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.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

NOVEL PITCHING II: Events that Charge Extra for Pitch Opportunities

HAWAII WRITERS CONFERENCE
(Formerly the Maui Writers Conference)
http://www.hawaiiwriters.org/

*$ ?? for Retreat
Friday August 28 - Thursday September 3, 2009

$695 for Conference
Friday September 4 - Monday September 7, 2009

*$ ?? for One-on-One Consultations
Various Dates During the Conference.

Held in Honolulu, Hawaii. Hosted by the Hawaii Writers Foundation.

*Prices not available again until next year.
===================================

SOUTH CAROLINA WRITERS WORKSHOP CONFERENCE
http://www.myscww.org/conference/schedule.php

$325-$425 for Complete Conference Package
Friday October 23 - Sunday 25, 2009

$10 Extra for Pitch Sessions

Held in Myrtle Beach, SC. Hosted by South Carolina Writers Workshop.

Monday, September 14, 2009

NOVEL PITCHING I: Events for Crafting & Honing Pitches


Backspace November Agent-Author Seminar

http://www.backspacewritersconference.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

$250-$295 per day.
Thursday November 5 - Saturday November 6, 2009

Held in New York, NY. Hosted by Backspace, an online writers community.

SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST DEADLINE (09/04/09) HAS PASSED. If you plan to attend their next event in the spring of 2010, read about the scholarships at the link below. Their scholarships cover admission to the conference only, not travel or hotel expenses. Details on Agent Colleen Lindsay's blog:
http://theswivet.blogspot.com/2009/08/win-scholarship-to-backspace-agent.html
=====================================

NY Writers Workshop
Perfect Pitch Fiction Conference

http://www.newyorkwritersworkshop.com/pitch_fiction.html

$395 for Conference only.
Friday November 13 - Sunday November 15, 2009
$420 for Conference & Agents Panel (Saturday morning).

Held in New York, NY. Hosted by New York Writers Workshop.
=====================================

Writers Retreat Workshop
http://www.writersretreatworkshop.com/fallretreat09.php

$449 for Pitch Weekend only.
Saturday November 14 - Monday November 16, 2009

$995 for 6-night Writers Retreat Workshop only.
Monday November 16 - Sunday 22, 2009

$1,275 for Combo: Pitch Weekend AND Retreat.
Saturday November 14 - Sunday 22, 2009

Held in Oracle, Arizona, near Tucson. Hosted by Writers Retreat Workshop.

Open only to graduates of Writers Retreat Workshop and/or (Agent) Donald Maass Breakout Novel Intensive Workshops. Prices include room and meals.
=====================================

NYC Pitch and Shop
http://nycpitchconference.com/

$495
Thursday December 3 - Sunday December 6, 2009

Held in New York, NY. Hosted by Algonkian Writer Conferences.
=====================================

Write and Pitch Conference
http://www.writeandpitchconference.com/

$229
Friday February 19 - Sunday 21, 2010

Held in Corte Madera, near San Francisco, CA. Hosted by Algonkian Writer Conferences.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

NOVEL PITCH and FIRST 5 PAGES CONTEST

Novel Pitch & 1st Five (5) Pages of a Novel Contest

http://www.janicewiley-dorn.com/smokecitynarrators/pitch1st5contest.html

$8 ENTRY FEE -- DEADLINE: Sept. 9, 2009 EXTENDED to:
POSTMARKED by SATURDAY OCTOBER 17, 2009

AWARDS: 1st -- $150 || 2nd -- $75 || 3rd -- $40
6 Honorable Mentions

Sponsored by Smoke City Narrators. Features a low entry fee. Open to residents of the USA and Washington, D. C., with the exception of members of SCN. Entries must be original and unpublished (includes Internet).

Novel need not be complete.

Multiple entries OK but only 1 prize awarded to any winner. Submit 2 copies of the first 5 pages of a novel, 1,500 words max. and a one-sentence pitch (mini-synopsis), 20 words max.

Optional: The 9 finalists will have their pitch and website link posted on SCN's website and blog.

Novel pages not published. Authors retain all rights. See website for complete rules.

Questions? Contact us at: scnarrators@janicewiley-dorn.com

I hope you'll use this contest as a practice run before querying agents or editors and/or attending pitch workshops.

Later this week, I'll post summaries of events that feature pitch sessions.

Good Luck with Your Contest Entries!

Monday, January 19, 2009

SECRETARY of the ARTS PETITION

Musician Quincy Jones--winner of a 2008 Humanitarian Award--has started a petition to ask President Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts. Please consider signing it.

http://www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html

Sunday, January 18, 2009

GRANTS for WRITERS

Grants and other awards will enhance the bio paragraph in your query letters to agents and publishers.

I'm deeply grateful to the Elizabeth George Foundation for their generous award of an artistic grant for fiction.

The deadline for the 2010 awards is July 1, 2009. The application fee is $25.00 and you'll need letters of recommendation from five professionals in your field. The foundation doesn't have a website but you can request a brochure by writing:

Elizabeth George
Elizabeth George Foundation
P. O. Box 1429
Langley, Washington 98260

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Q & A with Four Young Literary Agents

A feisty discussion of literary questions posted on Poets & Writers Magazine's online articles. Agents: Julie Barer, Jeff Kleinman, Renee Zuckerbrot and Daniel Lazar.