Virginia Book Festival Shows What Words Are Worth
Hundreds of writers and millions of words will flow through Charlottesville during the 16th annual Virginia Festival of the Book, which runs from March 17 to 21. This year’s schedule includes more than 40 University of Virginia faculty members and alumni, speaking on topics as diverse as Ayn Rand, living through war and examining historical times.

The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and the Virginia Center for the Book present the annual festival, a five-day celebration of books, reading, literacy and literary culture, with co-sponsoring foundations, corporations, bookstores, schools, libraries, area businesses and organizations and committed individuals. Events are held in venues all around Charlottesville and the University, and most are free. Go to http://www.vabook.org/ for the full schedule.

May 14-16 2010 – Meet The People Who Can Make A Book A Bestseller At Pennwriters Annual Conference
Writing a great book is only the first step toward becoming a published author. The next step is getting your manuscript into the hands of someone who knows which publishing house needs your manuscript and which editor loves your writing style.

That person is an agent and the 23rd Annual Pennwriters Conference in Lancaster, Pa., will give you the opportunity to meet some of the top agents in the field. The conference will be held May 14-16 at the Best Western Eden Resort.

You can meet your future agent through a 10-minute pitch session with one of the agents attending the conference. This is a 10-minute one-on-one meeting between you and an agent. You choose the agent and Pennwriters arranges the meeting. Make sure to prepare your best pitch for your project so you can impress the agent with your book idea.

The second way you can meet an agent is an informal one. By attending the conference sessions and networking social activities, you’ll have a chance to meet and talk with agents on your own.

Some of the agents who will be attending the 23rd Annual Pennwriters Conference in Lancaster, Pa. are:

• Jennifer Jackson with the Donald Maass Literary Agency enjoys science fiction and fantasy, romance, women’s fiction, mystery, suspense and YA fiction. She represents New York Times best-selling fantasy writer Jim Butcher, Hugo Award winning science fiction author Elizabeth Bear, USA Today best-selling author Anne Bishop, critically acclaimed mystery writer Chris Knopf, and RITA Award Winner Shelley Bates.

• Janet Reid with the Janet Reid Literary Agency enjoys fiction, particularly crime fiction and narrative non-fiction. Her recent sales include Even by Andrew Grant (Minotaur); The Breach by Patrick Lee (Harper: 2010); Chasing Smoke by Bill Cameron (Bleak House); All Roads Lead Me Back to You by Kennedy Foster (Pocket); The Eternal Prison by Jeff Somers (Orbit); First Contact by Evan Mandery (Harper: 2010); Siesta Lane by Amy Minato (Skyhorse); Declarations of a Dinosaur by Dr. Lucy Hornstein (Kaplan); The Ephailtes Affair by Gary Corby (Minotaur; 2010); Numb by Sean Ferrell (Harper: 2010); Brains by Robin Becker (Harper: 2010) The Little Book of Curses and Maledictions for Everyday Use by DawnRae Downton (Skyhorse).

• Jenny Bent with the Bent Agency enjoys commercial fiction and nonfiction, literary fiction and memoir. She represents New York Times bestselling author John Kasich, Father Pat Connor, Laurie Notaro, Jill Conner Browne of Sweet Potato Queen fame, Lynsay Sands, Julia London, Sandra Hill and USA Today bestsellers Kathy Caskie and Janelle Denison.

• Alex Glass with the Trident Literary Agency enjoys debut literary fiction, crime fiction and literary thrillers, middle grade and young adult fiction, and pop culture, humor, and narrative nonfiction. His clients include national bestselling novelist Chad Kultgen, international bestselling author Matt Bondurant , Edgar Award-winning children’s author Katherine Marsh, New York Times bestselling novelist and memoirist Da Chen, NFL legend Mark Bavaro, the estate of Newbery Award-winning children’s author and illustrator Ellen Raskin, novelist and poet Maggie Estep, playwright and children’s novelist David Ives, and middle grade novelist Courtney Sheinmel.

• Miriam Kriss with the Irene Goodman Literary Agency enjoys commercial fiction and represents everything from hardcover historical mysteries to all subgenres of romance, from young adult fiction to urban fantasies, and everything in between.

Finding and meeting an agent interested in your work at the Pennwriters Conference will help keep your manuscript out of the slush pile. When you send your work to the agent you’ll be able to remind the agent of your meeting at the conference and whatever you talked about. It gives you a foot in the door to acquiring someone who will help sell your work.

The Pennwriters Conference will also help you find ways to polish your manuscript to make it saleable and attractive to agents and editors. You’ll be able to attend hour-long workshops led by agents, editors, and published authors. The classes start Friday morning and continue throughout the weekend until Sunday at noon.

Bestselling thriller writer James Rollins will present the Friday, May 14, keynote address. Rollins is the author of the Sigma Force Series (Sandstorm, Map of Bones, Black Order, The Judas Strain, The Last Oracle, and The Doomsday Key), the movie novelization of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, six stand-alone thrillers and the Jake Ransom series for young adults. He will speak about his novels and the writing process as well as a question and answer session and a book signing.

The 23rd Annual Pennwriters Conference and intensives will be held May 13-16 at the Best Western Eden Resort in Lancaster. Registration for the intensives is separate from the conference. Registration and conference information can be found online at http://www.pennwriters.com/ or by e-mailing the conference coordinator at conference2010@pennwriters.com for a registration form.

Pennwriters is a statewide, nonprofit organization of 450 published and aspiring writers. The organization sponsors regular local meetings around the state, providing support and networking for writers.

Learn to Become a Productive Writer from June Teleclass Series
For some, summer is a time to dial back and relax. For others, it’s a time with fewer
responsibilities and an opportunity to get into gear. For those who hope July and August
will see progress on a long-delayed, incomplete or never-started writing project, Marcia
Yudkin’s “Complete Your Writing Projects” course is a godsend. Via telephone conference
calls and email throughout June, it teaches how to combine discipline and inspiration to get
pages and pages (and more pages!) of writing piling up (www.yudkin.com/complete.htm ).

“People think that in order to get a lot of writing done, you have to write fast,” says author
and creativity expert Marcia Yudkin, who has published 11 books, thousands of articles
and close to a dozen multimedia courses. “It’s not true. I’m a tortoise when it comes to
writing and rarely write more than three pages a day. However, if you learn to harness your
creativity and make the very most of your writing time, you can pile up completed writing
projects month after month.”

Yudkin’s four-session teleseminar and email course, which holds its first meeting on June
1, presents perspectives and techniques that transform participants’ relationship to the
writing process, such as:

* Which commonly held beliefs and expectations about writing are surprisingly untrue -
and why

* The never-fail secret for resuming work or getting started on a long-stalled writing
project

* Five ways to get lots of writing done in spare chunks of time as brief as three minutes

* How to disconnect from negative influences of the past, like a critical parent or
third-grade teacher, along with ways to scoot around practical obstacles involving space,
time or opportunity

* Your unique creative triggers and how to get them working in your favor

Between the 60-75 minute telephone teaching sessions, participants receive motivational
and informative booster messages and optionally, exchange experiences with a “writing
buddy” who is also taking the course. By the end of June, participants have better focus
and enjoy more pleasure and less pain when it comes to writing.

“For many people, greater productivity translates into lower life stress and higher earnings,”
notes instructor Marcia Yudkin.

Originally developed for Radcliffe Career Services (part of Harvard University), its
techniques have also helped non-academic writers working on everything from business
proposals and web copy to magazine articles, novels and non-fiction books. The basic
course costs $197, with a limited-enrollment $497 deluxe version that includes a consulting
session with Yudkin and a related set of studio-recorded audio CDs.

For more information or to enroll, go to http://www.yudkin.com/complete.htm or call
1-800-333-8376.

March 25 2010 – Stretch Your Writing Muscles With UMSL’s Poetry Workshop
University of Missouri–St. Louis’ Division of Continuing Education offers a Poetry Workshop from 6:00–8:00 p.m., Thursdays from March 25–May 20, 2010. Students of all levels will stretch their poetic muscles to try out a variety of materials, moods and structures.

The workshop will explore what it means to write intellectual poetry that can celebrate as well as mourn and be silly as well as serious. The class will examine the process of writing, what hinders writers and what pushes writers forward. Students will have the opportunity to receive feedback from the instructor and from other students. Writing exercises will be complemented by readings of exciting works by contemporary poets.

Students will learn from instructor Alison Carrick, who received her Master of Fine Arts from UMSL in 2007. She also has a Certificate in Creative Writing from Washington University, and was a participant in the Certificate for University Teaching Program (CUT) at UMSL. Carrick currently is a contributing editor for the literary magazine River Styx. She also has been published in Touchstone Magazine and has studied and written both fiction and poetry.

The workshop fee is $129, and the registration deadline is March 22. For more information or to register, please visit http://umslce.org/index.php/catalog/Certificate-Programs … or call (314) 516-6590.

‘Examined Life’ Explores Writing, Medicine April 28-30
The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine will host a three-day conference, “The Examined Life: Writing and the Art of Medicine,” April 28-30 on the UI campus in Iowa City.

The conference focuses on links between the science of medicine and the art of writing, and offers sessions on writing, editing and publishing creative work.

The conference is open to health care providers, students, educators, writers, publishers and anyone with an interest in creative or reflective writing and medicine.

Registration is required for all concurrent conference sessions and meals, but keynote addresses and plenary sessions are free and open to the public. The registration deadline is April 23.

Scheduled presenters for public sessions include: David Gompper, Stephen Swanson, Marvin Bell, Sayantani DasGupta, Lan Samantha Chang and Nick Flynn.

Conference details, event locations and registration are available online at http://www.medicine.uiowa.edu/osac/examinedlife or call Dave Etler at 319-335-8058.

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Mar 27 2010 – Sharpen Your Writing Skills and Succeed in Business at Raleigh’s Writing Boot Camp
Professional writers Alice Osborn and Dave Baldwin hold a Writing Boot Camp March 27th at the Holiday Inn Brownstone in Raleigh. Attendees will learn vital tools to build their mastery of the written word.

Raleigh, NC — With all the buzz on the Internet about the latest marketing fads, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of repetitive information. The battle for people’s eyes and ears grows ever more intense as the quantity of information swells and attention spans shorten.

When asked what prompted writers Alice Osborn and Dave Baldwin to hold the boot camp Alice replied, “Our Writing Boot Camp came about from my students requesting a class that would sharpen their grammar, style and flow. Writers in today’s business climate want the confidence good grammar provides.”

Dave went on to say, “One thing I’ve noticed about beginning writers is that they tend to focus on the wrong problem. It’s the reader’s point of view, not the writer’s, which ultimately dictates the success or failure of any writing. In other words, it’s not a question of what to say. It’s a question of what you want the reader to hear.”

The areas to be addressed are: Sales and Marketing, Branding, Social Media and Everyday Communication Protocols.

The Writing Boot Camp, Co-presented by Alice Osborn and Dave Baldwin is being held at the Holiday Inn Brownstone, 1707 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27605 on Saturday, March 27, 2010 from 8:00am – 4:30 pm. Open networking and continental breakfast at 8:00am. Class will begin promptly at 8:30. A gourmet pasta lunch is provided. The fee for The Writing Boot Camp is $249. For more info and to register go to http://WritingBootCamp.eventbrite.com/

May 1 2010 – OC Christian Writers Conference
At the OC Christian Writers Conference Susan will tell how she used the Christian Manuscript Submission Service to beat the slush pile to sell her first novel. She then will conduct a drawing to give away a subscription to CMS for those who signed up in the March for the OC Christian Writers Conference. Writers are encouraged to sign up today, and get their book out of the slush pile.

On May 1, 2010, Susan Meissner, the bestselling author of Shape of Mercy, will host a drawing to give away subscription to the Christianmanuscriptsubmissions.com. When Susan first began to write fiction, she quit her fulltime newspaper job as an editor to write her first book. Once she was finished, although she knew writing, she didn’t know anyone in the Christian fiction industry. She wasn’t known for her writing outside the newspaper circles in Minnesota. With no connections to editors, other fiction writers, or any access to conferences from her rural home, she began sending out query letters and book proposals only to receive her share of rejections. It was obvious to her she needed to expand her chances of being noticed, so when she found Christianmanuscriptsubmissions.com, she listed her first novel, Why the Sky is Blue, on it. It took eight months, but an editor from Harvest House finally read it. Within two months she had received a two-book contract. She went on to write seven more books for Harvest House and then two more for WaterBrook Press.

When a writer has a manuscript ready to sell, it’s often intimidating to figure out where to start marketing your book. ChristianManuscriptSubmissions.com was initiated as a cooperative effort of Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA), which almost every Christian publisher is a member, looking for good authors and desiring an efficient way to review unsolicited manuscripts. Many leading Christian publishers use ChristianManuscriptSubmissions.com as a primary source for unsolicited book proposals as they are unable to process the large amount of print manuscripts mailed to them each day. Aspiring authors now have an open door to present their book proposal to the top publishers producing evangelical Christian literature — all in one easy step and for only $98 per book proposal! For more info go to http://www.christianmanuscriptsubmissions.com/.
Every one who signs up for the OC Christian Writers Conference in March will be placed in a drawing for one of the subscriptions. The OC Christian Writers Conference is now in its 26th year and will host a wide variety of editors, authors and literary agents. With three keynote talks and twenty-four different workshops to choose from, it’s one of the best one-day writers conferences in California. For more information go to OC Christian Writers Conference.

Mar 10 2010 – Free Teleclass for Writers: How to Use Twitter to Attract Clients
The International Association of Professional Ghost Writers will be holding the first of what will be an ongoing series of teleclasses on Wednesday, March 10, 2010.

Entitled “How to Use Twitter to Get Writing Clients,” this free class will be given by the IAPGW’s Executive Director, Mary Anne Hahn, who chose this topic to kick off the association’s teleclass series because of her expertise in using this form of social media to network and build relationships. While the class will has been designed primarily with ghost writers in mind, other kinds of writers will benefit from the material as well.

Under the Twitter name @WriteSuccess, which is also the name of her Web site for writers, Hahn’s following of over 6300 people includes other writers, business and life coaches, entrepreneurs, trainers, book publishers and agents. She utilizes the site to promote the ghost writers association, share information and news with writers, and connect on personal and professional levels with her followers. “Twitter has opened doors and allowed me to interact with people whose paths I probably never would have crossed otherwise,” she maintains. “It is a tremendous and powerful networking tool that, once you understand how to use it, can play a major role in helping writers find new clients to work with.”

To register for this free teleclass, visit the International Association of Professional Ghost Writers Web site at http://www.iapgw.org/ .

Mar 20 and 21 2009 – Medical & Scientific Content Writing Workshop
Cliniminds http://www.cliniminds.com/, announced today one more workshop on Medical & Scientific Content Writing to be held on 20th -21th march 2010 after getting huge response from previous workshops.

Medical writing is the composition, compilation, structuring and reviewing of medical scientific information by a specialized scientist, i.e. a medical writer, who was not involved in the actual experiment and not necessarily in the analysis of the research results. The purpose of having a dedicated writing specialist is to ensure the presentation of the data in timely documents that comply in content, format and structure with internal standard operating procedures of the sponsor and with regulatory requirements or journal guidelines for authors.

Medical writing is a critical and complex activity involving the creation of scientific documentation that facilitates, among other things, interpretation of clinical research results , and clarity on drug use guidelines , besides providing other medical information about the products. This task requires deep understanding of regulatory /scientific guidelines involves liaising with many different stakeholders such as clinical research scientists ,doctors ,and so on .Medical writing is recognized as a task that requires special skills , such as thorough understanding of clinical and Medical Data , as well as the ability to present information clearly and concisely in well structured documents as per the guidelines.

Medical writing is an established function in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotech industry, because not every researcher has the time and skill to write well-structured and formatted documents that present information so clearly and concisely that a reader can understand the meaning without prior knowledge of the research program. With an increasing pressure to reduce time-to-market for new drugs and increasing standards of market authorization and reimbursement by payors, writing of timely documents that can be understood quickly and easily has become an economic necessity. Hence, the growth of professional medical writing.

The key objective of this course is to gain an insight into the various aspects of scientific/ medical writing and will help the writers to make a positive contribution to the medical world, through their documentation.

Program will cover different topics like Introduction to Scientific/ Medical Writing,Developing key computer Skills,English writing basics,Documents in Medico-marketing,Reporting Evidence based medicine (EBM),Preparing leave behind literatures (LBL), Visual aids, Brochure,MR training manual, Brand calling card.,CME for doctors,Web content, audio-visual aids, CDs,Medical Writing for Clinical Research Related Documents (Protocol, Informed Consent, Clinical Study Report, Annual Safety Report),Handling statistics in medical writing,Referencing guidelines and taking software’s help,Legal / Copyright Issues in Medical Writing,Association and organization for Medical Writers,Medical Ethics in scientific writing,Writing Efficacy and Safety Reports for foreign submissions,Publication writing,Structure of a scientific paper,Electronic submissions,Abstract for scientific meeting,Case report,Review ,Ethics of publication and Guidelines (e.g. CONSORT, ICMJE, GPP)

Mar 18 2010 – Poetry Out Loud State Final
The Illinois Arts Council is pleased to announce Illinois’ 2009-2010 Poetry Out Loud State Final, featuring recitations by sixteen regional contest winners. The event will take place on Thursday, March 18, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. in Springfield’s Hoogland Center for the Arts. Attendance is free, open to the public, and accessible.

More than 4,500 students from 48 Illinois high schools participated in this year’s Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, a free program created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation to encourage youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance. The Illinois Arts Council implements Poetry Out Loud statewide as a collaborative project with seven regional partners.

Poetry Out Loud State Champions receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in April to compete for the national championship. The state champion’s school will also receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books, and a runner-up will receive $100, with $200 for his or her school library. Additionally, a total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends will be awarded to the winners at the National Finals.

http://www.illinois.gov/

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Mar 4 2010 – Authors Explore Future Of Journalism
Robert McChesney and John Nichols, authors of “The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution That Will Begin the World Again,” will discuss their bold model for keeping a vibrant free press alive in America at DePaul University on March 4.

The lecture will be held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at DePaul’s College of Communication lower-level theatre space, 14 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago. The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited.

Founders of the Free Press national media reform movement, McChesney and Nichols believe that an independent and viable Fourth Estate must be kept alive in order to preserve democracy. In their book, they provide a strong critique of the current favored solution to this crisis and argue for strong public subsidies to create a viable, independent news media.

McChesney, a professor of communication at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and his longtime writing partner Nichols, a Washington correspondent at The Nation magazine, believe the current media model, in which newsgathering is supported by advertising, is broken and cannot be fixed. They lay out a plan for revamping the traditional media landscape by turning it into a public trust, along the lines of schools and police.

McChesney and Nichols’ address will be followed by a reception and book signing. To reserve a seat, please e-mail Aisha Pulido in the College of Communication at apulido2@depaul.edu or call ( 312 ) 362-7197. For more information about the lecture, please contact Carolyn Bronstein, associate professor in the College of Communication, at ( 312 ) 362-7975 or cbronste@depaul.edu

Mar 4 2010 – Author Jody Lisberger Will Share Feminist Theory on Craft of Writing
Fiction writer and feminist scholar Jody Lisberger will discuss how feminism plays a role in her writing when she speaks on Thursday, March 4, at SUNY Cortland.

Lisberger, the director of Women’s Studies at the University of Rhode Island (URI), will present “Writing Down the Body: Making the Invisible Visible, the Silent Spoken” from noon to 1 p.m. in Brockway Hall Jacobus Lounge. The talk is free and open to the public and one of several Women’s History Month events planned on campus during March. This presentation is sponsored by the Women’s Studies Program and the Center for Gender and Intercultural Studies.

Lisberger will discuss the ways that feminist theory – in ways most writers and scholars would never guess – articulates crucial and concrete ideas for helping fiction and nonfiction writers improve their craft.

Lisberger’s presentation will explore five particular lessons relevant to writing craft and life: refusing to be silenced; the power of the margins and the unseen; rethinking the dynamics of desire; defying linearity and narrative order; and inhabiting the space between the literal and the metaphoric.

In speaking about Lisberger’s fiction, critics and book reviewers have called her stories an “artful, compromising, and moving exploration of human desire,” “graceful and seductive, spare in their telling yet unstintingly powerful in their impact,” a “first-rate collection… that starts out strong and keeps on accelerating” (The Boston Globe), “ten perfect tales” (The Louisville Courier), and “build[ing] with ratcheting tension, carefully nurtured thought the accretion of small details (Women’s Review of Books).”

Lisberger is the author of a prize-winning collection of stories, Remember Love, published by Fleur de Lis Press in 2008, and the writer of several articles. She serves on the fiction faculty of the Brief Residency MFA in Writing Program at Spalding University in Louisville, Ky. Lisberger has a Ph.D. in English and an M.F.A. and has worked as a journalist, editor and grant writer. She has taught fiction, creative nonfiction, literature and feminist theory for more than 25 years at the University of Rhode Island, Brown, Harvard, Tufts, Holy Cross and Boston University.

At URI, she teaches courses that include Postcolonial Literature, Women Writers, and Narrative Theory. Lisberger participates in the summer Ocean State Writer’s Conference.

For more information, contact Women’s Studies Coordinator Caroline Kaltefleiter at (607) 753-4203 or caroline.kaltefleiter@cortland.edu.

Mar 11 2010 – Staged Reading of Rediscovered Early 20th Century Plays by Women
The NYS Writers Institute’s Authors Theatre program will present staged readings of rediscovered short plays by notable women playwrights of the early 20th century, including “Kurzy of the Sea” (1920) by Djuna Barnes and “The Rib-Person” (1918) by Rita Wellman on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. [NOTE EARLY START TIME] in the Assembly Hall, Campus Center, on the University at Albany’s uptown campus. Directed by W. Langdon Brown, and performed by equity actors, the plays are highlighted in the new volume “Women Writers of the Provincetown Players” (2009) by Judith Barlow. The event is free and open to the public and sponsored by the New York State Writers Institute in conjunction with Women’s History Month.

The one-act play “Kurzy of the Sea” follows the fortunes of a young fisherman in his unreasonable quest to “catch” the perfect wife (“a Queen or a Saint or a Venus”). The play explores problems with contemporary ideas about marriage and wifely virtues. Djuna Barnes, legendary bohemian born in Cornwall-on-Hudson, and an early feminist who helped to shape modernist and avant-garde sensibilities in American and English letters, is best known for her 1936 novel, “Nightwood,” which featured an introduction by the poet T. S. Eliot. Beat author William S. Burroughs proclaimed it “one of the great books of the twentieth century.”

“The Rib-Person: A Farce-Satire in Two Scenes” lampoons the exploits of Zelma, a would-be “modern woman” who rejects the traditional roles of marriage and motherhood, but who remains happily dependent on the men in her life.

A playwright and fiction writer who explored new social and professional roles for women in her work, Wellman was the first member of the Provincetown Players to have a play produced on Broadway: “The Gentile Wife” (1918), a drama that examined issues of marriage and anti-Semitism at the turn-of-the-century.

Judith Barlow’s new book, “Women Writers of the Provincetown Players” features thirteen short plays written by women and performed by the Provincetown Players theatre. The plays included in the book range from naturalistic tragedies to poetic allegories to witty satires. Together they provide a valuable look at women’s concerns during a period just prior to the granting of female suffrage. Barlow is Professor of English and Women’s Studies at the University at Albany-SUNY. Her previous books include “Plays by American Women: 1930-1960″ (1994); “Final Acts: The Creation of Three Late O’Neill Plays” (1985); and “Plays by American Women: 1900-1930″ (1981).

Enormously influential in American drama, the Provincetown Players theatre is remembered primarily for productions of Eugene O’Neill’s plays, but also featured work by such notable women playwrights as Susan Glaspell, Djuna Barnes, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and Louise Bryant. From their beginnings on Cape Cod in 1915 to their disbanding in New York City in 1922, the Players staged nearly one hundred dramas, roughly a third of which were composed by women.

W. Langdon Brown is a fellow of the New York State Writers Institute and a University at Albany English Department faculty member. He is director of Authors Theatre for the Writers Institute where new plays by Bill C. Davis, William Kennedy, Lisa Thompson, Warren Leight, Frank Pugliese, and David Rabe, along with Brown’s own adaptation of Richard Russo’s “Mohawk” have been workshopped. He is a former chair of the University at Albany’s Department of Theatre.

For additional information, contact the Writers Institute at 518-442-5620 or online at http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst.

Creating the journalists of tomorrow
There will always be a need for professional journalists.

This fact remains a bedrock truth even as newsroom staff and advertising revenue are shrinking and business models are changing. And it’s being driven by a ravenous public and its zealous appetite for news and information from diligent, objective sources 24/7.

Motivated by the urgency to help the fourth estate thrive in the 21st century, Ball State University torched – rather than tweaked – its courses and programs. By launching the Emerging Media Journalism track, the College of Communication, Information, and Media ( CCIM ) will produce graduates who can provide quality, in-depth news across multiple platforms and drive the necessary changes to help the media industry succeed, said Roger Lavery, dean of CCIM.

“Journalism is changing at an unprecedented pace, and I believe we’ll see a shake out that will result in fewer but more relevant journalism programs in this country,” he said. “At Ball State, both programs will still exist, but this new one will straddle it. This is the necessary step to emerge as a contemporary, leading program.”

One New York Times editor in the newspaper’s research and development lab recently said that newspapers and news organizations are not going anywhere. It’s how news will be received that’s going to change.

As newspaper circulation declines, in-depth news still is being sought out via cell phones and laptops. And soon more news will be coming to e-book readers and to media yet to be invented. Through Ball State’s revamped courses, students will have the tools and experiences to navigate these monumental changes, Lavery notes.

“Our faculty and students understand and embrace this change,” he said. “They understand that to be marketable, our students – tomorrow’s journalists – must be able to meet the future demands of the industry by having the skills to tell stories across many platforms. They should play a key role in defining the future of news.”

Students will gain these skills by learning core competencies from their first day in class. Student publications, once separate from the curriculum, now will be fused into the course work. Students also will be capable of tackling practical assignments with industry partners in their first two years and excel at even more advanced assignments as upperclassmen, Lavery added.

Academia responding to industry needs

The technology revolution on campus reflects the changes taking place in the media industry. Input was gathered from many editors and reporters from around the country to help shape the curriculum, said John Strauss, journalism instructor and adviser to The Ball State Daily News.

“When we began talking to industry professionals about the education our students would be receiving, they said this is exactly the type of graduate our industry needs,” he said. “Even small newspapers looking for police beat reporters want employees who are comfortable with a broad range of new technologies. They want employees with a firm grounding in the art and craft as well as ones with the ability to be flexible to learn new technologies and grow.”

This is demonstrated by a recent endorsement by The New York Times. The nation’s pre-eminent newspaper has partnered with Ball State to offer an emerging media journalism certificate. Through The New York Times Knowledge Network, enrollees will be able to bolster their multimedia storytelling skills via online coursework focusing on writing, reporting, video, still photography and graphics.

Campus culture

Ball State’s culture already is firmly entrenched in technology, as demonstrated by the university’s Emerging Media Initiative ( EMI ), a planned $17.7 million investment in focusing the university’s historic strengths in this area, accelerating benefits to the state of Indiana with media-savvy human capital.

To stay abreast of the ever-changing software, Internet and social media landscape, the technology courses will be nimble, explained Susan Smith, assistant professor of telecommunications.

“Our students have always had nearly unlimited access to the latest technology,” she said. “With the new curriculum, they will be learning core competencies rather than specific programs. This will allow us to focus on skills needed for existing platforms as well as explore new programs and new media as well.”

Journalism and telecommunications have played key roles in the university’s EMI by leading efforts in news convergence and developing content for small screen devices. And the students have the added benefit of being surrounded by the latest technology of the David Letterman Communication and Media Building, the Art and Journalism Building and the Ball Communication Building.

The philosophy

To begin the process of creating the program, the two departments first defined a unified core philosophy.

“Delivering the news, at its foundation, is serving the public’s right to know as guaranteed by the First Amendment; it’s encouraging news coverage without fear or favor, promoting resourceful, accurate and ethical gathering and presenting of news,” Lavery stated. “Once we identified the shared mission of the two departments, our faculty members were able to build a program to deliver quality news in technologically advanced environments.”

To learn more about this program, visit the Emerging Media Journalism Web site or contact CCIM at 765-285-6002.

By Layne Cameron, Associate Director of University Communication

June 10 2010 – Canadian Journalism Foundation Honours Quebec journalist
Lise Bissonnette, former parliamentary correspondent, editorialist and editor-in-chief of Le Devoir, will be awarded the Canadian Journalism Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award at their annual awards gala on June 10, 2010, in Toronto.

The eight jurors on the Lifetime Achievement Award selection jury reviewed more than 50 nominations before unanimously selecting Bissonnette.

“She is a superb journalist, scholar and administrator,” says Geoffrey Stevens, chair of the jury. He points to her impressive CV as proof of her lifelong ambition and achievement. “She has been recognized with no fewer than eight honorary doctorates from universities in Canada and the United States.”

She began her journalistic career in 1974 at Montreal’s daily newspaper Le Devoir, where she held various positions before ultimately becoming editor-in-chief from 1990 to 1998. At the time of the 1995 referendum, she took a position in favour of Yes, making Le Devoir the only newspaper in Canada to openly support Quebec sovereignty.

In 1998 she was appointed president and general director of the Bibliothèque et Archives nationals du Québec, a position she held until her retirement in June, 2009. Under her leadership, the establishment has become Quebec’s largest cultural institution in terms of size and the broad range of its missions.

Juror Norman Webster remembers her as a fair and balanced reporter. “Lise is a Quebec sovereignist, but she always respects the views of others,” he said, noting a Le Devoir editorial she wrote that criticized Parti Quebecois cabinet minister Lise Payette for denouncing women supporters of the “No” side as Yvettes (the name of a docile young girl in an old school manual). “It was a turning point against the separatists’ cause but the natural reaction of an honest reporter.”

Many times lauded for her support and promotion of Quebec culture, she has been awarded the Ordre de la Pléiade (Francophonie) and was made an officer of the Ordre national du Québec as well as a Knight of the Légion d’honneur de France. After receiving a career medal from the Academie des letters du Quebec in 1999, she was named a member in 2004.

Bissonnette joins a distinguished group of CJF Lifetime Achievement Award winners. Past recipients include: Joe Schlesinger, Sally Armstrong, Norman Webster, Knowlton Nash, Pierre Berton (posthumous), June Callwood, Doris Anderson, Trina McQueen, Doug Creighton, Mark Starowicz, Bernard Derome, Peter C. Newman, Peter Gzowski and Robert Fulford.

The Lifetime Achievement Award jury members are: Geoffrey Stevens, chair (Cambridge, Ontario); Miller Ayre (St. John’s); Catherine Bergman (Vancouver and Montreal); Pat Carney (Vancouver); Bernard Derome (Montreal); Dale Eisler (Denver, Colorado); Mary Lou Finlay (Toronto), and Norman Webster (Montreal)

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Bissonnette at the CJF’s annual awards gala on June 10, 2010 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. In celebration of the CJF’s 20th anniversary, the foundation is planning its most exciting gala yet. CBC News chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge will host the event, which features an honorary tribute to Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis, co-CEOs of Research in Motion, for their contribution to revolutionizing modern journalism technology. Other awards to be presented include the Excellence in Journalism Award, the Greg Clark Award, the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award, the Canadian Journalism Fellowships and the Atkinson Fellowship in Public Policy.

For more information about the gala or to purchase a table for $5,000, please contact Cindy Hipple at 416-955-0975 or e-mail chipple@cjf-fjc.ca. Individual tickets are also available for $500 each.

Mar 4 2010 – Writers’ Workshop alumna Leslie Jamison will read
University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop alumna Leslie Jamison will read from her debut novel, “The Gin Room,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 4, in Prairie Lights Books at 15 S. Dubuque St. in downtown Iowa City. The free “Live from Prairie Lights” event will be streamed live and archived on the Writing University Web site, http://www.writinguniversity.org/.

After three decades of dissolute living, Tilly is visited unexpectedly by her niece, Stella and a powerful but fragile bond develops between them. The book has won rave reviews for Jamison’s insights and the beauty of her prose.

Jamison’s work has been published in “Best New American Voices 2008,” A Public Space and the Black Warrior Review. She is cuurently pursuing at doctorate at Yale University.

Total Immersion Creativity Retreats for Women
www.CommittedLiving.org Launches the “Total Immersion Creativity” retreats and workshops for business women. What Committed Living founder, Darla Anderson has done is created a specialized retreat for women that evolves entirely on the Creativity process of the “Right Brain”, using exercises, tools and other activities that increases and strengthens the right side of the brain.

The premise is that once the right side of the brain is exercised on a regular basis, it becomes stronger and more developed, in turn the person has quicker access to being creative. This enables them to come up with new solutions to business problems, create new innovative products, find creative ways of doing business in today’s slumping economy as well as in America’s future business climate.

Committed Living takes the creativity training a step farther than most Creativity Coaching, by including other major aspects of life; culture and cuisine. Exploring and participating in regional creative culture as well as creative culinary cuisine. By adding these additional elements of the Creativity Process into the retreats, Committed Living is giving it’s participants the “Total Package” when it comes to Creativity Training.

For more information on Committed Living “Total Immersion Creativity Retreats and Workshops, go to: http://www.committedliving.org/

Related posts:

1. Freelance Writing News from Digg.com – 17th Edition
2. Writing Events – 4th Edition
3. Writing Events – 5th Edition

Mar 26-28 2010 – Writers Learn to Blast through Creative Blocks and Stay Inspired with the Help of their Dreams
Sue Grafton, Ann Rice, Stephen King, and Isabel Allende have all used dreams to inform their lives and inspire their best-selling stories. Writers are invited to learn how to do that and more at Decipher your Dream-Discover your Story Writers’ Retreat. Held March 26-28, at The Rensselaerville Institute Conference Center, near Albany, New York, the retreat is led by Paula Chaffee Scardamalia, a creativity and book coach and author of the award-winning, Weaving a Woman’s Life: Spiritual Lessons from the Loom.

“Dreams are a tool writers have used for centuries,” says Scardamalia who used dream techniques when writing her own book, and now uses dreams and symbol systems when coaching her clients in both fiction and nonfiction. “Unfortunately, too many writers don’t know how to really mine their dreams for all the creative wealth and power within them.”

At the retreat, attendees will learn basic techniques for remembering, recording and working with dreams. Specialized dream techniques for working with Muses and other creative helpers, and writing from a dreamlike state for creative flow will also be taught. Lecture and discussion will alternate with shamanic dream work, dream sharing, and time for reflection, journaling and writing amidst the rural serenity of the Catskills.

Paula Chaffee Scardamalia has taught writers how to use their dreams since the late 90’s, leading workshops for the International Women’s Writing Guild and for smaller groups around the country. Her CD, The Tower in the Woods: Dreaming Your Creativity Awake is a product of her years of teaching. Her business, Divining the Muse, empowers screen writers, playwrights, novelists and nonfiction writers to move from inspired idea to polished manuscript and beyond. She loves inspiring and supporting creative women with one-on-one coaching, private retreats at her home and custom creativity essential oil products. She also publishes a free weekly e-newsletter, Divine Muse-ings. Visit her website for more information.

http://www.diviningthemuse.com/

Reynolds Journalism Institute Hosts 67th Pictures of the Year International (POYi) Contest
Pictures of the Year International (POYi), the oldest and most prestigious photojournalism program in the world, will judge more than 45,000 images for the 67th annual POYi contest. The judging, taking place Feb. 14 – March 5 at the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI), will be shown live on the Web.

“RJI is honored to host another year of compelling photojournalism,” said Pam Johnson, executive director of RJI. “Photojournalists bring the written word to life from Main Street to battlegrounds around the world. Many photographers risk their lives to keep us informed, and POYi is one way we can honor their achievements.”

POYi, which recognizes documentary photography, multimedia and visual editing, will add two new categories to this year’s contest. The “Civil Defiance” category focuses on the Iranian elections, and the “U.S. Economy and the Human Toll” category is a multiple-picture story category.

Along with 36 category winners, POYi will also award:
• Documentary Project of the Year
• World Understanding Award
• Global Vision Award
• Community Awareness Award
• One Week’s Work
• Best Photography Book Award
• Angus McDougall Excellence in Editing
• Photographer of the Year – Freelance/Agency
• Photographer of the Year – Newspaper

“POYi is committed to engaging citizens worldwide with great photojournalism, so we are excited to be able to share the judging portion of the contest with the public via the Web,” said Rick Shaw, director of POYi. “The public will be able to listen and comment as some of the year’s best photos are shown to a panel of international photo judges.”

The winning photos will be displayed at The Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles from June 26 – Sept. 19. Prior to the 12-week exhibit, the winning photographers will be at Annenberg for an education seminar and awards program from June 24 -25.

For more information visit http://www.poyi.org/

New Writing Lessons Available Online
New writing lessons online now! Begin writing your life story today. Visit http://www.islandsofrecall.com/ to get free coaching on writing down your First Memory, stories about your parents and your childhood, and even more.

Have you ever thought to yourself “My life would make a great book”? Have you ever resolved to write down your memoirs “one of these days”? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go back to the past and re-live one precious moment?

Well then it’s time to start writing!

http://www.islandsofrecall.com/ is dedicated to helping people to write the stories of their lives. Based on the methods of Author Louise Cabral, Islands of Recall Online is an introduction to Lifewriting, a form of autobiographical and personal writing that teaches writers to actually re-live their memories.

Ms. Cabral has been teaching writing classes in the Los Angeles area for over twenty-five years. The online class is based on her Lifewriting seminars and her book Islands of Recall, now in its seventh printing. Lifewriting teaches students to reach back into the past and dig up old memories, assembling little stories from childhood and maturity piece by piece, putting together their autobiographies. Along the way, the class encourages writers to examine how events in childhood have shaped their lives, and to take a fresh look at them. Thousands of students have taken the Lifewriting classes with Ms. Cabral, and many have gone on to write published autobiographies and novels.

Mar 3 2010 – In Business, Good Writing Matters – Free Webinar
Fear of writing ranks right up there with fear of public speaking, yet writing well is an essential skill for small business owners who want to attract attention to their services or entice investment in their enterprises.

A 140-character tweet on Twitter can’t replace clear, concise, and compelling communication to customers, vendors, investors, and staff.

The basics of business communication are emails, memos, and reports. In Ventureneer’s free webinar, Writing in the Age of Twitter: Why Good Writing Still Matters (Especially in Business), participants will learn how to make sure that the message they want to give is the message they send.

The free webinar will take place from 12 noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3. Each of the basic forms of business communication will be analyzed, with examples given of good writing that avoids ambiguity, and participants will be given samples that will serve as guides in their future writing.

“It’s hard to overstress the importance of clear communication for small business owners … We’re not offering high school English here, just tools that small business owners can use to ensure that what they mean is what they say.”

This interactive webinar will be taught by Alan Siege, CEO/Owner, Small Business Management Consulting, which specializes in small business advice. He is an instructor for the NYC Department of Small Business Services Entrepreneur Boot Camp as well as being an adjunct professor at the Borough of Manhattan Community College and at New York University.

The webinar will be useful to anyone who writes emails, memos, or reports for business — in other words, just about everyone. And, yes, Siege will even throw in some tips for effective tweeting.

“Let’s face it; most of us want to write as few words as possible; that’s OK (especially for Twitter) but in the marketplace everything you do (and write) reflects back on to you and your business so it’s super important to write it well,” say Siege.

“If you missed English comp or aren’t comfortable with writing, this webinar will really help,” says Stengel. “It’s about the basic skill you need to make your point clearly and quickly.”

For more information about this webinar or to sign up, visit Ventureneer’s website.

Feb 25 2010 – Top Journalists Share Successes and Secrets of Winning More Business Coverage in the New Economy
PR professionals looking for a practical pitching regimen designed to give them, their client or company the edge it needs to secure valuable column inches, air time or digital ink in top-tier, holy grail business media should definitely attend this PR University audio conference titled: “Business Media Bailout for PR: Top Journalists Share Successes and Secrets of Winning More Business Coverage in the New Economy.”

This exclusive PR University webcast tutorial takes place on Thursday, February 25, at 1PM EST (noon CST, 11AM MST; 10AM PST).

Featuring Top Business Editorial Gatekeepers:

Peter Benesh, Reporter, Investor’s Business Daily (circ. 310,623)

Diane Brady, Senior Editor/Content Chief, Bloomberg/BusinessWeek (circ. 935,820)

Tony Emerson, Managing Editor, Newsweek International (circ. 4.2 million)

David Lidsky Senior Editor, Fast Company (circ. 731,991)

This 90 minute audio conference will outline the top business stories, trends and developments our panelists expect to be covering in the weeks and months ahead — and outline how PR pros can become part of these developing stories at a time when every column inch helps to build credibility and communicate confidence to their consumers and publics.

For more details go to conference home page

March 4 2010 – From Lipstick to Lipitor, Healthcare Writing Opportunities Beckon
With ever-rising healthcare spending, writing opportunities about the health and wellness industry are unlimited. “Regardless of economic conditions, writers will always have lots of topics to cover,” says Sherry Shameer Cohen, President of the Connecticut Press Club. “People get sick and need treatment. Some want healthier lifestyles. With fierce competition to sell products from Lipitor and medical technology to lipstick and spa services, journalists, publicists and copywriters have more prospects than ever.”
Writers, public relations experts and healthcare professionals can attend an eye-opening program on March 4 at The Norwalk Inn in Norwalk, CT. Speakers include Rebecca Shannonhouse, Editor of Bottom Line Health, Trisha Calvo, Executive Editor of SHAPE Magazine and George Pawlush, V.P., Public Relations/Community Affairs of Greenwich Hospital. Shannonhouse will guide writers on covering medical breakthroughs and specific conditions. Calvo will talk about the lifestyle aspect of health and wellness. Pawlush will discuss the role of public relations and marketing as hospitals compete for care and services.

This is the second in an occasional series on healthcare writing. Janet Carlson, Director of Beauty & Health of Town&Country Magazine spoke to the Connecticut Press Club about environmental health and shared her list of sources. Other topics include healthcare reform, food safety, medical marijuana, hospital infections, healthcare finance executive pay, labor issues and medical ethics. “In addition, we’ve noticed emerging trends for more writing opportunities,” notes Cohen. “More multiple physician practices are marketing themselves and need writers for press releases, brochures, custom publishing, advertising and web content. Magazines have special advertising sections in issues with healthcare themes.”

Healthcare spending is 17.3% of the U.S. gross domestic product, up from 16.2% last year, according to a recent report in Health Affairs, which also indicated that the total could reach $4.5 trillion by 2019. Government spending is projected to surpass private spending for the first time as the nation’s ageing population qualifies for Medicare and the government tries to expand public healthcare programs such as Medicaid.

The program, which is open to the public, will take place on Thursday, March 4 at The Norwalk Inn, 99 East Avenue in Norwalk. Admission is $35.00 for members of the press club and affiliated organizations and $40.00 for non-members. Dinner is included. For reservations, call (203) 968-8600 or e-mail ctpressclub@gmail.com. Visit http://www.ctpressclub.com/.

March 6 2010 – Learn What it Takes to Write, Publish & Market Your Work
Aspiring writers who are ready to turn their talent into a paycheck can spend a day with successful published writers Mike Ball, Colleen Gleason, Pamela Gossiaux and Darci Hannah learning the tips of the trade and how to make their dreams a reality. Workshop speakers will share the ups and downs of their own journeys to publication, as well as lead attendees through hands-on writing exercises with time for critiques and discussion.

The Road To Published Conference faculty are all writers who have navigated the often difficult road to getting their work published – and that’s where the name came from.

Ball is a nationally syndicated columnist and winner of the Erma Bombeck Award. His book, What I’ve Learned So Far…Part I: Bikes, Docks and Slush Nuggets was released in 2009.

Gleason is the well known author of the Gardella Vampire Chronicles, and has a new paranormal romance series under the pen name of Joss Ware. Both contracts are with major publishing houses.

Gossiaux is a motivational speaker and the author of Why Is There A Lemon In My Fruit Salad? – How To Stay Sweet When Life Turns Sour.

Hannah’s book, The Exile of Sara Stevenson comes out in July. It is the first of a two-book deal with Ballentine/Random House.

Conference topics include:

- Breaking into the Writing Business

- Learn how to overcome procrastination

- Set a writing schedule that works

- Banish writer’s block

- Write stronger and better prose

- Knowing your genre/niche

- Working Lunch and the Writer’s Toolbox

- Writing your Query Letter

- Finding the right agent

- Researching your topic

- Public Relations and Marketing yourself

“The publishing industry is hard to break into, and no one has learned that lesson more thoroughly than myself,” says Hannah, who received more than 150 rejection letters before getting her book contract. “Friends say, ‘Wow, you’re lucky!’ Yes I am, but it wasn’t all luck. I hope that by holding this workshop writers who may be discouraged by their lack of progress, or think it’s impossible to break into the publishing industry, will learn that it’s not impossible”

Registration is $75, or $65 Early Bird (before March 1). Go to http://roadtopublished.com/ for more information.

July 30 2010 – 2010 Iowa Summer Writing Festival is now accepting registrations
The Iowa Summer Writing Festival at the University of Iowa is now accepting registrations for its 2010 sessions. Weeklong and weekend workshops including fiction, poetry, nonfiction and playwriting will run from June 13 through July 30. In all, more than 150 noncredit workshops will be held. Visit http://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/iswfest/ for a full list of sessions and biographic sketches of the faculty.

A brochure is now available by mail, or registration forms may be printed from http://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/iswfest/html/registration/Registration_Form.html Registrants may sign up for only one workshop per session, but they may register for as many sessions as they wish. Payment is required at the time of registration.

The Iowa Summer Writing Festival, based at the world’s premier academic center for creative writing for more than two decades, is designed to benefit writers at all levels of experience and achievement. In small groups — festival classes include no more than a dozen participants — adult writers of all ages from throughout the country share, read and discuss their work under the leadership of accomplished writer/educators. The atmosphere is constructive and supportive.

Many of the workshop leaders are graduates of UI writing programs and include faculty members at other prominent institutions of higher learning. The faculty roster includes widely published writers who have been winners of major awards, honors and fellowships.

Classes remain available until filled, but early registration is recommended. The cost is $560 per week, and $280 per weekend.

For additional information contact 319-335-4160 or iswfestival@uiowa.edu.

UI arts events are searchable on the UI Master Calendar: http://calendar.uiowa.edu/. Exhibitions are searchable at http://calendar.uiowa.edu/exhibitions. To receive UI arts news by e-mail, go to http://list.uiowa.edu/archives/acr-news.html and click the link “Join or Leave ACR News,” then follow the instructions.

Related posts:

1. Freelance Writing News from Digg.com – 16th Edition
2. Writing Events – 2nd Edition
3. Writing Events – 3rd Edition

Free Teleseminar Reveals Strategies to Help Aspiring Nonfiction Authors Write a Compelling Book
Anyone with determination and a message to share can write a book. But without the skills and knowledge of how to write it in a powerful, meaningful way, their story will fall flat. On February 10, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. EST, Melinda Copp of The Writer’s Sherpa, LLC, will present a free teleseminar on how to write a book that fulfills the author’s purpose and communicates their experience in a way that inspires readers.

“Many authors have come to me in various stages of the writing process because they don’t feel like their book ‘works’,” said Copp. “They’re embarrassed to put their name on the cover because the book doesn’t seem to flow, it doesn’t hold attention, and it just seems boring. Even though they can’t seem to put their finger on it, the answer is usually a few simple fixes away.”

This free call will cover:
• How to get to the heart of what your book is really about, and who you’re really writing it for.
• How to hook readers right away, and keep them engaged and interested, all the way to the last page.
• How to write with energy–every time.
• And many other strategies aspiring authors can use as they write.

Anyone interested in writing a business, self-help, or nonfiction book can sign up for this free call at www.writerssherpaprograms.com/freecall.html . The teleseminar will be recorded, so those who miss the call at the scheduled time will receive a free downloadable recording.

Mar 27 2010 – Sharpen Your Writing Skills and Succeed in Business at Raleigh’s Writing Boot Camp
With all the buzz on the Internet about the latest marketing fads, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of repetitive information. The battle for people’s eyes and ears grows ever more intense as the quantity of information swells and attention spans shorten.

When asked what prompted writers Alice Osborn and Dave Baldwin to hold the boot camp Alice replied, “Our Writing Boot Camp came about from my students requesting a class that would sharpen their grammar, style and flow. Writers in today’s business climate want the confidence good grammar provides.”

Dave went on to say, “One thing I’ve noticed about beginning writers is that they tend to focus on the wrong problem. It’s the reader’s point of view, not the writer’s, which ultimately dictates the success or failure of any writing. In other words, it’s not a question of what to say. It’s a question of what you want the reader to hear.”

The areas to be addressed are: Sales and Marketing, Branding, Social Media, Business Writing Skills and Everyday Communication Protocols.

The Writing Boot Camp, Co-presented by Alice Osborn and Dave Baldwin is being held at the Holiday Inn Brownstone, 1707 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27605 on Saturday, March 27, 2010 from 8:00am – 4:30 pm. Open networking and continental breakfast at 8:00am. Class will begin promptly at 8:30. A gourmet pasta lunch is provided. The fee for The Writing Boot Camp is $249.

For more info and to register go to http://WritingBootCamp.eventbrite.com/

Related posts:

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2. Writing Events – 1st Edition
3. Writing Events – 4th Edition

Feb 1 – 11 2009 – NYS Writers Institute Hosts Readings by Authors Allen Ballard, Francine Prose, and Fred LeBrun
Allen Ballard, novelist and UAlbany Professor of History and Africana Studies, author of the “Washington Post” Notable Book, “Where I’m Bound” (2000), will read from his new novel, “Carried by Six,” a tale of urban violence in a black neighborhood, on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. [NOTE EARLY START TIME] in the Assembly Hall, Campus Center, on the University at Albany’s uptown campus. The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the New York State Writers Institute, UAlbany’s Departments of Africana Studies and History, the EOP Program, and the Affirmative Action Office.

Ballard earned national attention with the publication of “Where I’m Bound” (2000), a “Washington Post” Notable Book, and one of the first novels to address the Civil War from the perspective of Black soldiers.

His new novel is “Carried by Six” (2009), an urban thriller about drugs and violence in a black Philadelphia neighborhood. Obie Bullock, an anti-violence activist, incurs the wrath of a drug dealer who succeeds in managing his business affairs from the safety of a prison cell. Obie’s actions bring mortal danger not only to his wife and two teenaged children, but also to the civic-minded, church-going folks who make up his anti-violence group.

Author Darlene Clark-Hine said, “Ballard writes with passion and conviction of the power of ordinary men and women to do extraordinary things when family, friends, and community decide enough is enough. It is a book that entertains, ennobles, and inspires.” John Herritage, retired Staff Inspector of the New York State Police, said, “‘Carried By Six’ is a very well-told story that celebrates the courage of those valiant folks in the inner city who, contrary to the ‘no snitchin’ code, are determined to fight for neighborhoods where their children can grow up safe and secure from gunfire and random violence.

Inspired by the true story of a black cavalry unit in Mississippi, Ballard’s previous novel, “Where I’m Bound” (2000), tells the adventures of an escaped slave, Joe Duckett, who becomes a hero of the Northern forces. Major Civil War historian James McPherson said, “The important story of black soldiers in the Union army has finally found a writer of historical fiction equal to the occasion.” Historian Joseph Persico said, “Allen Ballard has helped fill a void in America’s military history. Through his novelistic gift, we see the underappreciated role of the black soldier in the Union victory spring to life.”

The former Dean of Faculty at City College in New York City, and a Ph.D. graduate of Harvard University’s School of Government, Ballard teaches history and African-American studies at UAlbany. He has published two nonfiction books, “The Education of Black Folk” (1973) and “One More Day’s Journey” (1984).

The event is cosponsored by UAlbany’s Departments of Africana Studies and History, the EOP Program, and the Affirmative Action Office, and the NYS Writers Institute.

For additional information, contact the Writers Institute at 518-442-5620 or online at http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst.

Francine Prose, Novelist, National Book Award Finalist, to Discuss Her Latest Book, “Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife,” February 4, 2010
Francine Prose, novelist and nonfiction writer, author of the new work, “Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife” (2009), will speak on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. in the Assembly Hall, Campus Center, on the University at Albany’s uptown campus. Earlier that same day at 4:15 p.m. the author will present an informal seminar in the same location. The events are sponsored by the New York State Writers Institute and UAlbany’s Center for Jewish Studies and are free and open to the public.

“Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife” (2009), is a work of literary history and criticism that celebrates the under-appreciated artistry of the well-known diarist. Prose shows how the teenaged author crafted her famous diary with the intention of creating an enduring work of art. Prose also explores the complicated life of the book after Frank’s death at the hands of the Nazis, from its initial rejection by several publishers to its canonization as the central text of Holocaust literature for young readers, and its subsequent transformation into plays, movies, and musical and dance performances.

Writing in the “New York Times Book Review,” Joshua Hammer called Prose’s book, “A deeply felt reappraisal of the work and its global impact….,” and said, “[Prose] makes a persuasive argument for Anne Frank’s literary genius.” Janet Maslin, writing in the “New York Times,” called it, “An impressively far-reaching critical work, an elegant study both edifying and entertaining…full of keen observations and fascinating disputes.”

Prose also presents close readings of three original manuscripts of the diary in order to illuminate the editing process that produced the final version.

Prose is the author of fifteen novels, including “Goldengrove” (2008), “A Changed Man” (2005), winner of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and “Blue Angel” (2000), a finalist for the National Book Award, “Primitive People” (1992), “Bigfoot Dreams” (1986), and “Hungry Hearts” (1983).

She has also written numerous works of literary criticism, including the nonfiction “New York Times” bestseller “Reading Like a Writer” (2006), and “The Lives of the Muses: Nine Women and the Artists They Inspired” (2002). Her recent books for children and young adults include “Bullyville” (2007), about the hazing culture of an elite private school, and the Yiddish-flavored modern folktale, “Leopold the Liar of Liepzig” (2005).

In 2007, Prose was elected President of the PEN American Center, the U.S. branch of the world’s oldest international literary and human rights organization.

Prose’s appearance is cosponsored by UAlbany’s Center for Jewish Studies.

For additional information, contact the Writers Institute at 518-442-5620 or online at http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst.

Fred LeBrun, Journalist, and Latter-Day Hudson River Explorer to Speak February 11, 2010
Fred LeBrun, “Times Union” journalist, will speak about his exploration of the Hudson River on Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. in the Assembly Hall, Campus Center, on the University at Albany’s uptown campus. The event, which is free and open to the public, is cosponsored by the New York State Writers Institute and the Women’s Press Club of New York State. [Note: This event was originally scheduled to take place in Fall 2009, but had to be rescheduled.]

One of the defining voices of the Albany “Times Union” for more than forty years, LeBrun has served the newspaper as suburban beat reporter, city editor, arts editor, restaurant critic, and foremost columnist on state politics. LeBrun is also famous in the Capital Region for his “Hudson River Chronicles,” recounting an 18-day adventure downriver from Mount Marcy to New York Harbor in September 1998- an event still commemorated by a richly documented website: www.timesunion.com/SPECIALREPORTS/hudsonriver/main.asp. On the trip, LeBrun was joined by “Times Union” features editor Michael Virtanen and photographer Paul Buckowski.

The website features a day-by-day account of the journey. Highlights include a visit on Day 1 to the purported source of the river at Lake Tear of the Clouds (“a bog filling in so rapidly that in a century or two it will be just another mass of spongy vegetation and no lake at all”); the ghost town of Adirondac on Day 2; being tossed from his canoe by rapids (and badly wrenching his knee) near Newcomb, NY on Day 4; the peril of dams on the upper river beginning with the Niagara Mohawk hydro dam at Queensbury on Day 10; the Thompson Island Pool, the river’s worst PCB hotspot, on Day 11; passing through Champlain Canal locks in his canoe on Day 12; sailing on a replica 19th century sloop through the Catskills on Days 14-16; and the crew’s arrival at “the waterly equivalent of 42nd Street” on Day 18.

The website also features an introduction by Paul Grondahl, a photo gallery, and profiles of various river personalities by Michael Virtanen, including river boat captains, sports enthusiasts, environmentalists, community activists, and lifelong residents. LeBrun participated in a partial reprise of the trip this past September, paddling a 150-mile stretch of “true river” from Mount Marcy to the replica of Henry Hudson’s ship, the Half Moon, docked at the City of Albany’s Erastus Corning Preserve, where he received a one-cannon salute. The second trip was also chronicled in a series of articles in the “Times Union.”

In the new series of articles, LeBrun makes special note of the changes that have occurred in the 11 years since his first excursion. These include the rapid collapse of the paper products industry and the establishment of vast new nature preserves; the partial restoration of the “ghost town” of Adirondac; burgeoning eagle populations; the explosion of tourism devoted to whitewater rafting; the creation of several new town parks next to hydro facilities; improved portages at dams for canoeists; the rising popularity of kayaking; and the dredging of PCB contaminated sediment by General Electric under the supervision of the EPA.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is cosponsored by the Women’s Press Club of New York State.

For additional information, contact the Writers Institute at 518-442-5620 or online at http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst.

jan 31 2010 – Author Joan McLean Kicks Off First Poet Local Series
Living Poetry, a not-for-profit poetry group based out of Brier Creek, announces their first Poet Local event on Sunday, January 31st, featuring Joan McLean.

Joan McLean will be reading her work, sharing her publishing process, revealing her writing techniques and answering questions. McLean is the author of Up From Dust, her first chapbook. Her poetry is laced with nature and tests the fine line of reality.

Angelika Teuber, Living Poetry Organizer, shared, “We are honored to have Joan McLean join us on the Poet Local’s maiden voyage. She has strong roots in North Carolina and her poetry reflects that. Local readers and writers who attend will be sure to appreciate that.”

The Poet Local Series featuring Joan McLean is the first ever in a chain of every-other-month events honoring published poets in a casual setting including complimentary refreshments. RSVP instructions are available online or walk-ins are welcome. The free event takes place at 2:30PM on Sunday, January 31st at the Media Room of Ashley Park in Brier Creek, 10300 Pine Lakes Court in Raleigh. Future Poet Local Series events will feature Dave Manning and Grey Brown, both dedicated advocates of keeping poetry alive in your daily life.

Lose yourself in a good book at the Bath Literature Festival
People who are staying in accommodation in the Cotswolds (www.laterooms.com/en/r252_hotels-in-the-cotswolds.aspx) later this year may want to spend a day at the Bath Literature Festival.

Running from February 27th to March 7th, the event offers visitors an opportunity to participate in debates with a number of authors as well as listening to storytellers and attending workshops.

Some of the literary faces that will

be appearing at the festival include Britain’s first female Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and former politician Tony Benn.

It could provide an educational diversion to anyone visiting the city.

The programme of events is varied, ranging from a poetry pub crawl on February 25th to an organised family craft workshop on February 27th.

People who want to book tickets for any of the activities taking place throughout the week are advised to contact the Bath Festivals Box Office to secure their place.

Organised each year by the Bath Festivals Trust, the cultural offering will feature “fascinating literary specialists discussing ideas with fellow experts and enthusiastic audiences”.

Attendees in previous years have included the likes of Terry Pratchett, Margaret Atwood and Iain Banks.

Venues that will be participating in the festival include the Bath Central Library, the Little Theatre Cinema and the Guildhall.

Girls Write Now to Celebrate Another Smash Season of Fresh Talent with New Reading Series: Chapters
Girls Write Now (GWN), New York City’s premier creative writing and mentoring organization for high school girls, today announced the launch of its spring series, CHAPTERS, celebrating a new year of developing New York’s best teen writers. Beginning Friday, February 26, please join us for a series of evenings, featuring Girls Write Now students and the professional writers who inspire them, at the Center for Fiction (centerforfiction.org), 17 East 47th Street, between Fifth and Madison. Each event will take place from 6-8 p.m., and admission is free and open to the public.

CHAPTERS also features a line-up of special guest authors, curated by Maud Newton:
- Friday, February 26: Dolen Perkins-Valdez, author of Wench.
- Friday, March 26: Nami Mun, author of Miles From Nowhere.
- Friday, April 23: Lizzie Skurnick, author of Shelf Discovery.
- Friday, May 21: Ru Freeman, author of A Disobedient Girl.
- Friday, June 18: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author of The Thing Around Your Neck.

CHAPTERS is co-sponsored by: The Center for Fiction, Eileen Fisher, American Eagle Outfitters, glassybaby and M + E/Michael Fusco Design. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from: The National Endowment for the Arts, The New York State Council on the Arts, and The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.

More information: http://www.girlswritenow.org/.

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Feb 4 2010 – Writers Workshop Starts February and NEW Courses in 2010
Formed by Lisa Diane Kastner, a fiction writer, former correspondent for the Philadelphia Theater Review, freelance journalist for the Delaware County Times, and Features Editor for the Picolata Review, Running Wild was created to provide a venue in which aspiring writers from all forms and all genres can learn and succeed in the craft.

“What makes Running Wild Writers unique is that we believe all forms and genres are valuable. Most workshops specialize in a specific genre such as literary, thriller, mystery, romance and so forth. At Running Wild, we believe that writers can learn and grow by reading and writing across genres,” said Ms. Kastner. “The same is true for form. Writers need to experiment in creative non-fiction, poetry, and fiction writing to hone their skills and discover who they are as writers.”

Workshop attendees will have two opportunities to submit up to 5,000 words of work to be reviewed by participants and to receive a detailed assessment from Ms. Kastner.

The ten week course will cost $410 for non-Pennwriters and $375 for Pennwriters.
Registration is available at http://www.runningwildwriters.org/.

New Workshops in 2010
New to the calendar are Writing The Epic Quest on Saturday, March 20 and World Building 101 for All Genres on Saturday, October 22 with Jack Hillman

Writing the Epic Quest with Jack Hillman
With so much of the focus in writing today on character based stories, what could be more timely than a discussion of the art form that transforms some mild mannered individual into a something totally outside their nature, and not always to the good. Epic quests are not limited to fantasy and science fiction, but have been part of literature since writing was invented. All genre’s have their favorite epic quest: the romance of Gone With The Wind, the tragedy of Moby Dick, the excitement of the chase in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the dark power of The Maltese Falcon. All really good novels have a part of the epic quest in their making. We will discuss the breakdown of the various characters that make up the quest- the fellowship- and how each one may play many, and often conflicting, parts as the story unfolds. We will also discuss how the protagonist (not necessarily a hero) is becoming more prevalent in today’s literature and how this affects the tone of the quest.

World Building 101 For All Genres with Jack Hillman
No matter what type of novel you are writing, you will need to create the world your characters live in. Some of the simplest world building occurs if your story is set here and now, but even in those instances, you need to watch what building you put at what corner of the street, or even where you put the street. And if your story takes place in another milieu or some far away land (or some far away planet), your world building just became exponentially more involved. We will discuss how to construct the setting of your novel to maintain the continuity of your story, places to find the information needed to make sure you use the right clothing or the correct vehicles and even how to build a world from scratch, complete with its own solar system.

These courses are in addition to Running Wild’s calendar posted at http://www.runningwildwriters.org/ . Previously announced workshops include Telling Tales: Elements of the Short Story with Mecca Jamilah Sullivan to be offered on Tuesdays, from March 2 through March 30 at 7:00 PM and Poetry – The Value-Added Workshop: Pairing Generative Work with Liz Chang to be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning April 19 through May 12 at 7:00 PM.

Jan 30 2010 – The CAJ and CAJEF present: Journalism in the 21st century
Your newsroom’s depopulated. You’re doing video, blogging, Tweeting and writing stories. You’re wondering what the future holds for good journalism.

This is the conference for you.

What: A one-day crash course on the skills you need to
transform your reporting and reinvent your newsroom in
the new digital age. Learn about emerging techniques,
technologies and models to transform journalism for
the 21st century.

When: Sat. Jan. 30

Where: MaRS Centre, Toronto

Who: Working journalists, managers and students – there are
sessions for every skill level.

Speakers include: Jim Brady, president, digital strategy, Allbritton
Communications and former executive editor of
WashingtonPost.com
John Cruickshank, publisher, Toronto Star
Michael Lee, chief strategy officer, Rogers
Rachel Nixon, director of digital media, CBC News
Kenny Yum, editor, GlobeandMail.com

Sessions include: Online videography
Photography crash course for print reporters
Making the most of social media
Visual storytelling
Searching the Web: Getting beyond Google
The ethics of social media

Cost: Early bird registration until Jan. 15:
$45 – Student members and unemployed journalists
$99 – CAJ members
$129 – Associate members
$199 – Non-members

Register: Online, at http://www.caj.ca/

March 26 – 28 2010 – Spring Book Show in Atlanta Offers Opportunity for Struggling Book Retailers
The Spring Book Show, perhaps the largest remainder show in the nation, is set for a three-day run at the Cobb Galleria Centre in north Atlanta March 26-28.

The show comes at an opportune time. Bookstores are still suffering from the economic recession. Further, the public has become accustomed to lower book prices as a result of e-book marketing (most titles are priced at $9.99), free or discounted material on the Internet and best-seller price wars launched by Amazon, Wal-Mart, Target, Sears and other discount retailers (hardback best-sellers are being priced by the competitors at around $9).

As a result of the economic recession, one of the few burgeoning areas of the book business not in the digital domain is the remainders and hurts market. At a time when the public has fewer dollars to spend on books, and has grown used to cut-rate prices for reading material, remainders are a viable product for book marketers. In the neighborhood of 50,000 titles will be offered at the Spring Book Show to retailers, many at prices as low as $1 to $2 per copy.

“For a long time the remainder market wasn’t considered a legitimate part of the book trade,” says Larry May, who with his wife Val owns the Spring Book Show and the Great American Bargain Book Show, remainder book trade fairs held in Atlanta and Boston respectively.

May believes that perception has finally turned around. “Maybe it’s the economy, but retailers have finally realized just how much money they can make in remainders and hurts,” he said.

Bookstore owners have been quick to respond to the changing market for books. In Los Angeles, for example, Eso Won Bookstore co-owner James Fugate says he will shift his inventory mix “to more bargain-priced books when restocking his shelves” since “too much money is tied up in the slow-moving backlist.” He says “a lot of the history that we built our store on, that stuff has got to go.” The store plans to destock with a sale in January or February and use the cash to pay overdue bills and selectively replenish the shelves.

While no overall statistics are tracked for the remainders and hurts segment of the book market – publishers are often reluctant to release details about what they are sending out to be sold on the cheap – anecdotal evidence suggests that the slow holiday sales of the most recent Christmas have pushed larger and larger quantities of higher quality books into this secondary market.

May says that in recent years, international participation at his two shows has grown dramatically.

As at the 2009 Spring Book Show, a number of international vendors will be selling remainders at the 2010 show in Atlanta, including Caxton and PR Books, as well as Columbia Marketing from the UK and Fairmount Books and Book Depot from Canada. But it’s the overseas buyers that outnumber the sellers. European buyers are already familiar with the market and have
been showing up in greater numbers each successive year, says May.

“Oddly, the Spanish and Hispanic markets have been relatively weak,” adding, “The real growth is in Asia: the Korean, Japanese and Chinese markets have been pretty strong in the past five years. There’s demand in their countries for English language books, but to buy them new and import them can be extremely expensive. So remainders are a good option.”

About the Spring Book Show: The Spring Book Show is the largest of three bargain book shows held in the United States. It is staged annually in the spring to permit retailers to buy inexpensive stock for marketing during the summer “beach read” season. The show is organized by L.B. May & Associates of Knoxville, Tenn. Further information at http://www.springbookshow.com/

Literary Breakthrough Conference Gives Authors Access To Key Book Industry Professionals
The Literary Breakthrough Conference, held Friday, May 21, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Houston, Texas in conjunction with the National Black Book Festival, gives authors unprecedented access to book industry professionals in three major fields: literary agents, publishers and marketers.

t this all-day event, top book industry experts will share information and strategies on how authors can make their literary breakthrough and turn their existing or future book(s) into a bestseller.

The Conference features the following book industry experts:

Book Agents
* Audra Barrett, founder of Barrett Books
* Manie Barron, partner in The Menza Barron Agency
* Regina Brooks, founder and President of Serendipity Literary Agency

Book Publishers

* Malaika Adero, Vice President and Senior Editor of Atria Books (Simon & Schuster)
* Joylynn Jossel-Ross, Senior Editor for Urban Book’s Christian fiction imprint
* Carol Mackey, Editor in Chief, Black Expressions Book Club

Book Marketers/Promoters

* Donna Hill, Best-selling author and packager of several highly successful novels
* Dante Lee, President and CEO of Diversity City Media
* Tyora Moody, founder of Tywebbin Creations, Internet book marketer and designer
* Pam Perry, founder of Ministry Marketing Solutions

The luncheon keynote speaker for the conference will be Sha-Shana Crichton, founder and president of Crichton & Associates, Inc. Ms. Crichton is also a licensed attorney and literary agent. The conference registration fee includes three powerful sessions, breakfast, lunch and a closing reception. The early registration price of $139.00 is payable in two installments, and is valid through January 31, 2010. After January 31st, the standard registration price is $179.00.

For more information or to register for the conference, visit the following web site: www.nationalblackbookfestival.com/breakthrough.htm or call the National Black Book Festival headquarters at 1-800-340-5454.

Jan 29-31 2010 – Author and Journalist Ted Iliff Will Share Knowledge with Aspiring Writers
Ted Iliff, an international media consultant and author of two books, will be leading three presentations at SDSU’s 16th annual Writers’ Conference in San Diego, CA. The conference will take place on January 29-31 at the Doubletree Hotel in San Diego’s Mission Valley.

Having worked in the international arena for more than 30 years as an executive, journalist, managing consultant and educator, Iliff is often sought by organizations and companies to provide expertise on an array of topics ranging from international relations to structuring and launching global news media enterprises.

At SDSU’s Writers’ Conference, he will be drawing from his experiences writing his new novel, The Golden Times, to discuss the following three topics:

1. “The perils of a unique story:” How to deal with the dilemma of pitching a book to fit current issues, creating a strategy for a shotgun pitch approach, and the pros and cons of going the self-publishing route.

2. “From novel to screenplay – and back again:” With veteran screen writer Taylor Van Arsdale, this presentation will discuss the adaptation process and how to sharpen and polish a novel.

3. “Oral history in fiction – wrecking family ties for a good story:” How to collect, catalogue, camouflage and fictionalize oral histories along with a discussion on the rigors of maintaining historical accuracy in a supposedly fictional story.

“It’s both an honor and a pleasure to be able to share my experiences in writing with other aspiring and accomplished writers,” remarked Iliff. “Having previously attended this prestigious conference, I know and have experienced firsthand the value one can find by attending and networking with some of the leading writers, editors, publishers and agents in the business.”

April 24-25 2010 – Freelance Writers: Learn From ASJA Experts
Former editor-in-chief of Woman’s Day magazine Jane Chesnutt, award-winning author and brain tumor survivor Liz Holzemer and PR guru Peter Shankman will give keynote presentations at the 39th annual American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) Writers Conference Friday through Sunday, April 23 – 25, 2010, at the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan.

The keynote presentations will highlight the three-day conference, which offers educational workshops, panel presentation, and mentoring programs on the business and craft of nonfiction freelance writing and publishing.

From 1991 to the end of 2009, Ms. Chesnutt was editor-in-chief of Woman’s Day magazine and senior vice president of Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.. Woman’s Day boasts a circulation of 3.8 million, with a readership of more than 20 million and is the seventh largest in the United States. Chesnutt helped usher Woman’s Day into the digital age and through a time of industry change, reshaping the magazine’s editorial operations to adjust to the new publishing realities. She is currently a special consultant to the magazine.

Entrepreneur, author, speaker and worldwide connector, Peter Shankman “redefines the art of networking,” according to PR Week Magazine. Shankman’s radical social networking tactics, marketing, advertising and creativity have earned him the descriptor “crazy, but effective.” Best known for founding Help A Reporter Out (HARO), Shankman’s site offers thousands of journalists 100,000 sources around the world. HARO’s free source repository is the largest in the world, sending out over 1,200 queries from worldwide media each week.

A nine-year meningioma brain tumor survivor, Liz Holzemer is an ASJA member and author of Curveball: When Life Throws You a Brain Tumor, a 2008 Colorado Authors League Harvey Award winner. She founded the nonprofit, Meningioma Mommas, which provides free online support for patients, family member and caregivers. She has appeared on the TODAY Show, Discovery Health Channel and ABC, NBC and CBS affiliates and donates a percentage of every sale of her book to meningioma-specific research.

The 39th annual ASJA Writers Conference offers a wide variety of educational sessions with editors, authors, literary agents and publishers on a range of subjects. Topics covered include environmental, investigative and medical journalism, biographical, humor and opinion writing, book publishing and securing movie rights as well as emerging media and technology trends and business management and promotional tactics for freelance writers. Friday’s ASJA member-only programming includes one-on-one “pitch” sessions with agents and editors and opportunities for personal mentoring and professional writers. Representatives of several of the nation’s leading magazine will participate, including Essence, Ladies’ Home Journal, MSN Health, CBS MoneyWatch.com, Wealth Manager, Eating Well and American Spa.

Members of ASJA, the nation’s leading organization for nonfiction writers for over 60 years with more than 1,400 members, must meet strict standards of professional achievement. For a full program and to register for the 39th annual ASJA Writers Conference, visit www.asja.org/wc and sign up to receive regular conference updates via email. For information on joining ASJA, visit www.asja.org/join.

TOP WRITERS OFFER ADVICE IN ASJA MENTORING PROGRAM

Freelance writers seeking advice on how to negotiate higher rates, approach new markets and editors or find a book agent can find assistance through a year-round Personal Mentor program offered by the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Inc. (ASJA). The service helps unpublished writers become published writers. ASJA mentors are drawn from the more than 1,400 professional members throughout the country, who write for national and regional magazines, newspapers and other media, and are authors of nonfiction books. Those who sign up for the mentor program are matched with an experienced mentor in their specific area of interest. Once matched, mentors arrange a 30-minute phone consultation. Cost per session is $50.

Website: http://www.asja.com/

Feb 11 2010 – San Francisco Writers Conference Adds a PRECONFERENCE Day
If you want to start attending the SFWC a day early (or for those who can’t attend the full 3-day main conference), the San Francisco Writers Conference has launched a full day of sessions on the day BEFORE the conference officially starts this year. “Several of our most popular presenters have agreed to launch the San Francisco Writers University with special SFWC PRECONFERENCE sessions on Thursday, February 11th,” said Michael Larsen, SFWC Co-Director. For details and online registration: http://www.sfwriters.org/

What is different about THESE sessions? They are intimate…about 25 people getting to interact with the presenter for more project-specific help. These sessions will be in-depth—full day or half-day in length. As you can see below, the preconference day will feature a wide range of the top rated topics from the San Francisco Writers Conference.

The preconference sessions are open to the public. They are stand-alone sessions and attendees can chose one or more depending on their schedules, budgets and interest. Attendance at the Main Conference is not required.

DONALD MAASS—Imagine a FULL DAY with this top New York literary agent as he conducts this intensive session on “WRITING THE BREAK-OUT NOVEL”. Much more personalized attention than any other session Donald gives.

SHELDON SIEGEL & ROBERT DUGONI will be “PUTTING THE THRILL IN THRILLER WRITING” during their session. Two (yes, TWO!) N.Y.Times bestselling authors show you how it’s done…so you can do it, too! Half Day- Afternoon.

KATHARINE SANDS—One of our most popular sessions…ever…”PITCHCRAFT!” You MUST know how to pitch your book in order to get it sold. Katharine is the one to get you and your book pitch-perfect. Half Day- Afternoon.

LISA RECTOR MAASS conducts this intensive session–”THE 3RD DRAFT—Giving Your Novel that Last, Final Polish, after You Think It’s Finished”. Lisa will work with you to give your manuscript clarity and make it irresistible. It’s just what you needed! Half Day Morning.

MICHAEL LARSEN—He wrote the bible for nonfiction writers—How to Write a Book Proposal. He knows what it takes to present your book project and this session will help you finally get that proposal written. Half Day-Morning.

STEPHANIE CHANDLER—knows all about using all the online tools available to writers, so learn from the master. “Creating Your Online Platform”. Half Day-Afternoon.

A ‘Full Day’ Registration fee is $300.00 and a ‘Half Day’ Session Registration is $149.00. All 2010 San Francisco Writers Conference attendees get to deduct $50 from their Preconference Registration total. For more details on these sessions or the San Francisco Writers Conference, go to http://www.sfwriters.org./

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Jan 9 2009 – Writers Toss Millions Away When They Sign Bad Book Contracts
Saturday, January 9, 2010 starting at 11:00 a.m. (EST) on “Off The Shelf Radio” (blogtalkradio.com/Denise-Turney-) Denise Turney will sit down with Tonya Marie Evans-Wells and talk openly about how book and major motion picture movie contracts are written to profit publishers and film companies – not writers. The two literary dynamos and educators will also examine how literary agents and attorneys help or hurt a writer’s career.

Listeners who tune into the one-hour feature interview will learn key contract agreements to look for or request before they sign a book or major motion picture deal. They will also learn what they can do to get their finances and book rights in order in the event that they have already signed a bad contract.

“Tonya Marie Evans-Wells is a literary, academic and legal giant,” Turney admits. “As a practicing entertainment attorney and former professional tennis player, Tonya has shared her legal expertise with writers and other creative professionals for more than a decade,” Turney continues. “The fact that she is a writer herself only adds fuel to the fire and gives Tonya an added hard-packed incentive to go to bat for writers and artists in and out of the courtroom,” Turney continues.

In addition to working as a licensed entertainment attorney, Tonya Marie Evans-Wells is also an Assistant Professor of Law at Widener University School of Law. Additionally, she is the author of the books Contracts Companion for Writers, Literary Law Guide for Author, Seasons of Her and Shine. Tonya Marie Evans-Wells is a spoken word poet, former professional tennis player, wife and a successful conference host.

“I encourage “Off The Shelf” listeners to take notes during the one-hour feature interview with Tonya,” Turney states. “Valuable advice, tips and insight gained by listening to the show is free, but could cost a writer or reader hundreds or thousands of dollars if they had to purchase training CDs, DVDs or pay to attend a conference to get this same priceless information that will save them legal heartache and propel their careers and lives forward,” Turney states.

Denise Turney is the author of the books Portia, Love Has Many Faces, Spiral, Long Walk Up and Love Pour Over Me (due out early 2010). Turney is also the founder of The Book Lover’s Haven, the international literary periodical that spotlights new, established and seasoned writers, editors, literary agents and other movers and shakers in the literary industry.

Using her personal finances, Denise Turney started the Annual Chistell Writing Contest. Now in its 10th year, the contest is open for submissions through Chistell Publishing (http://www.chistell.com).

Last month Denise Turney founded The Book Lover’s Haven Network (http://booklovershaven.ning.com) to allow writers and book lovers to connect directly with each other, learn about job openings and post information about their books and upcoming events. Membership in the Network is free and open to writers and readers around the world.

Jan 7 2009 – Editors Reveal How The Press Uses Social Media
PR pros looking to open up new channels to pitch journalists need to attend this all new audio conference from Bulldog Reporter’s PR University titled: “Journalists Still a-Twitter about Social Media: Editors Reveal How the Press Uses Social Media to Generate Story Ideas and Buzz.”

This exclusive PR University webinar takes place on Thursday, January 7, at 1PM EST (noon CST, 11AM MST; 10AM PST).

Featured Speakers:

Andrew Dean Nystrom, Senior Producer, Social Media & Digital Platforms, latimes.com

Dan Patterson, Digital Audio Manager, Correspondent, ABC News

Maggie Reardon, Senior Writer, CNET News

Julio Ojeda-Zapata, Consumer Technology Reporter, St. Paul Pioneer Press (circ. 252,055); Author, “Twitter Means Business: How Microblogging Can Help or Hurt Your Company”

Laura Hertzfeld, managing Editor, EconomyStory.org; Contributor, NPR

In just 90 minutes, this exclusive PR University audio conference will show PR professionals how to master social media sites to gain the latest insights into what journalists are writing about and how they and their colleagues are using Twitter and other social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook. Here’s what PR pros will take away from this event:

– Top Twitter Targets: Which journalists are actively using Twitter, how
they’re using the service — and how PR pros can successfully interact with
them quickly and efficiently
– Twitter Pitch Success Stories: How journalists and PR people have used
Twitter to generate story ideas and buzz
– Media Outlets on Twitter: Which media outlets are consistently posting
links to their online news stories on Twitter
– Using Facebook and LinkedIn: How journalists connect with sources and
promote coverage on leading online social networks — plus how PR can build
relationships with journalists via these popular channels
– Twitter Media Monitoring: How to find and contact journalists using
Twitter and other social media
– How to track top hashtags and even story trends on Twitter tracking to
stay ahead of the news curve
– First Steps: How to get started using Twitter and social media for media
relations and other essential PR initiatives
– Essential Twitter Tools: Elements of using Twitter that will make PR pros
experience of Twitter more useful and valuable
– Twitch Anatomy: Examples of Twitter pitches that have worked — and how
to duplicate their successes in 140 characters or less
– How Twitter and other social media are changing the online world:
Examples of stories and trends that happened exclusively as a result of
Twitter or other social media
– Crisis Tips: The role Twitter, Facebook and other social media have
played in how PR people and the media communicate during a crisis
– Twitter Trends and What’s Next: Where social media is going in 2010 –
and why PR pros must be there if they want to stay on top of emerging PR
trends

For more details go to conference home page.

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New Writers Retreat Offers Inspiration, Coaching in Paris this Summer 2010
If there’s a writer on your holiday list, what could be more appreciated than the gift of a week filled with dedicated writing time – plus coaching and direction from a pro? Add a charming Paris location and guided exploration of the city’s famed literary haunts to the mix and you’ve got the Left Bank Writers Retreat, a small-group writing workshop in Paris, France. Hosted by award-winning Jackson Hole-based writer Darla Worden, the workshop debuts June 20-26, 2010 and includes guided writing time in the mornings and exclusive Paris excursions in the afternoons.

“The retreat is designed for writers of all levels looking for inspiration and a change of scenery,” Worden says. “Writers will explore Paris’s deep literary roots while delving into their own work in a salon setting.” The retreat is limited to six writers, and includes lunch each day, admission to museums and area sights, a wine tasting and literary tour.

Worden is an author who has written more than 100 magazine articles about art, architecture and travel in publications like Mountain Living, Big Sky Journal and Log & Timber Style. Author of the book club-selected novel Road Shoes and co-author of The Rusty Parrot Cookbook (Gibbs Smith, 2009), she also teaches writing classes and pens the popular blog 60,000 Mile Ticket to Paris. The cost of the six-day Left Bank Writers Retreat is $1,799 and includes morning writing sessions, coaching and one-on-one time with the instructor, daily lunch, and admission fees for the afternoon excursions. An optional Versailles tour is offered on June 26 for an additional $225. Writers arrange their own lodging and transportation to Paris, and can reserve a spot in the retreat with a $100 deposit. A personalized gift certificate is available for holiday gifts of any denomination.

For additional information, visit the Left Bank Writers website

Sumsion Publicity Announces The Lost Secret To Lucrative Writing
According to research, authors who do not publish through a commercial (traditional) publisher but have one important tool receive, on average, a 200% greater return on their publishing investment. What is that tool? It’s not celebrity status. It’s not rich sponsors. It isn’t even a large network. Although those things certainly impact a book’s success, the vital tool is a basic literary marketing plan.

Anyone entering the publishing world needs to come equipped with a business suit because that’s what it is –a business. Sometimes writers stumble into publishing without exploring their options, tracking expenses or with any plan to make the public aware their book exists. Some writers invest thousands of dollars to see their book in print only to find out their cover price is abnormally high, bookstores won’t stock their books and the cover generated by the publisher is unattractive.

Some authors try to get an agent or a commercial publisher but because they do not understand what the publishers and agents seek, they are rejected over and over again.

Sabrina Sumsion, founder of Sumsion Publicity, has been working specifically with assisting authors and writers with marketing and publicity for the last several years. She has been researching the amounts authors are investing in publishing and the returns they see on investment. To combat the dismal numbers, she gives workshops and presentations on any subject related to marketing or publicity in the writing world.

Sumsion Publicity is proud to present “The Lost Secret to Lucrative Writing” as a worldwide teleseminar. Any writer who wants to publish and all currently published authors will gain valuable insights to promoting their book as well approaching agents and publishers. For more information and to sign up for “The Lost Secret to Lucrative Writing”, please visit http://www.worldwideseminars.com/.

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Jan 15-17 2010 – The Best Way to Learn to be a Travel Journalist
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The Best Way to Learn to be a Travel Journalist – Career Savvy in Changing Times focus of SATW Institute for Travel Writing & Photography in Orlando

Now in its 15th year, the annual SATW Institute for Travel Writing & Photography offers cutting-edge instruction for both new and established travel journalists struggling to make sense of the rapid changes in today’s media landscape. To be held January 15-17, in Orlando, FL, the SATW Institute is America’s foremost program to assist aspiring travel writers and photographers launch their careers.

“These are exhilarating and terrifying times to be a writer,” says Sandra Friend, author of 12 guidebooks to Florida and the new director of the SATW Institute. “You can reach out and touch your readers like never before-but traditional markets for our work are drying up. It’s time to be innovative.”

Innovative ideas that SATW Institute attendees will learn include producing multimedia for the Internet and how to generate income from a variety of online sources, including e-books, mobile applications, and website subscriptions.

A special “Travel Journalism 101″ workshop is part of the lineup this year, where aspiring journalists can learn career basics. Led Christopher P. Baker, 2008 Lowell Thomas Journalist of the Year, the two-hour Friday afternoon session will focus on choosing markets, crafting your queries, reading contracts, fulfilling assignments, and creating engaging travel stories. It is open to all interested registrants for a $50 workshop fee.

The SATW Institute kicks off in earnest the evening of Friday January 15th with a free public presentation at the Orlando Public Library at 6 PM by Christopher P. Baker, Reflections on Cuba. As a guidebook writer and travel photographer, Christopher recounts his travels through Cuba with vivid imagery while he shares lessons learned about travel journalism along the way.

Saturday and Sunday, SATW Institute attendees are treated to a fast-paced series of tightly focused seminars and breakout discussions on topics designed to deepen your career savvy as a journalist, including personal branding, visual storytelling, breaking into new online markets, and repurposing your research as product. Instructors include some of the top names in the travel journalism field: USA Today Deputy Managing Editor for Travel Veronica Stoddart; online travel journalism pioneer Lee Foster; author and self-publishing authority M. Timothy O’Keefe; Canadian broadcast journalist and web producer Bea Broda; University Press of Florida Editor-in-Chief John W. Byram, SATW Institute founder and tourism expert Herb Hiller; and others. Generous support is provided by the Orlando Downtown Development Board and Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Marriott Courtyard Orlando Downtown is our host hotel. Registration starts at $295 and seating is limited to assure a quality experience. For a registration form, conference schedule, and hotel information, visit our website at http://www.satwinstitute.org/

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