Hello, fellow FWA members and guests.
The meeting schedules are included below. I would appreciate some input from the critique members on subjects they would like to cover in upcoming workshops.
I also include other local writing groups and opportunities. Contests, Conferences, Classes and more.
Florida Writer’s Association Manatee
Critique group, bring six to eight copies of up to ten pages Double-spaced
First & third Thursdays, at 6:30 pm, February 7th, 2013 and February 21st, 2013
The third Thursday we generally do something a little more advanced, but beginners will benefit from it as well. We study a style concept each month and then bring work relevant to the concept to that meeting for discussion, followed by a general critique meeting. All other meetings are critiques.
First & Third Saturdays, at 4 pm, February 2nd, 2013, and February 16th, 2013
All meetings held at Village Voices & Eclectic Art Emporium, 1010 10th Ave West, Bradenton,
For new attendees, you may bring up to ten pages, double-spaced 12 font of your work, fiction or nonfiction. Please have a minimum of 6 copies for Saturday meetings and 8 copies for Thursday meetings.
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I am going to attempt to keep you all apprised of the other local writing groups, events, conferences, workshops, and contests. If you are aware of any new groups, please let me know and I will include them. Now onto the writing news from around the region……
Other Local Writing Groups:
Local area critique groups and meetings
Upcoming Conferences and Workshops
An online writing blog for Sarasota and Manatee Writers includes all the vast resources available to local writers. The web address is:
http://bradentonwriters.blogspot.com/
I hope you check it out and find it useful. If you know of any other resources please feel free to add them or forward the information to me and I will add them.
There is a similar blog for Pinellas and Hillsborough writing events at:
http://www.marylouihess.com/enews.html
Florida Writers Assoc., Sarasota Branch
FWA-Sarasota Chapter
Coordinator: George Mindling
FWA Sarasota meets two evenings each month: on the FIRST and THIRD Wednesday. The training room of the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department is located at the corner of US41 and Pavonia Road. Pavonia Road is the street that has the flashing emergency lights on US 41 south of Matthews-Currie Ford. Pavonia is about a quarter mile south of Albee Road.
The FIRST meeting of the month, March 6th, 2013 is dedicated to subgroups of various genres. The members of each subgroup bring stories, poems, articles, or novel chapters for reading and critiquing. The SECOND meeting of the month, March 20th, is the general meeting. A few members read to the entire group and then receive comments and suggestions from the group. The rest of the general meeting is dedicated to questions, discussions, progress reports, and general information about writing, publishing and marketing.
A half hour of socializing is encouraged for attendees arriving at 6:00. The regular meetings begin promptly at 6:30 and last until about 9:00. Come join us on the FIRST and/or THIRD Wednesday of every month.
The leader is George Mindling. He can be contacted at: myakka@embarqmail.com .
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FICTION WRITER’S FORUM
Critique group
6:30pm Second Thursday of the month, March 14th, 2013
Books-a-Million, Gulf Gate Mall
6:30pm Fourth Thursday of the month, March 28th, 2013
Books-a-Million, Gulf Gate Mall
Bring ten to fifteen copies of up to ten pages of your fiction.
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Sarasota Fiction Writers
March 6th, 2013
General Meeting
Selby Library Auditorium at 6 pm
Guest Speaker: Sarasota author Lois Duncan Arquette has written more than 50 books, ranging from children’s picture books to adult novels, but she is best known for her young adult suspense novels. Six of her novels have been made into made-for-TV movies.
Sarasota Fiction Writers Critique Meeting
6:30 pm, Wednesday, February 20th, 2013
Books-a-Million, Gulf Gate Mall
Bring 5 pages of work to read,
At least ten copies, double-spaced, 12 font.
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Screen Writer’s Circle
Meeting place and time for the Screen Writer’s Circle is Thursday, March 14th, from 5:30-7:30 pm, at the Selby Library upstairs conference room. In honor of the Oscar for best adapted script and best picture, we will read and discuss Argo.
For more information and to join the notification list or to join, contact Laurie Stoner at Laurissas@msn.com
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Sarasota Authors Connection
Sarasota Authors Connection meets Monday, March 11th, 6:15 PM at Fruitville Library. Our guest speaker is David Hagberg, N.Y. Times Bestseller and author of over 80 thriller novels.
The Authors Connection Radio Show
The Authors Connection Radio Show is a one-hour, web radio show and can be heard every Tuesday from 11 AM to 12 PM and repeats on Thursdays from 9 to 10 AM on Radioearnetwork.com. The show consists of interviews with local authors as well as bestselling authors such as Michael Connolly, Tom Corcoran, David Hagberg, Tim Dorsey and others. If you have a book and would like to be interviewed, please contact Susan Klaus, the show director at furryklaus@aol.com
We are pleased to announce that Radio Ear Network now has a listening audience of 10 million in 148 countries worldwide.
Thursday’s– 9 to 10 AM
Authors Connection is taped at the Coffee Loft, 5025 N. Taimiami Trail, a few blocks south of the Ringling Museum on US 41 Circle on the second Wed. of the month.
Authors Connection Radio Show
March 5 Sandra Balzo & Miriam Auerbach
March 12 Joanna Cambell Slan & Ellen Larson
March 19 Diane Stuckart, National Best Seller
March 26 Julie Compton & Wayne Barcomb
For those writers to our south….
New Writing Group
Peace River Writers
Group Leader: Douglas Houck
Type: Critique and Discussion
Meets: First Saturday of every Month at 9:00 am
Location: Morales Cuban Cafe
321 Taylor Street
Punta Gorda, Florida 33950
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More below
Contests
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Voice Magazine for Women
Calling all WRITERS! Voice Magazine for Women is holding a short story contest to gather stories for WHIMSICAL PETALS, a collection that will be released from Mountain Girl Press. You can check out the rules on Page 22 of the January issue found at www.voicemagazineforwomen.com. (Also, I have cut and pasted the rules below for your convenience. Hope you will all consider entering and please forward this email to all of your writer groups and friends!)
ANNOUNCING OUR 2013 SHORT STORY CONTEST
FROM JAN-CAROL PUBLISHING, INC.
Enter your short story in Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.’s writing contest and maybe your story will be published in the forthcoming Mountain Girl Press story collection, Whimsical Petals in the fall of 2013.
Whether you are an experienced writer or a novice, we are currently soliciting short stories for entry into our new writing contest. Beginning January 1, 2013 and running through June 30, 2013 we will be posting your submitted short stories online at http://www.voicemagazineforwomen.com/ for our readers to read and rank. When the contest ends we will pick the top 10 stories to publish in a new short story collection from Mountain Girl Press titled Whimsical Petals. The new collection will be an addition to our other short story collections titled The Zinnia Tales, Self-Rising Flowers and Christmas Blooms. You may view those collections on our website http://www.jancarolpublishing.com/.
Contest requirements:
1.) The story must be set in the Appalachian mountains and must feature strong Appalachian women, either from the past or contemporary times.
2.) The theme of the story should reflect the Appalachian woman’s humor and grace through adversity.
3.) The length of the story must be no less than 1500 words and no more than 2500.
4.) All stories should include the name, address and daytime telephone number of the author.
5.) All stories may be submitted online at submissions@jancarolpublishing.com and should be accompanied by a $10.00 administrative fee mailed to Voice Magazine for Women, P.O. Box 701, Johnson City, TN, 37605.
6.) Contest will close June 30, 2013. Winners will be notified by a representative of Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.
7.) Stories not fitting the guidelines will not be published online.
Tammy Robinson Smith
Operations Consultant
Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.
Mountain Girl Press ~ Little Creek Books ~ Express Editions
P.O. Box 701
Johnson City, TN 37605
423.926.9983
Nimrod International Journal
35th annual Nimrod Literary Awards:
The Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry and The Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction. The Awards offer first prizes of $2,000 and publication and second prizes of $1,000 and publication, along with a trip to Tulsa to receive the Awards and take part in our annual writing conference. The postmark deadline for this year’s Awards is April 30th, 2013.
The Awards are among the most distinguished literary prizes in the country. Past judges include Stanley Kunitz, Marvin Bell, Mark Doty, Olga Broumas, W. S. Merwin, Denise Levertov, William Stafford, Ron Carlson, Linda Pastan, and John Edgar Wideman. Past winners include Sue Monk Kidd, Diane Glancy, Daniel Lusk, Felicia Ward, Ruth Schwartz, and Gina Ochsner.
One of the oldest “little magazines” in the country, Nimrod has continually published new and extraordinary writers since 1956. We are dedicated to the discovery of new voices in literature, and the Nimrod Literary Awards are a special way to reward talented poets and fiction writers.
I am including the contest rules with this email, and hope that you will make them available to the members of your group. Feel free to pass the information along in any way you like—be it in emails, newsletters, or on your website. For more information about Nimrod, please visit our website at www.utulsa.edu/nimrod.
FIRST PLACE: $2,000 and publication
SECOND PLACE: $1,000 and publication
Contest Rules
Contest Begins: January 1, 2012
Postmark Deadline: April 30, 2013
Poetry: 3-10 pages of poetry (one long poem or several short poems).
Fiction: 7,500 words maximum.
No previously published works or works accepted for publication elsewhere. Author’s name must not appear on the manuscript. Include a cover sheet containing major title and subtitles, author’s name, full address, phone & email. “Contest Entry” should be clearly indicated on both the outer envelope and the cover sheet. Manuscripts should be stapled, if possible; if not, please bind with a heavy clip. Manuscripts will not be returned. Nimrod retains the right to publish any submission. Include SASE for results only. If no SASE is sent, no contest results will be sent; however, the results will be posted on Nimrod’s Web site. Submitters must be living in the US by October of 2013 to enter the contest. Winners will also be brought to Tulsa for the Awards Ceremony in October. All finalists will be considered for publication.
Entry/Subscription Fee: $20 includes both entry fee & a one-year subscription (two issues). Each entry must each be accompanied by a $20 fee. Make checks payable to Nimrod.
Send to:
Nimrod Journal (918)631-3080
Literary Contest–Fiction or Poetry www.utulsa.edu/nimrod
The University of Tulsa www.facebook.com/nimrodjournal
800 S. Tucker Dr.
Tulsa, OK 74104
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Classes
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Diane Robertson is teaching two upcoming classes at State College.First up is Write/Sell Mag Articles from March 21-April 11 at the Bradenton campus.She will also be teaching The Memoir from March 19-April 9 at the Lakewood Ranch campus.
For more information and to register for either of these classes or Publishing 101 call Bradenton Campus at (941) 752-5203 or check online at scf.edu/CommunityED , or click here: http://scf.edu/CorporateCommunityDevelopment/ContinuingCommunityEducation/personal_enrichment/WritingandReading.asp
Conferences
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2013 Spring Mini-Conference
Welcome to FWA’s second annual “Birds Nest” mini-conference, featuring Adrian Fogelin as keynoter, Vic DiGenti presenting an all-day workshop on crime writing, and a host of stellar faculty. Spring into an exciting year and take advantage of a bevy of workshops on such topics as mystery writing, poetry, memoir writing, e-publishing, editing, pitching agents, and more. You may also pitch your work to an agent. Lunch is included. If you’d like to register online, click here. To download a registration form and register by mail, click here.
What: 2013 Spring Mini-Conference
When: Saturday, April 20, 2013
Where: Altamonte Chapel, 825 E. Altamonte Drive (Route 436)
in Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
Who: Florida Writers’ Association
Cost: FWA Member : $59.00 Non-Member: $79.00
Agent Interviews – booked prior to March 1, 2013: $25.00 after March 1, 2013: $40.00
Please sign up on-line at http://shop.floridawriters.net/category.sc;jsessionid=1A88BE52C2352EE967B943EA01B474BF.qscstrfrnt02?categoryId=27
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Florida Writer’s Association is already planning another amazing conference for you!
The Greatest Writers Conference on Earth 12th Annual Conference
October 18-20, 2013 10/17/13
For more information, click here!
Daddy’s Girls Weekend Conference
A little out of our area but great for a weekend getaway
Daddy’s Girls Weekend, so named for one of Carolyn Haines mystery series characters who’s a dedicated sleuth, is an intimate writers/readers weekend of classes, discussions, and good old fashioned fun. This year, the third annual conference, they feature two NYT bestselling writers, Chris Grabenstein, whose YA novel (written with James Patterson) is garnering national acclaim, and Dean James (writing as Miranda James), whose “cat in the stacks” mysteries are climbing the Times list with each new book. Ms. Haines is launching a new “alter-ego” with THE DARKLING, a gothic chiller by R.B. Chesterton. All genres are honored and classes on poetry writing and short fiction will be presented as well.
Editors and agents will be accessible to all attendees. This year Debbie Carter from Muse Literary Agency and Mallory Kass from Scholastic Books are special guests. Debbie Carter is not only looking for mystery and young adult authors, but is interested in memoir, non-fiction, and literary fiction. Mallory Kass specializes in young adult fiction.
Dates are April 5-7 (there is no finer time to see Mobile, Alabama with her frilly foliage and pleasant temperatures) at the Battle House Hotel. This is a recently renovated showcase hotel in the heart of downtown. (http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mobbr-the-battle-house-renaissance-mobile-hotel-and-spa/)
DG Weekend is designed for all who love books. Some attendees are professional writers, some are just getting started, and some are readers who want to know more about their favorite characters. Love of books and reading is what brings us all together.
And then there are the Big Daddy candidates who will tempt you with lies and promises to get your vote (they are, after all, politicians).
Come and join them for a writers’ gathering focused on learning and sharing, with a little spice of fun.
For more information, check out our website: www.daddysgirlsweekend.com, or write to dgweekend@gmail.com to request a brochure. You may also call Sarah Bewley, the conference administrator – 917-226-2588.
Marketing Options:
• For writers who have already published their books there are a few local marketing options you should consider.
• The first is Susan Klaus’ radio show, “The Author’s Connection”. “The Authors Connection” Radio Show is a one-hour, web radio show and can be heard every Tuesday from 11 AM to 12 PM and repeats on Thursdays from 9 to 10 AM on Radioearnetwork.com. The show consists of interviews with local authors as well as best-selling authors such as Michael Connolly, Tom Corcoran, David Hagberg, Tim Dorsey and others. If you have a book and would like to be interviewed, please contact Susan Klaus, the show director at furryklaus@aol.com
They are pleased to announce that Radio Ear Network now has a listening audience of 10 million in 142 countries worldwide.
Due to the closing of Circle Books, the Authors Connection is now being taped at the Coffee Loft, 5025 N. Tamiami Trail, a few blocks south of the Ringling Museum on US 41 Circle on the second Wed. of the month.
And then there is local author and publisher E. P. “Ned” Burke is hosting a Web site, Sarasota Authors Showcase, Sarasota.Authors.Showcase@gmail.com , on which local authors can post info about their books. The service is free. Send bio information along with the title of your book (s) and the book’s URL sales page address on Amazon.com or another location to authorepburke@gmail.com.
Burke also invites submissions and free subscriptions to his online magazines: www.theperspiringwriter.com and www.yesterdaysmagazette.com. See guidelines on site.
Of Writing Interest
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Running Out of Ink.
We are a new webzine that just launched its third issue on the 1st January at
www.runningoutofink.com. We accept short stories of all genres as variety is going to be a focus of our webzine – no story too short, no plot too off the wall as we counter balance it with other stories within the issue. The only rules are that the story is previously unpublished
and under 2500 words.
We don’t yet pay our writers unfortunately, but feel this is a fantastic opportunity for new writers to gain a voice and experienced writers to add to their CV. One thing that does pull us apart from other markets and may make your followers keen is that we are interested in having recurring writers throughout our issues, so if we really like you
we will request you back. This can really help in building a following for writers as readers from the site will go on to see Joe Bloggs’ latest story and knowing that they consistently enjoy them, they may look elsewhere to see what he’s done.
Submissions are emailed to: submit@runningoutofink.com.
We are located in Scotland but have a worldwide readership with an especially large US base. We seek a range of short stories, aiming to create an eclectic mix in each issue, but it is only fiction we accept for the time being. We want to build a magazine that unites all fiction lovers without prejudice, quality is the only issue and our Facebook fans are already responding
to this. Judging from Facebook, our readership is both male and female (though a higher emphasis on female readers), and ranges from mid-twenties to retirement age, though most our readers are in their forties or fifties.
It’s early days, but we currently receive just under 1000 views a month, mainly from the UK and US, but a decent sized base in Australia and Canada and regular views in Greece and France.
In the future we plan on expanding the site to have a separate section for our recurring writers with 3 stories or more on the site. These pages will have an extended biography advertising how else to read work from them as well as links to each of their stories, and a photo if the writer wishes. Other plans include future competitions and possible an E-book compilation somewhere down the line. The webzine is completely free to read, just go to the current or past issues and click on the cover to view the stories.
Amy Kinmond
Senior Editor
Running out of Ink
Leodegraunce (http://www.leodegraunce.com), founded in 2010, is a site for quality flash fiction funded entirely by its owner, author and editor Jolie du Pre. Every author is paid for their work. Jolie also has an associate editor on staff who she pays once a month. Jolie is hoping to keep Leodegraunce online for 2013. All donations are greatly appreciated to keep Jolie’s labor of love up and running for 2013!
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GATORS AND GLADES
A Gathering Places for Florida Writers
On January 1, 2012, a new resource and reference for Florida writers debuted entitled
Gators and Glades. This blog celebrates creative writer’s living, working or writing about the great state of Florida. The blog is in beta test now; readers are able to access and read the blog immediately. We encourage your recommendations and ideas while we are in beta.
Gators and Glades publishes new writing related articles every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Tweets are added daily.
We invite individual writers and group leaders to contact us with news, features, events and other information of value to the Florida writing community.
Writers — if you are about to release a title, have a magazine article or other publishing news, please share with a short posting (under 400 words) with the key information on who, what, when, where and how. We cannot guarantee every submission will be posted, but we will try.
Florida Publications — if you are seeking submissions for fiction, non-fiction, and/or poetry, let us know. If you have writing guidelines, we’ll link them or offer as PDFs.
Reader comments are always welcome.
Guest writers are encouraged to submit their own blog entries to broaden interest in creative writing, share insights, knowledge and references.
The site offers several resources, such as Community Chatter, Events, Florida Writer’s Group Directory, Links & Blogs and other resources.
A Twitter feed brings a wide spectrum of tweets and retweets on writing, publishing and other content of interest to writers.
Visit www.GatorsAndGlades.wordpress.com to visit the blog.
Follow @GatorsAndGlades on Twitter to connect to our tweets.
Find us on Facebook at Gators and Glades Writers Group .
Email us at GatorsAndGlades@gmail.com .
The Peppertree Press Bookstore is ready to open their doors.
Julie Ann Howell advised: “Just a few short years ago when the first seed was planted here at The Pepper Tree as a literary magazine which is dedicated to writers and illustrators in our fi ne community. Then another seed was planted a short while after, which took root when Peppertree Press became an independent book publishing company, offering to publish manuscripts for writers from all over the globe. Now we offer over 500 titles, published in all genres—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, educational, children, inspirational, religious, self-help and even coffee-table style books. Dreams are coming true for those aspiring writers each and every day. Now it is only fitting that Peppertree comes full circle and plants just one more seed.
We will be opening our very own bookstore, yes indeed, a bookstore offering that personal touch to our community and Peppertree Press authors who have published their books with us. The Peppertree Press Bookstore shelves will be filled with titles of books we have published here at Peppertree Press since fruition in 2006. In addition, we will feature many creations from local artisans, such as artwork, notecards, pottery, jewelry, and stained glass.
Our grand opening took place January 26th and we look forward to welcoming you into our cozy retreat set next door to our endearing office in downtown Sarasota at the corner of Cocoanut and Palm Avenue. We are very excited to be planning many book launches, events, lectures, book signings and fundraisers dedicated to our authors and their awesome work.
Writer’s Retreat
Blue Mountain Beach, FL
We’d like to invite your members to apply for a spot at our upcoming March writing retreat in Blue Mountain Beach, FL.
Our domestic retreats are designed to provide the writer with both solitude and time to create. We strive to bring together like-minded people in a communal space where encouragement and inspiration abounds.
No one leaves our retreats unchanged, and always, the work gets done. Many times, much more than expected. Authors, poets, writers of all genres are welcome, in any phase of their work.
We also offer international workshops. All are by application only, with limited attendees.
Please visit our website for more information. http://writebythewater.com/
Write By The Water: retreats designed to let your writing flow.
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/writebythewater
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Kames Castle, Isle of Bute, Scotland
We are a small, Scottish estate on the Isle of Bute. We are family owned and this is where we live and work. Currently, our 20-acre estate offers several cottages to guests who wish to holiday here and sample the slow pace of island life.
Given the private nature of our grounds, we find that more and more of our guests choose Kames Castle as a retreat to convalesce, find peace of mind or to escape from the rigours of modern life. This is a very special place. There is no noise pollution, the air is pure and the scenery stunning. Our medieval keep stands central to the grounds and all our cottages are old and stone-built. For the epitome of peace, we have a 2-acre Georgian walled garden which offers a haven of tranquillity and beauty.
Those who wish to retreat to write or paint; to find their muse in the most congenial of surroundings, would be welcome to come to our home and live alongside us in a place where the old principles of community spirit still exist.
Currently, our guests choose Kames Castle because of the privacy they enjoy. With automated gates by the Gate Lodge entrance, we are surrounded on two sides by the original castle moat which has flowed for centuries. Kames Castle keep is over 650 years old and stands as it was originally built; a fine example of medieval architecture.
We write to you now, as we feel we would be the perfect venue for those who seek this sort of rare atmosphere in which to find inner peace and allow natural impetus to shine through.
We ourselves, and our family, live very quietly here by choice, and know that like-minded people would also enjoy our way of life too.
Please take a look at our website- www.kamescastlecottages.co.uk and at the attached image.
We would very much like to be contacted by you. Please bear in mind that we would offer a bespoke arrangement, less structured than by our holiday guests, where we could offer something tailored particularly to the needs of your group.
We are certain that this is a place where you would lose yourselves in the history of Kames Castle and feel the slow pace of life slowly seep into your very being. A glass of chilled white wine in the walled garden could help this along the way!
Please contact us via e-mail; we would love to hear from you.
Stuart & Lesley Scott and family,
Kames Castle, Isle of Bute, Argyll, Scotland.
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Self-Promotion Page
My writing is heating up. I write features in “Around the Town” in the Venice Sun.
I am rocking the airwaves as well. I host a weekly show on Radioearnetwork every Thursday at 2pm called Culture Coast. I interview musicians and artists on alternating weeks. Check it out online at Radioearnetwork.com, 2 pm on Thursday. Help my numbers shoot up by listening in while you learn about local musicians and artists and their exhibitions and appearances in our area.
At the book gallery, Village Voices, we are celebrating the launch of a few new books. This month, on March 1, our own Jerry Akin will be launching his novel, The Shoo Fly Man at Village Voices from 6:30 until 8:30. Come by and purchase an autographed copy.
Village Voices offers books written exclusively by Florida Residents as well as some unique gifts for people who already have everything. Please come join us for the celebration on Friday, March 1st from 6 until 9.
And I can’t forget to promote the book we worked so tirelessly on. If you have finished or are close to finishing your manuscript, it would behoove you to buy a copy of my book, Published! A Complete Guide to Nontraditional Publishing.
The book helps every writer decide whether to follow the path to traditional publishing, use a subsidy, or self-publish, and if the decision is subsidy or self-publishing, how to choose the best option for your manuscript. It includes sections on editing, formatting, and marketing as well.
With this research under my belt, I have been selected to teach Publishing 101 at State College starting in October. If you are interested in taking the course, please sign up online. More information is in the section on Classes. If you know any other writers contemplating self or subsidy publishing, please tell them about the class, it is designed to save them money. Lots of money. For more information on any of the above feel free to contact me at DGould497@aol.com .
This is my new radio show, listen in and learn about all the talented artists and musicians residing among us here on the Culture Coast.
That’s it for this month!
“Writers Helping Writers”
Dona Lee
