WIWA NEWSLETTER

As a final thought, the faculty coming to the conference brings worlds of skill and caring to share with all of us. Our writing relationships certainly include those who help us along to achieve our writing goals. Fellow conference participants, volunteers who labor in the background, the larger community of Whidbey Island, and the even larger community of writers are interconnected like the gears in that much loved and intriguing toy. Come join with us and celebrate our writing relationships.

There is still time to register for the conference. All the details, including programs and schedules, are on our Web site, http://www.writeonwhidbey.com  or call the WIWA office at 360-331-6714.

THE 2005 CONFERENCE: REUNION, RECONNECTING AND RELATING TO WRITING
Renowned authors, poets, editors, agents and publishers will inspire writers in all genres at the 2005 Whidbey Island Writers Conference, Related to Writing. This celebration of writing connections, March 4-6, combines workshops and programs with dynamic speakers and unique Fireside Chats in the bucolic setting of Whidbey Island in Puget Sound.

Keynote speakers include Richard Lederer, who will open the conference. Lederer is the author of more than 3,000 books and articles about language and humor, including his famous Anguished English and his current book, A Man of My Words. His syndicated column, Looking at Language, appears in newspapers and magazines throughout the United States. He has been elected Punster of the Year and been profiled in magazines as diverse as The New Yorker, People and the National Enquirer.

Kicking off the day Saturday morning will be journalist, attorney and now mystery/suspense author Steve Martini, who has created many a memorable character to surround attorney Paul Madriani. With multiple New York Times best sellers, Martini has a 15-year history of successful novel writing. Martini's titles, Compelling Evidence, Undue Influence, The Jury, The Attorney and The Arraignment, have created an intriguing world for his characters to inhabit and for his readers to visit. Two of his novels have been made into TV miniseries, and foreign rights of his books have been sold to more than 20 countries. He is currently working on his next Paul Madriani mystery, Double Tap.

Jane Yolen will speak at the Saturday evening address open to the public. Her topic, Holding on to the Past, will explore how writers mine their own pasts, digging up stories with abandon and reshaping characters in their literary process. In addition, Jane is speaking and reading to other groups while she's in the area. We are privileged to have her share with and teach us. Yolen's prolific diversity beautifully suits the unique Whidbey Island Writer's Conference program that includes more than 50 respected presenters representing every genre – poetry, nonfiction, fiction and script writing, as well as agents and editors representing the business side of writing.

With 250 books in fantasy, children's and science fiction genres, Yolen is also a noted folklorist; storytellers welcome her addition to the program. Dubbed the "Hans Christian Andersen of America" and the "Aesop of the twentieth century," she has won an array of awards, including the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, two Christopher Medals, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards, the Golden Kite Award, the Jewish Book Award, and the Association of Jewish Libraries Award.

Her workshops at the conference will speak to the art of writing children's picture books and many ways to incorporate folklore into a variety of writing types.

Closing the conference on Sunday will be Richard Krevolin, author, playwright, screenwriter and professor with credentials from Yale, UCLA and USC. Krevolin teaches undergraduate and graduate screenwriting classes at the USC Cinema/TV School. He is the author of Screenwriting From the Soul and How to Adapt Anything Into a Screenplay. He also edited the anthology, Not Lost In Translation. He was a writer of the documentary, Fiddler on the Roof: 30 Years of Tradition, and won the USC One-Act Play Festival for his comedy, Love is Like Velcro. Krevolin's one-man show, Yahrzeit, ran for five months at the Santa Monica Playhouse and then opened off-Broadway at Theater Four in New York City under the name Boychik. Actors Ed Asner, Mackenzie Phillips, Richard Kline, Ruth DeSosa and David Proval have performed in his plays.


 

MORE CONFERENCE NOTES

 

Workshops/Panels
Saturday and Sunday at the 2005 conference will be full of workshops and panels with experienced authors, agents and editors who will speak about their journeys in the world of writing and offer inspiration and practical knowledge in nearly every writing genre. On Saturday there will be special opportunities to explore with WIWA the experience of families who write. Fathers and daughters, mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, husbands and wives — a conjunction that celebrates writing and relationships, both in writing and in ways writing relates to today's world.  Meet Richard Lederer and his daughter Katy; Ann and Susan Zwinger, a mother and daughter; siblings Sidney and Katherine Kirkpatrick; husband and wife Terry and Sarah Bain.

 

Sign Up For Agent/Editor Consults Before the Conference
Agent editor consults have always been a critical part of the Whidbey conference. In the past, people have scrambled to sign up on Friday morning. In response to suggestions, we offer the chance to do so in advance. Look on the website to learn the details of the process. Information is in the program section of the conference site. A list of the editors and agents along with information about the types of manuscripts they look for will help you decide who is best for you. If you have questions, contact the office via phone (360-331-6714) or email writers@whidbey.com. Erika and Elizabeth look forward to answering questions and making suggestions to help you meet your goals.

Especially for Whidbey Island Residents
This year the Whidbey Island Writers Conference is expanding north. There will be several events, including pre-conference retreats, fireside chats, and other conference activities as far north as Coupeville. It is the association's goal to make the conference accessible and applicable to as many Island residents as possible as well as to those who will be joining us from afar.

Writing Sample Critiques by Authors
Our friends and family love everything we write. Gathering good feedback on your work is critical to your success as a writer. The Conference offers you the opportunity have a writing sample reviewed and critiqued by one of our presenters and then to meet with the author to discuss your work. You may choose the author that you'd like to review your work. See the Web site for complete information about this new service.

College Credit and Continuing Education Credit for Conference Participation
A reminder from Marian Blue
Whidbey Island Writer's Conference is proud to be recognized as an educational opportunity that meets the standards for participants to receive college credit, both on an undergraduate and graduate level. Teachers can receive continuing education credits to meet certificate requirements, both as credit and as clock hours. Undergraduates can receive college credit on the 100 level through Skagit Valley College; these two credits can also be used by most high school students to apply toward their graduation requirements, so young people should consider this opportunity to explore professional writing opportunities and get credit for their efforts.

Cozy Up at the Fireside Chats
Our signature event, the fireside chat, has new dimensions this year. Children's book writing has been divided into two groups: picture book and children's/young adult. These fireside chats also introduce Ann Tobias, an experienced and well-respected children's book editor, giving participants the opportunity to learn about both writing and publishing children's books. Many of the Fireside Chats this year combine the knowledge of both authors and agents –– giving participants a full perspective on the world of writing. Island residents still open their homes to visitors for these fireside chats; the intimate settings encourage conversation and learning. You can immerse yourself in the world of publishing or explore a genre.

Concurrent with the Fireside Chats are two afternoon workshops. If you have a fiction manuscript nearly complete, you might find Don McQuinn's "Getting Ready to Publish" useful to move through those last few steps toward submission. If you've developed a script and want some good feedback, take time with Richard Krevolin in the "Scene Workshop."

Out of the Box
The Whidbey Island Writers Conference offers a faculty rich in the diversity of genres. Think you are the only one who wants to write in more than one genre? Have you ever started a project believing it to be one genre only discover later that it is another?

This year's conference faculty is exceptional for the literary boundaries they cross. Nonfiction, scholarly writers are published in fiction. Fiction writers dabble in poetry and then see their poems in print. Successful scriptwriters author biographies and how-to books. Memoirists broaden their own writing to include poetry, editing anthologies, and literary magazines. An accomplished historian writes a successful children's book. Editors and agents often represent many types of writing — they, too cross literary boundaries. From the bios on the Web site you can get a fuller sense of the diversity the faculty represents. www.writeonwhidbey.org

What do they all have in common? They love words –– hearing them and crafting them. They have also developed the discipline of writing regularly and productively. They want to help you. In workshops, fireside chats, and retreats, this year's faculty is excited to meet you and share ideas about writing.

Breakfast with a Literary Chameleon
Carole Nelson Douglas, author of the Irene Adler mystery series, creator of Midnight Louie, the cat sleuth and his adventures, and writers of dozens of other books will speak candidly about how she has earned her living for 20 years writing books. Calling herself a "literary chameleon," Douglas offers suggestions about staying in touch with changing interests in our culture and reinventing our writing to reach new audiences. Not many people can claim to make a good living writing books; come ask questions of Carole in this friendly and approachable setting on Sunday morning.

The Writers Conference—allied with the Whidbey Community
The Friday opening session is held this year at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland, a new venue for us. Doors will open at 8 and participants can pick up their registration packets prior to the 9 a.m. start of the opening session. Continental breakfast items — coffee, tea, hot chocolate and muffins — will be available for sale during that time prior to the start of the conference. This breakfast snack service is a fund-raiser for the church youth group who are planning a trip in April to Israel. At the Whidbey Island Writers Conference, breakfast becomes both a way to meet other writers and our chance to help another group achieve its dream.

Bring a Friend – Make the conference a friends and family event
Continuing our emphasis on writing relationships, we invite you to encourage family and friends to attend with you. Any person currently registered who refers another to the conference will receive a special thank-you from the conference team. For every paid registration between now and January 31 that comes as a result of your referral, we will give you a complimentary consult with an editor or agent. Think of the ripple and the fun — friends come with friends and family, who invite friends and family, who encourage other friends and family. Talk about related to writing!

Highlighting our Relationships to Writing
The long awaited invitation — tell us about your writing relationships. We will have a designated bulletin board and area in the conference main room to let you share information with the Whidbey Island Writers Conference community. This area is for you to share information about how you are “Related to Writing. Do you share DNA with a prominent writer? Are you working on a family history? Does genealogical research lead you to write stories? Have you found new ways to relate to your writing, your family, your friends through your passion for words and stories?
The Web site in February will have guidelines for posting your information.

**********************************
Why Come to the Whidbey Island Writers Conference?
Elizabeth Lyon, one of this year's presenters, writes: "When I decided to become a writer, over 25 years ago, I began attending conferences. The thrill of discovery quickly replaced my fear of the unknown and trembling at being a rank beginner. Everyone welcomed me. I learned that conferences are a great place to explore different types of writing and start down the path of mastering craft. I had never met a literary agent, editor, or published author. Not only did I meet them, but they respected me, the beginner, and I realized that they are hard-working professionals and “real people,” not the unapproachable supreme beings I had imagined. I left that first conference and every one since with affirmation to the dream that I am a writer."

A note from Whidbey Island Writers Conference participant, Vijaya Bodach, says, “I had told Shelley about coming to Whidbey and thought it would be wonderful if we could meet there. And to make a long story short, she finally said, YES! We're looking forward to spending this time together.”

 

With an exciting program and roster of presenters rich in reputation, the 2005 Conference has something for everyone. You can see why Vijaya encouraged Shelley to cross the country and attend. She has, and they will enjoy the conference together.

 

Some writers come for the opportunity to break out of the solitude of writing. Some come to find energy and encouragement for your work. Others want to surround themselves with a community of writers. Come and discover why others have decided to make the voyage to Whidbey. Here are just a few reasons people have shared with us as they have registered.
"I am coming to connect with other writers."
"I have a manuscript and am ready to take the next step toward publication."
"I LOVE Whidbey…any excuse to come."
"Some of my best writing friends are people that I've met at Whidbey. I need to connect with them again."

And Brenda Copeland, Senior Editor of Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, has this to say: “Whidbey Island Writer's Conference provides a singular experience, a chance to meet dedicated writers, agents and editors in an exquisite setting. Unique among conferences, Whidbey offers topical workshops in the form of fireside chats.  These sessions are as intimate as they are informative, offering writers a chance to learn from publishing professionals and from each other. Whidbey Island Writer's Conference is a favorite of mine – I wouldn't miss it for the world.”

Together, people gather ideas, take the next step, and find motivation. All who come will leave with new possibilities just as they have given possibilities. So…come to the Conference for the experience. Be a writer. Call yourself a writer. Claim your identity. The conference encourages you to be who you are.

**************************************************
PRE-CONFERENCE RETREATS

Before the Rush, Treat Yourself
by Erika Sanders, Pre-Conference Retreat Coordinator

Writers conferences are busy. With a weekend full of classes, panels, keynote speakers, and agent consults, it is no wonder we leave both energized and exhausted. While the three days we spend together fill us with inspiration, wouldn't it be nice if there were a time and a place to sit with a small group of peers and presenters all day?

Over six years of conference organizing have taught us that many participants enjoy starting the conference in an intentional and focused way. Our Pre-Conference Retreats give hours of reflective conversation with a group of people who are all excited and dedicated to the same goal – producing quality literature.

Retreats offer many things:
• More immediate access to a conference presenter
• An opportunity to focus for a day on one genre or one aspect of your writing
• Discovering for yourself what your goals are for the remainder of the conference
• Forging lasting relationships with your fellow writers.

This year we are offering a wide range of retreat topics:

Anne Wilson, recipient of an International Merit Award in The Atlantic Review's recent international poetry competition, and Susan Rich, winner of the PEN West Poetry Award, will lead our Poetry Retreat. This is an opportunity for poets to spend a day immersed in the world of language and to share with one another both the possibilities and pitfalls of poetry.

Randy Powell will lead our Young Adult Literature Retreat. Randy's young adult novel received the PEN Center USA West Literary Award for Best Children's Book. This is a manuscript critique retreat. The ability to critique your own work is an essential skill for any writer. Come and share with your fellow writers.

Steve Berry, author of The Amber Room, is the presenter for the Perseverance Retreat: Making Rejection Work for You. Steve will give advice from his 12-year effort to sell a manuscript. Put what he learned to work for you. Bring your manuscript – there will also be an opportunity for open critiques.

Sidney Kirkpatrick will lead the retreat called Earning a Living with Writing. Sidney is the best selling author of several critically acclaimed nonfiction books, A Cast of Killers, Lord of Sipan, and Edgar Cayce: An American Prophet. He will discuss choosing the right material for you and the marketplace. He will present a few simple rules that, if followed, can earn you a reputation as a writer and earn you a living while doing it. Live every writers dream!

This year, Richard Krevolin, author, playwright, screenwriter and professor with credentials from Yale, UCLA and USC, will present Successful Screenwriting 101. Richard is author of Screenwriting From the Soul and How to Adapt Anything Into a Screenplay. Richard will explore all aspects of writing for the screen. Use this retreat to strengthen your ability as a storyteller. Even practice your pitch! Bring your work!

One of our most popular presenters, Eva Shaw, will present the Mindmapping Retreat. Her latest book, Writeriffic: Creativity Training For Writers, is essential for any writer needing to spark or rekindle creativity and a writing career. Eva will show participants a friendly process for brainstorming hundreds of ideas around one topic. Participants should come ready to write!

Our Pre-Conference Retreats can include lodging for the entire conference. For $265 you get the retreat, lunch and three nights of lodging in one of four of Whidbey Island's fine lodging establishments (you may have to share a room with another retreat participant). One of our retreat locations comes complete with a hot tub, and another offers miles of walking trails!

I am looking forward to all of the 2005 Retreats, and would love to have you be a part of them.

Visit the website at http://www.writeonwhidbey.com to learn more about the 2005 Retreats or to register for a retreat and for the conference.

**************************************************

CONTESTS AND SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Student 'Celebrate Writing' Contest
The 2005 Student Writing Contest winners will be announced Saturday night, March 5 at the Writers' Conference. The winners of the high school portion of the contest will be presented with their ribbons and certificates at this event and will also receive some additional prizes for their efforts. WIWA is looking forward to honoring these students for excellence in writing and will be recognizing the younger student writers at their respective schools after the conference. All winners of the student contest will have their work displayed at local libraries. In addition, student work will be displayed at the conference and attendees are encouraged to read their work and add comments. Students particularly enjoy reading these comments and are looking forward to them, so we urge everyone to participate!

Student Conference Scholarship Winners
One South Whidbey High School student and an adult online writing course student from Oregon have been named Student Scholarship Winners by the Whidbey Island Writers Association.

Brian Scoles, South Whidbey High School student and son of Nancy and Steve Scoles, Clinton, and Judith Spreadborough of Oregon City, will receive scholarships covering full tuition to the Whidbey Island Writers Conference. Spreadborough will also receive housing for the conference courtesy of the Harbour Inn, Freeland.

The aspiring authors' scholarship applications were judged on writing samples, plus an essay detailing their reasons for pursuing the scholarship.  Scholarship funds were provided by Eva and Joe Shaw (Writerrific Publishing Group), Sherry Mays, Marian Blue and Wayne Ude (Blue & Ude Writer Services), author Susan Wiggs and Cheryl Rivers.   

'Spirit of Writing Contest'
The grand prize winner of the 2004 contest is Murray Anderson of Oak Harbor, for a short story titled Remembering Henry. Anderson wins a full Writers Conference scholarship. WIWA sponsors the annual contest to encourage developing writers to share their work In the Spirit of Writing.

**********************************

ON THE ISLAND EVENTS
Whidbey Filmmakers Tell Story of Hope in Argentina
The South Whidbey premiere of Argentina –– Hope in Hard times, will be held Saturday, Jan. 22, 7 p.m. in the Front Room at the Bayview Cash Store. Tickets are $15 for the evening event, or $10 for an afternoon film only screening at 3 p.m., available in advance at Island Arts at Bayview Corner, at Joe's Island Music on Second Street in Langley, and at the door.

The 7 p.m. evening festivities will include a poetry reading by Argentinean poet and WIWA member Lorraine Healey of Freeland, guitar music by Zach Van Lue, a South Whidbey native, and refreshments, as well as the screening and community discussion of the film. The 74-minute film from South Whidbey documentary makers Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young highlights what regular people can do locally when faced with economic and political crisis. From the voices of the Argentine people comes the inspiring story of self-determination and rebirth. For information call 360-341-1269. Funds raised will go to the nonprofit Moving Images to help defray costs of making and distributing the film.  

A Literary Celebration 
The Whidbey Island Writers Association will host A Literary Celebration, readings from the winners of the 2004 “Spirit of Writing Contest,” Wednesday, Jan. 26, 7 p.m. at Langley Library and Thursday, Feb. 10, 7 p.m. at Freeland Library. Admission is free, and each program will be different, featuring winning entries in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir/ life history, and children's literature. “A Literary Celebration” is funded by the Friends of the Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Freeland and Langley Libraries and WIWA.   

The Front Lines and the Home Front--A Writing Workshop for Military Personnel and Families

March 3, 2005 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Coupeville, WA

Workshop Fee: $25.00, includes all materials

As an organization, the Whidbey Island Writers Association, is aware of its duty to create writing opportunities for as many segments of our amazing community as we can.  In that spirit and tying in with national efforts to encourage military personnel and their families to write their stories, the Association is offering a half-day workshop, open to active duty or retired military personnel and their families, that will focus on the basics of writing personal history.

Stories from abroad.  Stories from war.  Stories of defending this country.  Stories from the home front.  Award winning author, Vietnam veteran, and 2005 Whidbey Island Conference presenter Don McQuinn, will conduct this workshop to begin the process of remembering and telling about war, waiting, and changed lives.  Heroism and poignancy, deep friendships and wrenching losses characterize the lives of military personal and their families.  Each member's life carries intense human experiences from training, battles, and the aftermath.  Writing and telling these stories can help to put events in perspective, and can begin the process of healing and finding meaning in connections and experiences.  Writing also provides an opportunity for those outside the military community to hear the voices of those serving.

You do not have to be a writer to attend this workshop.  Whether you want to write for personal discovery or to share your story with the greater community, we invite you to share in this time with us.  For more information, or to register, contact 360-331-6714 or visit www.writeonwhidbey.org.

Make Your Family History Come Alive

A Genealogy Workshop with Will Bagley

March 3, 2005 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Langley, WA

Workshop Fee: $25.00, includes all materials

In the rustic setting of Hedgebrook Farm's Longhouse, award-winning Western historian, biographer, and 2005 Whidbey Island Conference presenter, Will Bagley, and genealogical research specialists will teach a workshop on navigating and writing your family history.

Are you interested in the story of your family's past?  Are you curious about how your ancestors have influenced who you are today?  Join us to learn the basics of genealogical research and to learn useful suggestions for turning research into vivid stories of your ancestors in their time and place.

Whether you are researching your family history simply for fun or whether you have dreams of turning your story into the next bestselling memoir, this workshop will have something for everyone.  For more information contact 360-331-6714 or visit www.writeonwhidbey.org.

Wave of Support on Tsunami Tsaturday
On Saturday, Jan. 29, you can help someone half a world away and have some fun yourself at the Wave of Support Music Festival at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in Langley, or at one of the 14 area restaurants participating in Tsunami Tsaturday. The goal: To raise $5,000 for tsunami relief efforts in one day.

The Wave of Support Music Festival, a seven-hour, no-admission, come-and-go-as-you-wish smorgasbord of music spanning the genres, will start at 4 p.m. with a slate that includes many of South Whidbey's favorite groups, including The Rural Characters, who will emcee and break into occasional song. The eclectic schedule includes Youth in Arts from 4-5 p.m., featuring the Whidbey Children's Theatre preschool group, Island Dance hip-hop and tap groups, guitarist John Thompson, accordion-player Harrison Price, singers Jasmine O'Brochta and Ann Burnett, and popular high-school a capella quartet Slap Happy.

At 5:10 p.m., the Saratoga Chamber Players, directed by Michael Nutt, will play classical and not-so-classical music. The Open Circle Community Choir will perform harmonies from around the world at 5:45; and the Charlie Patnoe Trio plays jazz and blues at 6:15. Hear Stone Road's bluegrass and folk at 7 p.m., Titambe Marimba with Shona African music at 7:45, and folk/rock blues with Janie Cribbs & Joe Reggiatore at 8:30.
Beverly Graham brings her high-energy blues/rock to the stage at 9:15, and SisterMonk Harem closes the evening with gypsy-funk music at 10 p.m. 

There will be no admission charged to see any of the performers at the Wave of Support Music Festival, or to listen to their piped-in music while hanging out with friends in the WICA lobby. However, everyone is expected to show up with a cash donation or check made out to Oxfam America, Mercy Corps, or the International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent. The festival is the brainchild of volunteer producers Blake Willeford and Randy Hudson. Thanks to the musicians, technicians, house managers and ushers generously giving their time, 100 percent of donations at the door will go directly to the three chosen relief agencies.

Before, after, or between favorite acts at WICA, festival-goers can dine at one of the many area restaurants cheerfully donating a percentage of their Jan. 29 dinner income to tsunami relief. So far the restaurants participating in Tsunami Tsaturday are La Paz in Clinton; The Edgecliff, Dog House, Village Pizzeria, Café Langley, Mike's Place, Tea & Sushi, and Star Bistro in Langley; The Smilin' Dog and Neil's Clover Patch Cafe at Bayview; and China City, Harold's Gay '90s, and Freeland Cafe in Freeland. Not open for dinner, The Braeburn will donate a portion of its lunch income that day. The wait staff at Langley's Fish Bowl will be donating their dinner-time tips. We encourage other businesses to join us with fund-raising efforts on Tsunami Tsaturday in whatever ways they can. If you'd like to coordinate your effort with ours, email Blake or Lynn at willefrd@whidbey.com .

Internet Research for Writers
Ever heard of the 'Hidden Web”? Do you know how to peruse the depths of libraries on the Internet? This class, taught by Bobbi Sandberg at Skagit Valley College, South Whidbey Center Campus in Clinton, goes beyond the search engines into the hidden depths of the Internet. It is designed especially for the types of research done by writers and would be a valuable tool for anyone who needs the skills necessary to get the most out of their research time. It will be held on two Saturdays, Feb. 5 and 12, 12:30-3:30 p.m.; cost is $85; register at 360-341-2324

Jumpstart Your Writing
Poet, author and master teacher Sheila Bender will lead a one-day intensive on "Developing Essays and Poems from Personal Experience" Feb. 5 in a private home in Greenbank. Sheila will help you generate and collect images from your experience, apply writing structures and strategies to form the work so that it "speaks" to others, and learn to use proper peer response to develop the gems you've started into finished, moving pieces. Washington teacher's clock-hours are available.  For more information contact Alicia Wills at many.hats@earthlink.net  or 360-715-1259; or online at http://www.sheilabender.com/Feb5workshop.htm.

WIWA-Sponsored Writing Groups
The North Whidbey Writers' Group
is meeting regularly at Great Times Espresso in Coupeville on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 1p.m. The informal format includes a sharing of information about opportunities to enhance skills and to publish; some "fun" quick-write activities; and the reading of members' works-in-progress for group feedback. The climate is friendly--writers helping each other. Writers of all genres and experience levels are welcome.

The South Whidbey Writers' Group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland (Hwy 525 and Woodard Rd.) The meeting is in the small building closest to Highway 525. For more information, contact Natalie Olsen at thegnat@whidbey.com or call 360-331-7709.
 
***********************************************
OFF THE ISLAND
Energize Your Creativity
Susan Slapin, artist and teacher, will facilitate an authentic approach to assist and energize the process of your growth and creativity in workshops on Orcas Island in March, based partially on The Artist's Way. Dedicated to beginners and the "artistically blocked." "Women's Art Time" runs from 1-3:30 p.m. on four Thursdays, March 10-31; cost, $100. "Adult's Creative Art Workshop" will be held Saturday, March 19, 1-4 p.m.; $30. Sketch with pencils, pens, markers. Bring the interior colors of your personal palette (metaphors welcome. Call 376-8855 for information.

Songs and Words in the San Juans
Join a writing or songwriting workshop in a secluded waterfront home on Shaw Island (workshops are limited to 10 women due to accommodations) for an intense 16 hours of mentoring that includes one-on-one time with the presenter. The schedule includes "Creating a History: World-Building in Fiction" (fantasy author Alma Alexander), "Nature Journaling: The Key to Stronger Writing" (Whidbey Islander Frances Wood), "Beyond the Carpool: Writing for Children" (children's author Katherine Grace Bond), "Goosing Your Song Muse" (songwriter consultant and author John Braheny), "Reclaim Your Power: A Workshop for Musical Women" (ROCKRGRL magazine publisher Carla DeSantis), and (singer/songwriter Cris Williamson). Or arrange a writers' retreat. For details, visit http://www.songandword.com  or call 360-468-3964.

Poets weekend writing getaway
The Monadnock Pastoral Poetry Retreat will be held in the heart of New England's Monadnock region at Boston University's Sargent Outdoor Center, Hancock, N.H., May 13-15, 2005.  See brochure details at www.geocities.com/Paris/Chateau/6467  for full registration information. Deadline is March 1.

Check out these other sites for events of interest:
Seattle Mystery Bookshop; http://www.seattlemystery.com
Third Place Books, Seattle; http://www.thirdplacebooks.com
Song & Word, San Juan Islands, WA; http://www.songandword.com/

**************************************************

RECENT RELEASES
Copper Canyon Press has added three Poems Aloud collections to its Web site: The Marvin Bell Collection, The C.D. Wright Collection, and The Ted Kooser Collection. Marvin Bell is a frequent Whidbey Island Writers Conference presenter. The first phase of Poems Aloud featured Chilean laureate Pablo Neruda. The Copper Canyon site also offers an array of free resource materials, including author biographies, photos, interviews, and book reviews. These resources can enhance your reading experience and stimulate your group discussion. To learn more, visit http://www.coppercanyonpress.org/poemsAloud/paFeatured01.cfm

Drew Kampion of South Whidbey has had several books published recently: Stoked: A History of Surf Culture (July 2003); The Way of the Surfer (October 2003); and The Lost Coast: Stories from the Surf (April 2004). His next book, an all-ages look at waves called Waves: Echoes of the Storm, will be published in the spring. Visit his Web site for more information on these and other writings: http://www.drewkampion.com  Drew is also scheduled to present at the WIWA conference in March.

John Keller (who has attended two WIWA conferences) published The Men From Plowen in the fall of 2004 with Inkwater Press. The debut book chronicles a multi-generational family saga. At the threshold of manhood, the contemporary character, Don Kohler, meets a beautiful young woman who helps him to realize that there is a big world out there waiting for him. His love for her fires his determination to succeed. In his quest he transcends all boundaries . . . a quest that turns into a world wide adventure.

CHEERS
Christin Chaya, a writing group member and WIWA anthology author, has a lovely photo gracing the back cover of the Pulse, the Whidbey General Hospital publication mailed all over Whidbey Island. Christin has cards with this photo on it available as well.

WIWA member and four-time Whidbey Island Writers' Conference attendee, Diana Greenwood, signed with Jennifer Jaeger of Andrea Brown Literary Agency in December, 2004. Jaeger will represent Greenwood's new novel, Insight an edgy YA story set in 1947. Insight won second place in the 2003 Celestial Writing Contest, Children's Division. Greenwood's new Web site, http://www.dianagreenwood.com , is up and running and has a links page for published authors to showcase books with a free link to their personal sites. To add your link, send an email to gwood@napanet.net.
 
Richard Lederer, keynote speaker at the 2005 Writers Conference, will have a major article appearing in the March/April issue of AARP The Magazine. "The Way We Word" will explore the words and phrases that seniors heard and spoke in their youth and that have now gone missing. In the article, Lederer considers what the vanishing of these words and phrases tells seniors about their lives. With a circulation of 22,000,000, AARP is the most widely read magazine in the world.

Jane Zwinger, the younger sister of Susan Zwinger and daughter of Ann Zwinger (who will be presenting at this year's Writers Conference), has done the covers for the publication Glimmer Train for at least the last eight to 10 years. (See the Glimmer Train call for submissions in the Market Request section below.)

*******************

WRITERS CONFERENCES: THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR WRITING CAREER
by Penny Sansevieri, Author Marketing Experts, Inc.

Writers conferences come in all shapes and sizes. Virtually anytime of the year you can attend a conference anywhere around the country. But, why would you? Just when your manuscript is gaining momentum, why on earth would you put it down to go hang out with a bunch of writers you've never met? Because despite the notion that writing is all about isolating yourself, isolation is not a good thing. No one can live in a vacuum and these days, it takes a lot more than a good manuscript to hook an agent or publisher. It takes a savvy author and savvy authors are not born, they develop over time.

If you're so tired of hearing about the shrinking publishing market you want to scream, then you really need to leave the comfort of your office and hustle yourself down to a conference. There, you will begin to experience every facet of writing. You'll even get the opportunity to make an appointment or get "face time" with agents, publishers, publicists, and even a producer or two. But before you send in your registration form, there's a few things you should know about conferences.

First off, keep in mind that not all conferences are created equal. Some are more advanced than others. Some conferences are for published authors offering them unlimited promotional advice and classes, while other conferences focus only on the craft of writing. Determining what you want to get out of a conference will go a long way to helping you decide which one is right for you.

When selecting a conference, don't get caught up in the glitz of meeting your favorite author if none of the other speakers seem to suit your project. Face it, if the author you so adore goes on tour, chances are pretty likely he or she will be stopping by your city to do a signing anyway. But agents and publishers are a different story. Unless you make it a habit of "doing lunch" in New York City on a regular basis, the likelihood of an agent coming within pitching distance outside of a writers conference is minimal.

So, let's say you've decided on a conference and have your eyes set on several literary agents or producers you want to make appointments with. Before you schedule times with any of these folks, you'll want know a little bit about them. For example, nothing will end a meeting faster than sitting down with someone who doesn't handle your type of work. Doing your research can really benefit you. If you're meeting with an agent, peruse their Web site for a list of current and future projects. If they don't list their projects, pick up a copy of the Writer's Digest Guide to Literary Agents which will give you this information as well. If you're targeting a producer you should be able to get a list of stories they've covered off of the show's archives (also on their Web site). If your target is a publicist, their Web sites usually indicate the type of projects they manage.

Once you have your appointment, be ready to pitch all of your work. If you have more than one project, be sure you have your "elevator pitch" ready (remember we discussed this in our April 10th issue). You'll want to keep your pitches quick, succinct and interesting! If the agent/producer or publicist doesn't look interested, move onto the next item and try to learn from the rejections you do get.

One of the things people don't often consider at these events is the networking factor. Done correctly, networking can bring about amazing results. You never know who knows someone who knows some who can help you further your project. Or perhaps you're looking for an editor or illustrator, I can almost guarantee you you'll find what you need by networking. Writers' conferences are not a place to be shy. Walk up to people and start a conversation with them and don't be afraid to speak to a presenter if you catch them between talks. As a frequent presenter at conferences I can tell you, this is why we are there - to help you, the author. Our sole purpose for attending these events is to share what we know.

If you are attending a conference that lasts longer than a day, you'll quickly start making friends with other writers and want to 'hang out' with them. This is great for building relationships but terrible for networking. Mingle and talk with as many other attendees or presenters as you can. During lunch, make sure you sit at a table with people you don't know. Introduce yourself, ask your fellow conference attendees about their projects and then start talking about yours. Tell people what you need, if you're looking for a literary agent, say so. If you need a publicist, ask for referrals from other writers. Ask lots of questions, take your business cards (or bookmarks) and always keep a pad and pen handy.

With the right planning, a writers' conference can be enormously successful and while they may not lead to immediate publishing contracts, they are certainly a step in the right direction!

Penny C. Sansevieri of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a scheduled speaker at the Writers' Conference this year. She is the author of The Cliffhanger, published in June of 2000. After a strategic marketing campaign it quickly climbed the ranks at Amazon.com to the #1 best selling book in San Diego. Her most recent book: From Book to Bestseller was released in 2005 to rave reviews and is being called "the roadmap to publishing success." Penny is a book marketing and media relations specialist. She also coaches authors on projects, manuscripts and marketing plans and instructs a variety of coursing on publishing and promotion. To learn more about her books or her promotional services, you can visit her Web site at http://www.authormarketingexperts.com  .


 

CREATE A WRITING PRESENCE ON THE WEB

Writers, WIWA wants to promote you and your writing by helping you develop a presence on the Web. If you have a personal Web site and you are a member of WIWA, we'll create an online link from the Resources section of our Web site, http://www.writeonwhidbey.org/Resources_Links/Resource_Home.htm , to your personal Web site about writing. This is your opportunity to showcase your writing, sell your books or advertise your writing services. All sites must be about writing and are subject to WIWA's approval. To set up a link, email the Webmaster at WebAdmin@WriteOnWhidbey.org with your full name and the link to your Web site. This service is free to WIWA members.

Need help creating a Web site? Contact the Webmaster at WebAdmin@WriteOnWhidbey.org about design and publishing services that are available for a reasonable fee. In addition, WIWA can host your writing site on its Web site for $50 a year. Let WIWA help you connect your writing to the Web.
 

CONTESTS AND MARKET REQUESTS
An Opportunity to Shine
2005 Benefactor's Award Writing Contest -- Whidbey Island Writers Conference

Writers come to conferences for many reasons: Inspiration; to learn a particular skill, or to hear the wisdom of a certain speaker. We come to explore our craft in all of its many facets. Many of us know, and have submitted our writing to, the world of writing contests. Whether small or large, writing contests are valuable ways to gain experience in the professional world of writing, and to build your portfolio as an experienced and recognized writer.

The conference Benefactors Award Writing contest is open to all registered conference attendees. Categories include: essay, short fiction, children's literature and poetry. There is no entry fee. The Whidbey Island Writers Conference Team encourages all participants to take advantage of this opportunity to prepare and showcase your work. Find all of the details about the 2005 Benefactor's Award Writing Contest at http://www.writeonwhidbey.org .

Whether you are a new writer, or have been at it for years, writing contests provide you an opportunity to experience:
• Meeting a deadline
• Preparing a submission
• Experiencing feedback from outside sources
• Receiving recognition for writing expertise.

Through the process, you can move one step closer toward mastery of the many aspects of writing for publication. Who knows? You might be the winner! Winners will be recognized during the closing ceremonies of the 2005 Conference.

Manuscripts wanted
The Author-Editor Clinic is looking for book-length projects (max. 350 pp. for its spring editing session, March 16-May 4, taught by Barbara Sjoholm, the founder of Seal Press. Each author chosen will receive approximately 20-30 hours of reading and editing time and a substantial written critique. The cost is $400. If you are interested in in-depth structural editing and would like your manuscript considered, please contact Karalynn Ott at ottmcgee@comcast.net  or visit http://www.authoreditorclinic.com. We will need 10 sample pages of your work, single-sided, double-spaced, and a one-page description of your project, detailing the number of pages, whether the manuscript is complete or in progress and a brief summary of your book. The deadline for queries is February 4.


 

Call for Submissions
The Rocking Chair Readers invites manuscripts for the anthology, Something Old, Something New, 60-70 true stories that revolve around weddings and/or marriages that take place in America's small towns. Submit stories about love and happiness, humorous anecdotes, and everything in between. Deadline: Feb. 28; for information go to http://www.rockingchairreader.com

Washington Poets Association 2005 Contests
The WPA has announced its 2005 poetry contests, including competitions for adults, students and poets in performance. Open to all poets worldwide, the adult contest has over $1,000 in cash awards for poetry in four categories -- free verse, traditional verse, haiku and humor. The William Stafford Award recognizes the best poems in any form. There are also the Carlin Aden Award for poetry in traditional rhyme and form; the Charlie Proctor Award for humorous poems; and the Francine Porad Award for haiku. The contest is open to all poets 18 or older. Entry fee is $5, plus $1 a poem. The postmark deadline is Feb. 15, 2005. Fine print and entry form can be downloaded at http://www.washingtonpoets.org

WPA Student Competition
The Washington Poets Association offers cash prizes in poetry competitions for students in grades 6-12 in public, private, independent and home schools in the state of Washington. Winning students will also be recognized at the WPA Burning Word Festival, April 30 at Greenbank Farm on Whidbey Island. The top 10 poems from the contest will be entered in the national Mannignhan Trust Poetry Contest. Entry deadline is February 1, 2005. Winners will be notified by March 10. For complete details on how to enter, go to the WPA Web site at http://www.washingtonpoets.org/

Poetry in Performance
The Washington Poets Association will sponsor the 8th Annual Bart Baxter Contest for Poetry in Performance on April 2, 2005, 7 p.m. at Richard Hugo House in Seattle. Admission is free, with donations suggested. Ten finalists will compete for $500 in cash awards in two rounds. Bart Baxter will emcee the performance competition. Poets are given three minutes to perform their poems and are judged slam-style immediately following their performance. The contest is open to all poets 16 and older. Deadline for entering is Feb. 15, 2005. Details on the competition can be downloaded at http://www.washingtonpoets.org. The contest is co-sponsored by Richard Hugo House, http://www.hugohouse.org  Bart Baxter, a longtime supporter of the Washington Poets Association, placed first in the 1994 MTV Poetry Grand Slam and the 1998 Seattle Grand Slam. His most recent books of poetry include A Man, Ostensibly and The Man with St. Vitus' Dance.

New Contest at Margin
In recognition of the fourth centenary of the first edition of El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha (The Ingenious Nobleman Don Quixote de la Mancha), the publication Margin has announced a new special theme for 2005: Resurrecting Quixote: Magical Realism from the Iberian Peninsula. Margin: Exploring Modern Magical Realism appears tri-quarterly, seeking fiction, poetry, critical essays, articles, interviews, and academic writings. For submission guidelines go to http://www.magical-realism.com  Postmark deadline is February 28, 2004.

Glimmer Train Contest Open
Glimmer Train Stories is accepting submissions for its Fiction Open. All writers, all themes, subjects and lengths are eligible. First-place winner receives $2,000, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 20 copies of the issue in which it is published. Second- and third-place winners receive $1,000 and $600, respectively, and acknowledgement in that issue. For contest guidelines and to submit stories, go to http://www.glimmertrainpress.com

Talebones
This publication pays 1 to 2 cents a word for dark fantasy, humor/satire and science fiction, 1,000-6,000 words. For more information, email editors at info@talebones.com.


 

FINDING YOUR WRITING'S OCCASION
By Sheila Bender

Poet Stanley Plumly, a teacher of mine, used to say that poems must weigh more at the end than at the beginning. What matters to us has emotional weight, and as with poetry, the personal essay supplies a vehicle for writers to find out what matters and to feel the weight of what matters. As writers, we take ourselves, and ultimately our readers, on a journey during which we learn from our experience as we relive it on the page. The best essays allow the writer and the reader to establish and maintain solid footing as they go. This solid footing comes partly as a consequence of the speaker inside the essay revealing the reason the essay is being written right now. Although you as a writer may have been interested in your topic for a while, the speaker inside the essay must have an occasion upon which to start talking in the "now" of the essay.

In other words, inside each personal essay, you, in the form of the essay's speaker, have a clear occasion for assembling images and anecdotes that add up to discovery and emotional insight. At the completion of this journey, you will have learned from your writing as well anyone who reads it. Moreover, anyone who reads it will experience the same enlightening journey you took rather than a mere string of events or ideas that do not move toward an emotional destination.

Let's take a look at how this works:

Recently, I assigned university students the task of writing a description essay about a place for which they have strong feelings. One student came to see me in my office. He had chosen Dodger Stadium in his home city of Los Angeles as his topic because he loves baseball and thought he could write about it. He had associated many images with the topic, including the voice of Vin Scully, the game announcer he had listened to for years on TV when he watched games at home with his father. "But where do I start?" he said, "I have so many memories and thoughts about baseball." 

You might be feeling something like this as you look over some of your essay sprouts--they may be something like morning glory vines that spread everywhere instead of maintaining a succinct space. Herein lies the magic of occasion! As we talked, my student told me that he had recently gone to Dodger Stadium for the first time after years of listening to the games at home. At the ballpark, he searched for a glimpse of Vin Scully and could almost make out where he was sitting. He suddenly realized, though, that he wouldn't be able to hear Scully like his father would be at home because Scully's voice was being broadcast over radio and TV, not over the playing field. He experienced a moment of shock when he realized that this game, the first live one he had ever attended, would not be narrated for him by Scully's familiar voice.

As I listened to my student talk, I realized that one occasion his speaker could write from would be going to Dodger Stadium the first time and missing the voice of the adored and familiar sportscaster! I knew this because not being able to hear Scully made this game emotionally different from others for this young man. I asked him to describe the moment when he went to Dodger Stadium and looked for Scully and saw him. What did he think at that very moment? He said he wondered about his dad, listening at home, who had turned his son onto baseball, but had never gone to the stadium himself and now refused to go. And yet, unlike his father, the son wants to see the game live.

So the occasion of the essay is going to Dodger Stadium for the first time and realizing he would not hear Scully's familiar voice. That realization leads him to explore what it felt like going to Dodger Stadium without his father and what that meant to him. Emotionally, this sounds like an essay about having learned from one's dad, going beyond what he has taught you and then not being able to share that new experience with him. The journey to this emotional information ultimately occurred in the written essay through descriptions of the event at Dodger Stadium, comparisons to watching games at home, memories of what the student's dad taught him about baseball and times he played baseball to impress his father. His father's refusal to attend a live game made the student aware of his father's support and the need to grow beyond what his father could offer.

Here is a second example of how reviewing the essay's occasion helps writers embark on their essays' emotional as well as physical journeys. A journalist and technical writer approached me to coach her on personal essay writing. She wanted to describe her mother, an Italian immigrant who raised her daughter with gestures and words about the evil eye. She knew that her mother's old country superstitions had made a great impact on her, and she wanted to write about them as a way of exploring who she is as a mother raising her own children.

The topic encompasses so much. It's that question again: Where to start? Well, what is the speaker's occasion? What has prompted her to speech as the essay starts? Has she had an interaction with her son and responded in a way that reminds her of her mother? Is she facing a situation with her son that she doesn't know how to handle but thinks her mother would have handled by invoking fear of the evil eye? If this is so, she can start the essay with the situation and her hesitation in handling it and the knowledge about how her mother would have acted. Then she can write about what she was taught about the evil eye and what it takes to discourage the evil eye. She can write about the resulting effect on her thinking and feeling. Finally, she can return to the interaction with her son, ready to either do as her mother did or do something else she has figured out from thinking about her mother and her upbringing.

If you know the topic you want to write about or the subject you want to explore and yet feel unable to make what is at the bottom of your heart and mind come into being on the page despite many details, images, anecdotes and much dialog, you might have some confusion about your occasion. Ask the writer inside your essay, the one on the page recounting your experience, this question: "Why are you writing this essay now?" "Because I missed hearing Vin Scully at Dodger Park and I missed having my dad there, too." "Because I caught myself in the act of doing something my mother had done in raising me, and I wanted to explore how her actions affected me so I might choose a different way of behaving as a parent."

Remember, a personal essay, like all genres, is a "made" thing. You are the writer but you have created the speaker in the essay who represents you. The personal essay requires its speaker to reveal a reason for speaking now. Once you realize what the reason is, you will find a way to start and to end your essay. You will also find the words that both tell your story and evoke your struggle toward understanding its meaning. Your success in winning the struggle is the very thing that makes your essay weigh more at the end than it did at the beginning.

Writer, poet and master teacher Sheila Bender offers a subscription based magazine called Writing It Real to deliver writing guidance, exercises, news and insight to all who write from personal experience. There are free sample articles to view in their entirety at http://www.writingitreal.com  


*********************************************
TO CONTACT US OR SUBMIT AN ARTICLE
We are interested in hearing from you. Perhaps you've been to a recent book fair, heard a favorite author speak, or learned valuable tips from a writing class. Perhaps you're a professional willing to share your expertise. If you would like to submit an article; tell us about your good news for the Cheers or Recent Releases columns; send us your favorite quotes, markets, contests and cyber sites; or contact us about the newsletter for any reason, please email the editor at: wiwa@whidbey.com . For information about the Conference, email writers@whidbey.com . The WIWA Web site is: http://www.writeonwhidbey.org .

*********************************************
TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE
The WIWA Newsletter is published approximately every two months and is delivered to subscribers by email. If you would like to subscribe, send an email, with SUBSCRIBE WIWA in the subject line, to wiwa@whidbey.com . If you would like to unsubscribe, please reply to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject, and we will delete you from our records. WIWA will not share or sell your name or email address.