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

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.
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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.
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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.

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.

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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

LOGLINE, QUERY LETTER & SYNOPSIS

Many writers find composing a one-page query letter and a one-page synopsis more difficult than writing a 100,000 word novel. Try writing a logline--a one-sentence description of your novel--first. Expand that into a one-paragraph pitch to include in your query letter. Writing a one-page synopsis now seems effortless.

Hint #1: Write the one-paragraph pitch as a teaser, painting in broad strokes your main character, their goal and the antagonist that blocks it. Don't give away the ending. Your intent is to intrigue the agent into asking for apartial or full manuscript. Your one-page synopsis should give more details and reveal the ending.

Hint #2: Double-space your novel chapters but single-space query letters and synopses. If an agent or publisher requests a detailed outline, be kind to their eyes and double-space anything longer than three pages.

This article by Christopher Lockhart gives detailed instructions on creating loglines for character-driven and plot-driven screenplays, and gives pointers on writing query letters. You can easily adapt the basics of his method to novels.