Pennwriters Annual Writing Contest (Deadline: Jan. 31, 2014)

TH E
the newsletter of Pennwriters inc.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 • VOl. XXI NO. 6
Pennwriters Annual Writing Contest (Deadline: Jan. 31, 2014)
by Colette Garmer, Contest Coordinator, Area 3
It’s that time again. Time to break out your literary babies,
shine them up, dress them in their Sunday best and submit
them to the Pennwriters Annual Writing Contest.
Before you know it, the holidays will be upon us, and
we’ll be struggling to fit writing into our busy schedules.
Take the time now to edit and polish before the crush of
the season. Take a chance—enter the contest. You never
know unless you try. Why not be a part of the fun this
year and be one of those numbers?
our 2013 contest set new record highs. There were
117 entries that fell into the following subcategories:
• Novel Beginnings: 64 entries
• Non-Fiction: 17 entries
• Poetry: 13 entries
• Short Story: 23 entries
In 2014, the Pennwriters Annual Writing Contest
will transition to all digital. The publishing industry
operates in a digital world, and we wish to remain at the
forefront of the current practices and comply with industry
standards. We strive to hold a contest that is resumeworthy. In other words, we want you to be able to
proudly mention your win in your query letter to an
agent or editor, knowing that this contest and our rules
conform to industry standards.
As a member of Pennwriters, you should be proud.
In 2013, our conference was described in a national
writing magazine as one of the best conferences to
attend. We are considered one of the great buys when
looking to attend a first-rate writing conference. All this
adds up to an agent or editor associating your writing
contest win with a respected organization.
Here are the categories of our contest. Multiple
entries are allowed with the proper entry fees.
• Novel Beginning—Submit no more than 10 pages.
Include your genre so we can match your entry with
a suitable judge. $15 entry fee per piece.
• Short Story—Short Story entries must present a
complete story within the allotted 10 pages.
Include your genre so we can match your entry with
a suitable judge. $15 entry fee per story.
• Non-Fiction—This includes Creative Non-Fiction,
Narrative Non-Fiction and Article. Submit no more
than 10 pages. Must present a complete piece within
the allotted 10 pages. $15 entry fee per piece.
• Poetry—up to 40 lines per poem. $15 entry fee for
up to three poems (3 poems/$15; 6 poems/$30).
PleASe NoTe—
• entries may be fewer than 10 pages but must not
exceed 10 pages. If even one word appears on page 11,
the entry will be disqualified.
• each entry will be evaluated by at least two judges
who will provide specific feedback and comments.
• The Third-Place prize has increased from certificate
only to certificate plus one complimentary entry for
the following year’s contest. There is no cash prize,
but the entry-fee value is $15.
+
continued on page 10 n
in this issUe
PW Annual Writing Contest ...........1, 10
President’s Column .......................... 2-3
PW Officers and Online Groups..........3
Member News ...................................4-5
10 New Year’s Resolutions ...................6
Area Report: Area 1 ............................7
Area Report: Area 3 ............................8
Unforgettable Characters ...................8
A Poem ..................................................9
Area Reports: Areas 2 & 4 ...................9
Contest Rules and Information .........10
Area Reports: Areas 5, 6 & 7 .............11
Volunteer Spotlight .............................12
2014 Pennwriters Conference...........13
Publishing Options .........................14-17
Conference Volunteer Roles.............17
Market News ..................................18-19
Submission deadline/theme ........back
THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
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President’s Column
Carol Silvis, Area 3
PRESIDENT
Unforgettable characters touch us in many ways. We fall in love with
compassionate, heroic, honorable characters—and we love to hate the devious,
brutal, awful ones. Writing about this theme for the newsletter has made me
think about the characters I will probably never forget and the reasons why
I won’t forget them. I have come up with a few explanations, but there are
probably many more. First, whether I love, hate, fear, admire, or grieve for these
characters, they all have many layers of emotion that make them seem real.
They compel me sit up and take notice. Second, they have character traits with
which I can identify, whether they are traits I aspire to or ones I hope never
to have. Third, they face difficult challenges and struggle their way through
obstacles to attain their goals, regardless of the risk. I want to know what they
are doing and what is happening to them. Fourth, they are not perfect;
they are human.
Unforgettable characters give us somebody to root for and to worry about as we
follow them along their road to personal growth. Make the people in your stories
unforgettable, and readers will remember those characters long after they close
the book.
How do you go about creating unforgettable characters? Read, read, read.
Study people. Take courses and attend conferences.
With the holidays approaching, it might be a good time to think about giving
yourself a present. Why not treat yourself to the 2014 Pennwriters Conference?
It will be held May 16-18 in lancaster, featuring keynotes Kami Garcia and
Meredith Mileti. Conference co-coordinators Ayleen Stellhorn and Charli Mac
are putting together an awesome slate of workshops. You will be able to hone
your writings skills, talk to other Pennwriters, and meet agents and editors.
look for more information in future issues of the Penn Writer and online.
Have you changed your address
or email address? If so, please notify
Jessica Williams, PW secretary, at
[email protected].
We thank you in advance for helping
to keep our member roster current.
NOTICE: Publication herein of articles,
interviews, and news concerning markets,
contests, seminars, classes, etc., does not
imply an endorsement, recommendation or
any warranty given by Pennwriters. Readers
are urged to determine for themselves the
reliability, integrity, and financial responsibility
of those with whom they deal. The contents of
this issue of The Penn Writer are copyrighted
© 2013 by Pennwriters, Inc. All rights are
reserved. Permission to photocopy is expressly
denied. All rights revert to individual authors
immediately upon publication.
Also, check the website for ongoing online courses offered on a variety of topics.
Board News:
The Board met on Saturday, September 28, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. We are excited
to announce that we have allocated funds to update our website to make it more
user friendly and efficient for our needs. We have chosen the firm Canto labs
(cantolabs.com.) They have developed websites for several nonprofits. Hopefully,
the new website will be completed by the first of the year, and the 2014
conference registrants will have an easy time navigating the site and signing up
for the conference. In addition to a “facelift,” the site will feature a forum and
access to current and previous newsletters. Ayleen, our Author Advocate, has
exciting website plans for the published authors, and Jess, our Secretary, is
looking forward to a streamlined process for new and renewal memberships.
next page
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THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
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President
Carol Silvis
724-327-2725, [email protected]
Dave Szymanowski, who has been troubleshooting and maintaining the current
site, will continue in that role, officially now as Webmaster.
We need volunteers to serve as representatives for Area 2 and Area 5. If you
would like to volunteer for either of these roles, please let me or another board
member know. If you do not reside in Areas 2 or 5 but are in a bordering area,
you can volunteer to be the Area 2 or the Area 5 rep.
Heather, the newsletter editor, is always looking for articles. Check the back page
of each issue for the theme and submission deadline. You do not have to submit
an article on the current theme.
–Carol
Vice President
Annette Dashofy
724-255-7955
[email protected]
secretary
Jessica Williams
443-286-9379
[email protected]
treasurer
Jackie Shaffmaster
570-878-7056, [email protected]
Author Advocate
2014 conference co-coordinator
Ayleen Stellhorn
717-359-9279
[email protected]
2014 conference co-coordinator
Charli Mac
[email protected]
Pennwriters Online: Your Internet Connection
Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.pennwriters.org
Yahoo Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pennwriters/join
Facebook . . . . . . . . . . . . .“Pennwriters” and “Pennwriters Annual Conference”
linkedIn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=67420
Twitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.twitter.com/Pennwriters
Online Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . http://tinyurl.com/PennwritersOnlineCourses
Meetup.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . search for keyword “Pennwriters”
webmaster
coordinator of Area reps
Dave Szymanowski
814-838-6870
[email protected]
newsletter editor
Heather Desuta
412-337-6966
[email protected]
Public relations chair
Christiana Reuling
[email protected]
Annual writing contest coordinator
Colette Garmer
724-889-6863,
writingcontestcoordinator@
pennwriters.org
Pennwriters Areas Map
Bylaws chair
Jean Jenkins
814-774-0557
[email protected]
internet Activities coordinator and
online courses coordinator
Pauline Drozeski
[email protected]
election chair
Terry Friedman
610-692-8668, [email protected]
Contact information for Area Reps
can be found in area reports within
the newsletter.
Members living outside of Pennsylvania are Area 7
THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
3
Member News & Accomplishments
Area 7 Clara
Bowman-Jahn’s
essay “You Sow
What You Reap,
Gal 6:7” appears
in the anthology
THe 'I' WoRD
edited by Kate
Gould. We asked
writers “What
words inspire
you?” These backstories to the writing
process and snapshots of the many
muses are idiosyncratic, funny, moving,
sad and, yes, inspiring.
Area 7 Bobbi
Carducci’s book
for young readers,
SToRee WRYTeR
GeTS A DoG,
received a Bronze
living Now Award
honoring books
that enhance the
quality of our lives.
This award is in
addition to the GolD Mom’s Choice
Award for excellence and being named
A Best Dog Book for Young Readers by
Cesar Milan, TVs the Dog Whisperer.
In other news, Bobbi’s short story,
“Spearmint Miracle,” was the second
place winner ($100 prize) in the First
Annual Adult Short Story Contest
hosted by loudoun County Virginia
library Association and was published
in a collection that will be available
throughout the library system.
Kathryn Craft,
Area 6, has sold
a second novel:
WHIle THe
leAVeS STooD
STIll, based on
her personal
story, about a
tense ten-hour
standoff between
the police and
one desperate man ready to take his
life, while his family and the community
grapple with how best to respond. The
novel sold to Shana Drehs at Source4
books, for Spring 2015 publication, by
Katie Shea Boutillier at Donald Maass
literary Agency. Meanwhile, Kathryn’s
debut, THe ART oF FAllING, received
a great review from Kirkus and blurbs
from several hot women’s fiction
authors. It releases Jan. 28 and is
available for pre-order at Amazon and
Barnes & Noble.
Doris Dumrauf, Area 3, published her
six-page photo feature, “A Home for
Stories,” about the Senator John Heinz
History Center, in the Sept/oct 2013
issue of Pennsylvania Magazine.
Katherine Ernst,
Area 6, recently
published THe
loNG GAMe
under the name
J.l. Fynn, the
pseudonym she
shares with her
writing partner
Chelle Bruhn.
In the New Adult
novel, twenty-year-old Shay Reilly has
proven himself to his Irish-American
Gypsy clan on small-scale cons, but now
the clan leader has a bigger mission for
him: playing the long game. To rake in
the big score he’s after, he needs to con
co-ed Spencer into falling in love with
him. He knows he should see Spencer as
a mere means to an end, but that’s
easier said than done when there’s a
witty, attractive girl in your arms. Now
the only thing that can keep them apart
is the thing that brought them together:
Shay’s plans of revenge against someone who wronged his clan and family
years before—Spencer’s father.
Katherine graduated Magna Cum
laude from loyola law School in New
orleans and worked as a high profile
criminal and corporate fraud attorney
in Philadelphia. She’s highly active on
social media and loves interacting with
readers and writers. To learn more,
visit www.jlfynn.com.
Area 6 Suzanne Grieco Mattaboni’s
story, “Reunions,” was chosen for
the Chicken Soup anthology series,
THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
CHICKeN SoUP
FoR THe SoUl:
MIRACUloUS
MeSSAGeS FRoM
HeAVeN: 101
Stories of eternal
love, Powerful
Connections, and
Divine Signs from
Beyond, was
released in october.
Hana Haatainen Caye, Area 3,
recently published THe olD WoMAN
WHo lIVeD IN THe VINeGAR BoTTle,
a retelling of the Welsh tale about a
woman in a shoe. This is Hana’s 30th
book published through iStorybooks,
which includes seven in her “lincoln
and laura” series. Hana also provides
all the narrations for iStorybooks
under the name Maya Ray. She also
published an article, “Sneezes,
Wheezes and Watery eyes,” about
which pets are best for families with
allergies. The article will appear in the
october/November issue of Pinpoint
Publications’ ZIP. The “Ask Green
Grandma” column continues to run in
each issue of Green Child Magazine.
Area 3 Lorraine Henderson’s latest
confession sale, “our Thanksgiving
Miracle,” will appear in the November
issue of True Confessions. This one is
based on the fires and floods out west,
which she witnessed during her two
weeks in Colorado in August. It was
sad to see the mud slides destroy so
much, but this story has a happy
ending, with the return of a family
bible on Thanksgiving day.
Area 1 Lisa Lepovetsky‘s poem,
“lunacy,” appears in the fall issue
of the e-zine Rose Red Review.
Area 3 Jason Jack Miller’s novel
HellBeNDeR was nominated for the
Appalachian Writers Association Book
of the Year Award, which recognizes
superior and significant writing in
Appalachian literature. HellBeNDeR,
Share Your Good News—Email Heather Desuta, newsletter editor, at [email protected].
Type “PennWriter Submission” in the subject line, and please include your Area number.
a supernatural
revenge thriller
set in the hills of
West Virginia, was
Miller’s thesis
novel for the
Writing Popular
Fiction program
at Seton Hill
University, where
he is now adjunct
faculty in the MFA and undergraduate
program. Miller’s third novel in the
Murder Ballads and Whiskey series,
THe ReVelATIoNS oF PReSToN
BlACK, was released this summer
by Raw Dog Screaming Press, with a
fourth book scheduled for fall 2014.
Miller also recently began negotiations
with a los Angeles talent agency to
package HellBeNDeR for TV/film.
Visit jasonjackmiller.blogspot.com
and www.rawdogscreaming.com.
Area 2 Rosemary
D. Neidig’s
memoir, eVeRY
TWo MINUTeS:
oNe WoMAN’S
HeAlING JoURNeY THRoUGH
SexUAl TRAUMAS, is available
at Amazon and
lulu.com.
Steven Nesbit,
Area 5, recently
published
HUDoJNIK: THe
lIFe AND ART oF
IVAN I. GARIKoW.
Like an acclaimed
Russian novel,
Ivan Garikow's life
story (1918-1982)
is one of hardship
and hope, intrigue and suspense,
misfortune and triumph, and setback
and survival. It is a war story, a love story,
a detective story, but most importantly,
a story about a man and his art. This
biography captures his stormy and
tumultuous life in Europe and America
and heralds Garikow's unyielding faith,
indomitable courage, undaunted
optimism and the love for his art. This
book is the culmination of historical
research, scholarly writing, and narrative nonfiction. More than 100 images
of Garikow's paintings are included.
Steven Nesbit taught english in the
public schools for 32 years and was an
Adjunct Professor of Communications
at York College. His educational career
has spanned almost four decades, and
he’s been a writer for 20 years. From
freelancing and feature writing to
ghostwriting and collaborative writing,
his vast writing experience is filled
with much diversity. Nesbit has written
more than 25 bio-features for publication. Visit him at stevenmnesbit.com.
Area 7 Nancy
Springer’s latest
novel, DRAWN
INTo DARKNeSS,
will be released
this November.
Darkness lies
closer than you
think…
Liana Clymer is
running away—
from her divorce, from her past, from
herself. Leaving behind everything she
knows, she finds herself ensconced in a
fuchsia-colored cottage in the swampy
hinterlands of the Florida panhandle.
Far from the grown sons who don’t
return her calls, her only companion her
dog, Liana decides to put her best foot
forward and get to know whoever lives
in the blue house across the street, the
only neighbors within sight of her new
home. But moments after a teenage boy,
Justin, answers the door and wins her
over with his shy kindness, his face appears on the TV screen, and is
immediately recognizable as the child
who was taken from his parents two
years ago. Worse, Justin’s abductor has
no intention of letting Liana go. A
powerful will to live…and to save Justin
too…seizes hold of Liana. She will fight
tooth and nail to survive. But does she
have what it takes to thwart a wily,
depraved psychopath for whom abuse
is a way of life…and killing is routine?
Robert Starr,
Area 5, recently
released his book
SeCReT oF THe
GolDeN SHAWl,
a spellbinding
story of a woman,
Mary, and her
young son, Billy,
who receive
mystical gifts
from a family long forgotten. Their
journey begins on the farm lands of
Missouri and takes them to Salem,
Massachusetts, and then to Egypt;
however their story almost ends before
it begins. When they arrive in Salem,
they discover that they are heirs to a
fortune and feud that has lasted
generations. Can Mary and Billy survive
the threats from a family bent on
destroying their lives, or will the Golden
Shawl and the Sun God Ra protect them?
SeCReT oF THe GolDeN SHAWl is
available on Amazon.
Area 5 Judy
Wolfman’s first
novel, NoT
MY TIMe, was
published by
Black Rose
Publishing in
August. This
historical fiction
book is based on
the true story of
Nessy Wolpert Marks, a Holocaust
survivor who spent her teen years in
the Kovno Ghetto in lithuania, where
she witnessed murders, starvation,
lice and many other horrors. She
escaped, assumed a false identity,
worked in an orphanage and later a
work camp until the end of WWII.
Nessy sought out living members
of her family and eventually found
her way to America, where Judy
interviewed and recorded her.
NoT MY TIMe is available through
Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Visit
www.judybwolfman.com or
www.blackrosewriting.com. In other
news, Judy had an article, “Help Kids
Read and Write,” in the September issue
of Teachers of Vision magazine.
THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
5
10 New Year's Resolutions for A Writer
by Catherine E. McLean, Area 1
1. I will write __________ pages q every day
q every week q every month
2. I will set aside writing time and not let anything or anyone interfere with that
sacred time which will be from __________ a.m / p.m. to _________ a.m / p.m.
3.
This year I will complete ____ (quantity)
q novel/s
q short story/stories
q essay/s
q nonfiction article/s
q short creative nonfiction
q book-length creative nonfiction
or ______(quantity) pages per q day
q week
q month
because my goal is to achieve __________________________________________________ by Dec. 31, 2014.
looking ahead, five years from now, I will __________________________________________________________
And 10 years from now ____________________________________________________________________________
My Magnificent Obsession—my ultimate, all time, top goal—is to achieve______________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
(i.e. money, awards, placement on NYT Best Seller lists, win contest, etc.)
4. I will create or collect _______(quantity) motivational and inspirational signs to hang or tape near my
writing area to remind me why my writing is important to me.
5. During the first storm of the year when I am housebound, I will reread the punctuation and
grammar sections of my desk reference which I haven't opened since _______ (year of graduation).
6. In striving to master writing craft elements to make my work more marketable, I will read
_______________________________________________ (title of book or books) and faithfully read
q one chapter q two chapters every q morning q evening q during my lunch hour at work or
q while waiting at my child/children's after-school practices or doctor's appointments.
I will also take notes and practice what I'm striving to learn.
7. For my completed q short story or q article/essay or q book length fiction or nonfiction, I will diligently
and systematically revise my drafted pages at a rate of _____(quantity) q pages q scenes q chapters
per q day q week q month q during my lunch hour at work or q while waiting at my child/children's
after-school practices or club meetings. When I have the manuscript as good as I can get it, I will then
take the work to my local Pennwriters group or online critique partner(s) for feedback.
8. I will pay my Pennwriters dues promptly at renewal time in July.
9. I will volunteer to serve my fellow Pennwriters by:
q participating in my local Pennwriters group or online forum
q offering to help my Area Rep by ______________________
q writing an article for The Penn Writer
q volunteering to be a room moderator or Penn Pal at the May conference
q volunteering to serve at the registration table during the May conference
q volunteering to sell silent auction tickets at the May conference
q volunteering to be a time keeper for editor-agent appointments at the May conference
10. I will q absolutely q positively q definitely make my writing a top priority in 2014.
Catherine is the author of KARMA AND MAYHEM and JEWELS OF THE SKY. Her short stories have appeared in hard-copy and online
anthologies and magazines. She's been a workshop presenter and will be giving the online workshop, "Revision Boot Camp," January 13-31,
2014 (information is at www.WritersCheatSheets.com). Visit her author site www.CatherineEmclean.com.
6
THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
writer’s
toolBox:
•••••••••••••••••••••••
Marketing
Using the customers’ own words and testimonials to describe
their needs add power to marketing. In drafting promotions,
be mindful of the psychology of printed text:
•
•
•
•
•
Avoid big paragraphs (paragraphs with more than seven lines)
Be concise
leave a lot of white space
Use larger fonts
Make everything reader-friendly and easy to ingest
-from Strategic Marketing Made Easy For Writers: Optimize
Your Promotions For Bestseller Results by Nate Hardy, Area 6.
www.PlusSignProductions.org
writer’s
toolBox:
Forming Habits
Having trouble achieving your writing goals? Area 6 Rep Cathy
Rouse recommends HabitForge, an online accountability site.
It's based on the idea that doing something for 21 days straight
will make it a habit. You set a goal (about writing or anything)
and it emails you twice a day to remind you to do task. Cathy
said, “It pushed me to focus on my WIP every day, even if it was
fifteen minutes to midnight. I wanted to keep the chain going.
The sense of accomplishment has been amazing.”
writer’s
toolBox:
the Grapevine
Share your good news or pass along the good news of a friend
or fellow member! Don’t forget that word-of-mouth marketing
can be a powerful tool.
...Area 3 MaryAlice Meli’s short story, “Rescue Me,” was
published Sept. 20 at www.untiedshoelacesofthemind.com
in Issue 8, the online ezine’s latest collection of flash fiction
since its founding in 2009.
...Big congrats to Jason Jack Miller, Area 3! His novel
HEllBENDER was nominated for the Appalachian Writers
Association Book of the Year Award.
Area 1
Todd Main • Area 1 Representative
814-459-8752 • [email protected]
Meadville Vicinity Pennwriters (MVP)
1st Saturday, 1-4 p.m.
WHeRe: Tim Horton's on Conneaut lake Road,
Meadville
CoNTACT: Babs Mountjoy,
[email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHeN:
1st Saturday, 10–Noon
WHeRe: United Methodist Church, edinboro
CoNTACT: Jan Brawn, [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHeN:
2nd Saturday, 1-4 p.m.
WHeRe: Tom Ridge environmental Center,
301 Peninsula Drive, Presque Isle
CoNTACT: Todd Main, [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shenango Valley Pennwriters (SVP)
WHeN:
3rd Saturday, 1-4 p.m.
WHeRe: Community library of Shenango Valley
CoNTACT: Catherine Mclean,
[email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHeN:
4th Saturday, 1-4 p.m.
WHeRe: Barnes & Noble, near the
Millcreek Mall, erie
CoNTACT: Dave Szymanowski,
[email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fellowship of the Quill (FOTQ)
WHeN:
every Thursday, 7-10 p.m.
WHeRe: Tim Horton’s, 2565 West 12th, erie
CoNTACT: Todd Main, [email protected]
WHeN:
i start drawing, and eventually
the characters involve themselves in a situation. then in the
end, i go back and try to cut
out most of the preachments.
- Dr. Seuss
our lives are defined
by opportunities,
even the ones we miss.
- THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON,
F. Scott Fitzgerald
THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
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•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Area 3
Candace Banks • Area 3 Representative
[email protected]
First Monday Discussion Group
Discusses e-publishing, social media, e-readers, formatting, marketing
and website creation. Please RSVP so proper-sized room is reserved.
WHeN:
1st Monday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
WHeRe: Bethel Park library (part of Bethel Municipal Bldg.)
CoNTACT: Cheryl Williams, [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Second Tuesday of the Month Group
Discusses topics of general interest to writers.
WHeN:
Contact larry for fall meeting schedule.
WHeRe: Panera Bread, Settlers Ridge Centre Drive
CoNTACT: larry Ivkovich, [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Mindful Writers Group
our goal is to complete a book-length manuscript (fiction, nonfiction or
creative nonfiction) in nine months using Writing Meditation Method.
WHeN:
every Wednesday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
WHeRe: eat ’n Park, at Wexford exit of I-79
CoNTACT: To join, contact Madhu Wangu, [email protected].
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Robinson Nonfiction and Fiction Group
Discussion about writing elements such as chapter length, character
development, pacing/plot; also, platforms and promotion plans, queries,
book proposals, and more.
WHeN:
1st Thursday, 10:30 a.m.
WHeRe: Panera Bread, Settlers Ridge Centre Drive
CoNTACT: lynn Price, [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Robinson Township Writers Group
Features monthly discussion or speaker on a wide range of subjects, from
craft to marketing. All Pennwriters members and friends are welcome.
WHeN:
the last Thursday of each month, 11:30 a.m.
WHeRe: eat ’n Park in Robinson
CoNTACT: Deborah Riley-Magnus, [email protected]
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Pittsburgh East Writers Group
Small, friendly critique group. Main focus is fiction writing but writers
of all genres are welcome.
WHeN:
3rd Saturday, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
WHeRe: Monroeville Public library’s upstairs conference room
CoNTACT: Chuck Rakiecz, [email protected]
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Critique Group North
eight members writing shorts, flashes and novels. Currently, membership
is full, but interested writers may submit their names and email addresses
for the waiting list.
WHeN:
2nd Thursday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (includes time for lunch)
WHeRe: King’s Restaurant, Rt. 910, at Wexford exit of I-79
CoNTACT: MaryAlice Meli, [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
South Hills Critique Group
Small group of fiction writers. Six member limit. Work to be critiqued is
emailed prior to meetings.
WHeN:
3rd Thursday, 10 a.m.
WHeRe: Panera in the Galleria, Mt. lebanon
CoNTACT: Please RSVP to Stephanie Claypool, [email protected]
8
THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
Pennwriters Share
Their Unforgettable
Characters
Charlotte Brontë’s Jane eyre. She
seems so realistic and sympathetic
a character. Her determination to
survive and be true to herself is
inspirational. Her classic rags to riches
story (while not compromising herself)
is inspirational. Also, frederic henry
from A FAREWEll TO ARMS. I liked this
character as he seemed so realistic.
Just a good kid who realizes war is
horrible and yet, he just keeps living on.
He loses the love of his life as well as his
stillborn child. Somehow, he just seems
to find the will to keep going on.
-Jay Snyder
For me, it's Delia Grinstead in
Anne Tyler's lADDER OF YEARS. When
life becomes overwhelming and her
family unappreciative, she does what
most of us only fantasize about.
She simply walks away. No plan, no
forethought, she just goes for a walk
down the beach on a family vacation
and keeps on walking until she's found
a new town, a new life, and a new
sense of self. Whether you think that
Delia is brave or crazy, the fact is that
this otherwise ordinary woman had
the courage to reinvent her vision of
the future and create a happier place
for herself. I first discovered this book as
a 12-year-old who needed a step stool
to reach it on the shelf and it's stuck
with me my entire life. It's still one of my
favorite novels.
-Christiana Reuling
Jim nightshade and will halloway in
Ray Bradbury’s SOMETHING WICkED
THIS WAY COMES. They represent my
youth better than any other
characters I know.
-laura lovic lindsay
Michael Connelly’s harry Bosch.
Over 18 novels, he has been beset
by everything imaginable yet he
perseveres to bring the guilty to justice
no matter the cost to himself in his
professional or personal life. His
motto—“Everybody matters or nobody
matters”—should be a mantra for
police officers everywhere.
-Dave Freas
A Poem...
And The old Women Just Say, “o, My Word”
You have to go almost fully down
the street to see it. Nothing is visible
from the cross street, just the Delaware River
and St. Mary’s steeple on the far side. Walk,
see the old house he’s patched with tin pans
painted gray to match. See the sprawling pet
cemetery in the side yard. See large
flat stones he’s dredged himself, set on end
to face the flow of water, the animals’
names drawn in bright red oils. See the
occasional canoe or Blue Heron
pass to view the banks shrubbed
with a tangle of wires hooked up
to extend his rotary land-line phone
and add an outside outlet for a TV. See
inside the house. No, you’ll need
to imagine his parents’ bedroom
just as they left it, a living room
scented by couch-sleeper raccoons
and churlish cats who fight for food. See
him on easter afternoon repaint
“Flossie 1968” and “Fannie 1961,” gentle
goat grave names in all-capscan’t-be-missed-boldface. Now watch
him half-limp to a new Dodge Challenger,
Redline, 3 Coat Pearl and drive
to Price Chopper; walk a distance
from the car, hike baggy, stained pants up
and ask most everyone, “You want
a close peek at my Cherry Bomb?” Men
look for a vintage vehicle, but, my, my
how the teenage girls giggle,
nudge one another. He thinks
they like him, talks a lot about the kids
he used to have, laughs a lot as well. This
is good.
Area 1 Pennwriter Margaret Hemme is a retired special education
teacher and a relatively young poet. Her poems have been published
in print and online, and she has placed favorably in the Innerboard
Poetry Competition.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Area 2
Area 2 Representative: Position Open
If interested, email Carol Silvis at [email protected].
Danville Group
1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 7 p.m.
WHeRe: episcopal Church (Market Street)
CoNTACT: Dave Freas, [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tunkhannock Group #1
WHeN:
2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
WHeRe: Methodist education Building
(corner of Warren St. and Marion St.)
CoNTACT: Ann Vitale, [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tunkhannock Group #2
WHeN:
every Thursday, 7 p.m.
WHeRe: Dietrich Theater (60 east Tioga Street)
CoNTACT: Ann Vitale, [email protected]
WHeN:
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
Area 4
Cathy Rouse • Area 4 Representative
[email protected]
The Southern Alleghenies Writers Guild
3rd Saturday, noon-3 p.m.
WHeRe: contact Jim lee for info
CoNTACT: Jim lee, 814-442-1241,
[email protected]
WHeN:
While these meetings are not Pennwriters events,
they may be of interest to Area 4 members:
Nittany Valley Writers Network
WHeN:
2nd Tuesday of the month, 7-8:30 p.m.
WHeRe: Schlow library, 211 S. Allen Street,
State College
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nittany Valley Writers Network: The Early Risers
WHeN:
3rd Wednesday of the month, 7- 8 a.m.
WHeRe: The Waffle Shop, W. College Ave. & Blue
Course Dr., State College
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nittany Valley Writers Network: Social Gatherings
WHeN:
4th Tuesday of the month, 5:30-7 p.m.
WHeRe: The Autoport, 1405 S Atherton St.,
State College
we tell ourselves stories
in order to live. - Joan Didion
THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
9
examples...
My Great American Novel / Novel Beginnings / Mainstream
My Great American Novel / Novel Beginnings / Mainstream
Pg 1
Pg 1
Pennwriters Annual Writing Contest Rules and Information
In order to enter our contest, you must:
•
Be a Pennwriters member with a current membership in good standing.
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Use standard manuscript format, explained below.
•
Go to this webpage and enter: pennwriterswritingcontest.weebly.com/enter-the-contest.html
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Submit online by midnight EST on January 31, 2014.
•
Pay your fee(s) through the secure PayPal portal—and that’s it. Easy peasy!
Please note:
When submitting your entry, provide your name and contact information ONlY in the online entry form that is at the
contest website. Author’s name MUST NOT appear anywhere on the entry. Author’s name on manuscript WIll result in
immediate disqualification. Entry fee will not be returned. NEW THIS YEAR: There is no need to include a cover page.
Standard manuscript format and additional instructions:
• Double space the entire text in 8.5” x 11” page format.
• Use one-inch margins all around. (1” top, bottom, left and right). This will yield 24 to 26 lines per page.
• Fonts must be in Times New Roman or Courier New, in 12 pt. type.
• Align text left and indent the first line of each paragraph.
• Entries must not exceed 10 pages (of approx. 250 words per page).
• In the header, at the top left, please provide: Name of Entry / Category Entered / genre (if it applies).
Page number should appear on the top right. See top of this page (My Great American Novel example).
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First Place Prize: Your choice of either free registration for the Pennwriters Annual Conference
(valid for the 2015 PW Conference in Pittsburgh or the 2016 PW Conference in Lancaster) or $50 cash.
Second Place: Your choice of either 50% off registration for the Pennwriters Annual Conference
(valid for the 2015 PW Conference in Pittsburgh or the 2016 PW Conference in Lancaster) or $30 cash.
Third Place: One free entry into the 2015 Pennwriters Annual Writing Contest
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We look forward to receiving your electronic entries starting Jan. 1, 2014. The deadline is midnight EST on Jan. 31, 2014.
Good luck!
writer’s toolBox:
Notable Internet Links
• An excellent blog post titled Creating Unforgettable Characters, by Dr. Vicki Hinze, is available at
www.fictionfactor.com/guests/unforgettable.html
• www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/the-100-favourite-fictional-characters-as-chosen-by100-literary-luminaries-526971.html
• www.pantagraph.com/news/best-first-lines-from-novels/article_a125216a-649f-5414-88b5-76a688ea3b6a.html
10
THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
•••••••••••••••••••••••
Area 5
•••••••••••••••••••••••
Area 6
Area 5 Representative: Position Open
If interested, email Carol Silvis at [email protected].
Charli Mac • Area 6 Representative
[email protected]
Critique Night, York, PA
every 3rd Thursday
WHeRe: New Visions Books & Gifts,
2594 eastern Blvd.,
Kingston Square Shopping Center
CoNTACT: Becky Maslowski, [email protected]
There are currently no Pennwriters Area 6 groups
meeting, but if you are interested in forming a
group, please contact [email protected].
WHeN:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lancaster Area Group
WHeN:
2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m.
WHeRe: music section, lancaster Barnes & Noble
CoNTACT: Walt Honsinger,
[email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harrisburg Area Group
WHeN:
4th Wednesday
WHeRe: New Cumberland library,
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
CoNTACT: Don Helin, [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pottsville Area Critique Group
CoNTACT: Dana Mansell, [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Writers’ Wordshop
WHeN:
2nd & 4th Thursdays
WHeRe: Bosler library, Carlisle
CoNTACT: Melinda Downey Shultz, 717-275-2772,
[email protected]
that was a memorable day to
me, for it made great changes
in me. But it is the same with
any life. imagine one selected
day struck out of it, and think
how different its course would
have been. Pause you who
read this, and think for a
moment of the long chain of
iron or gold, of thorns or flowers,
that would never have bound
you, but for the formation of the
first link on one memorable day.
- GREAT EXPECTATIONS, Charles Dickens
•••••••••••••••••••••••
Area 7
Bobbi Carducci • Area 7 Representative
540-338-5064 • [email protected]
I am looking for someone in Area 7 to help me
gather information to be posted monthly on
the Area 7 Connector Blog.
http://pwarea7.wordpress.com
Share your accomplishments. Submit articles
on writing, announce book signings, etc.
Contact me via email to submit your ideas, etc.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Baltimore Area Pennwriters
WHeN:
on hiatus.
WHeRe: Panera Bread in Golden Ring,
8640 Pulaski Highway, Rosedale, MD
CoNTACT: Jess Williams,
[email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blue Ridge Group
Meetings include critique on request, sharing
resources, writing exercises and discussion.
Beginning to multi-published writers welcome.
WHeN:
2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m.
WHeRe: Purcellville library, Purcellville, VA
CoNTACT: Bobbi Carducci, [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Northern Delaware Group
Meetings will be held monthly to discuss all
sorts of writing stuff. All levels of experience
are welcome. email Cindy Callaghan for more
information: [email protected].
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anyone interested in forming a group, please
contact me. If you have a place to meet and a
desire to spend time with fellow writers, it is
possible to host a group.
Other information of interest:
Book signing possibilities in Blue Ridge Area:
• Around the Block Books, Purcellville, VA
• Second Chapter Books, Middleburg, VA
• Potomac Books, Dulles, VA
Local Groups of Interest in Blue Ridge Area:
• loudoun County Writers Association
THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
11
Volunteer Spotlight: leslie Tobin Smeltz
by Jess Williams, Secretary, Area 7
While it takes many to run an organization, some volunteers
shine especially bright in times of need. This can be said
about Area 6’s leslie Tobin Smeltz.
leslie helped significantly during the 2013 Pennwriters
Conference, doing anything and everything. Without having
to be asked, she stepped in and handled any situation that
needed asssitance, all while handling her own position
of Read & Critique Chair. As last year’s Conference
Coordinator, take it from me—leslie was a true gem
in a time of need.
Pennwriter Jack Hillman is leslie’s writing mentor and
the reason she joined our organization. When asked what
being a Pennwriter has done for her, leslie said, “Going to
Pennwriters conferences, especially this year’s conference,
gave me the confidence boost that I needed, both personally
and professionally, to continue to move forward with my
writing. Volunteering as much as I did gave me the opportunity to meet and get to know many more Pennwriters
who have been so kind and supportive. It also gave me the
opportunity to connect with an agent who was interested
in my writing. While that didn’t work out [the agent changed
agencies and was not permitted to take the manuscript
with her], she did give me the name of another agent to
query. even if that doesn’t work out, I wouldn’t have had
that opportunity otherwise. Pennwriters did that for me.
As they say, ‘It’s not who you are, it’s who you know.’”
leslie is a self-proclaimed “full-time, stay-at-home
mom of a 7 year old—a very precocious little guy who
keeps me hopping.” Working at home means there’s always
chores to do: mountains of laundry to tackle (“Who knew
one child could go through so much clothing!” she says),
a dishwasher that’s perpetually running, and a cat who
seems in constant need of attention.
For the past 10 years, leslie has also been a guest
liaison for science fiction conventions from Polaris in
Toronto to Dragon Con in Atlanta and everywhere in between.
While leslie may be a writer now, it was never her
intention to become
one. Her original
plan was to become
a professor. She has
a masters in American History and was
accepted at lehigh
University for her
Ph.D. But she took
another path, and after positions with the Department of
the Navy and then lucent Technologies/Agere Systems, she
was laid off. It was then that her interest in becoming a
writer emerged.
“That was the beginning,” leslie said. After starting
with short stories, she realized there was a novel in her
that she needed to start. “Unfortunately—six chapters in—
I found out I was pregnant. Then I had a terrible pregnancy
that included bed rest, followed by an eight-week premature
baby, so my writing was put on hold. About a year after my
son was born, the writing bug bit me again. This time,
I couldn’t ignore the creativity that wanted to come out.
So, in 2007, I began my journey from just thinking about
becoming a writer, to actually becoming one.”
Her first completed manuscript and its sequel, are
Women’s lit about a journey to self-empowerment. She is
also working on a paranormal romance and has a mystery
novel and a fantasy novel set aside for future endeavors.
It looks like leslie has a full slate, but that won’t keep
her from lending both hands to future Pennwriters events!
She has volunteered to be a chair at the 2014 Confernce
and will pitch in wherever needed.
With volunteers like leslie, Pennwriters will continue
to grow.
Jessica Williams is Pennwriters’ secretary. By day she is a full-time
employee, struggling single mom and lover of fiction. By night she
battles plot issues, character flaws and perspective. A peek at her
work can be found online at idiosyncraticheart.blogspot.com.
when writing a novel a writer should create living people;
people not characters. A character is a caricature.
- Ernest Hemingway
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THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
1.
3.
Friday Evening Keynote Kami Garcia is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly and international bestselling
co-author of the Beautiful Creatures novels. in february 2013 the Beautiful Creatures film released in theaters
worldwide starring Viola Davis, Jeremy irons, emma thompson and emmy rossum. Her upcoming novel, unBreakaBle,
the first book in Garcia’s upcoming solo series, tHe leGion, releases in october 2013, and is currently being developed
as a major motion picture. Garcia has an Ma in education and taught in the Washington, DC, area where she grew up, until
she moved to los angeles, where she was a teacher and reading specialist for 14 years. in addition to teaching, Garcia
was a professional artist and led fantasy book groups for children and teens. she lives in la with her husband, son, daughter,
and their dogs spike and oz.
Saturday Luncheon Keynote Meredith Mileti’s novel, aftertaste, has received high praise from the New York Journal of
Books: “aftertaste serves up a satisfying and delicious story of rebuilding a life after everything is suddenly and cruelly
taken away... a debut novel as thoughtful and poignant as it is wickedly funny. it is one to savor.” Meredith lives in
Pittsburgh with her husband, David Cohen. she is currently working on her second novel, tentatively titled BlooM, a story
of marriage, identity, betrayal and the secrets families keep.
2014 Pennwriters Conference Co-Coordinators: Charli Mac ([email protected]) and Ayleen Stellhorn ([email protected])
THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
13
Publishing Options—Channeling Goldilocks
by Lynn Price, Area 3
We all remember the story of Goldilocks and the whole
“this bed is too hard, this one’s too soft, ahhh… this one
is just right.” Well, publishing options are a lot like that.
one may feel too right, another all wrong, and one feels
absolutely perfect. In order to figure out which book deal
is just right for you, it’s important to consider some factors
that you may not be aware of.
Your top considerations should be What is the intent I
have for my book and my writing career? and What can
this publisher do for me? Knowing your answers will help
you decide which option is appropriate for you and your
writing career.
BIG GUN PUBlISHERS
These are publishers like Random House,
St. Martin’s, Penguin, Harper Collins, etc. who are owned
by conglomerates. They are the litmus against which all
publishers are compared, because they basically own the
marketplace due to their long history, money, large print
runs, distribution, editing, sales and promotion. The most
important factor to point out here is that Big Gun publishers
make their money by selling a lot of books. They employ
talented, experienced book editors and designers, and
they have their own sales teams to pitch their books to
the marketplace, which I’ll define as national accounts like
bookstores and libraries, and secondary markets like
Costco, Target, Wal-Mart, etc.
INDEPENDENT TRADE
and COMMERCIAl PRESSES
These are the Big Guns’ little sisters. They work exactly like
the Big Guns but with fewer zeros in their operating budgets.
They used to be referred to as Indie Publishers, but Self
Publishers stole the verbiage, so now Independent Trade,
or Commercial Trade Press, is used to define publishers
who aren’t owned by corporations. The point here is that
indie presses who meet these criteria are considered
“mainstream publishers.” Behler Publications, where I
serve as editorial director, falls in this category.
Mainstream publishing is very expensive. Print runs,
production costs, marketing and promotion all have to be
paid for BeFoRe a title ever hits the marketplace, so mainstream publishers must have a healthy operating budget.
In short, there is a lot of risk in mainstream publishing.
How publishers make their money: Since indie trade presses
don’t have a corporate umbrella like the Big Guns, they have
to work smart. They can’t spend more than they have, and
they have to feel confident the authors they sign will sell
well because they depend on marketplace sales.
Advances are lower, because they are more risk averse than
their corporate brethren. If they pay an author a five-figure
advance, they have to be pretty well guaranteed they’ll get a
return on the investment. otherwise, they’ll be in the red.
The indie trade press can’t afford to let a book tank,
because, like the Big Guns, they’re shouldering virtually
100% of the financial risk.
How authors make money: Advances are based on how
well the indie trade press feels the book will sell. With the
economic climate being what it is, bookstores and libraries
don’t order in the numbers they used to. Advances are lower,
because book sales are lower. The result is that the typical
author makes money on his or her royalties. No, it’s not a
lump sum, like an advance, but those quarterly checks can
be quite lovely. I remember writing a check for $17,000 in
one quarter to one of our authors. Some indie trade
publishers pay advances and some do not. Not paying an
advance does NoT mean the publisher isn’t a mainstream
press. It simply means they aren’t at a point where they can
afford to pay advances, and authors will make money with
their royalties. Mind you, these non-advance paying
publishers need to meet all the other mainstream criteria.
Distribution: like their big sisters, the indie trade press has
distribution. However, they’re too small to have their own
sales teams, so they establish distribution deals with full
service book distributors, like Consortium/Perseus, IPG,
NBN and others, who have in-house and regional sales
teams to pitch a publisher’s catalog. This is how books
gain their national distribution. (NOTE: This is not to be
confused with Ingram or Baker & Taylor. Ingram and B&T
are wholesale distributors, meaning they fulfill orders placed
by bookstores and libraries. They don’t have sales teams, and
don’t pitch any publisher’s catalog.)
Editing: like their big sisters, the indie trade press performs
all aspects of editing, because they have to have a quality
product in order to garner sales. They hire talented, experienced editors in order to ensure the high quality of their
books. Solid indie trade publishers perform an intense editing
process that includes copy, line and developmental edits.
next page
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THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
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copy editing = technical stuff like punctuation,
spelling and grammar
line editing = the craft of writing, like paragraph
structure, sentence flow, word choice, voice, style,
readability, and forward movement
Developmental editing = storytelling, plot structure,
character development and motivation, theme,
premise, symbolism, tension, pacing, the author’s
search for truth
Marketing/Promotion: Indie trade presses mirror the Big
Guns in that they need to let the public know about their
books, because they depend on sales to keep the lights on.
like the Big Guns, they provide the following services.
Print runs - Indie trade publishers need to have
large print runs in order to meet demand for
national distribution.
sending out Advance reader copies (Arcs) –
Three to four months before a title hits the
marketplace, publishers send out hundreds
of ARCs to reviewers and the media, which
includes print, radio and TV.
Advertising – Publishers may take out advertisements in the media or online marketplaces.
co-op promotion – Publishers buy co-op
promotion with bookstores that will showcase
their books in face-outs, special tables, and
end caps.
PRINT ON DEMAND PUBlISHERS
This is where mainstream publishing takes a
detour. PoD publishing refers to a business plan that made
its debut when digital printing technology was developed.
Instead of doing offset printing (with print runs in the
thousands), digital printing allows the publisher to print
smaller runs of, say, 25 or 50, for a reasonable cost,
which allows PoD publishers to run their businesses on
a shoestring budget.
Many PoD publishers will claim they are just like
“traditional” publishers because all publishers use the
Print on Demand technology. It’s true that mainstream
publishers use the digital technology for smaller print
runs, like backlist titles and advance reader copies. But
those same publishers more often use offset (or web based)
printers. The PoD business plan is based on digital printing
technology, however they don’t invest in distribution, provide editing, or offer marketing, promotion or bookstore
placement. Because the PoD publisher operates on a shoestring budget, they are risk averse. This is a huge disadvantage to the author, and here’s why:
How POD authors make money: PoD publishers’ books have
no distribution, and they aren’t stocked in bookstores
(which I’ll explain below), so the only way authors make
money is if they personally sell books. They are the unpaid
sales force for their publisher, and the only way authors
can make sales is to buy books from their publisher at a
discount and sell them at events.
How POD Publishers make their money: PoD publishers
lack distribution and often have inferior editing and no
marketing/promotion, which means PoD publishers have
no way to make money from outside sources, like bookstores. Since these books aren’t stocked in bookstores, PoD
publishers are less choosy about signing a quality manuscript. This forces them to turn inward to their authors, who
buy their own books in order to make sales. As a result, PoD
publishers need to constantly look for new authors, both to
bring in new money and to compensate for authors who
choose not to buy their own books. The PoD publisher
makes money from authors who buy their own books.
POD Distribution: Many PoD publishers will insist they
have distribution and will tell you they’re distributed by
Ingram or Baker & Taylor. As I mentioned before, these two
companies are wholesalers, meaning they only fulfill orders
placed by bookstores and libraries. They don’t have sales
teams pitching the catalog. In order to qualify for a distribution
deal with one of the full-service book distribution companies,
publishers have to meet certain criteria, meaning high sales.
Since the only sales PoD publishers normally get are from
their own authors, they will never qualify.
Editing: Book editors are expensive and worth their salt.
However, the PoD budget doesn’t allow for hiring talented,
experienced editors, so the quality of their books is inferior
to Big Guns and Indie Trade Presses. Many PoD publishers
will only look for punctuation errors, though they may not
tell you that up front. PoD authors should seek out
professional editors and pay out of pocket for that service.
Marketing/promotion: PoD publishers can’t afford to
market and promote. Some may send out press releases,
but this is normally a one-page sheet that spams the
marketplace. (I’ve received tons of these. Have you?)
Authors may be asked to submit an address list of potential
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THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
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readers, and the publisher will send out the press release.
Many PoD publishers will tell you that you’ll need to buy
books if you plan on speaking. This isn’t standard promotion.
The following are typical PoD publishing promotion practices:
Print runs – POD publishers don’t do print runs in any great
numbers because it costs too much, so they’ll normally
print enough to supply authors’ orders. Many POD publishers
will use CreateSpace’s printing services, which is what
authors use when they self-pub with Amazon. This means
that books are only printed when there is a physical order.
sending out Advance reader copies (Arcs) –
They don’t provide this service
Advertising – They don’t provide this service
co-op promotion – They don’t provide this service
Can you see why I say that the PoD author is the unpaid
sales force for the publisher? The PoD publisher provides
zero services that will help sell the book, because they
simply can’t afford it. All sales are entirely up to the author.
VANITY PUBlISHING
This publishing option is exactly what it
sounds like. Authors pay to be published. everything about
the production process, from editing, to cover design, to
interior design and layout is inferior and, as such, these
books are not stocked in bookstores. like the PoD
publishing option, vanity publishers have no distribution,
marketing/promotion, and only print whatever the author
orders. They will only print a book upon receiving a
physical order.
E-PUBlISHING
This is exactly what it suggests—your book will
only come out in e-book format. like the digital printing
process was a boon to the PoD publisher, e-book technology
has been a boon to the e-publishing community. As such,
you have many who have opened on shoestring budgets,
which adversely affects all phases of production… especially
editing. They pay their editors a percentage of sales. So if
an editor edits a book that ends up not selling well, the
editor won’t get paid more than a few dollars, even though
it’s not his or her fault. This leads to a very high turnover for
e-book editors who employ this type of payment. Since
there is no physical book to be concerned with, the
e-publisher often relies on online promotion, which is a
rich field of possibility—provided they utilize this to good
advantage. There are many good review sites that will
review e-books.
16
THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
The successful, well regarded e-publishers specialize.
Romance and fantasy have a number of e-publishers who
are doing very well, and YA seems to be picking up as well.
Mainstream fiction and nonfiction tend to have a harder
time with e-book sales.
SElF PUBlISHING
This is where the you, the author, are the one
in charge of every aspect of production, promotion and
sales. You set the retail price, and it’s your name (or the name
of your company) on the copyright page. You buy the ISBN.
Many writers choose to self pub through Amazon, and I’ve
seen some terrific success stories. Mostly, however, I’ve seen
unhappy, disillusioned authors, because they didn’t
realize how tough it is. You MUST know what you’re getting
into if you choose this option. To do this right, you have to
treat this as a full-time job. You should hire an outside editor
to make sure your manuscript is clean, hire an excellent
cover designer, and plan out your promotion and marketing
plan so you know exactly how you’re going to nab readers.
The upside is that you’re in total control. The downside is
that you’re a team of one, whereas, Big Gun and Indie Trade
Press authors have teams of hundreds, so you have to
know your stuff.
Questions to ask a potential publisher:
To help you figure out who is who in this publishing
quagmire, here are some helpful questions you can ask of
any publisher offering you a contract:
1) How many books do you publish each season?
(seasons being Fall/Winter; Spring/Summer) This is
important because you want to make sure you won’t get lost
in the shuffle. A small press that’s putting out dozens and
dozens of books each season can’t possibly do justice
to your book with marketing, promotion or editing. Check
their lineup. Are there reviews and winning titles? Check
out the books they’ve published. Are there award winners?
Do they have reviews by national magazines such as Kirkus,
Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly?
2) How many genres do you accept? The Big Guns have
imprints and accept all genres. Indie trade presses should
specialize in a particular genre. Small presses would be
hard pressed to do justice to every genre. The editing is
different, the promotion and marketing is different. If you
see a press that accepts all genres, chances are strong that
they’re a PoD press.
next page
’
Volunteer Positions for the
2014 Pennwriters Conference
There are several chair and committee positions open for the
2014 Pennwriters Conference next May. Please check the list for
positions that match your interests. Email Charli Mac and Ayleen
Stellhorn ([email protected], [email protected])
to find a volunteer position that fits Pennwriters and you.
3) Do you do print runs? If they say they use print on
demand technology, they’re PoD. If they say, “our average
print run is 2,500 units,” they’re a trade press.
4) Who is your printer? If they say lightening Source or
CreateSpace, they’re a PoD publisher. If they say Malloy,
Versa Press or any standard printer, they’re more than
likely a trade press. Be aware that many of the standard
presses have the digital technology, so that’s why it’s
important to know what kind of print runs they do.
5) What kind of promotion do you provide? This refers
to sending ARCs out to reviewers and media. It’s their job
to support you on a national level, while you take care of
the local marketplace by doing book events and local
interviews. But your publisher should help you with that.
6) Who distributes your books? This distinguishes the
PoD publisher from the indie trade press, which can be
really hard to see. If they say Ingram, Baker & Taylor, they
do NoT have distribution because they are wholesalers.
If they say Consortium/Perseus, IPG, NBN, or blue chip
distributors of this nature, they are a mainstream publisher.
lastly, ask around and do your research. How long has
a publisher been in business? My normal suggestion is to
give a publisher a couple years to find their footing. Talk to
the authors of a potential publisher. Are they happy? Read
some of their books; they’re a reflection of the quality of
their editing.
You’re Goldilocks looking for “just right,” and you need
a publishing option that will support your vision.
Along with being the editorial director for Behler Publications, Lynn
Price is the award-winning author of DONOVAN’S PARADIGM and
THE WRITER’S ESSENTIAL TACKLE BOx. Since 2003, Behler Publications has been publishing best selling and critically acclaimed
nonfiction about everyday people who end up doing extraordinary
things due to a pivotal event that alters their perspective about life.
Behler Publications’ bestsellers include JAN’S STORY by CBS journalist Barry Petersen; FANCY FEET by Heidi Cave, OFF THE STREET by
Detective Chris Baughman, star of the upcoming MSNBC show Slave
Hunters; THROWAWAY PLAYERS: THE CONCuSSION CRISIS FROM
PEEWEE FOOTBALL TO THE NFL by former Tampa Bay Buccaneers
president Gay Culverhouse; and Los Angeles Times bestseller KTLA:
NEWS AT TEN WITH STAN CHAMBERS by former Los Angeles news
icon Stan Chambers.
The Hospitality Room Chair:
• organize the Hospitality Room to accommodate all
vendors and Conference Committee Chairs as necessary.
• Regularly check, throughout the conference, on the needs
of vendors or Conference Committee Chairs set up in
the Hospitality Room.
• Schedule volunteers to host the Room throughout
the Conference.
The Chinese Auction Chair:
• obtain donations for Chinese auctions from members
and outside sources.
• Schedule staff to accept donations and sell tickets for
the Auction for the duration of the conference.
• Prepare receptacles for each donation to receive
auction tickets.
The Merchandise Table Chair:
• Confer with CC and PW Treasurer regularly to know
what PW merchandise is available for the conference, to
determine if CC plans to secure new merchandise for the
conference, and to offer suggestions based on what has
sold in the past.
• Confer with the Book Table Coordinator to ascertain the
names of Pennwriters and/or speakers who will provide
books to be sold on the merchandise table.
• Schedule staff for the merchandise table for the
duration of the conference.
The Moderators’ Chair:
• Schedule volunteers to moderate workshops.
The Agent/Editor Appointment Chair:
• Schedule pitches with agents/editors.
• Schedule time-keeping staff.
The Freebie Table Chair:
• obtain brochures, guidelines, etc., from publishers,
magazines, etc., for freebie table.
• Set up and maintain freebie table throughout
the conference.
The After-Hours Sessions Chair:
• organize sessions for genre meetings and/or
critique groups.
• Confer with CC prior to brochure printing/mailing,
and program printing to schedule these sessions.
• Direct attendees to correct sessions, with either
signs or staff.
Additional responsibilities of each chair:
• Confer with CC regularly.
• After the Conference, prepare and submit to the CC,
in a timely manner, a Conference report.
THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
17
Market News
once you’ve got all those “Unforgettable
characters” and the stories, poems and
articles about them, written, you have got
to find somebody who’ll release them
upon an unsuspecting, yet ultimately
grateful world. here are some options…
One of the leading children’s magazines, cricket needs
fiction, poetry and nonfiction for ages 9-14. Fiction needs
are for stories 1,200-1,800 words, short-shorts 600-900 wds,
and a few longer pieces up to 6,000 for serialization. They
use realistic contemporary fiction, historical fiction, SF/F,
folklore, myths and legends and humor. Nonfiction should
run 1,200-1,800 words; poetry 3-35 lines. Pay for prose
writing is up to 25 cents/wd; poems get $3/line. They
now use the Submittable Submission Manager and prefer
online submissions through that service, though they still
consider paper subs. Detailed guidelines are online at
cricketmag.com/25.submission-guidelines.
the first line is a sort of exercise in creativity for writers—
but one that pays $30 per story, if you make the grade.
As you might guess from the quarterly’s name, they
provide a different opening sentence to a story each
issue, and contributors take it from there, composing a
complete piece of fiction from that bare-bones story
prompt. Send stories, 300-3,000 words attached in Word
or Word Perfect, to [email protected]. Visit
thefirstline.com/submission.htm for detailed guidelines,
the upcoming issues’ opening sentences and deadlines.
Pedestal, a quarterly webzine using all sorts of genre
poetry pays a healthy $40/poem. Editor John Amen
wants all original poetry, no reprints. Send a maximum of
6 poems at a time. They also use the Submittable.com
service to receive submissions. Next deadline is Nov. 30.
Dr. Steven Wittenberg Gordon edits a monthly e-zine
called songs of eretz Poetry Zine. He uses all genres of
poetry, but wants work with a universal appeal and has a
200-word maximum limit. Original poems get $7, reprints
earn $2. He needs verses in the body of the email, sent to
[email protected]
Brain, child is a literary magazine exclusively for mothers.
They like to call themselves a unique amalgamation of
The New Yorker and Parenting and use essays, poetry
and fiction from freelancers. They want “smart, creative
pieces that go beyond the expected.” Short stories and
creative nonfiction pieces earn up to $500. Editor-in-Chief
Marcelle Soviero wants highly individual perspectives on
being a mother of children ages 0-16. Detailed guides are
online at brainchildmag.com/about/writers-guidelines.
18
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
by Jim Lee, Area 4, Associate Editor, Market Reports
THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
The SF/F magazine Apex is temporarily closed to
submissions as of this column being written. They are
slated to reopen with a new editor (not yet named)
after December. Other SF/F/H short fiction markets
currently/temporarily closed to subs include Beware
the Dark, Betwixt, new Myths and innsmouth Magazine.
Avon romance puts out 200-400 print titles/year; 2 e-books/
week. Advances for these romance novels range all the
way between $5,000 to $100,000. Send a query letter
and your full manuscript via the online submission form
at avonromance.com/impulse. Detailed guides are at
avonromance.com.
AArP the Magazine covers the “varied needs and
active life interests of AARP members, age 50 and over.”
A bimonthly, they pay $1 per word for feature articles.
Send queries and recent writing samples by email to
[email protected] (in body of email, no attachments) or via snail mail to AARP The Magazine, c/o
Editorial Submissions, 601 E. St. NW, Washington, DC 20049.
For detailed guides, visit aarp.org.
llewellyn Publications puts out nonfiction books with
an emphasis on body, mind and spirit, magic, Wicca,
paganism, witchcraft, ghost hunting, spirit guides, tarot
card decks, tarot books, reincarnation, astrology,
alternative health and angels. Contact them by mail:
llewellyn Worldwide, Acquisitions Dept,, 2143 Wooddale
Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125. See www.llewellyn.com
and [email protected].
Kensington Publishing corp. uses a variety of genre fiction,
but no SF/F or poetry. See their website for specific editor
interest and guides: www.kensingtonbooks.com.
Briarpatch is a magazine covering current events,
grassroots activism, electoral politics, economic justice,
the ecology, labor, food security, gender equality,
indigenous peoples’ struggles and international solidarity.
Their address is Briarpatch Magazine, 2138 McIntyre St.,
Regina Sk S4P 2R7, Canada. For editorial deadlines and
other info, visit www.briarpatchmagazine.com.
A monthly magazine for practicing vets, Veterinary
economics publishes nonfiction articles concerning the
business of client and patient care, including personal
solutions, communication, practice finances, personal
finances, day-to-day management issues, client relations,
life balance, changing models of practice and vaccine
protocols. Visit http://veterinarybusiness.dvm360.com for
article types and other guides. Their mail address is Editor,
Veterinary Economics, 8033 Flint, lenexa, kS 66214.
snafu is a Print on Demand anthology of military horror
being put together by Cohesion Press of Australia. Editor
Geoff Brown needs original horror and science fiction
relevant to the theme, of 3,000 to 7,000 words. Attach
your .doc, .docx or .rtf file and send email message to
cohesionpress.com/submission/anthologie. Deadline is
Dec. 1, and pay is 3 cents/word (Australian currency).
This publisher apparently also puts out novels and
stand-alone novellas, so check for more info online.
the Georgia review has been published quarterly since
1947 by the University of Georgia. They feature “an
eclectic blend of essays, fiction, poetry, graphics and
book reviews.” They’re interested in literature, history,
philosophy, anthropology, politics, film, music and visual
arts. They pay $50 per published page for fiction and
nonfiction; $4 per line for poems. They are closed to
unsolicited submissions May 15-Aug. 15, but they otherwise read continuously. Send one story, article or 3 to 5
poems with self-addressed envelope to The Georgia
Review, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.
No previously published or simultaneous subs, please.
See guidelines at garev.uga.edu/submissions.html.
Coming out nine times/year, Backpacker pays between
40 cents and $1/word for articles that “inspire and enable
people to enjoy the outdoors by providing the most
trusted and engaging information about backcountry
adventure in North America.” They want email queries
with writing samples (as attachments or links) to the
appropriate department. For detailed guidelines,
visit backpacker.com/guidelines.
those “Unforgettable characters” may also help land
you novel writers an agent. here are several agencies…
Adams literary exclusively represents children’s book
authors and artists. Check: [email protected] and
submit using website submission form. Visit them online
at www.adamsliterary.com.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
American theatre uses nonfiction that covers trends
and events in all types of theatre, plus the economic
and legislative developments affecting the arts, with
a particular focus on pro, not-for-profit theatre. Contact
Editor-in-Chief Jim O’Quinn at American Theatre, 520 8th
Ave., Fl 24, New York, NY 10018. Online: www.tcg.org.
the August Agency represents writers of mainstream
fiction, creative and narrative nonfiction, crime fiction
and true crime, memoir, pop culture, media and current
event books, politics and social sciences, business, bio,
history and academic works. They have an online form
for submissions. Contact Cricket Pechstein at
[email protected]. But first I’d check
www.augustagnecy.com for guides.
Doe coover Agency handles literary fiction and a broad
range of nonfiction (bio, memoir, history, business writing,
health, cooking, food and gardening). Also interested in
children’s lit (picture books, Young Adult and middlegrade). Visit www.doecooveragencty.com for the
individual agents’ interests/areas of concentration.
Mailing address is PO Box 668, Winchester, MA 01890.
Pam strickler Author Management seeks historical fiction,
women’s fiction and romance. No nonfiction, children’s
or screenplays. Their snail mail address: PO Box 505,
New Palz, NY 12561. Visit www.pamstrickler.com.
Query by email only: [email protected].
With a preference for literary fiction, juvenile and
teen books, and narrative nonfiction, carolyn swayze
literary Agency wants queries via email, to
[email protected]. Their address is
PO Box 39588, RPO White Rock, Surrey BC V4A 0A9,
Canada. Online: www.swayzeagency.com.
regina ryan Books handles nonfiction for the adult
audience: narrative nonfiction, architecture, history,
politics, natural history, science, the environment,
women’s issues, parenting, cooking, psychology, health,
wellness, diet and fitness, lifestyle, sustainability, popular
reference, sports, travel and gardening. Query via
email: [email protected]. Online:
www.reginaryanbooks.com.
emilie stewart literary Agency specializes in literary and
commercial fiction and nonfiction. Query by mail only, to
SASE to Emilie Stewart literary Agency, 241 E. Broadway,
Suite B, New York, NY 10002. (emiliestewartagency.com)
[Information for this column came from recent issues
of The Writer and Writer’s Digest, the Ralan.com website
and my personal inquiries.]
the greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
today and tomorrow are yet to be said.
the chances, the changes are all yours to make.
the mold of your life is in your hands to break.
-THE HOBBIT, J.R.R. Tolkien
THE PENN WRITER • November/December 2013 • www.pennwriters.org
19
THE
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PA I D
Pittsburgh, PA
Permit No. 2516
7 Strut Court
Middle River, MD 21220-3539
Return Service Requested
Save the Date for this special full-day event presented by Pennwriters Area 3
Your Path to Publication—and Beyond featuring Chuck Sambuchino
Saturday, February 1 • 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Pittsburgh Airport Marriott
Pennwriters, a not-for-profit organization of more
than 390 members from Pennsylvania and beyond, was
established in 1988 as a networking organization for
published and aspiring writers of all genres. The group
offers an annual three-day writers conference and area
events and has a strong internet presence, with email
groups, online classes and social networks. Authors who
meet set criteria are granted Published Author status.
For more information about Pennwriters and its members,
visit www.pennwriters.org or contact President Carol
Silvis at [email protected].
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
About Pennwriters
. . . .
Ring in your writing new year with a top-notch industry pro. Chuck Sambuchino is best known as the editor of THe GUIDe
To lITeRARY AGeNTS and THe CHIlDReN’S WRITeR’S & IllUSTRAToR’S MARKeT, both published by Writer’s Digest
Books. Chuck’s blog, “The Accompanying Guide to literary Agents Blog,” is one of the largest and most-visited blogs in the
publishing industry. He was recently included in a Forbes Magazine Top 10 list of Social Media Influencers in Book Publishing.
No matter what your writing level or genre, our program of four interrelated workshops will help you map out your path
to publication and beyond. We’ll start with a close-up look at the two main paths to modern publication. our next step takes
us to professional writing practices that get writing noticed by editors and agents. Then we’ll get a crash course in everything
you need to know about agents, including how to identify the best agents for your work, query letter writing, and important
do’s and don’ts. After lunch, anything goes with a free-for-all pitch session. Chuck will give on-the-spot, capsule critiques
to anyone who wants to try out their elevator pitch or share their query letter, synopsis or manuscript’s first page in front
of a live, friendly audience. The event will conclude with a session on what every writer—published and on the path to
publication—needs to know about writer platforms: how to create one and develop self-marketing efforts as you go.
Cost for Pennwriters members is $75 ($70 early-bird discount if registered by Jan. 10). Nonmember cost is $80
($75 by Jan. 10). Registration includes a box lunch and chance to win one of eight door prizes. We will also raffle off a
detailed critique by Chuck Sambuchino, of either your query letter, synopsis, or first page of your manuscript ($80 value).
Raffle tickets will be available as buy one for $5, get one free. look for more details online and in the next Penn Writer.
Submissions
The Penn Writer is published bimonthly. Contact Heather
Desuta, newsletter editor, at [email protected].
DEADLINE FoR THE JAN/FEB ISSUE IS DECEMBER 1.
The theme will be “Writer’s Toolbox.” What helps propel your
writing forward? What websites and blogs do you visit?
What essentials allow you to work your literary magic?
Submissions not based on theme are welcome, and don’t
forget to share your accomplishments, tips, great quotes,
book recommendations, etc. Include relevant artwork,
photos and book cover images. We hope to hear from you!
Type “PeNN WRITeR SUBMISSIoN” in the subject line of
your email message, and please include your Area number.