Tuesday, September 30, 2008

New Books for Writers

The following are new books recently added to libraries in the Winnefox Library System, including Oshkosh Public Library.

From First Draft to Finished Novel: A Writer's Guide to Cohesive Story Building by Wiesner, Karen

Juicy Pens, Thirsty Paper: Gifting the World with Your Words and Stories, and Creating the Time and Energy to Actually Do It by Sark

How Not to Write a Novel: 200 Classic Mistakes and How to Avoid Them -- A Misstep-by-misstep Guide by Mittelmark, Howard.

Forensics: A Guide for Writers by Lyle, D. P.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books by Underdown, Harold D.

Writing Life Stories: How to Make Memories into Memoirs, Ideas into Essays, and Life into Literature by Roorbach, Bill.

Journaling as a Spiritual Practice: Encountering God Through Attentive Writing by Cepero, Helen,

How to do Biography: A Primer by Hamilton, Nigel.

How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries: The Art & Adventure of Sleuthing Through the Past by Emerson, Kathy Lynn.

The Power of Point of View: Make Your Story Come to Life by Rasley, Alicia.

Keep it Real: Everything You Need to Know about Researching and Writing Creative Nonfiction by Gutkind, Lee

Memoirs Contest

The Writers Workshop of Asheville, NC is sponsoring their 20th Annual Memoirs Competition: Submit a memoir of 4,000 words or less. All work must be unpublished. Pages should be paper clipped, with your name, address, email, phone and title of work also on a cover sheet. Double-space, and use 12 point font. The entry fee is $20 per memoir, or $15 for Workshop members.

$20 entry fee; deadline is Nov. 20, 2008.

Prizes: First place $350. Second place $250. Third place $150. Ten Honorable Mentions.

E-mail: WritersW@gmail.com
http://www.twwoa.org

short short story competition

The 9th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition is accepting entries! We're looking for fiction that's bold, brilliant ... but brief. Send us your best in 1,500 words or less. But don't be too long about it—the deadline is December 1, 2008.
The Grand-Prize winner will receive $3,000 (that's $2—or more—per word). For guidelines, prizes and to enter online, click here.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Author Visit - Gary Schmidt

On Tuesday, October 21st, the Neenah Public Library will host a visit with acclaimed young adult author Gary D. Schmidt. Schmidt is an American children’s writer of nonfiction books and young adult novels, including two Newbery Honor Books. His visit will include a presentation for the community at 7:00 p.m., followed by book sales and signing by the author.

On Saturday, October 25th at 1:00 p.m., there will be a reading group to discuss Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy (youth staff leaders); On Sunday, October 26th at 2:00 p.m. there will be a discussion of Trouble (with retired English professor and poet Doug Flaherty); and, on Monday, October 27th at 7:00 p.m. there will be a discussion of Wednesday Wars (youth staff leaders). These discussion sessions are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.

Gary Schmidt lives on a farm in Alto, Michigan, with his wife and six children; there he splits wood, plants gardens, writes, feeds the wild cats and wishes that sometimes the sea breeze came that far inland. He is a Professor of English at Calvin College. Schmidt has an MA in English literature and a Ph.D. in medieval literature.

All events are free – no registration necessary. For more information, call (920) 886-6335 or visit our web site at www.neenahlibrary.org.

Wisconsin Book Festival

The schedule is finalized for the Wisconsin Book Festival, Oct. 15-19 in downtown Madison. Over 100 authors, agents, publishers and book dealers are speaking on a variety of topics of interest to authors and readers. Most events are free and open to the public. The keynote author, David Sedaris, will speak at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 (ticket required).

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Directory of Writers Conferences

It's not complete but the The Writers’ Conferences & Centers (WC&C) website is a valuable resource for writers looking for comprehensive information about attending the most established writing conferences, centers, festivals, residencies, or retreats in North America and abroad. The website is at http://writersconf.org/

Monday, September 08, 2008

Author Visit - Ron La Point

Local author Ron La Point will speak at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, at the Oshkosh Public Library. La Point will present his book "Oshkosh: A South Sider Remembers," a memoir of growing up in south side Oshkosh during the 1940s and 1950s.

Friday, September 05, 2008

Business of Children's Publishing

The Center for Children's Literature, Hedberg Library, Kenosha, is presenting its second annual Second Annual "The Business of Children's Publishing" from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 17 and 18, 2008.

Speakers include Gary D. Schmidt; author Jan Greenberg; author Timothy Basil Ering; Dinah Stevenson, publisher for Clarion Books; Jason Wells, marketing manager Abrams Books; Susan Pearson, editor Chronicle Books; George Nicholson, agent; and Marijka Kostiw, art director.

After each speaker's presentation there will be a question and answer session. Participants will have an opportunity during the (optional) lunch and also during the book autographing times to talk informally with the speakers. For further information, please call (262) 552-5480, or email John Stewig at jstewig@carthage.edu

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Words for Food

For something TOTALLY addicting, go to www.freerice.com and build your vocabulary and feed the hungry at the same time. For each word you can define correctly, 20 grains of rice are donated to the United Nations World Food Program. And if you get a word wrong, don't worry, it will come up again later until you get it right.

Author Visit - Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen

As part of Oshkosh Public Library's annual Book Fest, children/young adult author Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen will speak at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6 in the lower level of the library.

Stephanie's latest teen book, The Compound, gets a Starred Review from Publisher's Weekly and has been nominated for both of the ALA's 2009 Best Books for Young Adults and 2009 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers lists.

Her blog, Days of Angst and Coffee, is available here.

If there is enough interest, I can arrange for members of the writers club to have dinner with Stephanie. If you would like to attend, please let me know. ~ Ruth