The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Jan. 3, in the lower level meeting room of the Oshkosh Public Library. Come prepared with one or two personal writing goals for 2009!
As always, meetings are free and open to anyone 17 or older.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Dan's Blog
You don't have to wait until Saturday to read more of Dan Higgin's work! He's started a blog, DesignGuru, off the Oshkosh Northwestern website. Dan invites anyone from the Oshkosh Area Writers Club to sign up for an ID and post blogs on the site.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Holiday Party
The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will host a Holiday Party at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, in the lower level meeting room of the Oshkosh Public Library. Please bring a treat and a wrapped white elephant gift (a new or gently used item you don't use).
Also come prepared to state a writing goal(s) you would like to achieve in 2009. We will open up the second hour of the meeting for critiques.
NOTE: The Library will be closed Dec. 15 to Dec. 19 and the day of our Holiday Party is the day the library reopens. Please expect a full parking lot.
Also come prepared to state a writing goal(s) you would like to achieve in 2009. We will open up the second hour of the meeting for critiques.
NOTE: The Library will be closed Dec. 15 to Dec. 19 and the day of our Holiday Party is the day the library reopens. Please expect a full parking lot.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
2009 Writers' Institute
The 20th annual Writers' Institute will be held March 27-29, 2009, in Madison.
Although there are workshops on a variety of topics, the main focus this year is on agents - why you need one, how to get one, what kind of authors they are currently representing, etc. Lots of agents will be present so this will be a great opportunity to network.
The keynote event will be Friday, titled "Finding Your Fortune: Things I’ve Learned," with Marshall J. Cook. Cook has been published in several fields, including novels, nonfiction books, articles, and short stories. He contends, “So can you.” Discover what he knows to be true for a writer’s success. Limited space for this event; deadline for buying a ticket is Monday, March 24.
Fees vary, from $25 to $245 for the whole weekend.
Although there are workshops on a variety of topics, the main focus this year is on agents - why you need one, how to get one, what kind of authors they are currently representing, etc. Lots of agents will be present so this will be a great opportunity to network.
The keynote event will be Friday, titled "Finding Your Fortune: Things I’ve Learned," with Marshall J. Cook. Cook has been published in several fields, including novels, nonfiction books, articles, and short stories. He contends, “So can you.” Discover what he knows to be true for a writer’s success. Limited space for this event; deadline for buying a ticket is Monday, March 24.
Fees vary, from $25 to $245 for the whole weekend.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Writing Prompt for Dec. 20th
The writing prompt for Dec. 20th is: Santa was on fire. Use it in a poem, essay, short story, etc.
We've had some VERY creative and sometimes hilarious results with these prompts and will continue to have them in 2009.
We've had some VERY creative and sometimes hilarious results with these prompts and will continue to have them in 2009.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Call for Submissions- Cup of Comfort
Passing along a email from Susan Twonsend-
The newest "Cup of Comfort" project is a volume tentatively titled "A Cup of Comfort Book of Christmas Prayer." This book will consist of true, uplifting stories and devotionals with a Christian Christmas theme. I would like you to consider contributing something special to this project. Please read this email in its entirety, as specific guidelines will be included.
The devotionals should consist of a short one-page thought between 350-400 words related to a spiritual principle or concept as it applies to your experiences (past and present), your thoughts and feelings about Christmas and, of course, your memories of Christmas. The stories (1200-1500 words) will explore the same themes and principles found in the devotionals, but in a different structure. Although the stories will have a strong Christian message, they still need to contain the basic elements of a captivating short story. These elements include a beginning, middle, and end. There must be conflict and resolution, as well as compelling dialogue and emotion, against a backdrop of action and human drama.
As with other volumes in this series, these devotionals and stories must be true. Your contributions to "A Cup of Comfort Book of Christmas Prayer" will create a unique and diverse book that represents the magic and wonder of Christmas with a strong emphasis on the true meaning of the holiday -- the birth of our Savior and what His coming has meant to the world. Your submissions may be light-hearted or serious but, most importantly, they should be insightful and inspirational. We try to avoid too many stories related to illness, but if you have one without too many details under positive parameters, we will consider it.
The book will cover the 25 days leading up to Christmas Day (December 1-December 25), and then, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" leading up to January 6. For this reason, I would like your devotionals and stories to represent topics that cover this time period. I will need a wide variety of stories and devotionals that deal with the weeks leading up to Christmas Day as well as the days that follow. I'm sure you would all agree that the Christmas experience covers much more than just one day. Above all, keep in mind the significance of Christmas in the life of a Christian living his/her life for the Lord.
We will issue you a permission contract surrendering the rights of this story to sole use by the publisher. It also may not be previously reprinted by any major publication. If accepted, we are offering a $50 dollar one-time fee for stories and a $20 one-time fee for devotionals, to be paid upon publication. You may send as many stories and/or devotionals as you like, but please keep in mind, I want to see your best work, and I will use only one story per contributor and up to five devotionals per contributor. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING FOR IMPORTANT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES.
All correspondence, including submissions, should be sent to me, Susan B. Townsend, at CoCChristmasPrayer@gmail.com. Your submissions should include:
1) Your full name
2) Your address
3) Your phone number
4) Story title
5) Story word count (REMEMBER: Stories should be 1200-1500 words, and devotionals should be 350-400 words *including* brief, opening Scripture and closing thought (see examples below)
6) A short bio of no more than 20 words
In the subject line, please cite the title of the book -- e.g. Submission for "A Cup of Comfort Book of Christmas Prayer." Unfortunately, I cannot accept attachments at this time (I am in process of switching from dialup to wireless and waiting for my new computer). So, please NO ATTACHMENTS. Please copy and paste your submission(s) in the body of your email.
DEADLINE: I need your submissions NO LATER THAN JANUARY 6, 2009. I understand how busy and chaotic this time of year can be, so I particularly appreciate your time and participation. Although I will be making my selections for the book in late February, this book is scheduled for publication for the Christmas season of 2009. Consequently, it will probably be early summer before the manuscript is finalized.
The newest "Cup of Comfort" project is a volume tentatively titled "A Cup of Comfort Book of Christmas Prayer." This book will consist of true, uplifting stories and devotionals with a Christian Christmas theme. I would like you to consider contributing something special to this project. Please read this email in its entirety, as specific guidelines will be included.
The devotionals should consist of a short one-page thought between 350-400 words related to a spiritual principle or concept as it applies to your experiences (past and present), your thoughts and feelings about Christmas and, of course, your memories of Christmas. The stories (1200-1500 words) will explore the same themes and principles found in the devotionals, but in a different structure. Although the stories will have a strong Christian message, they still need to contain the basic elements of a captivating short story. These elements include a beginning, middle, and end. There must be conflict and resolution, as well as compelling dialogue and emotion, against a backdrop of action and human drama.
As with other volumes in this series, these devotionals and stories must be true. Your contributions to "A Cup of Comfort Book of Christmas Prayer" will create a unique and diverse book that represents the magic and wonder of Christmas with a strong emphasis on the true meaning of the holiday -- the birth of our Savior and what His coming has meant to the world. Your submissions may be light-hearted or serious but, most importantly, they should be insightful and inspirational. We try to avoid too many stories related to illness, but if you have one without too many details under positive parameters, we will consider it.
The book will cover the 25 days leading up to Christmas Day (December 1-December 25), and then, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" leading up to January 6. For this reason, I would like your devotionals and stories to represent topics that cover this time period. I will need a wide variety of stories and devotionals that deal with the weeks leading up to Christmas Day as well as the days that follow. I'm sure you would all agree that the Christmas experience covers much more than just one day. Above all, keep in mind the significance of Christmas in the life of a Christian living his/her life for the Lord.
We will issue you a permission contract surrendering the rights of this story to sole use by the publisher. It also may not be previously reprinted by any major publication. If accepted, we are offering a $50 dollar one-time fee for stories and a $20 one-time fee for devotionals, to be paid upon publication. You may send as many stories and/or devotionals as you like, but please keep in mind, I want to see your best work, and I will use only one story per contributor and up to five devotionals per contributor. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING FOR IMPORTANT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES.
All correspondence, including submissions, should be sent to me, Susan B. Townsend, at CoCChristmasPrayer@gmail.com. Your submissions should include:
1) Your full name
2) Your address
3) Your phone number
4) Story title
5) Story word count (REMEMBER: Stories should be 1200-1500 words, and devotionals should be 350-400 words *including* brief, opening Scripture and closing thought (see examples below)
6) A short bio of no more than 20 words
In the subject line, please cite the title of the book -- e.g. Submission for "A Cup of Comfort Book of Christmas Prayer." Unfortunately, I cannot accept attachments at this time (I am in process of switching from dialup to wireless and waiting for my new computer). So, please NO ATTACHMENTS. Please copy and paste your submission(s) in the body of your email.
DEADLINE: I need your submissions NO LATER THAN JANUARY 6, 2009. I understand how busy and chaotic this time of year can be, so I particularly appreciate your time and participation. Although I will be making my selections for the book in late February, this book is scheduled for publication for the Christmas season of 2009. Consequently, it will probably be early summer before the manuscript is finalized.
Jennifer Chiaverini Cancelled
Tonight's author talk and book signing by New York Times best-selling author Jennifer Chiaverini at the Oshkosh Public Library has been cancelled because of inclement weather.
The Oshkosh Public Library and co-sponsor Apple Blossom Books LLC are currently talking with Chiaverini's publisher about rescheduling during the author's tour in spring 2009.
The Oshkosh Public Library and co-sponsor Apple Blossom Books LLC are currently talking with Chiaverini's publisher about rescheduling during the author's tour in spring 2009.
Muse Prize for Poetry
The Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets is now accepting submissions for the Muse Prize in Excellence for Poetry Contest.
Rules Summary:
Only one original unpublished poem not under consideration elsewhere may be entered in the WFOP Muse Prize contest. 75 line maximum. Plagiarism disqualifies the contestant.
Manuscript must be typed on 8.5" x 11" white paper, one side only. Writer's name should not appear on the page with the poem.
Entry fee: $3.00 for WFOP members and $6.00 for non-members must accompany the submission. Checks are to be made out to WFOP Literary Fund and mailed to Muse/Rafal, P O Box 340, Baileys Harbor, WI 54202.
Prizes are: 1st place—$200.00 and trophy; 2nd—$100.00; 3rd—$75.00.
Send entries to:
Muse/Rafal
P.O. Box 340
Baileys Harbor, WI 54202
DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 1, 2009
For complete rules and submission information, please click here.
Rules Summary:
Only one original unpublished poem not under consideration elsewhere may be entered in the WFOP Muse Prize contest. 75 line maximum. Plagiarism disqualifies the contestant.
Manuscript must be typed on 8.5" x 11" white paper, one side only. Writer's name should not appear on the page with the poem.
Entry fee: $3.00 for WFOP members and $6.00 for non-members must accompany the submission. Checks are to be made out to WFOP Literary Fund and mailed to Muse/Rafal, P O Box 340, Baileys Harbor, WI 54202.
Prizes are: 1st place—$200.00 and trophy; 2nd—$100.00; 3rd—$75.00.
Send entries to:
Muse/Rafal
P.O. Box 340
Baileys Harbor, WI 54202
DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 1, 2009
For complete rules and submission information, please click here.
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