Sharing the good stuff…
CLASSES:
1. Instructor: Bob Mayer
When: June 18 2011, 9:00am to 5:00pm
Where: Kitsap County Fairgrounds, Eagles Nest (across the street from the pavilion) Bremerton, WA
Cost: $25.00 (Chapter members $15.00)
To register email Joanne Jaytanie (conference chair) at: ralphandjoanne
Include your Name, address, phone and email
A ONE DAY NOVEL WRITING SEMINAR
Join New York Times best-selling writer Bob Mayer for an all-day workshop on writing the novel, beginning with the original idea and core conflict, developing plot and character, working with point of view, and pulling everything together selling your book and the business of writing.
9:00-9:50: The Original Idea—The Heart of Your Story and Key to Selling Your Book:
10:00-10:50: Plot and Outline: The Events of Your Story:
11:00-11:50: Point Of View: The Voice of Your Story:
12:00-1:00: Lunch
1:00-1:50: Characters: The People of Your Story:
2:00-2:50: Setting, Dialogue, Writer’s Block and Re-Writing:
3:00-3:50: Selling And Marketing Your Book
4:00-4:50: The Current State and Future of the Publishing Business for the Writer
Joanne Jaytanie, VP PENRWA
2. The Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter of RWA Presents
Polishing Your Sample Pages Presented by Fleur Bradley
WHEN: July 5, 2011 through July 18, 2011
http://www.romance-ffp.com/event.cfm?EventID=325
WHAT: When submitting to agents, you often get to include five sample pages with your query. This workshop will teach you how to get those pages to shine, from character introduction, conflict, voice and formatting–to ensure that agent will want to read more.
WHERE: This workshop will be conducted via a Yahoo! email loop. Email invitations will be sent 48 hours prior to the beginning of the workshop
HOW: Just register for the workshop and complete the payment process via PayPal. The cost is $10.00 for FFnP members and $20.00 for non-FFnP members.
REGISTRATION: http://www.romance-ffp.com/nonMemberWorkshopRegistration.cfm?EventID=325 for $20 (Non-FF&P Member Rate.)
JOIN TODAY to take this workshop for only $10! If you are a current member of FF&P, please log into the website before registering for this workshop.
WHO: Fleur Bradley (writing as F.T. Bradley) recently found a home for her middle-grade series featuring Lincoln Baker with Harper Children’s–look for DOUBLE VISION, the first book, in 2013. Find her on the web at www.fleurbradley.com.
Many of Fleur’s short stories have appeared online and in print, in places like Discount Noir, The Thrilling Detective, Shred of Evidence, Versal and Stories for Children. Fleur is originally from the Netherlands, and now lives in Colorado with her husband, two daughters, and too many cats.
3. The Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter of RWA Presents
The X-tremely Productive Writer Presented by Kara Lennox
WHEN: July 5, 2011 through August 1, 2011
http://www.romance-ffp.com/event.cfm?EventID=309
WHAT: What writer doesn’t dream of producing three, four, or five books a year? It’s more achievable than you think. Writing is like using a muscle; if you increase your outcome a little at a time, it’s easier than trying to suddenly write as fast as Nora Roberts.
First you have to recognize your enemy. What, exactly, is keeping you from writing as fast as you’d like? Is it your “real life,” making too many demands on your time? Learn time-management tricks for squeezing your writing into a busy life.
Is it your internal editor, second-guessing every sentence you put on paper? Learn to recognize the many faces of fear, which is behind most procrastination and writer’s block, and how to overcome it or live happily with it.
Does your muse take frequent vacations? Develop concrete strategies quick idea generation and brainstorming, so you’re never at a loss for what to write–even if you’re a seat-of-the-pants writer. Learn how to “write blind,” change your writing habits, and the power of ritual to turn on your creativity.
Figure out what your personal avoidance patterns are. Does a bad contest result or rejection letter put you in a writing funk? Do you need a lengthy rest after finishing a book? Do you slow down as you approach a love scene? Gain insight into conquering them.
Avoid setting up a writing schedule that is too strenuous, risking burn-out. Learn the warning signs of burn-out and more serious problems, such as depression, that often go hand-in-hand with burn-out, and how to head them off at the pass.
And finally, learn about the magic foods that give you energy and spark your creativity. (There’s a reason writers love chocolate!)
WHERE: This workshop will be conducted via a Yahoo! email loop. Email invitations will be sent 48 hours prior to the beginning of the workshop.
HOW: Just register for the workshop and complete the payment process via PayPal. The cost is $15.00 for FFnP members and $25.00 for non-FFnP members. Payment is due at the time of registration.
REGISTRATION: http://www.romance-ffp.com/nonMemberWorkshopRegistration.cfm?EventID=309 for $25 (Non-FF&P Member Rate.)
JOIN TODAY to take this workshop for only $15! If you are a current member of FF&P, please log into the website before registering for this workshop.
WHO: Kara Lennox (a.k.a. Karen Leabo) has written more than 50 contemporary romance novels for Harlequin/Silhouette and Bantam Loveswept. Since her first novel was released in 1989, her books frequently appear on romance bestseller lists and have finaled in several romance industry contests including the National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Holt Medallion competition, and the RITA. Her Harlequin American Romance PLAIN JANE’S PLAN won a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice award.
Kara is a frequent speaker on a variety of topics at writers’ conferences around the country. She also teaches many of her workshops as online classes. Currently she is working on a romantic suspense trilogy, “Project Justice,” for Harlequin Superromance, to be published in 2011.
On a good day, Kara writes ten pages before lunch. Visit her online at her blog: http://karalennox.wordpress.com.
4. The Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter of RWA Presents
Understanding Your Characters Through Flash Fiction Presented by Linda Wisdom
WHEN: July 18, 2011 through July 31, 2011
http://www.romance-ffp.com/event.cfm?EventID=304
WHAT: Venturing off the beaten path of writing to creating flash fiction gives you a whole new outlook on your characters and even your story. With flash fiction, you’re not just writing short and fast-paced, you’re able to write even more outside the box than usual. Whether it’s something you publish for the public or keep for your own personal use, it’s a fun thing to do.
Linda talks about how her experiences with flash fiction helped her and have the class write their own pieces for a discussion on what they’ve learned from it.
WHERE: This workshop will be conducted via a Yahoo! email loop. Email invitations will be sent 48 hours prior to the beginning of the workshop.
HOW: Just register for the workshop and complete the payment process via PayPal. The cost is $10.00 for FFnP members and $20.00 for non-FFnP members. Payment is due at the time of registration
REGISTRATION: http://www.romance-ffp.com/nonMemberWorkshopRegistration.cfm?EventID=304 for $20 (Non-FF&P Member Rate.)
JOIN TODAY to take this workshop for only $10! If you are a current member of FF&P, please log into the website before registering for this workshop.
WHO: Linda Wisdom was born and raised in Huntington Beach, California. She majored in Journalism in college then switched her major to Fashion Merchandising when she was told there was no future for her in fiction writing. She held a variety of positions ranging from retail sales to executive secretary in advertising and office manager for a personnel agency.
Her career began when she sold her first two novels to Silhouette Romance on her wedding anniversary in 1979. Since then she has sold more than seventy novels and one novella to four different publishers. In that time she has written traditional romance, paranormal romance, humorous romance, action/adventure romance and romantic suspense. Her books have appeared on various romance and mass market bestseller lists and nominated for a number of Romantic Times awards and she’s a two-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America Rita Award. Her novels have been published worldwide.
She lives with her husband, one dog, one parrot, one tortoise in Southern California.
A number of Linda’s books, including her Hex paranormal series, has been optioned for film and television.
CONFERENCES
1. Scriptscene RWA Presents a Mini-Conference Event in New York City!
- Date: Tuesday, June 28, 2011
- Time: 1:00 – 4:30 pm
- Room: 16th Floor Sky Lobby at the Marriott
- Cost – Members $10 ~ Non-members $15 purchase tickets online via PayPal
AGM: 1:00 – 1:30
Bill Pace – 1:30 – 3:30 – Screen Writing Techniques for Prose Fiction
Panel: Jeanne Bowerman & Kim Garland on Social Networking – 3:30 – 4:30
We encourage pre-paying for the mini-conference, but you may also pay at the door.
For more info, updates, and to register, go to: http://scriptscene.org/events.htm
2. Harriette Austin Writer’s Conference
July 22-23 in Athens, Georgia
Featuring John Gilstrap, Evelyn Coleman, Pat LoBrutto and Rebecca McClanahan and other authors, agents, and publishers.
Enjoy workshops with experts and award-winning writers and submit manuscripts for evaluation from top literary professionals with one-on-one consultations.
Visit http://2011hawc.wordpress.com/ for conference information
Visit http://www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/cch for registration
To send your manuscript(s) for review, or for additional information, contact Scott Medine at evan654">evan654
3. 2011 NHRWA Fall Fling Conference – Registration Now Open!
Come and experience fall in New England
To truly capture the beauty of New England, and provide a fabulous fall conference, the NHRWA’s annual conference has moved to September, but is returning to one of New Hampshire’s most picturesque coastal towns — Portsmouth.
This year’s conference will feature a selection of a dozen workshops, editor/agent appointments, a luncheon speech by New York Times Bestselling Romantic Suspense author Carla Neggers, and a pre-conference workshop with USA Today bestselling author Christyne Butler. The weekend will wrap up with a book fair and signing.
When: September 23-24, 2011
Where: Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Hotel, Portsmouth, NH
Keynote: New York Times bestselling romantic suspense author Carla Neggers
Pre-Conference workshop:
USA Today bestselling author Christyne Butler (Harlequin Special Edition), her agent Jennifer Schober, and her editor Charles Griemsman discuss how they came to work together and the relationship between the three jobs. The workshop will conclude with a Q&A session. $15 admission fee. Limited seating.
Workshops:
Annette Blair – Story Mapping
Susan Colebank – Romancing the YA Novel
Grammar Divas – Scene of the Crime
Grammar Divas – Designed to Sell
Shirley Howard – Joy of Writing
Elaine Isaak – 10 Mistakes I’ve Made
Kathryn Johnson – Get Your Novel Written
Kenna Kincaid – Dirty Little Secrets
Cindy Kirk – The Selling Synopsis
Carla Neggers – Writing as Work/Writing as Play: Your Creative Process
Lea Wait – Writing in Two or More Genres
Barbara Wallace – Hero’s Journey for Dummies
Pitch Appointments:
This year we will be offering pitch appointments. Pitch slots are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Agents/editors taking pitches are…
- Jennifer Schober, agent Spencerhill Associates
- Charles Griemsman, editor Harlequin Books (can acquire for all Harlequin lines)
Cost:
NHRWA Members: $90
Non-Members: $100
Pre-Conference workshop: $15
Registration includes: Buffet breakfast, lunch with keynote speaker Carla Neggers, admission to all of Saturday’s workshops, eligibility to sign up for a pitch appointment, and the opportunity to attend the book fair.
For more information or to register, visit www.nhrwa.com
4. Emerald City Writers’ Conference 2011
Sponsored by the Greater Seattle Romance Writers of America
October 28-30, 2011
Westin Hotel, Bellevue, WA
Keynote Speakers: Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love and Sarah Wendell from Smart Bitches Trashy Books
Conference includes:
Agent and Editor Appointments
Workshops with noted educators and authors in Craft of Writing, Career Planning, Marketing, Mentoring Chats and more
“Pitch Fest” Pitch Coaching
Networking Opportunities
Bookfair and Book Signing
Goody Bags, Raffle Baskets, Door Prizes!
Friday (add on) Master Class featuring Bob Mayer’s Novel Writing Workshop
Editors
Leah Hultenschmidt, Sourcebooks
Angela James, Carina Press
Tera Kleinfelter, Samhain Publishing
Esi Sogah, Avon/Harper
Junessa Viloria, Random House/Ballantine
Agents
Melissa Jeglinski , The Knight Agency
Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency
Suzie Townsend, FinePrint Literary Management
Registration: Early Bird Registration Opens: June 1 and closes July 31st
$239 Early Bird GSRWA
$259 Early Bird NON GSRWA
$269 Late GSRWA
$289 Late NON GSRWA
For more information, go to http://www.gsrwa.org/conference.php
CONTESTS
1. Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest
We welcome you to help us celebrate the 21st anniversary of Indiana’s Golden Opportunity (IGO), one of the Midwest’s premier contests. The Indiana chapter of Romance Writers of America® (IRWA) has a well-deserved reputation for offering detailed, encouraging comments to our contest entrants from experienced professionals. Our four-page score sheet is designed to help entrants identify the elements of storytelling at which they excel while pinpointing the elements that require more attention. This means entrants will receive feedback that will help them create a quality, polished manuscript guaranteed to bypass the dreaded slush pile in an acquiring editor’s office. Many past winners have successfully sold the manuscripts they entered in the IGO, and we like to think we played a part in that. IGO attracts some of the most well-respected names in the industry as category and final judges.
CONTEST CATEGORIES AND FINAL JUDGES FOR 2011
Historical Jesse Feldman, NAL
Mainstream w/ Strong Romantic Elements Paige Wheeler, Folio Literary
Paranormal Suzie Townsend, FinePrint Literary
Romantic Suspense Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks
Single Title Latoya Smith, Grand Central Publishing
Young Adult* Anna Webman, Curtis Brown, Ltd.
Best-of-the-Best Meredith Giordan, Berkley Publishing
(First-place winners in each of the six (6) categories will continue to the Best-of-the-Best round.)
* Young Adult entries do not have to be romance.
DEADLINE: All entries must be received by July 15th, 2011. For your convenience, IGO accepts only electronic entries.
AWARDS: Category winners: The top entry in each category will receive $50 in cash and a certificate. Best-of-the-Best Award: The entry judged best overall will receive $100 in cash and a certificate.
ELIGIBILITY: IGO is open to any author unpublished in novel-length fiction by a non-vanity publisher in the last five (5) years.
IGO uses Romance Writers of America® (RWA) guidelines for PAN-eligibility to determine publishing status. Anyone who has either: (1) earned at least $1,000 in the form of an advance on a single novel or novella published by a non-subsidy, non-vanity publisher; or (2) who has earned at least $1,000 in the form of royalties or a combination of advance plus royalties on a single published novel or novella published by a non-subsidy, non-vanity publisher is considered a published author and is not eligible to enter IGO.
Note: Members of IRWA are not eligible for entry. However, Indiana residents who are members of RWA, but not members of IRWA, are eligible to enter. Check out the IGO Contest Rules and complete the IGO Entry Form to enter. Good luck, and thank you for helping us celebrate the 20th Anniversary of IGO!
2. The 19th Annual 2011 Heart of the West Writers Contest is taking entries.
Sponsored by the Utah Chapter of Romance Writers of America.
Our contest is open to published or non-published writers
The 2011 Categories are Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Erotic Romance,
Mystery/Suspense, Young Adult and Published.
All information and contest entry forms are at www.UtahRWA.com
We except Electronic Entry Form only.
3. The Golden Network — RWA’s exclusive chapter for Golden Heart finalists — is proud to announce that the Golden Pen is now open for entries!
This annual contest for unpublished romance fiction is among the most prestigious of all RWA chapter contests, featuring the industry’s top editors as its final-round judges:
Historical – Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks Inc.
Inspirational – Melissa Endlich, Steeple Hill
Novel with Strong Romantic Elements – Valerie Gray, MIRA Books and SPICE Books
Paranormal – Leis Pederson, Berkley Publishing Group
Romantic Suspense – Holly Blanck, St. Martin’s Press
Series Contemporary – Susan Litman, Harlequin Enterprises
Single Title – Katherine Pelz, Berkley Publishing Group
Young Adult – Regina Griffin, Egmont USA
While with the Golden Pen we strive to prepare writers for RWA’s Golden Heart contest by emulating many of that contest’s rules and requirements, as well as its scoring system, we also pride ourselves on our differences, particularly the strict qualification requirements that we place on our first-round judging panel. Unlike the Golden Heart, we do not require the submission of a full manuscript in addition to the partial and synopsis. We require our first-round judges to provide constructive feedback, not just a score. We are also an all-electronic contest. In addition, we offer fabulous final-round prizes:
First place in each category: “Golden Pen Winner” pen, a certificate, and a check for $30.
Second place in each category: Certificate and a check for $20.
Third place in each category: Certificate.
Final placements will be announced in the Romance Writers Report.
The contest is open until August 15, but if you enter by July 15, you’ll get $5 off of your entry fee. If you register to judge the first round of the contest, you qualify for an additional $5 discount. So don’t delay!
Read the Rules and Guidelines: http://thegoldennetwork.com/index.php/tgp-rules/
Register to judge: http://thegoldennetwork.com/index.php/judge-sign-up/
Enter your manuscript: http://thegoldennetwork.com/index.php/tgp-enter/
Please contact me directly at goldenpencontest @ gmail.com (spaces removed) if you have any questions. I look forward to receiving your entry!
