Free Writer Workshops

I will be facilitating two FREE writers workshops on Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Clark Memorial Library in Bethany, CT. They are geared toward women but men may attend, too!

The first is The Parent Trap: Five Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Essays about Family, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.The second is Cybermoms: Opportunities for Women Writers on the Web, which takes place from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

You can attend one or both. Space is limited so it is highly suggested you call the library to reserve a space 203-393-2103 or sign up at the desk.

The workshops are based on my articles in a newly released book titled, Women Writing on Family: Tips for Writing, Teaching and Publishing, edited by Carol Smallwood and Suzann Holland, and published by The Key Publishing House Inc.

Women in Jeopardy

For those of you going to AWP this year, I'll be moderating a panel. Here's the details... I hope to see you there.

R141. Women in Jeopardy: Crime Fiction, Thursday, 10:30 A.M.-11:45 A.M., Wiliford B, Hilton Chicago, 3rd Floor

Moderator: Jane Cleland. Panelists: Danielle Egan-Miller, Jamie Freveletti, Julie Hyzy, Joanna MacKenzie

Three best-selling and award-winning crime fiction writers and two top literary agents will discuss the role gender plays in their trade. Are tough gal detectives taken as seriously as tough guy detectives? What does the popularity of female-oriented subgenres like chick lit and cozies and crossover categories like YA paranormal say about the market? With e-publishing sweeping across the genre, are women authors in more or less jeopardy than before? How can new writers break into the field?

AWP Conference Closing Registration

Just heard from AWP that they are closing registration after the end of this week. There are 9300 people registered already. So if you want to go, you need to register in the next two days. They will not be taking on-site registrations.

AWP Conference

I will be driving from CT to Chicago for the AWP conference, Feb. 29-Mar. 3. I have room for a couple of passengers in my car, if anyone is interested in going. Email me if so...

If you've never been to an AWP conference, I highly recommend that you go at least once.

MFA office

Hi All,

Hope everyone's semester is off to a great start. Just wanted to remind any MFA students on campus that you are welcome to use the space in the MFA office, Higgins 205E, to do work or use the computer.

Someone is in the MFA office on most days or Laurel (HI205) can let you in.

Thanks,
Kristin

OMG!Ws and Syllabi

Just a reminder that syllabi were due today, and there are quite a few I haven't received. Unless you're certain that your mentors have sent your syllabi to me, please remind them to do so.

The syllabus for my section of the OMGW is up, and I believe Holly's should be as well.

Bon voyage!

August 2012 Residency Dates

For those of you who like to plan ahead and make early travel plans for better airfare:

July 29-August 5 (29th and 5th are travel days)

Call for Submissions

Got this call from a place called Fiction Brigade,

"a digital publisher of flash fiction. Our website is dedicated to digital stories in the short form, which to us includes complete stories that are 50-1500 words, short graphics or art, and videos under two minutes.



We are currently accepting submissions on a rolling schedule, and we would greatly appreciate it if you passed along our information to your students. Starting this year we are publishing ebooks on a monthly basis, and all topics and themes for each ebook can be found on our website. All contributors whose stories accepted will have their work available through all the major digital channels: Amazon, Apple, Google, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc."

I know nothing about this outfit, but it looked like somethinng might interest some of you enough to look into it...

bc

poem in Orion magazine

Hi folks,

Just want to share a poem I have in the current issue of Orion magazine. It's a beautiful, important magazine that I've long admired, so it's very exciting to be in it. Scroll down to poetry from the link...

It was great to see some of you at the rez briefly!

-Kateri

my emergency is over!

Hello Everyone,
A perfect example of the power of backing up your data. Alas, I found an old flash drive, and now I'm only missing three weeks of my email life, but, I've got my addresses and such...it's wonderful to be back in touch.
Thank you, Andy

I could use a bit of help.

Hello fellow peeps,
I've blown up my outlook files and would love to rebuild my directory. If you have my "sbcglobal" email address please send me an email there so that I can rebuild. Thanks, Andy

Thesis Deadlines

Dear Thesis Students:

A reminder/clarification: the due dates for proposal and for final thesis submission are HARD deadlines, not postmark deadlines. That is, they are due in the MFA office on those dates.

On-Campus Workshops

Question for those of you who live close enough to come to campus for workshops this semester:

We're planning to do several workshops this semester, and I'd like to know when you all would prefer to have them?

Tuesday evening?
Wednesday evening?
Friday evening?
Saturday afternoon?
Saturday evening?

Comment here to express your preference. If there is little or no response, then I will assume there is no need for us to hold the workshops at all.

Penguin/Amazon Breakthrough Award

Penguin Group (USA) is pleased to be sponsoring the 5th annual Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award which will offer each of two grand prize winners a $15,000 publishing contract with Penguin Group (USA). You can read the official announcement here. There will be one winner in adult fiction and one winner in YA fiction.


Eligible writers with an English-language novel can submit their work between January 23 and February 5, 2012.

Mystery Writing Scholarship Opportunity

As many folks know, I recommend Chris Roerden's book, Don't Murder Your Mystery, as a resource. Chris is the current chair of the McCloy-MWA Scholarship Program, which is administered by Mystery Writers of America. The following is an email I received today from Chris:
"Unpublished mystery writers: Don't wait until the postmark deadline of Feb. 29, 2012, to decide to apply for a scholarship to take courses, classes, workshops, or other live (not online) educational programs to improve your writing skills. It will take you more time than you think to pull together the specific info on courses and have in hand the two letters of reference required. If you have not been previously published for money in the mystery field, you are eligible to apply. ("For money" means a publisher paid you; if you paid, you may be considered unpublished).

"Every year, two scholarships of up to $500 each are awarded in the McCloy-MWA Scholarship Program. The samples of mystery writing to submit can be 3 chapters of a novel or nonfiction, or 3 short stories or essays, or a full-length script. There's no entry fee or membership requirement. Applicants even get feedback from one or more of the 5 judges, who are commercially published in mystery fiction, nonfiction, and scriptwriting. Download details and the 2012 application form from http://mysterywriters.org/ (click McCloy
Scholarship in the sidebar)."

Dr. Seuss' 7 social media lessons

A little follow-up on the social media workshop some of you attended last week. This article was too perfect not to post here.

Ragan.com

Dr. Seuss' 7 social media lessons

http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/44177.aspx

"Oh, the things you can find if you don't stay behind!"

Canceled Post-Res Gathering

Folks, sorry to say that tonight's gathering is a no-go. We'll find a better opportunity later in the semester to try to get together. And keep eyes open for coming on-campus evening workshops...

bc

Post-Residency Gathering

Folks, thanks for another great residency! As many of you heard already, we're having a game-watching party at my house tomorrow night (the LSU/Bama Championship Game, for those of you who don't follow football), starting at 8. If you'd like to come, please shoot me an email at clementsb@wcsu.edu so we'll have a good head count, and I'll give you location info.

If I don't see you tomorrow, have a great beginning of the semester...

bc

Interns Wanted (And We'll Pay, Too)

Hi folks,

The company I work for, Access Intelligence, is hiring an editorial intern for a group of publications, including my own (find it at foliomag.com). It's a paid(!) internship, and is located in Norwalk, CT. We're looking for someone who's serious about journalism, but enjoys a casual work atmosphere and a team environment.

We like: aggression, helpfulness, thorough fact checking and manners. A tough combo to find, but a great opportunity for someone who possesses all of the above. If you'd like to learn more about the internship, click on the link provided, or reach out to me at sbotelho@red7media.com.

Happy New Year, and thanks. Hope everyone enjoys the res this week.
~Stefanie