Wednesday, June 16, 2010
IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Writing Programs in the OKC Area
2. Contests, Conferences
3. My Blog – “Painting the Old House”
4. Writer’s News, SPECIAL OFFER from the Book Dr.
5. Book/Blog Review – “Staying High After a Writer’s Conference” by Mary Ann Kerl
6. Writing Opportunities
7. Website Winner –
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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1.OKC Writers- Carolyn Wall, author, teacher, writer
This Saturday June 19.
June 19, CAROLYN WALL will provide an intense workshop on Writing Spine Tingling Fiction. A full-time freelance writer and lecturer nationwide, Carolyn served as the Fiction Editor for Byline Magazine and Persimmon Hill, the award-winning publication for the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. For three years, she was chief writer for the museum’s children’s magazine and has taught creative writing to 4,000 children as Oklahoma Artist-in-Residence.
More than 1,000 of her stories, articles, photographs and reviews have appeared in over 100 magazines and newspapers. Carolyn, a two-time winner of the OWFI Crème de la Crème award, is the author of Sweeping Up Glass, winner of the Oklahoma Book Award for 2009. By the way, Oprah’s book club also gave the book two thumbs up!
FREE WORKSHOPS—
Oklahoma City Writers, Inc sponsors three Free Summer Workshops, 90-minutes each, at OCU Meinders School of Business, N.W. 25th and McKinley, OKC from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday Mornings, June 19, July 17, and August 21, 2010. July 17 will be Michael Horton on the process of publishing a book, and August 21 will feature Jay Shanker on writer’s contract law.
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 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
HURRY! Maria Veres is teaching a class called "The Joy of Writing." It meets on Tuesday nights for six weeks, beginning June 15. It's a very hands-on course with lots of in-class exercises and prompts to get everyone's creativity flowing. Beginners and experienced writers are welcome. Cost is around $70, I think. Go to francistuttle.com to get more information and sign up before late is TOO late.
Francis Tuttle Technology Center
francistuttle.com
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The 2010 OKC Writers Fall contest is coming up! Deadline is September 19. The categories and rules are in the new Membership Directory, or contact Mary Ann West, Contest Chairman, for more info. maryannwest@sbcglobal.net or 405-348-0818.
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Jane Friedman For those not on Twitter - here's the most popular stat she broadcast thus far from BEA: "7% of books published generate 87% of book sales. And 93% of all published books sell less than 1,000 copies each." Friedman is right. Some of the best writing is hardly ever read.
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June 22-26, 2010, Western Writers of America conference convenes in the Crowne Plaza in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Join in panels on The Business of The Song, The Business of the Book, and The Business of Film. They will also host panels on Indian Writers, Cherokees and the Trail of Tears, Davy Crockett, etc.
Participants can sign up for pitch sessions with agents and editors. They can come along on trips to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians.
The annual Spur Awards Banquet on Saturday night WWA will honor the best Western literature of 2009 as well as Pulitzer Prize winner N. Scott Momaday, the recipient of this year’s Owen Wister Award for lifetime contributions to the literature of the American West.
The WWA Convention is open to members and nonmembers. More information and rates will be announced soon at: www.westernwriters.org
And on a personal note, the spirited conversations in the hotel bar are always worth the price of admission.
...Abrazos, Lucia St Clair Robson
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The Chisholm Trail Book Festival held September 18 in Duncan Oklahoma invites all published authors and illustrators to participate. Please visit www.chisholmtrailbookfestival.com for details and registration options. Deadline--July 1!
Stacy L. Cramer
RC&D Coordinator
Oklahoma Chisholm Trail RC&D
3901 West Beech
Duncan, OK 73533
office: (580) 252-4253 ext 121
cell: (405) 207-7078
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OWFI CONFERENCE 2010
Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc (OWFI) hosts one of the best bargains for any writer’s conference in the nation. Start preparing your contest entries now; deadline is Feb. 1. Go to www.owfi.org to learn more.
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3. MY BLOG –“Painting the Old House”
A couple months ago we went to our ‘cottage’ up near the Kansas line to make repairs -- as we do frequently. We also have a rent house there on the farm, and the old Homestead house where I was born is still standing. We had finished repairs on the cottage and the rent house, and I still had a little energy so I decided to paint the old house.
No one else understands why I want to preserve that old relic from the past now used only for storage. It is hardly more than a shell these days with the ceiling gone and a broken window letting in the weather, yet it is dear to my heart. When I am there I hear sounds and laughter, children playing in the yard, the sweet smells of mother’s homemade bread in the oven.
I used some spray foam to fill in places where the stucco was missing, and soon learned that was not the best plan. Hunting around inside I found some patching plaster and used that instead. It worked much better, and should keep bees and wasps from using the open spaces to build a hive this year. Filling in the gaps, left after the old lean-to porch was pulled off the wooden brace, revealed the frame of the grape arbor on the left. I remember how good that shady arbor felt on hot summer days as I played with my dolls in that dark secret-feeling garden.
After the plaster dried I opened the can of Outside White and began to brush it on. But my mind journeyed to another time, another place.
My parents bought the homestead from an older couple long before I was born. The roof was extended on one side to add a bedroom to the original one room house.
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Before electricity came to the country, we had a wind charger between the house and the summer kitchen. When the wind blew, as it did almost every day, the power collected in a big battery in the root cellar, and fueled a single light bulb hanging down in the living room. We thought it was magic to be able to have light after the sun went down, much brighter than the coal oil lamps we still used in other rooms.
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What about water? By the time I came along Dad dug a cistern, fed with rain water runoff from the roof. He hooked up a pitcher pump in the kitchen to provide an indoor water source as well as the outdoor pump. The cistern often ran dry during a drought and at those times Dad mounted a big water tank on the wheat truck. He would drive into town, load up that big tank with expensive city water and refill the cistern. If he waited too long to haul water, the pitcher pump clogged with sand ...
Click here to read the rest of the story
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4. Writing News
Free Critique! Robyn Conley, better known as the Book Doctor has long been a favorite with OWFI conference attendees who treasure her critiques. Robyn will be happy to line-edit and offer content critique on the first 10 pages of any work (novels, non-fiction, poetry, articles, essays, children’s…anything!). $50 value!
For more info, contact her:
www.robynconley.com bookdoctor@earthlink.net
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OKC Christian Fiction Writers (OCFW) is hosting a Booksigning Festival on Saturday, July 17, 2010 from 11am to 3pm at Mardel Christian and EducationalSupply, 3300 S Boulevard Street, Edmond OK 73013. This event is designed to promote recognition of local authors and introduce the public to the growing genre of inspirational fiction. There will be door prizes for the first fifty people and a drawing for a gift basket of books.
Seven Oklahoma authors will be signing books. They are: Janet Lee Barton, Margaret Daley, Darlene Franklin, Linda Goodnight, Myra Johnson, Vickie McDonough, and Carla Stewart.
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Wow! Finally got a chance to look over the Summer issue of OWFI REPORT. What a great job Wayne did -- as usual. I am especially proud of the photo on the back cover -- but the photo credit goes to Carla Stewart of Tulsa. The Honorary Life Member award was such a surprise and I am deeply grateful and proud. Here is a hotlink to my collection of photos from the conference. Some great shots of Jane Friedman are in there along with other familiar faces.
http://gallery.me.com/carolynleonard#101285
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E-books: the savior of publishing or the foe? http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thepublishinginsiders/2010/03/10/e-books-the-savior-of-publishing-or-the-foe.
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5. BOOK/BLOG REVIEW – “Staying High After a Writer’s Conference” by Mary Ann Kerl
What a great writer’s conference I just attended!
Now what?
That's what I use to ask myself when I came home and had to face reality again. A few years back I learned how to keep myself "pumped up" after a conference. Below are six tips to keep on that "high" after coming home and avoiding the after-the-conference-ends blues. Any writer can do that.
1. Have coffee with a friend (or spouse) and tell him or her about the conference. Don’t let those good memories die. Or, you may even want to host a special workshop at your local writing group and share the tips with those who could not attend. You can even charge money for this. Many people are more than happy to pay a few dollars to find out what is happening in publishing. All you need to do is sum up your notes and tell them what the editors said at the conference. Simple. Study those guidelines you brought home from the conference. Generally, I get several new publications on my list of publishing credits that way. You can too. And, perhaps you bought some books. Read those. Study them. Analyze what made them get published. A writer learns a lot this way.
2, This is your chance to get your book into the hands of a real publisher. Also, you can avoid the slush pile. Simply make sure to let the editor know that your material was requested at the conference. If you didn’t have a book to pitch to an editor, begin writing one today for next year’s conference.
3. If you entered the conference contest, study your entries. See why you did (or didn’t) win a particular category. Most judges know what they are doing and their comments can be highly valued. If you did not enter the contest, start writing now and plan to enter next year.
4. Consider your budget and see if you can figure a way to attend another conference before the year is over. Or, if you feel you can’t afford another writing conference this year, consider a seminar.
5. And, don’t stop there. Set up a time management plan to write every day, if you aren’t doing so already. Now you are on that high after attending the conference. Don’t waste it. Plan to use that energy. Sure, everyone is busy, but everyone has twenty-four hours a day too. If you plan to write, you will.
6. Don’t lose your enthusiasm about the conference. Enjoy these six tips. And, good luck! Who knows? Next year you might be the featured author for a conference somewhere.
© 2010 Mary Ann Kerl
A freelance writer, Mary Ann Kerl teaches online communication courses for the University of Phoenix. More than 2,000 of her articles and short stories have appeared in over 100 different publications and she has sold 16 books to royalty companies. Her latest book, Devoted to Economizing, is planned for release with awoc.com publishing.
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PIONEER WOMAN GOES TO HOLYWOOD!
Have you heard? Ree Drummond, “The Pioneer Woman” from Oklahoma is headed to Hollywood. Ree was our Blog winner a few months ago. Go here to check out her delightful blog about life on the ranch, raising kids and cooking as well as her incredible high resolution photography recording the joys of an everyday housewife (or so she says)...
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6. book signings, tips &tricks, & more
Bernhardt is back at work!
William “Bill” Bernhardt has seven seminars planned in several states in 2010. Small Group Seminars include Nov., 8-12, in Norman, OK, Nov. 15-19 in Tulsa, OK, and Nov. 29-Dec. 3, Oklahoma City, OK. Master Classes will include Albuquerque, New Mexico on Oct. 16, Omaha, Nebraska
on Oct. 23, Wichita, Kansas on Oct. 30, and Little Rock, Arkansas on Nov. 6. For more information, call 918 344 9201 or www.williambernhardt.com (then click Writing Programs).
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(Valuable tidbits stolen from the AARP newsletter.)
How can I find out which hospitals are considered the best in town?
Patient outcomes from local hospitals are measured and recorded at the government website www.data.medicare.gov
From there, you can link to different sections that compare hospitals and tell you how patients with certain conditions fared after they received hospital care; whether they were hospitalized again within 30 days (re-admission rates); and death rates in certain cases. The site also provides survey results from patients about the the quality of care they received in their hospital stay.
Information on the site comes from hospitals that agreed to release the data to the public. Created y the Hospital Quality Alliance, the site is run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Every county in every state has info of interest at this website:www.countyhealthrankings.org
The ranks are based on how long residents live (mortality) and how healthy they consider themselves (morbidity). Criteria also includes access to health care; rates of smoking, binge drinking & obesity; air pollution levels and other factors.
You can search by map or county name. The site, with data from 2000 to 2008, is created by the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute and funded by Rober Wood Johnson Foundation.
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7. AUTHOR’S WEBSITE WINNER
June 2010 Website winner: Linda Apple
Just go there and read Linda’s welcoming words, her openness about her life, family and beliefs, her blogs, her books, .... You will see what a winner looks like!
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8. STORY CALL OUT! Chicken Soup
Linda Apple’s great workshop at the OWFI conference on her recipe for Chicken Soup stories inspired even me to send in a story -- about my dog Shiloh -- well my hubby thinks she is his dog, but Shiloh and I know.
CHICKEN SOUP IS LOOKING FOR STORIES. LOTS OF WRITING OPPORTUNITIES HERE:
Chicken Soup for the Soul stories have been translated into more than forty languages and can be found in more than one hundred countries. Every day, millions of people experience a Chicken Soup for the Soul story in a book, magazine, newspaper or online.
If this is your first time submitting a story or poem, please read Story Guidelines.
1. The ONLY way to submit your stories or poems is via the website: www.chickensoup.com.
2. Stories and poems should be non-fiction, ranging in length between 300-1200 words.
3. No anonymous, author unknown or "as told to" submissions, please.
4. Send only one copy of each submission.
5. Be sure to keep a copy of the stories and/or poems that you submit.
6. Submit only stories or poems that have not been previously published.
They pay $200 upon publication, plus ten copies of the book your item appears in.
Read more at www.ChickenSoup.com.
Here Are Some Future Topics:
Extra Christmas Stories: deadline July 13, 2010
New Moms: deadline 31 July 2010
Grandmothers: deadline 31 August 2010
Young at Heart: deadline 31 Dec 2010
Mothers and Daughters: deadline 31 Dec 2010
Go here to read more about the topics:
http://www.chickensoup.com/form.asp?cid=possible_books
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Don’t forget CUP OF COMFORT
THEY are actively seeking submissions for a new anthology:
A Cup of Comfort for Christian Women
Story Length: 700-1,500 words
Submission Deadline: Sept. 15, 2010
Finalist Notification Deadline: Sept. 20, 20109. 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.
OU PRESS OFFERS HELP TO AUTHORS
For the past 18 months, OU Press worked with broadcast students at the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication to create videos to help authors promote their books.
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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
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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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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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
If you know another writer who would be interested in receiving this newsletter, tell him or her to sign up online by sending 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 and include your town or city and state so we can track our reach and include items of interest to you.
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Write on -- Write Now!
Carolyn
Carolyn B. Leonard
Editor, Writer's e-Reminder
“We loved all the words in your manuscript, but we were wondering if you could maybe put them in a completely different order?”
