss. in their critique group. (Max. of 5-7 students in each group).

I attended in 2002 and 2003. I remain in contact with the friends I made there, including a talented, multi-published author, who eventually became my mentor.

Sunday Evening: Check in. Orientation. Informal Meet and Greet.

Monday - Friday: Each student gets at least one-hour of private consultation with instructor during the week.

-----Mornings: Critique Groups Meet with Instructor.

-----Mid-days: Long lunch break. Free to eat, write, tour bookstores or nap.

-----Afternoons: Lecture/Discussion Classes.

-----Nights: Free time to write, hang out with faculty or whatever.

Friday Afternoon/Evening: Agents & editors arrive. They go to a restaurant with faculty.

Saturday:

-----Morning: Agent & Editor Panel Q & A.

-----Lunch: Writers (3-5) volunteer to treat one agent or editor to lunch at a restaurant. Sign-up the day before.

-----Afternoon: Everyone gets 10 minutes with many different agents/editors of their choice. Some want to hear a brief verbal description of your novel. Others want to scan a synopsis and/or the first chapter. Come prepared with all three.

No sign-ups. Stand in (short) lines, first come, first served. Because the workshops are limited to 40 or so participants, no one gets turned away and the agents/editors don't get worn out. When I attended in 2002 and 2003, I discussed my novel with three agents and one editor each year.

-----Night: Cocktail Party. Casual dressy. Refreshments served.

Sunday Morning: Check out.
===================================

PEN to PRESS WRITER'S RETREAT

http://www.pentopressretreat.com/

$685 - $735
Tuesday May 25 - Saturday May 29, 2010

Held in the French Quarter of New Orleans, LA. Director: Deborah LeBlanc.