Thursday, October 14, 2010
IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Writing Programs in the OKC Area -Wayne Harris-Wyrick
2. LOTS OF CONTESTS, Conferences
3. My Blog – “Save the Ta-Tas!”
4. Writer’s News
5. Book/Blog Review – “The Late Sooner”
6. Letters to the Editor
7. Website Winner – Buzz Aldrin!
8. NEW Story Call Outs: Chicken Soup, more…
9. More Announcements
10. Miscellaneous Opportunities for Writers
3,000 words. Scanning time 7 minutes (including clicks)
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OKC Writers- Wayne “Wizard” Harris-Wyrick KNOW YOUR STORY AND CHARACTERS!
This Saturday October 16, 2010.
at N.W.25th and McKinley, Oklahoma City, OK.
Presenter Wayne Harris-Wyrick wants to know --
How well do you really know your story and characters?
He says, “So you have a story with lots of action. But how well do you really know the details? This presentation will be a series of activities you can use to test your own knowledge of your creation. They can also jump start your creative juices or help break writer’s block.”
Bring writing materials, because our Wizard will be giving you writing exercises to get you started, and tips to improve your techniques.
Wayne Harris-Wyrick is Director of the Kirkpatrick Planetarium. He writes a monthly astronomy column for the Daily Oklahoman, has published more than 300 non-fiction articles in several national magazines, and has served as editor of the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation quarterly magazine for the past several years. His children’s picture book, “Why Am I Me?” will be released next year.
Visitors are welcome. Come for coffee at 9:30 a.m. if you wish an opportunity to get acquainted and find a good seat. The program will begin at 10 sharp. For more information contact Bonita McCoy at bonitam11@cox.net.
VISITORS ARE WELCOME! Meetings are free & open to the public.
(Always the third Saturday of each month)
OKC Writers Inc programs are held at Oklahoma City University Meinders Building, Student lounge.
(Meinders School of Business is on North McKinley between 25th & 27th St)
Plug this address into your GPS, Mapquest.com or Google for a map to the OKC Writers meeting: OCU - 2501 N. Blackwelder
http://okcwriters.toogroagency.com/
Casual dress. Coffee at 9:30 am
Meeting opens at 10 am – usually out by 11:30
One-on-one lunch following the meeting. Place is announced at each meeting.
EDITOR’S NOTES: OKC Writers would love to have you join; however, membership is not required to attend the meeting. Membership is required to enter the contest. If you have not paid your 2010 dues, send $20 (check or money order) to Jean Stover, Treasurer -- email theotherjean@cox.net for a mailing address. Upcoming programs will be announced by Dana Seaton, Program chair. Judy Howard is doing a great job as publicity chair.
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2. ANNOUNCEMENTS, CONTESTS, CONFERENCE NEWS
Have you heard the latest about our Dusty Richards?
The always humble Dusty sent me an email recently. 
“This must be my year,” he said. I would agree!
The Will Rogers Medallion Award Committee proudly announced the winners of the 2010 Will Rogers Medallion Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Publishing of Western Literature. The book, author and publisher honored this year in Western Fiction:
Dusty and wife Pat with his Wrangler award at the Western Heritage Awards, Nat’l Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in OKC earlier this year. (Photo by Stan Paregien)
Texas Blood Feud
Author—Dusty Richards, Springdale, Arkansas
Publisher—Pinnacle Books, New York, NY
The announcement said: “A great Western storyteller and author at the peak of his form..”
Will Rogers was a respected writer as well as cowboy entertainer. The Medallion Committee hopes and believes that the Will Rogers Medallion Awards will help to expand the heritage of literature which honors the traditions and values of the American Cowboy, which Will did so much to embody and demonstrate. Dusty received the award at their ceremony Tuesday evening, September 23 at Granville Theater in Garland, Texas.
Hotlink to Dusty’s web page: http://www.dustyrichards.com/
Dusty’s comment? “It’s a real nice award.”
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Hear Pulitizer Prize novelist at OCU - free
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N.Scott Momaday, Kiowa writer and poet, will be speaking at Oklahoma City University in the Kerr McGee Auditorium of Meinders School of Business at N.W. 27th and McKinley on Tuesday, Nov, 2, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1969 for House Made of Dawn. The lecture is free and open to the public. Seating will be limited. For more information, call (405) 208-4956. Visit www.okcu.edu/speakers for more information.
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HOA Christian Writers network Conference - KS- this month!
Heart of America Christian Writers Network its annual conference November 11-13 at Colonial Presbyterian Church, 135 & Quivira, Overland Park, KS. They offer instruction and networking with top-drawer editors such as Andrew Attaway from Guidepost Books, Katara Patton from Tyndale, Carla Foote from Momsense, and Pamela Woody from Thriving Family and more. You can talk to several agents, or learn how to publicize your work with information from Blythe Daniel. You can even get a great price on having a professional promo shot taken. For more information, go to HACWN.org.
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Ardmore OK, Arbuckle Creative Writers Nov 8
I will be giving a one-hour presentation at Ardmore Public Library on Monday November 8, 2010 at 6:30 pm, sponsored by the Arbuckle Creative Writers. The subject: “Writing Family History,” using PowerPoint (actually a new technique “Keynote”). Public is invited, no admission charge. If you would like to write about your family, but wonder where to begin, how to structure it, how much truth to tell, and how to manage conflicting family opinions, be sure to come to Ardmore Public Library for this event.
For more info, contact Labeth Nall <luranall@yahoo.com> or (580) 341-0241.
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Christian Writers Fellowship Conference next Spring
Terry W. Burns, agent with Hartline Literary and a writer with over 40 books in print, will be one of the speakers at the Christian Writers Fellowship annual conference. The place is Pittsburg, Kansas, the date is April 1-2, 2011 at the Lamplighter Inn. For more info, call 620-231-8700 (Ask for CWF room price)
For more information, contact Carol Russell at rlrussell@ckt.net, or see www.ChristianWritersFellowship.blogspot.com
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Small Group Writing Classes
William “Bill” Bernhardt is offering three small group classes in Oklahoma this month.
-- November 8 - Norman OK
-- November 15 - University of Tulsa
-- November 29 - Oklahoma City
If you’re interested in attending these programs call 918 344 9201, or visit http://www.williambernhardt.com/small_group_seminars.php .
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OWFI Conference 2011
Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc (OWFI) hosts one of the best bargains for any writer’s conference in the nation, as well as a great writing contest. Start preparing your contest entries now; deadline is Feb. 1. Go to www.owfi.org to learn more. President Dan Case of Denton, Texas, and Linda Apple of Arkansas have an incredible list of speakers and presenters lined up to educate conferees next Spring when the contest winners will be announced.
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Writers Digest Contests
You can view the details about each of these competitions (and all of Writer's Digest competitions) at
www.writersdigest.com/competitions.
Popular Fiction Awards
Deadline: November 1, 2010
Click here to enter
Annual Short Short Story Writing Competition
Deadline: December 1, 2010
Enter here
Poetry Awards
Deadline: December 15, 2010
Enter your best poetry now!
How early should you enter? How important is grammar? Does it matter how the entry is formatted? Find answers to all of these burning questions and more at
http://www.writersdigest.com/article/Contest_Dos_and_Donts/
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3. MY BLOG –“Save the Ta-Tas!”
Just in case you haven’t noticed all the pink ribbons, or the Sunday cartoons painted pink, or the many pink signs and clothing items, let me tell you that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
A year ago I was on top of the world. Dan Case had published my book in his Roots and Branches line. “Who’s Your Daddy?” was selling like Apple iPhones (well maybe not THAT good), and I was having too much fun signing autographs and speaking about my book.
In February I noticed I had missed my annual mammogram date. It was a few days before our wedding anniversary and I was busy with plans for speaking at a big workshop the next week. “Oh well,” I thought, “I don’t have time for a mammogram this month. I’ll just do a quick self-exam and make an appointment later.”
....Click here to read the rest on the blog!
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4. Writing News
Hemingway?
A visitor to a certain college paused to admire the new Hemingway Hall that had been built on campus. "It's a pleasure to see a building named for Ernest Hemingway," he said.
"Actually," said his guide, "it's named for Joshua Hemingway. No relation."
The visitor was astonished. "Was Joshua Hemingway a writer, also?"
"Yes, indeed," said his guide. "He wrote a check."
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I teach a class on
GENEALOGY BOOTCAMP
at the Will Rogers Senior Center at 36th and Portland from 10:30 to 11:30 on Thursdays. It is free and the class size is small, so come on out. That is the most active Senior Center I have ever seen. Lots going on there and usually a full house. While there last week I witnessed tap dance lessons, crafting with polymer clay and other stuff, square dancing, oil painting, ceramics, line dancing -- and even belly dancing classes! I heard that Jean Stover is teaching a beginning writers class. Sorry, but you must be over age 55 to participate.
For more info, call the center at 942-4339 and ask for “Miss Patty” McDoulett. (sorry, no website or email for the center)
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Nov 15 - Speaking at Buffalo, OK
On Monday Nov 15 at 1:00 PM, I am excited about being invited back to my hometown to present a lesson on genealogy to the Liberty HCE club, “Leaving a Legacy to your Family - Memoir and History.” I’ll bring handouts on genealogy, a door prize, and info on the annual Family Story Writing contest. For more info, email Judyh@pldi.net or contact Judy at 405-735-2404.
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New Author Pages Available on Amazon.com
If you have books available on Amazon.com, visit https://authorcentral.amazon.com to sign up and manage an Author Page. To learn about the feature, take a look at the Editorial Reviews help page, https://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/help?topicID=200436740 You can create up to 5 new Reviews, and request to make corrections to Reviews that have already been submitted by your publisher. You can also update content for author-pertinent topics like “About the Author,” “From the Author,” and “Product Description.” Changes you make will appear on the website in 1-2 days.
Click here to see mine: http://amzn.to/AmazonAuthorPage
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Wide-Open Wednesdays at the Museum!
The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum is celebrating Wide-Open Wednesdays now through November 17, sponsored by Oklahoma Ford Dealers
This special promotion offers free admission on Wednesdays through November 17. This is the perfect opportunity to visit and learn about the legacies that shaped the way Americans live today! Read more here: http://www.NationalCowboyMuseum.org
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5. BOOK/BLOG REVIEW – “The Late Sooner” by Sally Jadlow
Here is Sally at the Tulsa book show.
Author Sally Jadlow found an old ledger with ragged edges stuffed in a walnut antique cabinet in her mother's spare bedroom. She said the yellowed pages crackled as she opened it, and the sound was her great grandfather's voice speaking from more than a hundred years ago from the pages of his 
diary.
Sanford Deering only entered one line a day in the ledger beginning in the 1880s, but Sally filled in the blanks with research, imagination and family legend to create this great historical novel.
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6. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, BOOK SIGNINGS, TIPS & TRICKS, MORE
ABQ Writers Co-op presents an evening with 4 Albuquerque writer-editors. Please join us on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 from 7 – 9 pm in the evening for our inaugural salon featuring
Carolyn Flynn, Sage
Charles Poling, Su Casa
Lexi Petronis, ABQ the Magazine
Stephanie Hainsfurther, ABQ Arts
Light refreshments will follow program.Reservations required! Please email lisa@abqwriterscoop.com or lynn@abqwriterscoop.com to reserve your place & for more info.
ABQ Writers Co-op
Lynn C. Miller . Lisa Lenard-Cook
creating community for New Mexico writers
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OCT 30 - TAHLEQUAH
The Eastern Oklahoma AuthorFest will be held on October 30th 2010 from 10am to 3pm at the Cherokee County Community Building, Tahlequah. For any questions please contact them through email at EOAF@mail.org or call (918) 316-0576.
The sponsors are concerned about illiteracy and feel that if people, children and adults alike, come to the AuthorFest and meet authors face to face it may encourage them to read more.
The festival is free and open to the public. Concessions will be available throughout the day as well as a silent auction to raise money for literacy in Cherokee County.
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All Day Fall Workshop at Cheyenne OK
The Roger Mills County Genealogical Society will host an all-day Fall workshop on Monday November 1. Registration begins at 9:30 until 4 pm. Registration fee - $10 lunch included, that’s almost better than free!
The address is 200 South Don Cearlock at the Minnie R. Slief Memorial Library in Cheyenne. Ms. Slief was a local icon who ran the abstract office for almost half a century. Her great passions were the Catholic Church and education for rural children, and she endowed the first little public library in the county.
Dorothy Alexander and I will be leading the sessions. Some of the subjects we may cover are “Tiptoe Through the Tombstones,” “Writing Your Memoir or Family Story,” “Is There a Pilgrim in Your Family Tree?,” “Why DAR?,” “Keeping a Journal as a Legacy to your Family,” and “Getting Beyond the Begats.”
We will have handouts on genealogy, a door prize or two, and info on the annual OGS Family Story Writing contest -- and of course -- Dorothy and Carolyn will have their books available for autographing. For more info contact Marilyn Wilson by email wilson_m_73638@yahoo.com, or phone Dorothy at 580-729-0242. If you call and let us know you are coming, we will reserve the best seats for you. It helps to know how many handouts to bring and how many lunches to prepare, so we don’t run out.
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GOT POEMS?
Sandy Soli is coordinating a poetry event to benefit OKC Skyline Ministry's food pantry on election night, November 2. This is part of a nationwide anti-hunger event -- poets against hunger.
She says so far they have 17 poets signed up, also three musicians will entertain. Sandy is asking for donations to Skyline of cash or nonperishables, food and/or paper goods, etc.
GOOD WORDS: Food for Thought
A poetry reading to benefit
Skyline Food Pantry
Tuesday, November 2, 2010 (Election Day)
7 o’clock P.M.
Host: Village United Methodist Church
2501 W. Britton Road, Oklahoma City
(between Penn & May on Britton Road)
Poets: Sign up at the door to read. Please bring
one or two poems on the subject of food, feasting, or hunger
Please bear in mind: This is a family-friendly event
A table will be provided for sale of your poetry books
(if you wish to donate a portion of proceeds, that would be great too!)
Poetry ~ Refreshments ~ Music ~ Fellowship
All for a good cause!
Mark the date! Bring guests!
For more info, contact Sandy at sandrasoli@sbcglobal.net
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MUST READ FOR SELF-PUBLISHERS -- and others.
I don’t get paid for this (darn it) but all writers should read this book just the understand the publishing industry better.
NOW AVAILABLE!!! (for november)
Fully revised and expanded: The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing, 5th Edition, by Marilyn Ross and Sue Collier is finally available! Order your copy today at Amazon. If you are interested in bulk orders, contact us at 1-800-331-8355. For self-publishing info and networking opportunities, please join the book’s fan page on Facebook.
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7. AUTHOR’S WEBSITE WINNER
October 2010 Website winner: BUZZ ALDRIN!
His purpose is clear. He has items to sell in his “store” and his speaking opportunities are publicized. Information on his “Latest Buzz” page are current with up-to-date announcements of his appearances. Obviously it is updated frequently.
Read more on “Website Winners.” Click here.
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STORY CALL OUT!
Chicken Soup is looking for stories -- Lots of opportunities here:
Young at Heart: deadline 31 Dec 2010
Mothers and Daughters: deadline 31 Dec 2010
Canada: January 30, 2011
Devotional Stories for Times of Trouble: 28 Feb 2011
Brides and Weddings: April 30, 2011
Marriage and married Life: 30 May 2011
If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $100 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story, as well as the right to resell it.
SUBMISSIONS must be sent online - they do not accept mailed, faxed, or emailed submissions.
GO TO http://chickensoup.com
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9. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Your Attention Please!
The best way to write publishable books is to read books; then sit down and write books. Everything else is optional. –Jennifer Ashley, romance author.
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Looking for help with editing?
RED PEN EDITING
Professional editing that helps prepare manuscripts for publication.
Vivian Zabel & Team
http://RedPen-Editing.weebly.com
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Writing for Dollars!
The latest issue of Writing for DOLLARS! is available free at http://www.writingfordollars.com/. Case says, “Our database of writer’s guidelines is readily available to everyone for FREE! All links have been checked within the last year so you can be sure to have the most up-to-date information.”
Maybe someday he will reveal the secret of the strange name for his company. An acronym? Maybe it is for All Writers of Class ... published here? Whatever it is, the name seems to work for him.
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10. Miscellaneous Opportunities for Writers
Computer Club
Check this out for lots of computer tips and info from the OKC Computer Club:
Bill James, Editor, ccOKC eMonitor
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Individual Artists of Oklahoma (IAO)
Film and Video events at IAO are organized by the IAO Film & Video Committee. For information about how to submit your film for screening, or to propose other film events at IAO, please contact the IAO F&V committee chairperson, Tiffany Barber– tiffany.e.b@gmail.com.
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Poetry
Poetry events at IAO are organized by the IAO Poetry Committee and include monthly readings with featured poets and open mic formats. For information about how to become more involved with the IAO Poetry Committee, please contact committee chairperson, Rob Sturma - ratpackslim@gmail.com.
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Looking for a Job? Part-time/full-time? Work from Home? AWOC.COM Publishing is considering hiring a book distributor on commission for the state of Oklahoma. Contact Dan Case for more info by emailing him with your job requirements and qualifications at <dan@awoc.com>
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Increase Traffic to your Website: Well-written, relevant articles can net you quite a bit of activity to your website. Don't forget to add your URL in your byline. Articles should be 500 to 2,000 words in length. You can send articles to sites like: articlecity.com, goarticles.com, submityourarticles.com and ezinearticles.com. Don’t send any to Dan Case unless they fit his strict guidelines at www.writingfordollars.com
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Need Help with Grammar?
Grammar Girl is a self-described “defender of the sacred comma, orator of the mysterious grammar way, and deliverer of practical tips.” Her regular podcasts are filled with short tips on improving your grammar. The podcast is currently the 47th most popular download from Apple’s iTunes online music store. Grammar Girl podcasts are downloadable for free from www.iTunes.com or at www.qdnow.com.
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Need a Logo?
Have you seen the beautiful new Buffalo Industries logo created by Leslie Earnest, editor of my hometown newspaper, at Leslie Earnest Studios.
Contact Leslie for an estimate if you are thinking of creating a logo or artwork to illustrate a book or website. Leslie is talented, quick and reasonable -- and great to work with.
Here’s her email. leslie_n_earnest@yahoo.com
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Looking for an Agent?
Look here for agents who want to see your work.
http://www.writersdigest.com/article/24-agents-who-want-your-work-2009/
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Tell a Friend
Got something you’d like mentioned in WRITERS REMINDER next month? Do you know another writer who would be interested in receiving this newsletter? Perhaps you found us on the internet and would like to receive a note when a new issue hits the ‘net?
Send an email to the editor at
Put “I am a writer too” in the subject line and be sure to say in the message box you would like to be added to the Writers Reminder e-zine.
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Happy Halloween and best of luck!
Write on -- Write Now!
Carolyn
Carolyn B. Leonard
Editor, Writer's e-Reminder
LINDA TEAGUE of Tulsa and Carolyn Leonard (me) at the Oklahoma Authors and Books Showcase last weekend in Tulsa Embassy Suites, sponsored by Gregath Publishing. Thanks for being a fan, Linda! The crowd was small, but it was good to see some old friends, meet some new ones, and have time to talk to daughter Judi, who helped me at my booth. (Photo by Judi Mills)
