What do you think of the new header?
By: Kathy Temean,
on 9/19/2011
Why enter one Writer’s Digest brand-new and exciting genre competitions?
Well…there’s exposure. You win, you get published. Agents, publishers and future fans will see your work. And, of course, you’ll get the money – $1000 for the first place winners and $500 for second place winners. And, let’s be frank…bona fide bragging rights are a bit of alright.
You’ll get a professional critique of your work, where a professional will tell you what works, what doesn’t and how to fix it.
And finally, you’ll get a pretty impressive addition to your resume if you win.
Now I have read a bunch of manuscript from members that would be a good fit with one of these contests, maybe it is time to try submitting. It would be so much fun to have one of you be a winner.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
By: Kathy Temean,
on 2/1/2011
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS LITERATURE FELLOWSHIPS
http://www.nea.gov/grants/apply/Lit/index.html
DEADLINE: March 3, 2011
Applicants are required to use Grants.gov. See “How to Prepare and Submit an Application” for further information.
The NEA Literature Fellowships program offers $25,000 grants
in prose (fiction and creative nonfiction) and poetry to
published creative writers that enable the recipients to set
aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career
advancement. The NEA Literature Fellowships program operates
on a two-year cycle with fellowships in prose and poetry
available in alternating years. For FY 2012, which is covered
by these guidelines, fellowships in prose are available.
Fellowships in poetry will be offered in FY 2013 and guidelines
will be available in January 2012. Individuals may apply only
once each year.
Direct questions to the Literature staff at
202/682-5034 or e-mail [email protected] .
Applicants may use digital, audio, or online publications to establish
up to fifty percent of their eligibility, provided that such
publications have competitive selection processes and stated
editorial policies. Works where the writer paid for publication
are not eligible in the qualifying process.
Hope someone applies. Make it happen.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
0 Comments on National Grant Money For Writers as of 1/1/1900
By: Kathy Temean,
on 1/25/2011
Did you have a book published in 2010? Then please read second part of this post.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY reports that Marcia Wernick and Linda Pratt have left
the Sheldon Fogelman Agency to start their own firm, Wernick & Pratt.
They will represent children’s authors and illustrators working on books for every age level, but do not represent authors of adult books.
They are interested in both published and unpublished people who are seriously committed to a long term career in the children’s book industry. They say, “We feel that while it is a matter of our individual tastes and appeal, our quality standards are highly selective in offering representation. We take on only a limited number of new clients each year. We are most interested in people who both write and illustrate in the picture book genre, humorous young chapter books with strong voice, and unique and compelling middle grade/YA novels, both literary and commercial. We are not interested in picture book manuscripts of more than 1000 words, mood pieces, or work specifically targeted to the educational market.”
They receive hundreds of submissions, and do their best to respond within 10 weeks.
Submissions are accepted via e-mail only. Here are their guidelines:
*Please send us your contact information, including your email address, your mailing address and your telephone number. Please also indicate if you were referred to us, and by whom.
*Please indicate if this is an exclusive or non-exclusive submission. We prefer exclusive submissions for at least 1 month, but it is not a requirement for submission.
*Please include a brief synopsis of your work of no more than 1 page, your background, including any publishing history, and if you have any other work available for consideration.
*If you are a novelist, please include the first three (3) chapters of the work and a synopsis; please do not submit the entire work or include chapters from more than one work unless specifically requested.
*If you are a picture book writer, please include two (2) manuscripts; please do not submit any additional manuscripts unless specifically requested.
*If you are an illustrator, please include PDF samples of your work, as well as a link to your website, or to a portfolio of your work. Please do not send any original artwork as we do not assume any responsibility for original artwork that is submitted.
*Please send all submissions to [email protected], and please indicate if you are submitting to Marcia Wernick or Linda Pratt.
CONGRATULATIONS, Marcia and Linda! Wishing you much luck!
Just wanted to make sure you knew that you have ONE WEEK left to enter any 2010 publication in our all-new SCBWI Crystal Kite Member Choice Awards Competition. Any first-run book for young readers published by a PAL publisher in the 2010 calendar year is eligible for the award.
How to Enter
All you need to do is log in to your SCBWI Member Profile, enter your book information on the “Publications” tab, and make sure that you’ve clicked the box that reads “Yes, I would like to submit this publication for Crystal Kite Awards nomination.”
0 Comments on New Agency & Book Competition Reminder as of 1/1/1900
Manuscript update: I’m going to reward myself with this treat when I get the perfect query letter and synopsis written.
Writing a novel isn’t easy, and we writers should reward ourselves when we reach a goal, no matter how small. Here’s one suggestion, Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies:
Imagine these cookies speckled with brown whole wheat grain.
Chocolate chip cookies from scratch have been a staple in our home for years. We even have a special tin, and all our friends know there’s always some in there. I use the regular Tollhouse recipe on the back of the Tollhouse Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips bag, but I’ve tried to make them a little better for us over the years with a few substitutions:
Now here’s my latest discovery:
Over Christmas, when I made a bunch of cookies that were a bit more healthful than the usual recipes, I found an awesome recipe for Whole Grain Snickerdoodles. I got the idea for the whole grain flour substitution in the chocolate chip cookies from those snickerdoodles, and it gives the chocolate chip cookies a really nice texture — not to mention having some whole grain flour in there is a little better for you.
So, next time you achieve one of your writing goals, no matter how big or small, try these for a (somewhat) healthful treat.
How do you reward yourself?
Write On!
P.S. If you’ve got a burning question about ghostwriting, you’ve got until Sunday night to enter it to be answered by writer Laura Cross, and have a chance to win a PDF copy of Cross’ informative book Complete Guide to Hiring a Literary Agent: Everything You Need to Know to Become Successfully Published. Cross’ answers to all the ghostwriting questions — and the winner of the book — will be on the blog on Feb. 12.
P.P.S. I’m going to the Austin SCBWI conference tomorrow, so next week look out for reports about the speakers, including Arthur Levine editor Cheryl Klein; Farrar, Strauss and Giroux editor Lisa Graff; Bloomsbury editor Stacy Cantor; agent and former editor Andrea Cascardi; agent Mark McVeigh; agent and blogger extraordinaire Nathan Bransford and many, many more.
2 Comments on Writer treat: Whole wheat chocolate chip cookies, last added: 2/1/2010
The recipe sounds awesome! I’ll have to write more so I can reward myself.
They are great, Beverley! Hope they can be a good incentive for you.