Coffee and Critique Schedule for July 2009

Reflections in a Coffee Cup by Gunjan Karun

Coffee and Critique Schedule for July:

July 7 & 21 - 10 a.m. till noon

July 14 & 28 - 6:30 till 8:30 p.m.

Thanks to Donna for sending out the schedule.

Real Simple Life Lessons Contest

Creative Writing Contests reports that Real Simple Magazine is sponsoring their Second-

Annual Life Lessons Essay Contest.

Write a 1500 word essay about a moment that made you realize you were a grownup, and submit it by September 7, 2009. The winning entry will be published in the magazine in 2010

The winner also gets round-trip tickets for two to New York City, hotel accommodations for two nights, Broadway play tickets, a lunch with Real Simple editors, and a $3000 prize.

Check out last year's winner, A Witness to Grace, for inspiration.

NPRs Three Minute Fiction Contest

NPR wants your flash fiction. Submit your 500-600 word story, and it may be read on the air by James Wood, literary critic for The New Yorker and author of the book How Fiction Works. You have until July 18th to submit.

Check the guidelines for more information and to listen to Wood read an example called "For Sixty Cents" by Lydia Davis. And don't forget to read the fine print.

Twitter Book Pitch Contest at BookEnds Literary Agency

Inkygirl reports that agents Jessica Faust and Kim Lionetti at the BookEnds Literary Agency are having a twitter book pitch contest. Just twitter your pitch (140 characters or less) when they say go. Be sure to read the rules because they will be opening and closing submissions during what they call "Twitch Week," as tweeting during a non submission period won't count. So check out twitter if you aren't already a member.

Two winning authors will get a critique of their synopses and first three chapters. Let the tweeting begin.

"Down Home" by Tricia Sanders at Sasee

Harvey House, Kansas City Union Station

Woohoo and Congrats to my critique friend Tricia Sanders who has her essay "Down Home" published in print and online for Sasee magazine.

I had the pleasure of reading it in its formative stages, and I love seeing it published. If you're nostalgic for the soft summer days of your childhood, this essay will take you there. Have a Grape Nehi, settle back, and go "Down Home."

Another Freebie From Publishers Lunch T.V.

More free video of BEA 2009 from Publishers Marketplace. For a short time you can watch the ABA Keynote session from BEA with bookseller Roxanne Coady and authors Sherman Alexie, Jon Meacham, James Patterson, and Lisa Scottoline as they discuss the book biz. Scroll down a bit to see the video

Saturday Writers June Meeting

From the Saturday Writers Website:

June 27 - "Getting Paid to Tell the Truth" - Local newspaper columnist and non-fiction writer Shelly Schneider and husband-and-wife writers Dianna and Don Graveman will participate in a panel discussion and share what they've learned about writing and publishing non-fiction.

Shelly Schneider spent much of her life trying to find a painless method for removing her foot from her mouth. She’s matured, a little, thanks to her husband, Jim, and their three children: Christopher, Michael and Samantha. She is an award-winning columnist for Community News (www.mycnews.com) and alter ego to Sarcastic Woman. Shelly is a lifetime fan of most sports and an 18-year fan of classic and muscle cars. When she’s not doing that other stuff, she tries to keep track of her daily points allowance, because hey, if you bite it, you write it!

Dianna Graveman is an editor for Liguori Publications. She holds an MFA in writing and a bachelor's degree in education and has taught most grades from Kindergarten through college. Her writing has been published in the U.S. and U.K. and has been recognized by the Missouri Writers Guild, Saturday Writers, Whispering Prairie Press, Women on Writing, ByLine Magazine, Erma Bombeck Writing Competition, and Catholic Press Association of the U.S. and Canada. She is a St. Louis Writers Guild "member of distinction," where she served on the organization's board of directors in 2008-2009.

Don Graveman is a historian and freelance photographer, as well as an account manager for Butler Communications in O’Fallon, Missouri . The recipient of a variety of sales awards, Don’s business travels regularly take him across a multi-state territory, mostly in the American West. Don holds a degree in economics from the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Don and Dianna are co-authors of the recently-released pictorial history, St. Charles: Les Petites Cotes, which was published as part of Arcadia Publishing's national "Images of America" series. They are currently under contract with Arcadia to develop three additional books for release in 2010.

Women Baby Boomers Writing Contest

From the Press Release

“Boomer Women Speak – How My Life Changed in One Moment” Writing Contest
Towson, MD
Monday, June 15, 2009

The National Association of Baby Boomer Women, http://www.nabbw.com/ and www.BoomerWomenSpeak.com are excited to sponsor a new writing contest, Boomer Women Speak - How my Life Changed in One Moment. Win $100.00 cash and FREE Membership, or Membership Renewal, with the NABBW!

The National Association of Baby Boomer Women (http://www.nabbw.com/) and http://www.boomerwomenspeak.com/, has opened entries to all baby boomer women for a new writing contest; "Boomer Women Speak – How my Life Changed in One Moment" This contest offers women an opportunity to write their personal stories about entering midlife and beyond.

According to Sue William Silverman, author of "Fearless Confessions: A Writer's Guide to Memoir," everyone has a story to tell. The NABBW and Silverman want to hear yours. Dotsie Bregel, founder and CEO of the National Association of Baby Boomer Women, says, "We want to encourage baby boomer women everywhere to enter this contest and share their own life-changing moment. As baby boomers, most of us have reached a cornerstone in our lives where we spend time reflecting on the past. In retrospect, we realize there were moments or events that shaped us, that helped mold our mind, body, and spirit. These life-altering moments made us the women we are today. That's one reason we knew this contest will speak to all baby boomer women.

Bregel continues with, "Everyone's path in life is so different; and by sharing our stories, big or small, we bind ourselves to one another, and continue to empower the women who read them. We want you to give us, in 500 words or less, your moment in time; your turning point, that new beginning, or even an ending. Fill it with all of the emotions at this crucial junction of your life. It's your turn ladies to write a short scene depicting where the event happen; who you were with; and how it impacted the larger story of your life"

"By entering Boomer Women Speak - How my Life Changed in One Moment, we believe our mission of educating, empowering, and enlightening baby boomer women will be echoed and held strong. We've already discovered what an exciting time this is in our lives; now here's the opportunity to write about it; to expand upon the past and how it shaped your future--that one moment--and you were changed forever. That's what we want to read about"

Bregel expects the NABBW contest to stir up a wide range of emotions and anticipates receiving entries from baby boomer women from one end of the globe to the other. All boomer-age (born 1946-1964) women are invited to submit their essay to Dotsie Bregel at contest@nabbw.com, with Fearless Confessions in the subject line. Entries must be 500 words or less, emailed in the body of the email, (no attachments, please) by the August 31st, 2009 deadline. Contestants should include the author's name, email address, and short bio (75 words or less).

There will be three winners chosen for the Boomer Women Speak – How my Life Changed in One Moment contest. The Grand Prize winner will receive $100 and a free membership (or free renewal of their membership) in the National Association of Baby Boomer Women. Second place will receive an autographed copy of "Fearless Confessions," plus a copy of Sue William Silverman's two memoirs. And the third place winner will be awarded an autographed copy of "Fearless Confessions"

Additionally, the winning story will appear in the "Our Voices" section at BoomerWomenSpeak, an affiliate Web site of the NABBW. To learn more about this contest and to read the full guidelines, visit the NABBW contest page. About Dotsie Bregel, founder of the National Association of Baby Boomer Women Since launching NABBW in 2005, and Boomer Women Speak in 2002, Dotsie Bregel has become the expert journalists seek on Boomer women's issues.

Bregel has been mentioned in Time magazine, LA Times, AARP Bulletin and dozens of newspapers, plus radio and television shows including CBS The Early Show with Dave Price.

About the National Association of Baby Boomer Women

The NABBW offers a hearty membership package, an electronic Resource Library devoted to empowering and educating women worldwide, pertinent teleseminars, a warm panel of experts, and many other benefits. Join the NABBW now and be embraced by the only association devoted to addressing topics concerning 38 million of the healthiest, wealthiest and best educated women to ever hit midlife. The NABBW empowers Boomer women to explore their passions and live life to the fullest. Visit their sister site, BoomerWomenSpeak.com where you'll find wise, warm, and witty women engaged in over 60 forums 24/7.

Nathan Bransford's Writing Advice Database

Literary Agent Nathan Bransford has an awesome blog entry complete with links to his past writing advice for every stage in the writing process, from "Before You Start" to "Staying Sane During the Writing/Publishing Process." Check out his Writing Advice Database.

Publishers Lunch TV

Publisher's Lunch is offering a free viewing of the CEO Roundtable at BEA 09 featuring Tina Brown, Brian Murray, Carolyn Reidy, John Sargent, David Steinberger. They discuss the latest in the publishing biz, including ebooks. It's free today only if you want to check it out.

Critique Group Contest

Writer Lynnette Labelle over at Chitterbox Chit Chat is hosting a writing contest for romance authors who are seeking a critique group.

The prize is membership in their online critique group, and three writers will be chosen based on the writing sample and a questionnaire that ensures compatibility with the group members.

You must commit to critique at least one chapter per week if you join. Tomorrow is the last day to submit entries, so check it out.

Quotes: Writers on Writing

Here's a little something to reflect upon on, writer friends.

Tennessee Williams Writing Contest

The Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival Fiction Writing Contest is now open for submissions.

Entry fee: $20
Length: Short fiction up to 7,000 words
Prize: $1,500 and VIP Festival Pass, publication, and airfare/accomodations for the festival
Deadline: November 15, 2009

Check the website for more details.