RWA Chapter Contests
The New England Chapter of RWA has added the category “Mainstream with Romantic Elements” to its 2011 Bean Pot Contest for published authors. Check it out
Hudson Valley RWA announces the 25th Annual Hook, Line & Sinker contest. Submit the first three pages of your manuscript. The five entries with the highest scores will be ranked by Harlequin editor Brenda Chin. Now accepting both electronic and hard copy entries FMI
The 2010 National Readers’ Choice Awards sponsored by OKRWA were created to honor the best in published romance fiction as judged by avid readers of romance. Participation is open to all published authors of novel-length or novella-length romance fiction. Entry must have an original copyright date or a first North American printing date of 2010. For more information and to enter
The Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, sponsored by RWA Southern Magic is open to all published authors of novel-length or novella-length romance fiction. Entries must be received by January 15, 2011. Electronic books may be entered provided they are printed and bound with a copyright page produced by the publisher. Categories: Contemporary (Single Title and Series), Romantic Suspense (Single Title and Series), Inspirational (Single Title and Series), Paranormal/Fantasy/ Futuristic/Time Travel, Historical, Young Adult, Novella. Questions? E-mail: GWContest
RWA Chapter Workshops
RWA-WF is thrilled to announce our October workshop Quiet Please: Silencing Your Inner Critic Oct. 19-29 with instructor Melissa Clark. The cost is $20 for RWA-WF members and $25 for non-members and payment may be made via Paypal. To register, visit http://www.rwa-wf.com/2010/09/08/rwa-wf-online-workshop-quiet-please-silencing-your-inner-critic/ Include your name and email addy in the comments section when registering. Please contact Maggie Marr at marrmrgrt AT sbcglobal DOT net for more information.
Dunes & Dreams present an October 2010 Online Workshop. Ergonomics with Dale Mayer runs October 18-29. This class focuses on the information to help you to understand proper ergonomics for writers, the problems associated with incorrect ergonomics, and ways to avoid getting into trouble. Catch the problems before they go bad. http://www.dunesanddreams.org/writing-workshops
And another workshop from Dunes & Dreams – Beyond Research: Stronger POV and the Effective Use of Detail, with Carrie Lofty. How do you integrate juicy details into a steamy, compelling, tear-jerking novel? How much detail is enough? What to keep and what to ditch? This course will cover key aspects of melding research and fiction. October 18 – October 28, Dunes & Dreams RWA FORUM (Not a yahoo loop). Registration form and more information http://www.dunesanddreams.org/writing-workshops
Mid-Willamette Valley RWA presents its October 2010 2-week online class GMC: Goals, Motivation, and Conflict, taught by Paty Jager. Using Deb Dixon’s book on GMC, we’ll discuss how to give your characters believable goals, motivation and conflict and how to keep the story moving forward. October 18-29. For details
Mid-Willamette Valley RWA also offers a November 2010 4-week online class: Everything You NEVER Wanted to Know About Taxes, taught by Diane Kelly. This informative workshop will cover federal income tax reporting and tax issues for both the beginning and experienced writers. November 1-26. For more info
PASIC presents Screenwriting Structure for Authors. More and more, publishers are looking for books that have the pacing, emotional impact, and big, unique, “high concept” premises of Hollywood movies (and the potential for that movie or TV sale!). Screenwriting is a compressed and dynamic storytelling form and the techniques of screenwriting are easily adaptable to novel writing. aught by screenwriter and novelist Alexandra Sokoloff. Click to register
Household Hints: 1780 – 1840, Instructor: Shannon Donnelly, November 1 – 12. This workshop will cover some basics of seasonal information, recipes, advices on dealing with servants, and even the budgets required to run a household during the late 1700′s and on through to just before Industrialization changed the world. To register for this class
Heart of Carolina RW presents 11 Edits You Must Make to Look Like a Pro. Instructor: Christine M. Fairchild, November 1-15. The goal of the course is to give you some editing advantages that you would get if you hired a skilled editor to improve your manuscript. This is not a copyediting class, but what we call developmental-editing. Register
Writing Steampunk from Aether to Zeppelin, with instructor Suzanne Lazear, November 1 – 30. Are you still trying to figure out Steampunk? Do you have an idea for a Steampunk story but aren’t sure where to start? Are you in the middle of a Steampunk manuscript and need a little help? Whether you just want to learn what all the buzz is about or have specific spots you need to work on, “Writing Steampunk from Aether to Zeppelin” can help. Grab your brass goggles and parasols, and join Suzanne Lazear while she expounds on Steampunk and the mechanics of the Steampunk story.
http://www.lararwa.com/e_class_steampunk.html
Carolina Romance Writers is pleased to announce a November Online Workshop: Writing Between the Sexes; or “Why Can’t A Woman Be More Like A Man?” Instructor: Leigh Michaels. Date: November 1-28. Men and women think, act, and talk differently – which causes problems for writers who are trying to create characters of the opposite sex. Learn about the most common gender differences, and use them to believable characters of the opposite sex. For more info
RWA Chapter Conferences
New Jersey Romance Writers’ Put Your Heart in a Book Conference will take place October 22-23 at the Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel. Speakers include Sharon Sala, Robyn Carr, Leanne Banks, and special presenter, Bob Mayer. Also past RITA winners Madeline Hunter and Pam Rosenthal; current RITA winners Molly O’Keefe and Sherry Thomas, the queen of vampire chicklit, MaryJanice Davidson, world creators, Jessica Andersen and Joss Ware, historical tale weavers, Claudia Dain, Julie Anne Long, Julianne MacLean, and Anne Stuart. Editors from major NY houses: Avalon, Avon, Grand Central Publishing, Harlequin, NAL, and St. Martin’s Press and more. www.njromancewriters.org
One-Day Workshop Featuring Kathleen Gilles Seidel: Making Your Happy Endings Happier: Crafting Conclusions Readers Remember, presented by Louisville Romance Writers. October 23 at The Delphi Center for Teaching and Learning in Louisville, Kentucky, 9 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. http://www.louisvilleromancewriters.blogspot.com
Southwest Florida Romance Writers has combined the best of craft and industry to bring aspiring authors and veteran writers the contacts and information they need at its January 29th, 2011 Annual Conference. Industry Professionals attending include Alex Logan (Grand Central Publishing), Christine Witthohn (Book Cents Literary Agency), Miriam Kriss (Irene Goodman Literary Agency), Roberta Brown (Brown Literary Agency), Susan Crawford (Susan Crawford Literary Agency), Marlene Stringer (The Stringer Literary Agency). Workshop Presenters include Roxanne St. Claire, Karen Rose, Kristen Painter. www.swfrw.org
Thank you, Abby!