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WIWA NEWSLETTER
News from the Whidbey Island Writers Association
Vol. 5, No. 5 October-November 2005
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CONTENTS
MFA Program News
Writers Conference News
Spirit of Writing Contest
On the Island
Off the
A Little Bit of Comma Sense
by Dr. Richard Lederer
Recent Releases
Cheers
Self-Publishing an Effective Author Website
by Lars Clausen
Create a Writing Presence on the Web
Contests and Market Requests
CyberSurfing
To Contact Us
To Subscribe or Unsubscribe
To read past issues of the newsletter:
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FIRST MFA RESIDENCY A SUCCESS
by Wayne Ude, MFA Program Director
The first residency of the Whidbey Writers Workshop was more successful than we dared dream it might be. Perhaps most importantly, we set a welcoming tone for our students and they responded with enthusiasm, not only in the residency itself but also in the online courses that are currently underway. The group became very actively involved in planning the next residency, including two evenings of student readings which are now part of the January schedule. In addition, they decided to create a commemorative sweatshirt, financing it themselves and earmarking the profits from its sale to support a student scholarship fund.
In addition to degree candidates for whom the residency was the beginning of their semester activities, we also were joined by a number of non-degree students, some of whom took part only in afternoon sessions, while others signed up for the full day's activities, including the graduate creative writing workshops. We'll be offering the non-degree option once again for the January 7-17 residency; details are available on the web site at http://www.writeonwhidbey.com/mfa/nondegreeresidency.htm . We're also accepting applications from those who'd like to enroll in the MFA degree program beginning in January. In fact, the first of those applications are being evaluated now.
Residency activities began with classes at 9 a.m. and extended through evening readings and receptions, which generally extended until between 8 and 9 p.m. Near the end of the program, one student commented that he was exhausted –– and wouldn't have wanted to have anything left out. We offered seven free evening readings to the public as well as to students and faculty, at which we sold 73 titles by faculty along with WIWA merchandise (receipts for which go to WIWA itself).
This first residency had an outstanding faculty. We were pleased to add David Wagoner for the residency, in addition to Kathleen Alcala, Marvin Bell, Sheila Bender, Chris Howell, Jill Johnson, Frances McCue, and Randy Powell. Our semester faculty, including Kirby Larson, Bruce Holland Rogers, Carolyne Wright, Susan Zwinger and Wayne Ude, also taught during the residency. David Wagoner will join our regular faculty for the January residency and spring online semester.
All in all, things went better than we could have hoped, thanks in large part to the efforts of the staff and the MFA Board. Everyone went above and beyond what anyone might have expected, but especially so were Erika Sanders, Nancy Ruff, and Toni Grove, all of whom acted in the best hard-working traditions established by WIWA and especially by the Writers Conference over the years.
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WRITERS CONFERENCE UPDATE
The 2006 conference is ready for you to register. The conference team volunteers and Elizabeth Guss, Conference Director, have been hard at work putting together the 2006 conference. Check out the complete conference program, including bios on confirmed faculty and details on pre-conference workshops (March 2, 2006). Connect with faculty like Elizabeth George, Rebecca Walker, Chris Bohjalian, Bruce Holland Rogers, Cherry Adair, Laura Kalpakian, Bill Dietrich, Peggy Shumaker and dozens more who write, represent writers, and publish great writing.
With thirty new and twenty returning presenters, this year’s conference offers an exciting array of classes, fireside chat topics, and opportunities to meet other writers. Our traditional genres of fiction and nonfiction--mystery, romance, children’s, and poetry--are enhanced by both creative nonfiction and nature/garden writing. There are new editors and agents joining the faculty this year representing all sizes of publishing houses.
The conference will begin on Friday, March 2nd with the signature event of the Whidbey Island Writers Conference, the Fireside Chats. Fireside Chats take conference participants into beautiful local island homes for more intimate conversations with authors or editors and agents. This is the event that everyone goes home talking about! Be sure to look at all the Fireside Chat choices for 2006 on the Web site at www.writeonwhidbey.org .
If you want to expand your conference experience consider registering for a pre-conference workshop. The 2006 pre-conference workshops offer topics such as Empty Headed Writing with Bruce Holland Rogers, Write Your Book in 20 Minutes with Eva Shaw and Speak, Muse!—The Art of Narrative Poetry with Carolyne Wright. You can also choose to join Penny Sansevieri for an intense 1/2 day workshop on Making the Most of your Writers Conference. Penny will discuss everything from how to choose classes and workshops that are right for you to how to prepare for your agent or editor consultation.
The early bird registration desk is open. Save money by registering before December 1. Encourage someone new to come and you can earn a complimentary agent/editor consult.
Check out all the conference details at www.writeonwhidbey.org.
Fun and Fundraising
Want to help publicize the 8th annual conference and help public radio at the same time? WIWA invites you to help staff the phones at the KCTS fundraising pledge drive on Sunday evening,
Introduce a Friend to the Conference
Invite a friend to the conference and earn a complimentary agent/editor consult. The more friends you invite, the more consultations you earn. Here's how it works. For every first-time registrant who mentions your name as a referral, you'll earn a complimentary agent/editor consultation. Remember, only referrals to friends who have never attended the conference qualify. You can schedule your consultation with the editor/agent of your choice by contacting the WIWA office prior to the conference. Alternatively, you can wait until the conference and use the complimentary certificate in your registration packet to schedule your consultation. Consults regularly cost $35 for non-members and $30 for members. For more information about consults, visit http://www.writeonwhidbey.org .
WIWA Has New Conference Webmaster
Bruce Brereton joins the Websters as the volunteer Conference Webmaster. Linda Jedlicka, who has been the Conference Webmaster since the inception of the writers' conference eight years ago, recently resigned to spend more time with her family. Her professional skills put WIWA on the Internet and were very much responsible for the conference's success. Linda has been incredibly generous with her time and knowledge. The Writers' Association and conference team owe her their gratitude.
In addition to Bruce, the Websters, a committee responsible for the WIWA Web site, include Bob Richardson, Webmaster; Candace Allen, Content Manager; Nancy Bartlett, member at-large; and Phil Williamson, MFA Web Coordinator.
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SPIRIT OF WRITING CONTEST Open to Whidbey Writers
WIWA invites local
All manuscripts will be returned, with judges' comments. Soft-cover books of winning works (1st-4th place) will be displayed at the Sno-Isle branch libraries, and winning authors will be invited to participate in programs of literary readings at the libraries. A Grand Prize winner will be awarded a full scholarship to attend the 2006 Whidbey Island Writers' Conference, and all winners will be honored at the Conference book signing event, March 4, 2006.
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ON THE ISLAND
Readers and Writers
WIWA announces the launching of its new literary magazine, Soundings, with a two-day celebration, Oct. 1 and 2 at the Greenbank Farm. The Readers & Writers Sale begins at 1 p.m. Saturday and will include everything you need to read or write: books, desks, bookshelves, notebooks and journals, bookends, computer equipment and more. Beginning at 6 p.m. we’ll have a potluck dinner (bring a dish to share and your own utensils) and a poetry slam. Wine and beer will be available at a cash bar. Jim Freeman will MC the slam. Great judges and prizes!
On Sunday, the sale continues at 10 a.m., and from 2:30-4 p.m. everything will be sold on a "make an offer and it’s yours" basis. All funds raised during this event will benefit the magazine. (WIWA is a 501(c)-3 organization). For more information, contact Marian Blue at 360-341-1630 or through the WIWA office at 360-331-6714 or at wiwa@whidbey.com .
Reading from The Truth Book
In cooperation with the Whidbey Island Arts Council, WIWA presents Joy Castro in an author reading and book signing of The Truth Book, the true story of escaping a childhood of abuse among Jehovah's Witnesses. The reading and book signing are Nov. 4, 8 p.m. in the Front Room of the Bayview Cash Store, Langley.
WIWA-SPONSORED WRITING GROUPS
Oak Harbor Writers' Group meets twice a month on Tuesday evenings at
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
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OFF THE ISLAND
Book Launch
The Bethel Avenue Book Company, formerly
Jack Straw Reading Series
Don Mee Choi, Jeff Crandall, Cora Goss-Grubbs and Tanmeet Sethi will read from their works on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m. at Jack Straw Productions,
The Writer’s Gym
An online writer's workshop offered by Seattle writing coach Tatyana Mishel, to help writers improve technique, learn strategies and keep the process fresh. The emphasis is on "writing into the surprise, taking risks and injecting a sense of play and adventure into writing." For more information go to http://www.tatyanamishel.com/gym.html .
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
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OFF THE ISLAND WILL BENEFIT WIWA
Dr. Richard Lederer, WIWC 2005 presenter and the author of more than 3,000 books and articles about language and humor, is offering WIWA members autographed copies of his new book, Comma Sense: A Fun-damental Guide to Punctuation. And from any order by an identifiable WIWA member, Lederer will donate the entire profit to WIWA. The book is available for $24, including shipping, from Richard Lederer;
Richard Lederer describes his new book…
A Little Bit of Comma Sense
by Richard Lederer
Are you confounded by commas, addled by apostrophes, and queasy about quotation marks? Do you believe that a bracket is just a support for a wall shelf, a dash is something you make for the bathroom, and a colon and semicolon are large and small intestines? If so, I’m pleased to tell you I am the father of a bouncing baby about mastering punctuation.
In Comma Sense: A Fun-damental Guide to Punctuation (
Punctuation can make an enormous difference in meaning. Which dog has the upper paw?: "A clever dog knows its master." "A clever dog knows it’s master." The second sentence, of course. Why do so many people insert a squiggle before the s in the possessive its?
Which speaker beheld a monster?: "I saw a man eating lobster." "I saw a man-eating lobster."
Note the effect of the missing apostrophe in this sentence: "The butler stood in the doorway and called the guests names." And the havoc wreaked by a missing apostrophe in this classified ad: "WANTED: Guitar for college student to learn to play, classical non-electric, also piano to replace daughters lost in fire."
Note the startling result of the absence of hyphens in this headline: FATHER TO BE STABBED TO DEATH IN STREET.
Behold the effect of the missing serial comma (the one that should go before the "and") in this book dedication – "To my parents, the Pope and Mother Teresa." And in this sentence – "At summer camp I missed my dog, my little brother, the odor of my dad's pipe and my boyfriend."
Now have a look at the difference between these two love notes:
My Dear Pat,
The dinner we shared the other night -- it was absolutely lovely! Not in my wildest dreams could I ever imagine anyone as perfect as you are. Could you -- if only for a moment – think of our being together forever? What a cruel joke to have you come into my life only to leave again; it would be heaven denied. The possibility of seeing you again makes me giddy with joy. I face the time we are apart with great sadness.
John
P.S.: I would like to tell you that I love you. I can’t stop thinking that you are one of the prettiest women on earth.
My Dear,
Pat the dinner we shared the other night. It was absolutely lovely -- not! In my wildest dreams, could I ever imagine anyone? As perfect as you are, could you -- if only for a moment -- think? Of our being together forever: what a cruel joke! To have you come into my life only to leave again: it would be heaven! Denied the possibility of seeing you again makes me giddy. With joy I face the time we are apart.
With great "sadness,"
John
P.S.: I would like to tell you that I love you. I can’t. Stop thinking that you are one of the prettiest women on earth.
The power’s in the punctuation, baby! The first letter is a clear (albeit clunky) profession of undying affection; the second is sure to sweep Pat onto her feet. The only thing separating one document from the other is, of course, punctuation, which can mean the difference between a second date and a restraining order.
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RECENT RELEASES
BLAZE, by Peggy Shumaker (Red Hen Press, November 2005)
Poet Peggy Shumaker blends her poems with paintings by Kesler Woodward in this new work. The collection brings together 30 years of Woodward’s birch portraits and forest close-ups and Shumaker’s poems drawn from two deserts – the Sonoran and the Subarctic – embodying the harsh beauty of heat and cold, the force of true extremes. Shumaker is a frequent writers' conference instructor and was one of the visiting faculty at the fall residency of Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA program in creative writing. For ordering information go to http://www.redhen.org .
PUT YOUR HOUSE ON A DIET, by Ed Morrow, Sheree Bykofsky and Rita Rosenkranz (Rodale, September 2005).
Literary agents Bykofsky and Rita Rosenkranz, who have been presenters at the Whidbey Island Writers Conference, give advice on how to "Declutter Your Home and Reclaim Your Life."
THE WINDS OF SONOMA, by Nikki Arana
Award-winning author Nikki Arana has attended several Whidbey Island Writers Conferences. The Winds of Sonoma was named one of the top 20 fiction books by ChristianBook.com and is rated 4 Stars by Romantic Times. It was also chosen as book-of-the-month by Borders Romance Readers Group. Learn more about the book and the author at http://www.TheWindsofSonoma.com; ordering information is available at http://www.christianbook.com/
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CHEERS
CowboyPoetry.com has accepted another poem by Tamara Hillman for publication on its website, http://cowboypoetry.com . Hillman is already represented on the site with several poems, and will have two books out this fall as well: One is "rootin’ tootin’" cowboy poetry, the other has country poems and prose.
Bharti Kirchner is finishing her fifth novel, and one of her essays is a finalist at The William Faulkner-William Wisdom contest. Another essay is ready to come out in the Doubleday anthology: Kiss Tomorrow Hello.
Popular WIWC presenter Eva Shaw has been appointed to the State of
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SELF-PUBLISHING AN EFFECTIVE AUTHOR WEBSITE
by Lars Clausen
In today’s world an effective online presence is as important as the paper your book is printed on. Attend any writer’s workshop and you will hear the necessity of making your website into the center of your marketing and promotion strategy. Knowing the four website types can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars.
The three criteria for evaluating website effectiveness include features, affordability and ease of use. As with everything connected to our technological age, power and simplicity keep rising, while costs keep falling.
• Custom: In the early days of websites, skilled webmasters ruled the online world. Even today, most websites are designed and maintained by webmasters. Authors with great financial resources can enjoy outstanding design. Authors should carefully investigate a webmasters service track record of providing timely updates. Website costs are rarely less than $1,000, with ongoing service fees additional.
• Static: A cheaper option for writers has been the simple two- to five-page static website that typically features an author page, title page, and a contact information page. These cost less, usually hundreds of dollars, but they lack flexibility to grow with an author’s career. They also lack features such as email management, newsletters, event calendars and online ordering.
• Home-Built: Money-crunched authors, you can learn to create your own website. For some the process is even fun. The functionality of these sites is often minimal and unfortunately, the look is often less than professional. Other than cost, the advantage of self-built sites is the ability of the author to edit content.
• Content Management System: In the last few years Content Management System (CMS) technology has brought self-publishing to the world of websites. Like self-publishing in the book industry, CMS websites are returning control to the website owners. A website company helps to set up the initial design of the website and provides a control panel for users to create their content. Some of these systems operate as simply as a word processor. A full CMS website allows an author complete management of their website.
A variety of companies provide CMS websites for business applications. One company, American Author, even provides CMS websites specifically for authors, http:// . As an example of decreasing costs, their author package provides unlimited pages and costs $29 per month with a onetime setup fee of $299.
Authors who self-publish their own websites should look for the following features:
• Unlimited pages, online forms, press kit, newsletter/blog, email subscription, online store capabilities and event calendars.
• Easy to use Control Panel for editing pages and managing your website.
• Technical support, including a real human being you can call when you need help.
As with publishing any book, authors must research carefully to ensure their website will meet their marketing and promotion goals. A little knowledge at the beginning can save thousands of dollars and ensure a great experience with your website. With recent technological developments, effective self-published author websites are now an affordable reality.
Lars Clausen, a
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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.
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CONTESTS AND MARKET REQUESTS
The Making of Peace
A Poetry Broadside Series giving a voice to poets who believe we need to keep the conversation about peace in the forefront will be displayed throughout the
Lunch Hour Stories
Lunch Hour Books is seeking short-story submissions for the 2007 season of Lunch Hour Stories, a monthly literary magazine. Stories should be literary in nature. Submission deadline is June 30, 2006. For more information, visit http://www.lunchhourbooks.com
New Phi Delta Kappa publication
The international educational fraternity is seeking submissions for its new bi-monthly magazine, Edge: The Latest Information for the Education Practitioner. A single article will be featured in each issue. Articles should focus on timely educational programs and practices, preferably that apply across grade levels and subjects.
Query by email before submission and place "Edge" in the subject line to dwalling@pdkintl.org .
Call for manuscripts
Moon Journal, a small feminist journal published in the
Annual essay contest
FundsforWriters sponsors an annual essay contest, and this year, the theme is "They Actually Paid Me to Write…" Writers are asked to submit articles that describe getting paid for anything from a simple assignment to "something so easy it was a crime to pay you." There are ways to enter: a fee category with a $150 first prize and a no-fee category for a $50 first prize. Deadline is October 31. For details go to http://www.fundsforwriters.com/annualcontest.htm
First Person Journalism
Orato.com is an online news channel dedicated entirely to first person journalism A contributor’s registry lists assignments on topics from current events, entertainment and sports to health and science, lifestyle, travel and adventure, love and friendship, business and technology, even "Bad Media". Register at http://www.orato.com. Registration is free, and pay is available for commissioned pieces.
Poetry Submissions Requested
Angel Face, a poetry only publication, is seeking poems for the second issue. The editor wants to see secular and/or spiritual poems (not necessarily "religious") and is especially interested in poems written from the life of the poet. Non-rhyming. Nothing derogatory or negative. The first issue is available for sample. Find ordering information and full guidelines at htttp://www.maryanka.com.
Prose and Poetry Prizes 2005
The New Writer magazine’s 9th annual competition has a closing date of Oct. 31. The international competition for short stories, novellas, single poems, poetry collections, essays and articles offers cash prizes as well as publication. See the guidelines at http://www.thenewwriter.com/prizes.htm
American Short Fiction magazine
After publishing regularly from 1991-98, American Short Fiction is relaunching in Fall 2005 and is now accepting manuscripts. The magazine has featured the work of writers such as Naguib Mahfouz, Joyce Carol Oates, Reynolds Price, Hortense Calisher, Andrea Barrett, Antonya Nelson and Dagoberto Gilb.
Visit http://www.americanshortfiction.com to learn more.
The Wandering Hermit Review
A new, twice-yearly independent arts and literary journal, is looking for poetry and fiction, essays and reviews, comics and art. The Hermit will be a perfect bound, digest size journal of 120 to 150 pages. Send questions and submissions with a brief bio to: whrev@yahoo.com
The Predator Press Chapbook Competition
Inkwell Literary Services invites submissions to the annual Predator Press Prose Chapbook Competition. One winning manuscript will be chosen and published as a professionally-designed chapbook with a four-color, glossy cover. The winning writer will also receive $400 and 25 copies. Deadline is October 15; call 806-438-2385 or email inkwellliterary@mac.com .
Short Story Anthology
Both established writers and new voices are welcome to submit short stories to Hourglass Books for its anthology, Peculiar Pilgrims: Stories From the Left Hand of God, exploring the spiritual realm: "adventures in unorthodoxy, encounters of the fourth kind, mysterious ways, unbounded grace, strange coincidences ... things you will never read about in Sunday School (except in the church of your imagination)." See the author submission guidelines on http://www.hourglassbooks.com .
Ascent Aspirations Magazine
The independent press has issued a call for submissions for the second issue, poetry and flash fiction, to be in print in the late fall of 2005. Deadline is Oct. 30. See details at http://www.bcsupernet.com/users/ascent/poetryflashfiction.htm
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CYBER SURFING
If you find a Web site you think other writers would like to visit, send us the URL.
WIWA member Nancy Ruff recommends this site for writing fun: http://www.languageisavirus.com/cgi-bin/madlibs/pl . Put in nouns, verbs, and adjectives and it writes a poem -- a bad poem, but a fun one nevertheless.
The AA Independent Press Guide at http://www.thunderburst.co.uk is a free, online resource for writers with detailed listings on over 2,000 literary and genre magazines and publishers from around the world, plus links to over 750 internet magazines.
Get free new titles listings, book announcements and an email newsletter at http://www.BookAnnouncements.com
And from poet Victory Schouten, who says poetry was her lifeline as a teenager, a website that gives a voice to the powerful and poignant poetry of teens in distress: http://www.pongopublishing.org . The Pongo Publishing Teen Writing Project is a nonprofit, volunteer program in
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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 wiwa@whidbey.com . For information about the Conference, email writers@whidbey.com . The WIWA Web site is: www.writeonwhidbey.org .
Your newsletter editor is Joan Soltys.
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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.