PUBLISHED NOVELIST: Are We There Yet?

Daphne Kalotay: Triumph after Rejection

2010-12-04T01:30:00.000-06:00

Daphne proves that saving the Ghost of Rejections Past isn't a masochistic act. Keeping track of where we've traveled can pave the way to publication.

Your turn will come if you persevere. My Christmas Wish is that the New Year herald in book publication for all of us.

HELP a SEMI-STARVING ARTIST

2010-05-01T13:03:00.000-05:00

Please vote for my nephew, Chris Wiley, an actor/writer/swordsmanship instructor (in this economy, ya gotta diversify to pay the rent), currently in second place in the Dunkin' Donuts Create America's Next Donut Contest. Chris dubbed his donut creation, S'morgasbord, in the essay that landed him a spot in the finals. The 1st Place Winner will receive a year's supply of donuts, have their creation added to the DD menu, and be awarded $12,000 (writers can't live on donuts alone).

You can vote once a day, every day, from now through Monday May 3, 2010 at: https://www.dunkindonuts.com/donut/

Read more about Chris at these links:

Medford Man Goes for Dunkin' prize:
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/medford/2010/04/medford_man_a_finalist_in_donu.html

Three from Mass. Finalists in Dunkin' Donuts Contest:
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view/20100429three_from_mass_finalists_in_dunkin_donuts_contest/srvc=home&position=recent

Born in Birmingham, AL, Chris left the foothills of the Appalachians for Georgia, where he graduated from LaGrange College, and then headed for the footlights, becoming a company member of Atlantis Playmakers based out of Billerica, MA.
http://www.lagrange.edu/academics/theatre-arts/alumni.htm

He also had a non-speaking role in Indiana Jones IV (Crystal Skull), appearing most visibly when standing in front of a big oak that Indiana rides by during the motorcycle chase scene. Keeping his lips sealed required tremendous acting flair because Chris is descended from a long line of witty motor-mouths (on both sides of his family tree).

Anyway, the movie premiered two years ago and Chris cashed the check way back then. Did I mention even semi-starving artists can't subsist on donuts and witty essays alone? Please vote and vote and vote again for Chris W. so you can experience his S'morgasbord (based on the campfire treat s'mores) at a Dunkin' Donuts near you.

Thanks!!!
Janice Wiley-Dorn, aka the Doting Aunt
http://www.janicewiley-dorn.com/contests.html

SCN Novel Pitch & 1st Five Pages Contest Winners

2010-05-01T09:58:00.009-05:00

SMOKE CITY NARRATORS
NOVEL PITCH & 1ST FIVE PAGES CONTEST
2009 WINNERS

1st Place - $150: SECOND CHANCES … Theresa J. GRANT … Newaygo, MI
Pitch: Four dead girls, three years in hiding, two men with secrets; for forensic anthropologist Jo Birch, one second chance.

___________________________________________________

2nd Place - $75: CHIN LEE'S PLACE … Vance H. WHITE … Niceville, FL
Pitch: Reporter Robert Gage turns detective in this hard-boiled thriller set in San Francisco on the eve of World War II.

___________________________________________________

3rd Place - $40: The BODY of HELEN … Tracy KORETSKY … Berkeley, CA

Author hasn't given permission to post their pitch.

2009 Honorary Mentions

HM #1: MY NAME is SADIA
by Erika Dusen TAMINDZIJA … Arlington Heights, IL

Pitch: A young slave navigates the 16th century Islamic World and struggles to regain her family. _____________________________________________________

HM #2: In the SHADOW of the LONE STAR
by B. J. BATEMAN … Damascus, OR
Pitch: In 1938 Texas, a runaway white girl finds work and love in a colored nightclub, cultivating friendships and inciting violence.

_____________________________________________________

HM #3: The THIRD STEP
by Ginger MARCINKOWSKI … Pella, IA
Pitch: Two countries, two rivers, and her father's funeral cause a woman to confront the incestuous past that's haunted her life.

_____________________________________________________

HM #4: KILLING RABBITS
by Mary Ann KOHENSKEY … Maryland Heights, MO
Pitch: Joe Detrie runs away from an abusive family but returns to rescue his younger brother and kill their father.

_____________________________________________________

JUDGE'S COMMENTS on SCN WEBSITE:

http://www.janicewiley-dorn.com/contest.html

NOVEL PITCH & 1ST FIVE PAGES CONTEST: SEMIFINALISTS

2010-01-30T10:32:00.003-06:00

Novel Pitch & 1st Five Pages of a Novel Contest

Sponsored by Smoke City Narrators

2009 SEMIFINALISTS by TITLE ONLY (alphabetically)

The BODY of HELEN
CHIN LEE'S PLACE
The END of ALL ROADS
The FIRST YEAR
IN and OUT of MADNESS
IN the SHADOW of the LONE STAR
INVISIBLE VAMPIRE
KILLING RABBITS
LETTERS from the DEAD
MY NAME IS SADIA
NO LIFE but THIS
RISEN
SECOND CHANCES
SHADOWS of the COMANCHE
SOMEWHERE HOME
The SOUND of INK
THICK and THIN
The THIRD STEP

Winners notified by end of the first week of February. A list of the winners posted by mid-February, along with a few comments by the final judge and contest director highlighting how the winners grabbed our attention.

We'll also give general pointers on how the entries that didn't reach the semifinalist level can be improved. We hope this will help writers find success when entering future contests or submitting their fiction for publication.

PUBLISHING 101: What You Need to Know

2009-09-24T05:52:00.000-05:00

"Here's your step-by-step guide to the publishing process–how it works, why you need to know and how you can play an influential role in your book’s success."

This article by Jerry D. Simmons appeared in the July/August edition of Writer's Digest. Simmons, who started his career in the publishing industry as a sales rep at Random House, worked for major publishers in sales and management for thirty years.

Creating a well-written informative or entertaining book may put writers on the first rung of the lofty ladder to publication. Simmons details what authors need to do to reach the top.

http://www.writersdigest.com/article/publishing-101-what-you-need-to-know/

SCN Contest Deadline Extended - Announcing Judge Cindy Dyson

2009-09-22T23:59:00.008-05:00

Smoke City Narrators
Novel Pitch & 1st Five Pages Contest

DEADLINE EXTENDED to Saturday 10/17/09
http://www.janicewiley-dorn.com/smokecitynarrators/pitch1st5contest.html

**Novel Does Not Have to be Complete.**

We're pleased to announce our 2009 Contest Judge: Cindy Dyson, author of THE LAST QUERY: A New Approach to Crafting a Novel Query Letter. Dyson shows how-to hone in on the most intriguing qualities of your novel and your life, even if you lack writing credits, and shape them into a unique query.

Her query letter hooked Agent Marly Rusoff, who sold Dyson's first novel, AND SHE WAS, to Harper Collins.

Her nonfiction credits include many magazine articles, five nonfiction YA books and three literary biographies in Harold Bloom's BioCritiques college library series. Dyson grew up in Alaska and now lives in Montana, where she's working on her second novel. Learn more about her and her writing process on these websites:

Cindy Dyson's website:
http://www.cindydyson.com/

THE LAST QUERY:
http://www.cindydyson.com/shopping.html

Agent Marly Rusoff and Associates - Dyson:
http://www.rusoffagency.com/authors/dyson_c/andshewas/andshewas_CDyson_bio.htm

Dyson Interviewed:

http://mjroseblog.typepad.com/backstory/2006/02/_cindy_dysons_b.html

http://49writers.blogspot.com/2009/09/author-interview-cindy-dyson.html

http://www.harpercollins.com/author/authorExtra.aspx?authorID=27501&isbn13=9780060597719&displayType=bookinterview

NOVEL PITCHING III: Events with Pitch Opps Included in Tuition Fees

2009-09-18T04:12:00.007-05:00

WORDS and MUSIC: A Literary Feast in New Orleans
http://www.wordsandmusic.org/

$$ See Various Rates Below. Some meals provided.
Thursday November 19 - Sunday November 22, 2009

Held at the renown Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter of New Orleans, LA. Hosted by the Faulkner Society. Director: Rosemary James.

Discounted rates at the Monteleone and a few other nearby hotels. Find bed-and-breakfasts a trolley ride away. Award-winning authors lead the Master Classes. Agent and editor critiques included in tuition fees.

The name says it all. I attended in 2001 and would return every year if my finances allowed. A few of my favorite features:

*Light refreshments available at the morning panel discussions.

*Luncheon speakers and gourmet dishes at famous restaurants in the Quarter, including Antoine's.

*Wine, bottled water and fruit at late afternoon poetry readings in small art galleries.

*Midnight poetry slams at sidewalk café in Pirate's Alley.

*Books made available onsite by Faulkner House Books, ready for autographs from noted literary authors.

*Dance on Saturday night. Casual Dressy.

*Prestigious contest with high-dollar awards - Novel: $7,500/ Novella: $2,500/ Novel-in-Progress: $2,000/ Short Story: $1,500/ Essay: $1,000/ Poetry: $750

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES:

Full Tuition Pkg. - Writers: $350

Students/Competition Finalists: $175

*Both packages above include the one-on-one agent & editor critiques.

*First 50 pages of your mss. sent to agents/editors prior to conference.

*Each writer gets two 30-minute appointments with the agents/editors of their choice, whenever possible.

Overall Discussion Pass: $250 (Includes discussions, but not critiques)

Lunch (with speakers at famous restaurants) and Dinner Events (Buffet): Passes available in package plans or à la carte pricing.

Sunday Night - Buffet Banquet: Dressy. Speaker (The year I attended: Comedic actor/magician Harry Anderson), musical entertainment, awards presented.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

You need to rise early, stay up late or stay over a few days to find time to experience the Quarter on your own:

-Ride in a horse-drawn carriage and three different trolleys.

-Stroll through the Quarter.

-Loiter in indie used-books stores, unique shops and the French Market. (Loretta's makes the best pralines!)

-Sample Cajun, Creole, American and International Cuisine.

-Applaud day-time street musicians playing for tips.

-Crisscross down Bourbon Street nightly to the beat of a dozen bands playing blues, Cajan, country, jazz, rock 'n roll and zydeco.
===================================

GREEN RIVER WRITERS NOVEL-IN-PROGRESS WORKSHOP
http://www.greenriverwriters.org/nipw.html

$400+ for Full Workshop
An entire week during March of 2010. Exact dates TBA.

$ ?? for Afternoon Classes Only.

The economic slump forced them to cancel this year's event but they plan to resume the workshop in 2010.

Held in Louisville, KY. Hosted by Green River Writers, a 25-year-old nonprofit group. They live up to their motto, "Writers Helping Writers." Director: Jeff Yocom.

Accommodations available in nearby motels/hotels or inexpensive dorm-type rooms onsite.

First 50 pages of your mss. sent ahead of time to instructor of your choice . Upon arrival, each student receives the first 20 pages of every mss. in their critique group. (Max. of 5-7 students in each group).

I attended in 2002 and 2003. I remain in contact with the friends I made there, including a talented, multi-published author, who eventually became my mentor.

Sunday Evening: Check in. Orientation. Informal Meet and Greet.

Monday - Friday: Each student gets at least one-hour of private consultation with instructor during the week.

-----Mornings: Critique Groups Meet with Instructor.

-----Mid-days: Long lunch break. Free to eat, write, tour bookstores or nap.

-----Afternoons: Lecture/Discussion Classes.

-----Nights: Free time to write, hang out with faculty or whatever.

Friday Afternoon/Evening: Agents & editors arrive. They go to a restaurant with faculty.

Saturday:

-----Morning: Agent & Editor Panel Q & A.

-----Lunch: Writers (3-5) volunteer to treat one agent or editor to lunch at a restaurant. Sign-up the day before.

-----Afternoon: Everyone gets 10 minutes with many different agents/editors of their choice. Some want to hear a brief verbal description of your novel. Others want to scan a synopsis and/or the first chapter. Come prepared with all three.

No sign-ups. Stand in (short) lines, first come, first served. Because the workshops are limited to 40 or so participants, no one gets turned away and the agents/editors don't get worn out. When I attended in 2002 and 2003, I discussed my novel with three agents and one editor each year.

-----Night: Cocktail Party. Casual dressy. Refreshments served.

Sunday Morning: Check out.
===================================

PEN to PRESS WRITER'S RETREAT
http://www.pentopressretreat.com/

$685 - $735
Tuesday May 25 - Saturday May 29, 2010

Held in the French Quarter of New Orleans, LA. Director: Deborah LeBlanc.

NOVEL PITCHING II: Events that Charge Extra for Pitch Opportunities

2009-09-17T16:04:00.007-05:00

HAWAII WRITERS CONFERENCE
(Formerly the Maui Writers Conference)
http://www.hawaiiwriters.org/

*$ ?? for Retreat
Friday August 28 - Thursday September 3, 2009

$695 for Conference
Friday September 4 - Monday September 7, 2009

*$ ?? for One-on-One Consultations
Various Dates During the Conference.

Held in Honolulu, Hawaii. Hosted by the Hawaii Writers Foundation.

*Prices not available again until next year.
===================================

SOUTH CAROLINA WRITERS WORKSHOP CONFERENCE
http://www.myscww.org/conference/schedule.php

$325-$425 for Complete Conference Package
Friday October 23 - Sunday 25, 2009

$10 Extra for Pitch Sessions

Held in Myrtle Beach, SC. Hosted by South Carolina Writers Workshop.

NOVEL PITCHING I: Events for Crafting & Honing Pitches

2009-09-14T07:07:00.007-05:00

Backspace November Agent-Author Seminar
http://www.backspacewritersconference.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

$250-$295 per day.
Thursday November 5 - Saturday November 6, 2009

Held in New York, NY. Hosted by Backspace, an online writers community.

SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST DEADLINE (09/04/09) HAS PASSED. If you plan to attend their next event in the spring of 2010, read about the scholarships at the link below. Their scholarships cover admission to the conference only, not travel or hotel expenses. Details on Agent Colleen Lindsay's blog:
http://theswivet.blogspot.com/2009/08/win-scholarship-to-backspace-agent.html
=====================================

NY Writers Workshop
Perfect Pitch Fiction Conference
http://www.newyorkwritersworkshop.com/pitch_fiction.html

$395 for Conference only.
Friday November 13 - Sunday November 15, 2009
$420 for Conference & Agents Panel (Saturday morning).

Held in New York, NY. Hosted by New York Writers Workshop.
=====================================

Writers Retreat Workshop
http://www.writersretreatworkshop.com/fallretreat09.php

$449 for Pitch Weekend only.
Saturday November 14 - Monday November 16, 2009

$995 for 6-night Writers Retreat Workshop only.
Monday November 16 - Sunday 22, 2009

$1,275 for Combo: Pitch Weekend AND Retreat.
Saturday November 14 - Sunday 22, 2009

Held in Oracle, Arizona, near Tucson. Hosted by Writers Retreat Workshop.

Open only to graduates of Writers Retreat Workshop and/or (Agent) Donald Maass Breakout Novel Intensive Workshops. Prices include room and meals.
=====================================

NYC Pitch and Shop
http://nycpitchconference.com/

$495
Thursday December 3 - Sunday December 6, 2009

Held in New York, NY. Hosted by Algonkian Writer Conferences.
=====================================

Write and Pitch Conference
http://www.writeandpitchconference.com/

$229
Friday February 19 - Sunday 21, 2010

Held in Corte Madera, near San Francisco, CA. Hosted by Algonkian Writer Conferences.

NOVEL PITCH and FIRST 5 PAGES CONTEST

2009-09-13T15:55:00.007-05:00

Novel Pitch & 1st Five (5) Pages of a Novel Contest

http://www.janicewiley-dorn.com/smokecitynarrators/pitch1st5contest.html

$8 ENTRY FEE -- DEADLINE: ~~Sept. 9, 2009~~ EXTENDED to:
POSTMARKED by SATURDAY OCTOBER 17, 2009

AWARDS: 1st -- $150 || 2nd -- $75 || 3rd -- $40
6 Honorable Mentions

Sponsored by Smoke City Narrators. Features a low entry fee. Open to residents of the USA and Washington, D. C., with the exception of members of SCN. Entries must be original and unpublished (includes Internet).

Novel need not be complete.

Multiple entries OK but only 1 prize awarded to any winner. Submit 2 copies of the first 5 pages of a novel, 1,500 words max. and a one-sentence pitch (mini-synopsis), 20 words max.

Optional: The 9 finalists will have their pitch and website link posted on SCN's website and blog.

Novel pages not published. Authors retain all rights. See website for complete rules.

Questions? Contact us at: scnarrators@janicewiley-dorn.com

I hope you'll use this contest as a practice run before querying agents or editors and/or attending pitch workshops.

Later this week, I'll post summaries of events that feature pitch sessions.

Good Luck with Your Contest Entries!

SECRETARY of the ARTS PETITION

2009-01-19T19:57:00.006-06:00

Musician Quincy Jones--winner of a 2008 Humanitarian Award--has started a petition to ask President Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts. Please consider signing it.

http://www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html

GRANTS for WRITERS

2009-01-18T02:35:00.009-06:00

Grants and other awards will enhance the bio paragraph in your query letters to agents and publishers.

I'm deeply grateful to the Elizabeth George Foundation for their generous award of an artistic grant for fiction.

The deadline for the 2010 awards is July 1, 2009. The application fee is $25.00 and you'll need letters of recommendation from five professionals in your field. The foundation doesn't have a website but you can request a brochure by writing:

Elizabeth George
Elizabeth George Foundation
P. O. Box 1429
Langley, Washington 98260

Q & A with Four Young Literary Agents

2009-01-03T02:39:00.006-06:00

A feisty discussion of literary questions posted on Poets & Writers Magazine's online articles. Agents: Julie Barer, Jeff Kleinman, Renee Zuckerbrot and Daniel Lazar.

ENCOURAGEMENT for QUERY WEARY

2008-11-29T03:58:00.003-06:00

10 Hidden Gifts of Rejection Letters posted on the Guide to Literary Agents' Blog.

LOGLINE, QUERY LETTER & SYNOPSIS

2008-11-20T03:35:00.007-06:00

Many writers find composing a one-page query letter and a one-page synopsis more difficult than writing a 100,000 word novel. Try writing a logline--a one-sentence description of your novel--first. Expand that into a one-paragraph pitch to include in your query letter. Writing a one-page synopsis now seems effortless.

Hint #1: Write the one-paragraph pitch as a teaser, painting in broad strokes your main character, their goal and the antagonist that blocks it. Don't give away the ending. Your intent is to intrigue the agent into asking for apartial or full manuscript. Your one-page synopsis should give more details and reveal the ending.

Hint #2: Double-space your novel chapters but single-space query letters and synopses. If an agent or publisher requests a detailed outline, be kind to their eyes and double-space anything longer than three pages.

This article by Christopher Lockhart gives detailed instructions on creating loglines for character-driven and plot-driven screenplays, and gives pointers on writing query letters. You can easily adapt the basics of his method to novels.

SOFTWARE for WRITERS: ClichéCleaner

2008-11-11T08:39:00.003-06:00

Agents recommend keeping query letters short--one page maximum. That means ripping out qualifiers, adjectives, flabby verbs and clichés. ClichéCleaner ($12.95) software sounds great. If you've used it, please share your experience here. Loathe it, love it?

TIPS of the DAY & WORKSHOP REVIEWS

2008-11-10T07:03:00.008-06:00

Scroll to the bottom of the page for information on writers and tips of the day on writing, publishing, marketing and P.R.. These sites will change periodically to keep new material coming in.

WRITERS: Have you attended a writers' workshop or conference in the past five years? Are you planning to attend one but feel unsure of where to go for your current needs? With the steadily rising cost of tuition and transportation, most emerging writers can't afford to go to more than one event.

To help you choose, I'll be posting reviews here soon or links to reviews on writers' websites. I'm especially interested in places that provide marketing help, such as one-on-one interviews with agents and/or editors, and workshops on pitching novels. Please email me if you're interested in contributing a review.

MOONRAT'S GUIDE TO GETTING PUBLISHED

2008-11-09T02:12:00.001-06:00

A short and saucy view of the industry from the Editorial Ass Blog, written by an editorial assistant: http://editorialass.blogspot.com/2007/05/moonrats-guide-to-getting-published.html

WELCOME

2008-09-08T08:53:00.009-05:00

New content and tools added regularly while blog's under construction. Please note the links on the right-hand side of the page. I hope you enjoy your visit and come back often.