Muse Prize

The Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets Muse Prize is currently accepting contest entries through Feb. 1 , 2011; $6 entry fee.

CONTEST RULES

Please read the following rules carefully in order to avoid disqualification:

Contestant must be a Wisconsin resident 18 years of age or older.

The entry form must be completed in full, included with the submission and postmarked by the contest deadline date listed on the entry form.

Only one original unpublished poem not under consideration elsewhere may be entered in the WFOP Muse Prize contest. 75 line maximum. Send two copies of poem. 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.

An entry fee of $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. Mail to Muse / Jerome J. Jagielski, 572 Berwyn Drive, Fontana, WI 53125-1556. Send entry in #10 business-size envelope only.

Prizes are: 1st place—$200.00 and trophy; 2nd—$100.00; 3rd—$75.00.

Only the winners will be notified prior to the WFOP Spring Conference. The list of winners will be published in the WFOP Museletter and posted on the Contests page after the conference.

Prizes will be awarded only if there are sufficient entries and the contest judge determines that an entry warrants a prize award.

The first place-winner of the WFOP Muse Prize will be ineligible to enter that contest again for three years.

WFOP is not responsible for lost manuscripts. Do not send a SASE. Entries will not be returned and there will be no notification if an entry is disqualified for failure to follow any of the above rules.

Author retains all rights to his/her work.

Send entries to:

Muse / Jerome J. Jagielski

572 Berwyn Drive

Fontana, WI 53125-1556

For complete contest rules and submission guidelines, go to http://www.wfop.org/contests/muse.html

Spring Writers Festival

Spring Writers Festival

Fri.-Sun., Mar. 4-6, 2011

Day 1: 5:30-9pm; Day 2: 8am-4:30pm; Day 3: 8:30am-1:30pm

UW-Milwaukee

Fee: $269

http://www4.uwm.edu/sce/conference.cfm?id=561

Keynote speakers are David Rhodes (Driftless), Kao Kalia Yang (The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir), and Jane Hamilton (A Map of the World).

Workshops include:

Outlining for Creative People: Lori Tharps

Characterization: David Rhodes

Anthologies and the Publishing Writer: Amy Lou Jenkins

Writing From Life: Karen McQuestion

Marketing Summaries: 150 Words That Sell Your Book: Kelly Wimmer

Poetry & Memory: John Koethe

Fifty Tips for Freelancing: Ron Kovach

The Agent-Author Relationship: Sheree Bykofsky

Writing a Children's Picture Book: JoAnn Early Macken

Dialogue: Letting Your Characters Tell the Story: Ann Wertz Garvin

Making Room for Writing in Your Life: Mary-Jeane Smoller-Phillips

Call for Submissions

Grace Lim at UW-Oshkosh is seeking true stories 400 words or less that answer who your hero is and why. Entries will be posted on the website "A Salute to Hometown Heroes," and is part of an event to be held at 2:30 Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011 at the Oshkosh Grand Opera House, at the premiere of "Airboat Rescue 1: When the Ice Breaks."

The student documentary is about a father in Poygan who lost his son 30 years ago in a winter boating accident, and consequently begin an all-volunteer airboat rescue crew. The event is free and open to the public.

Submissions can be about a person living or dead; a local, national or world personality. Submissions with photographs would be especially appreciated.

To make a submission or ask for more information, please email Grace at limg@uwosh.edu

Meeting Reminder

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library. Grace Lim is our guest speaker and Chuck is the Author Spotlight.

Per annual tradition, refreshments will be served and we will exchange white elephant gifts (something you have around the house but never use that is in good/excellent condition - wrap it up and bring it in!) and we will also be setting personal writing goals for 2011.

Jessica Collins' Blog

Here is a link to Jessica Collins' personal blog: www.boun-see.blogspot.com.

It has a few anecdotes about motherhood and also a smattering of health and fitness columns among other things. Aside from the duties of her full-time job as a Web Copywriter, this is some of the writing that's been keeping her busy.

Jessica had a short story published in "Cup of Comfort Book of Christmas Prayer" and recently had a poem published in the Wisconsin Review.

Author Visit

Neenah Public Library will host "Wisconsin's Own: Twenty Remarkable Homes," at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19th.

The authors of Wisconsin’s Own: Twenty Remarkable Homes, M. Caren Connolly and Louis Wasserman, along with local historian Peter Adams, will talk about historic homes in Wisconsin – including a home located in Neenah. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Co-sponsored by the Neenah Historical Society.

Creating a Plot

Here is the link to an article Dixie shared at our last meeting, "How to Plot a Novel."

http://www.ehow.com/how_2110846_plot

The article is about taking an idea/premise for a novel and through a series of questions and answers, developing a complete outline of your novel. One of the benefits to this system is that once completed, you can write the novel in any order.

Meeting Reminder

The Oshkosh Area Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec, 4 at the Oshkosh Public Library. We will be gathering in the 3rd floor Training Room; an area normally not open to the public. Because library staff will need to escort us, please meet PROMPTLY around the 1st floor skylight by 10 a.m. so that we can all go the the 3rd floor together (stairs/elevator available).

Bob B. is the Author Spotlight.

Spoon River Poetry Review Editors' Contest

Sppon River Poetry Review is now accepting entries for their annual Editors' Contest.

From the website http://www.litline.org/Spoon/contest.html

One winning poem will be awarded $1000 and two runners-up will be awarded $100 each. Winning poem, runners-up, and honorable mentions will be published in the 2010 fall issue. This year's judge will be announced after judging is completed.

Guidelines: Submit two copies of three unpublished poems, maximum of ten pages total. Name, address, and phone number of poet should appear on each page of one copy only. Entries must be unpublished and will not be returned.

Entry Fee: Each $16 entry fee entitles entrant to a one-year subscription, or a gift subscription. Please indicate your choice and include current address for each subscription or gift subscription. Include SASE for notification of results.

Mail Submissions to:

The Spoon River Poetry Review Editors' Prize
4241 Dept. of English
Publications Unit
Illinois State University
Normal, IL 61790-4241

Entries cannot be received by FAX or e-mail

Deadline: Postmarked by April 15, 2011

Meeting Reminder

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov 20, in the lower level Conference Room (our usual location) of the Oshkosh Public Library. Judy is the Spotlight Author.

Hope to see you Saturday!

~ Ruth

Young Adult Editor

In our mailbox:

I wanted to write to tell you I've recently become the acquiring editor for Quake, the YA imprint for Echelon Press. I'm interested in offering Wisconsin writers a chance to pitch their novels to me at events, conferences, or even in writing groups. If you're interested in having me as a guest, or know someone who would, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you so much for your time.

Warmly,
Jenny Turner

Quake: Shaking up Young Readers
Submissions: http://quakeme.com/submissions/

Congrats Joyce!

Joyce Frohn has been busy! She recently published a poem, "Baby Vampire" and a short story, "Urban Legend" has been accepted for publication.

Scrabble Club

For those who love words, you're welcome to join the Oshkosh Scrabble Club at 6 p.m. Mondays in the back room of Robbin's Restaurant. There are different skill levels and no charge to play; free snacks available 15 minutes prior to the game.

Author Spotlight Schedule

Upcoming Author Spotlights:

Nov. 6 - Pat K.

Nov. 20 - Judi

Dec. 4 - Bob B. (meeting in 3rd floor training room)

Dec. 18 - Len

Jan. 15 - Dixie

2011 Wisconsin People & Ideas

THE 2011 WISCONSIN PEOPLE & IDEAS / WISCONSIN BOOK FESTIVAL SHORT STORY AND POETRY CONTESTS

Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine regularly publishes some of the best poetry and fiction from around the state, and now it's your chance to become a part of Wisconsin's new literary canon. Enter your poems and short stories in our annual contests, which are open to all Wisconsin residents and students until December 15, and you could win up to $500 and other prizes along with publication in Wisconsin People & Ideas and a reading at the 2011 Wisconsin Book Festival in Madison. For more information, visit Wisconsin People & Ideas online at wisconsinacademy.org/magazine.

Please click here for more information.

Congrats Carol!

Member Carol Doemel recently self-published "If Trees Could Talk." The novel, set in Wisconsin in the early 1990s, is about a young woman's attempt to unravel her parents past.

Available on amazon, you can read a sample and purchase a copy HERE.

Journaling Workshop

Bailiwicki Workshops is holding a Beginning Journaling workshop at 6 p.m. Monday, November 15, at Apple Blossom Books, City Center, Oshkosh. Cost is $20.

Description: Journaling is a way to keep a record of occurrences, experiences, and reflections in one’s life. Entries can be random or tied to a specific topic, such as a travel or gardening. Whatever your interest, learn the art of journaling in this beginner’s journaling workshop given by Stephanie Larson, journaling enthusiast and owner of Creative Communications LLC .

Sanvidge Sisters

Jean Sanvidge Wouters and Diane Sanvidge Seckar will be talking about their new book, "Penny Loafers & Bobby Pin: Tales and Tips from Growing Up in the '50s and '60s," at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, at the Oshkosh Public Library. The event is free and open to the public.

Their first book was "Apple Betty & Sloppy Joe: Stirring Up the Past with Family Recipes and Stories.

Meeting Reminder

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2 in the lower level of the Oshkosh Public Library. There is no Author Spotlight.

Book Fest 2010

As part of Book Fest 2010, an annual program sponsored by the Oshkosh Public Library, children's author

Katie McKy will give a presentation and book signing

at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12 at the Oshkosh Public Library. The event is free and open to the public.

Several people attended her program at a local school this week and described McKy as a "tornado," and that the energy and passion she has and conveys about writing and reading "is a force to be reckoned with."

McKy is the author

"It All Began with a Bean," "Wolf Camp" & "Pumpkin Town!"

A former teacher, McKy is a Wisconsin resident.

Books will be available for purchase and signing following the presentation. For more information, please call the library at 236-5208.

Author Visit - Alice Wood

Author Alice Wood talks about her new book "Wealth Watchers" from 6:30 – 7:30 pm, Mon., Oct. 4, Oshkosh North High School Auditorium, 100 West Smith Ave. The event is free and open to the public.

Alice Wood, founder and President of Wealth Watchers International®, will talk about her innovative approach to managing money and staying out of debt. Books will be available for purchase and signing following the presentation.

Personal Enrichment Series

As part of UW-Oshkosh's Personal Enrichment Series, they are offering:

Creative Writing, 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Nov. 20 through Dec. 21 at Evergreen Retirement Community Campus, Oshkosh. The class is $74 to the general public/$70 for UW-O alumni. No previous writing experience is required.

Telling Your Story is offered 9-11 a.m. Saturdays, Nov. 6 through Dec. 4 (no class the week of Thanksgiving). This memoir-writing class will include essays by Michael Perry, Julie Powell and J.R. Moehringer, as well as writing exercises. The class is $74 to the general public/$70 for UW-O alumni. No previous writing experience is required.

The series also included class on beginning piano, photography, dance and drawing.

For more information or to register online, go to www.peopleware.net/222115

Meeting Reminder

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18th, in the lower level of the Oshkosh Public Library. Tom C. is the Spotlight Author.

As always, meetings are free and open to anyone age 17 and older.

Words to Ponder

'Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.'

E L Doctorow

How to Get Published Workshop

David McGlynn, local author and Lawrence professor, will lead a seminar on how to get your book published in "Writing Matters Presents: How to Get Published. The event will held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13 at the Appleton Public Library. The program is free and open to the public.

For more information, call Elizabeth Eisen at 920-832-6392.

Author Visit - Deb Baker

Deb Baker (aka Hannah Reed), best-selling author, will sign copies of her latest mystery cozy “Buzz Off,” at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, at Apple Blossom Books, City Center, Oshkosh.

Baker is a mystery writer and uses the name Hannah Reed for her Queen Bee series. Deb also writes a second series called the Dolls To Die For series. Her first novel, Murder Passes the Buck, earned her The Authorlink International First Novelist Award where she took the mystery category, then went on to win Best of Show.

Sheboygan Children's Book Festival

It was recently announced that Newbery Honor winning author Kathi Appelt is the Keynote speaker for the Sheboygan Children's Book Festival.

In addition to her Keynote Address at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center on Oct. 16, Appelt will appear at Mead Public Library for two additional programs. She will talk about her novels The Underneath and Keeper in "Good Dogs and Mermaids," and she will highlight her picture books in "Piggies, Puppies, and A Crow."

For more information about the Sheboygan Children's Book Festival, Oct. 15-17th, please go to http://sheboyganchildrensbookfestival.org/

Author Spotlight Schedule

“Author Spotlight” allows writers to bring in pieces of work that are eight or more pages, or a compilation of pieces that are best read/reviewed together. The last hour of each Saturday meeting is devoted to discussing the works of the featured author; advance registation is required and authors must bring ten copies of their work prior to their turn in the “Spotlight.” Those who accept a copy of the author’s work must commit to reading it and showing for the review.

Author Spotlight Schedule:

Sept. 18th - Tom

Oct. 2 - Len Z.

Oct. 16 - Shawna

Nov. 6 - Pat K.

Nov. 20 - Judi

Dec. 4 - Bob B.

Dec. 18 - Dixie

Jan. 1st - NO MEETING

Meeting Reminder

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 4 in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library.

In observance of our 7th Anniversary, snacks will be available, and Dixie J. is the Spotlight Author.

Congrats Joyce!

OAWC member Joyce Frohn will do book signing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8 at Apple Blossom Books, downtown Oshkosh. Joyce will be promoting an inspirational science fiction anthology “When Morning Stars Sing.”

Wisconsin Poetry Festival

The first-ever Wisconsin Poetry Festival will be held Sept. 24th and 25th in Fort Atkinson, WI

Don't miss this poetry-rich gathering along the Rock River in Fort Atkinson, hometown to heralded Wisconsin poet Lorine Niedecker. This two day event offers workshops, poetry readings, an open mic, and a Poetry Café. For a schedule of events, click here.

Jawbreaker Poetry Project

The Jawbreaker Poetry Project is a collaboration between Poetry Jumps Off the Shelf and Verse Wisconsin.

"Luck of the Draw" is the theme, and poems are sought that touch, in some way, on good fortune, misfortune, opportunities gone awry, flukes, coincidence or second chances.

Selected poems will be packed into jawbreaker capsules with candy, gum or toys, and available — along with the possibility of winning a year's subscription to Verse Wisconsin — from a dispenser coined the Verse-O-Matic. This dispenser will be transported to various Wisconsin venues statewide in April during National Poetry Month, then travel with Verse Wisconsin editors to events, conferences and festivals nationwide throughout 2011.

The poems will also be published in the summer 2011 online issue of Verse Wisconsin. Full guidelines and more details are at the Poetry Jumps Off the Shelf website.

Make submissions to Poetry Jumps Off the Shelf only.

Deadline is Nov. 30.