Literary Luau - Central Coast Writers
Transcription
Literary Luau - Central Coast Writers
Scribbles California Writers Club • Central Coast Writers Branch www.centralcoastwriters.org • August 2010 Aloha Playwright Lee Brady: Add Drama to Your Fiction! L Lee--continued on page 10 MEETINGS W e meet on the third Tuesday of the month at the Casa Munras Hotel, 700 Munras Avenue, Monterey. We open the doors at 5:30 p.m. for optional dinner; the program starts at 6:30 p.m. with the speaker beginning at 7:00 p.m. For last-minute changes, check the Web site: www.centralcoastwriters.org CENTRAL COAST WRITERS’ Annual Summer Potluck Picnic & Open Mic Photo by Ken Jones ee Brady, our featured presenter on Tuesday, July 20, is a recognized local playwright who spoke about simple dramatic techniques that could possibly enhance our work in whatever genre we choose. She is a playwright, actor, director, producer, and theatre critic, and teaches Creative Writing at Monterey Peninsula College. Lee spoke of her first love: writing plays and sharing them with others. “Playwriting is so social! It’s dialogue, dialogue. After you write your play, get your friends together. Invite them into your living room, and you read it. Then pretty soon you write and rewrite. Then you get a better play.” We can heat up our short stories, novels and poems with dramatic techniques. Literary Luau Sun., August 8, 2010 Noon – 3 p.m. Appetite mandatory--Island outfit optional—Prizes will be given for best-dressed guests (wearing a muumuu/caftan, grass skirt, woven palm/straw hat and/or aloha shirt) at the home of David Rasch and Ixchel Leigh 27100 27200 Prado Del Sol, Carmel Valley The picnic replaces our regular monthly meeting. Wine, a gift from CCW’s own vintner Harold E. Grice, will be Red Merlot and White Chardonnay. Cristy Shauck’s secret scrumptious garlic bread, beef, chicken, beer, bottled water and soft drinks will be provided by CCW. Please bring a side dish to share (casserole, salad, chips/dip, veggies and/or fruit, dessert). Open mic readings of no more than 5 minutes maximum time per reader are planned, so 18 readers may sign up on a first-come/first-served basis. Bring yourself and a guest. Please RSVP before 8/3/10 to register to read, and let chef Sam Grice know how much meat—and/or vegetarian burgers--to plan on preparing. Contact David by e-mail at [email protected]. WHAT’S INSIDE July and August meetings....................................... 1 The Prez Sez........................................................... 2 The Electronic Inkpot & Letters............................... 3 Earrings for a Black Day.......................................... 4 Member Profile: Patrick W. Flanigan....................... 5 Poet’s Corner, Bragging Rights............................... 6 Spotlight Page, Self-Publishing............................... 7 Market of the Month................................................ 8 East of Eden, Local Authors.................................... 9 Inbox Inklings........................................................ 10 Info Exchange,”In Pursuit of the Dream”................11 “If the Shoe Fits”.................................................... 12 The Prez Sez... by David Rasch Night of the Living Deadline Scribbles Editor Wanda Sue Parrot kindly reminded me this week about the deadline for my column. Twice. Well, maybe three times. I don’t fault her for this one bit. Without this small flame singeing my hindquarters, my “column consciousness” would have remained interred in some dank netherworld of my distracted psyche. So now, finally, the night before the deadline, I write. “Deadline” is an interesting word. The Online Etymology Dictionary traces its use back to the Civil War era, when guards would establish a line on the ground around prisoners, with orders “. . . to fire upon and kill any of the prisoners aforesaid who might touch, fall upon, pass over or under [or] across the said ‘dead line’. . . .” [“Trial of Henry Wirz,” Report of the Secretary of War, Oct. 31, 1865] This term was later adopted by American newspaper journalists in the 1920s to mean “time limit.” Why did these journalists have to pick such a spooky term when they could have used something kinder and gentler like “lifeline?” There must have been a good reason. I am glad Wanda does not have a gun. For me, and for most of us, less coercive means than a death threat are adequate to bring us to the task. It’s ironic that any kind of deadline pressure was necessary for me, because I am enjoying writing this column. For myself, and for many writers I know in CCW, writing is one of the more rewarding and meaningful enterprises we undertake. And even though I just mentioned “undertaking,” I’m trying to say that writing, even writing under a deadline, is very life-affirming. Writing is a “lifeline” for many of us, but “deadline” works better for making us do it. Some aspects of the writing process are truly mysterious, and I must learn to accept them.Contact David at [email protected] !!CONGRATULATIONS!! to Newlyweds David and Ixchel Leigh Rasch who were literally literarily linked on June 26, 2010 MARK YOUR CALENDAR!! Change of Day & Time for September Meeting Date: Sat., 9/11/10 Time: 9:30--11:30 a.m. Casa Munras 700 Munras Ave., Monterey Speaker: Peter Funt (son of Candid Camera’s Alan Funt) Scribbles August 2010 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President – David Rasch Vice President Pro Tempore– Harold E. Grice Secretary/Treasurer – Deanne Gwinn Programs –Patrick Flanigan, Pam Gallaway, Judy Zhu Membership – Ludmila Austin Public Relations – Joyce Krieg Hospitality – Judy Marquardt, Chair; Fawn Mackey, Cochair Newsletter – David Rasch, Editor-in-Chief Patricia Hamilton, Publisher Wanda Sue Parrott, Editor Cristy Shauck, Production/Distribution Photographer and Web Master – Ken Jones Kemberlee Shortland, Assistant Web Master Contest Committee – Cristy Shauck, Chair Central Board Representative – Joyce Krieg Scribbles is the official monthly publication for members of Central Coast Writers, a branch of California Writers Club, a registered non-profit corporation. All material is copyrighted © 2010 by California Writers Club and may not be reproduced without permission. Opinions expressed under individual bylines do not necessarily represent an official position of, or endorsement by, Central Coast Writers or California Writers Club. Scribbles is published by: Central Coast Writers Post Office Box 997 Pacific Grove, CA 93950 Scribbles electronic addresses: Editorial Department: [email protected] Web site: www.centralcoastwriters.org Scribbles Editorial staff and contributors: Editor-in-Chief: David Rasch Publisher: Patricia Hamilton Editor: Wanda Sue Parrott Proofreader: Cheri Love Columnists, Features & Events Editors: Nancy Jacobs: “Poet’s Corner” Lori Kearney: “Pizza and Prose” C. Jonathan Shoemaker: “If the Shoe Fits” Michelle Smith: “Member Profiles” G. M. Weger: “Still in Pursuit of the Dream” Contests: Cristy Shauck Events: Harold E. Grice Reviews: C. Jonathan Shoemaker Correspondents: Donna Marbach, New York; Kemberlee Shortland, Ireland The Electronic Inkpot Self-Publishing: What exactly does it mean? by Wanda Sue Parrott, Editor Mike’s subject line shouted: RUTH SOLD HER BOOK! I should have cooled it. Instead, I forwarded Mike’s announcement. Orders for the tale about a shapeshifting male angel poured in. Best-sellerdom loomed. Ruth ordered boxes of books, devising a marketing plan before ever seeing a copy of the novel her husband claimed she’d “sold to a major American publisher.” Truth, as I learned later, was that PublishAmerica paid Ruth a $1 advance, offered editorial services for a fee (which she rejected), and promoted it by mailing pre-publication order forms to family and friends. The deal was sweetened by Ruth’s ability to buy her books wholesale, on a Print-on-Demand (POD) basis, and sell at a profit, for which she would receive periodic royalties. Did Ruth fool herself into believing she’d “sold” her manuscript, after years of fruitless attempts to find a publisher? Without even reading the book after she got her first copy, Ruth teamed up with an auto dealer, and a dazzling champagne reception was staged in the showroom. While Ruth read excerpts, salesmen in tuxedos served Letter to the Editor Scribbles is an online publication. Readers may submit e-mail letters with “ Scribbles Mail” in the subject line. To request Scribbles by U. S. mail, use “Snail Mail” as your subject. Send to: [email protected] Assistant Web Master’s response: I can tell you a word or two about PublishAmerica! Rip and off come to mind. Scam is another one. Kemberlee Shortland, via e-mail from Ireland Editor’s reply: Kemberlee, thanks for helping Ken Jones with the web site, sharing your romance-writer’s expertise, and giving us literary sexplanations in “Blowing the Curtains” in July. Glitches caused links to your web site and blog to malfunction, so we are reprinting them. See page 6. champagne to guests who nibbled on hors d’oeuvres. The men sold cars while Mike sold out Ruth’s autographed copies. It was her only literary win-win situation. I didn’t attend the glitzy, glamorous gala affair. By then, I’d read my attractively packaged copy, but wouldn’t have had the nerve to even give it to anyone if it were my work. I stopped counting typos, misspellings and grammatical errors at 1000. When Ruth asked my opinion, I said diplomatically: “I’m disappointed in PublishAmerica for allowing so many mistakes to be printed.” Ruth stopped speaking to me! Is PublishAmerica an e-age vanity press, new age publisher, or POD combo? Was Ruth self-published or not? What does self-published mean? Read this newsletter! Wanda Sue Parrott self-published The Last Indian on the Trail of Tears for Local Authors Live! in July and CCW’s Booktoberfest in October. The saddle-stitched (stapled) 68page chapbook introduces seven Native American spirit guides who helped her get $91,000 in her long one-person fight against city hall in Missouri, which she publicized by reading the controversial poem in public. Wanda belongs to the Trail of Tears Association and is Honorary Chief of the White Buffalo Tribe. Patricia Hamilton, Scribbles publisher and owner of Park Place Publications, has been helping writers selfpublish books since 1982. Her free consult takes you from manuscript to printed book, advice on book development, help to identify your audience and how to reach them, plus details on who does what, how long it takes, and how much it costs to self-publish. While more costly than on-line services, clients say she’s worth it for her thoroughness, creativity and knowledge of what it takes to become a successful author, plus she makes the entire process enjoyable and worry-free. For her latest book, California Healthy, Hamilton won two national book awards and the 2008 Irwin Award (BPSC) Best Creative Marketing Campaign for getting the books into the Marriott Hotel chain as the first ever in-room green guide. www.parkplacepublications.com and e-mail: [email protected] At Local Authors Live! 2010. Photo by Joyce Krieg. Scribbles August 2010 Earrings for a Black Day by Mila Austin Self-published Fiction; Print On Demand; iUniverse; 2010 Available from Googlebooks.com, Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, Books-a-Million.com Mila Austin was born in Russia and lived in the Soviet Union over 40 years. She loves both countries—her motherland and USA. “We don’t get to choose the place we are born, and can’t be judged by our origin,” she says. “American people asked me many questions about life in Russia. They wanted to know the inside story so they could compare it to what they’ve seen on TV. That’s why I’ve written this book.” Ludmilla Austin at Local Authors Live! Photo by Joyce Krieg. Excerpt – Scene from Lena’s Graduation-Day Gift Varya turned to the table, took a little jewelry box, . . . and said, “I have a present for you, Lena! . . . . This is for you, Lenochka, at this special time of your graduation, and your entering into adult life.” Lena . . . took out a pair of beautiful gold earrings … the shape of a crown with tiny tear-like drops dangling down. … “Ah! Serezki!” “Yes. These are your great-grandmother’s precious earrings, serezki given to her on her wedding day. Now, it is your time to have them.” Lena kissed her mother and said, “They are so beautiful, Mother! And so delicate!” “You deserve that gift, my child. Please, be careful with them. It is your heritage. I wish you a very happy life. But, if a black day ever comes, use them as you need.” “May I wear them now, Mother?” “These serezki are too expensive for everyday use, daughter. It would be better to keep them away from people’s eyes.” “Oho!” Volodya exclaimed, puzzled. “Where did you get such a treasure, Varvara Petrovna?” By habit, Volodya continued calling his first teacher by her first and patronymic, or father’s, name as they did in school. “It is a long and sad story,” Varya answered. . . . “My grandmother was from a very rich, noble family. They lived in Saint Petersburg. In 1918, after the October revolution, the Bolsheviks were taking over the homes of the bourgeoisie. They came into my grandmother’s house and took everything . . . they found that was valuable, even the wedding ring from her hand. It was so cold in the unheated house, and my grandma was wearing a warm scarf on her head, so the soldiers didn’t notice these earrings. . . .They are all our family had left. Factories, and homes, all the money in the banks—everything was gone. We became poor, as everyone Scribbles August 2010 else was.” “You never told me about this, Lena!” Volodya replied. “It is because my mother told me we should forget who we are,” Lena answered. . . . “But why did you say about the ‘black day’, Mother? We’re building communism, our bright future, where every person will be a happy member of the society. Isn’t that what you taught us in class?” “I teach the way I am supposed to,” Varya answered, setting down on the table a teapot with freshly brewed tea. “But I also know our history. And I do know that bad things happen,” she added. “Nothing bad can happen,” Volodya said resolutely. “The Soviet Union is the largest and strongest country in the world. We were first in space, we have nuclear weapons, we have the best army in the world—no one can put us down. And your Lena—she’s so smart and beautiful!” “Volodya,” Varya interrupted. “Do you know the old proverb ‘Don’t be born beautiful, but be born fortunate’?” “Who cares what the old folks say?” Volodya disagreed, wrinkling his face. “This is the wisdom of our people who believe that Fate does exist,” Varya argued. Ludmila Austin is membership chair of Central Coast Writers branch of the California Writers Club. This is her first book. CCW’s 2011 CREATIVE WRITING CONTEST Rules are now online at www.centralcoastwriters.org Or, to request a copy, send a #10 SASE to: CCW Contest, P. O. Box 997, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 MEMBER PROFILE: Patrick Flanigan Poetry: Good Medicine for the Soul P atrick Flanigan recently retired after thirty-three years of practice as a Hematologist/Medical Oncologist. But for nearly twenty years, Dr. Flanigan has been cultivating another passion spurred on by his wife’s invitation to participate in a writers’ group. The attraction of this writers’ group was its focus on “sharing ideas and fun, and NOT on criticizing each other’s work,” Patrick says. A CCW member since 2009, Patrick has written a few short stories, but his emphasis is poetry. “A common thread running through many of my poems is an effort to … describe what we see, smell and touch with a sense of the Mystery that lies within all things.” Surviving the Storm, Milk and Coffee, and When Sunflowers Speak are books of poetry that speak to his “effort to connect the superficial and the sublime.” Dr. Flanigan’s medical credentials include a B.S. in “arts/med” from Ohio State University, an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at UCLA, and a post-doctoral fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at OSU; however, formal literature courses were omitted after his undergraduate years. Nevertheless, he draws parallels from his medical practice and his writing, attempting to unify observation and deductive reasoning with self-expression. As a physician, Patrick “used the patient’s history, physical exam, symptoms and signs to come to a diagnosis and treatment plan.” But as an author, he aspires to “keep making observations and expressing them in ways that speak to [him] and those who might encounter [his] words…using, as a poet, questions, observations and words to try to connect the superficial and the sublime.” When asked for his best advice for other writers, Patrick emphasizes that one must “read a lot, look and listen a lot, and put ink on paper.” The good doctor will be the first to admit, however, that discipline is in short supply when it comes to putting pen to paper. Preferring to write at home, or in inspirational settings such as the Big Sur coast, Patrick says his writing schedule is pretty irregular. One might expect this of a practicing physician but not from a retiree with all the time in the world to write. Well. . . not quite, says Dr. Flanigan who stays busy by tending to his yard, pets and family, with a little time thrown in for tennis. “[Former U.S. Poet Laureate] Billy Collins once said the problem facing the poet is what do you do with the other twenty-three-and-a-half hours in the day? I suppose a lack of discipline is part of my problem.” Patrick’s books are self-published. “The advantage of self-publishing is that you can have significant control over the look and content of the book,” he at Local Authors Live! says. “The biggest disad- Patrick Photo by Joyce Krieg. vantage is distribution and marketing.” Patrick developed a folio of nine poems titled Freestanding Verse. A DVD version of When Sunflowers Speak was released last year. He presented his work at the first Carmel Authors and Ideas Festival and is slated for this year’s Festival in September. Michelle Smith is a semi-retired physician and freelance writer whose articles have been published in a variety of magazines. A member of The Authors Guild, the National Writers Union and The National League of American Pen Women, Michelle is completing the final revision of her first novel , Hide and Seek. Her website is http://www.theebonyquill. com NEW MEMBERS IN THE NEWS. . . We warmly welcome new CCW members: Leslie Geiger Epps, Carmel Valley Susan Horcajo, Salinas Kedron Bryson, Monterey Soon-to-be member Cheri Love is seeking “Examiners.” See Info Exchange on Page 11. Scribbles August 2010 BRAGGING RIGHTS POET’S CORNER Poetry by CCW members may be submitted to ccwscribbles@ sbcglobal.net. August features selfpublished poets Scribbles editor Wanda Sue Parrott is a skilled, accomplished, poet who just released the 3rd Edition of her self-published autobiographical chapbook The Last Indian on the Trail of Tears. Wanda recommends this self-published spiral-bound how-to book by award-winning poet Lee Ann Russell because “buyers like me always win their money back.” How to Write Poetry, Ballad to Villanelle by Lee Ann Russell (182 pages, 441 definitions, 205 poetic forms, 100 examples and 187 famous poets’ life spans), $20 incl. postage, from poet Lee Ann Russell, 1004 N. Rogers Ave., Springfield, MO 65802 or e-mail [email protected] . Your Poetry Editor, Nancy Jacobs Summer Signatures Writing is for man what sunlit silver slime is for snails and slugs in the garden of life; Writing is for man what the web is for silk spinners supping on fly-flesh fruit from the fields of life; Writing is for man what musk of tom spray is, to fellow felines, on stalks of green-gold grass; Writing is for man what rank runnels of urine are, to dogs, on red and yellow hydrants and gnarled gray tree trunks, and old truck tires: Summer Signatures proclaiming: “I am here, this is my mark, and I am wonderful!” by Wanda Sue Parrott Scribbles August 2010 Please share news about your writing-related achievements – appearances, awards and publications – with other members of CCW by e-mail sent to “Bragging Rights” at [email protected]. Only active members of the CCW branch of California Writers Club are eligible. BLOG LOG: Kemberlee Shortland, www.kemberlee.com, native Carmelite now living in Ireland, can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] and her blog posts, including “Blowing the Curtains” from our July edition and news about her new romance novel A Piece of My Heart, are online at http://bit.ly/camVoX MUSE NEWS: Cristy Shauck’s multi-flavored jelly beans poem recently published in Foolish Times will tease palates as September poem of the month in Poet’s Corner. Profiles of Members’ Independently Produced Books: AROMATIC ALCHEMY, RECIPES FOR TRANSFORMATION by Ixchel Susan Leigh. (Mansion Publishing, Boston, 2001) – Ixchel, a healer, visionary, author and teacher, contracted to have her book published through Mansion Publishing by striking a deal with them. She says, “They facilitated the process. I created the cover concept and their designer executed it. They worked with the printers and sent me galleys. The entire process took about three months after the final editing.” The book was on the presses when 9-1101 happened, which set the process back about three weeks. Ixchel owns all rights to her book. Details at www.IxchelLeigh.com or e-mail [email protected] THE BLOCKED WRITER’S BOOK OF THE DEAD by David Rasch, Ph.D. (Scribd; 2010)--This book, introduced in this column last month, helps writers overcome problems with writer’s block and procrastination. David, a psychologist who has specialized in work with blocked writers for over twenty years, offers a fresh perspective on these complex difficulties, and provides numerous practical tips, assessments and exercises that have been shown to increase the flow of writing. He utilized the Scribd approach to free e-publishing which Kemble Scott introduced at the CCW meeting in May. http://www.scribd.com/doc/31441606/The-BlockedWriter-s-Book-of-the-Dead and/or the short version http://scr.bi/djjbpQ LOCAL AUTHORS LIVE! More than 61 local authors, mostly self-published, greeted the public, sold and signed books, and generally proclaimed to the organizers “Bravo!” “Great Event!” “Thanks-a-Million!,” and “Looking forward to next year!” during this debut event at The Barnyard Shopping Village on July 24. CCW Vice President Pro Tempore Harold E. Grice donated three bottles of his wine and a CCW totebag for the raffle, securing CCW’s sponsorship listing. Joyce Krieg generously contributes these photos – and others throughout this issue – that she took of CCW members. SCRIBBLES SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE This new feature shines light on short original works, preferably in 100 words or less. This month’s column spotlights David Rasch Excerpt from The Blocked Writer’s Book of the Dead by David Rasch, Ph.D., published byScribd, May 2010. Peter Hoss Organizer Patricia Hamilton with the CCW contribution and raffle co-ordinator Donna Jett. Howard Rowland Marija Miletic Dail Organizer Dick Burns Kerry Wood Walter Gourlay Laurie Gibson Howard Birnbaum Anne Jones, Ixchel Leigh, Ken Jones Dan Linehan Wanda Sue Parrott “Humanity has been graced with an exquisite brain, frequently touted as the crowning achievement of evolution. Because of this biological marvel, our species has distinguished itself among living organisms by developing, among other things, the complex skills of reading and writing. “In fact, in the rather brief period that humankind has been able to read and write, astounding and vast literary traditions have been established on our once-illiterate planet. “The thinking brain has truly been a blessing to our species, but it comes with a dark side. We have a mind with a depth and complexity so magnificent that it is also capable of thoroughly undermining our attempts to engage in the wonderful enterprise of writing.” David Rasch, new president of Central Coast Writers, has been a member about three years. Facts about David’s e-book, which cost nothing to publish, include: a reader can view portions of the book online for free, or pay $5 for options: read the entire book online; download it as a PDF, DOC, TXT; print it out; or send it to a mobile reading device. It is listed under Books, Non-Fiction, Self-Help. Its online publication date was 5/16/10; as of 7/23/10 its hit list showed 397 reads and several five-star reviews. Details about David’s book at http://scr.bi/djj6pQ For info about publishing opportunities contact http://www.scribd.com/about Scribbles August 2010 MARKET OF THE MONTH Submission Guidelines Basic highlights about this top-rated self-publishing firm in the rapidly changing marketplace of Print-on-Demand titles follow. We tested the e-address in July, but won’t vouch for it in August. Like the DOW, the POD market is highly volatile. FEATURED PUBLISHER FOR AUGUST createspace www.createspace.com Publicized as “a one-stop shop for book publishing success,” its members sell through Amazon.com and e-stores. There are no membership or set-up fees. Authors must be able to create interiors of their books as PDFs. CreateSpace is the result of the merger of BookSurge and CustomFlix, which resulted in CreateSpace in October 2009 as a brand of On-Demand Publishing, LLC, a subsidiary of Seattle-based Amazon.com, Inc. It is both free and fee-based. It provides inventory-free physical distribution of On Demand books, CDs and DVDs by providing the most comprehensive solution for content owners who want to distribute their books, CDs and DVDs without inventory. A perk of CreateSpace is its flexible royalty options and low wholesale book pricing. Warning: Costly editorial and book-design services are offered as extras, with fees reaching $100 per hour when freebies included in the contract are used up. Who Pays What for POD? by Wanda Sue Parrott The only payment most POD publishers make is royal- up the free fixes in your contract and then choose to pay ties paid periodically. Royalties range from 10 to 80 percent dearly to finish the book, or abandon self-publishing and of a book’s price. Some publishers pay royalties four times lose your investment. a year; others, just twice. Read the fine print before assumPOD books are paperbacks with covers that often curl ing you will get a percentage of the retail price, because up. If you’ve already paid $30 per copy to publish a book some publishers only pay royalties on wholesale prices, you can’t even sell for $16.95, welcome to the POD Book and some do not pay any royalties on a title purchased by Club where everyone’s testing the milieu. In May 2010, its principal purchaser, the author. newcomer CreateSpace passed its 2 million mark with The profit an author makes is the net amount left af- book, CD and DVD titles. ter she/he buys a book at the discount price and sells it at POD publishing is one way to self-publish, Another is whatever higher price she/he charges. Factored in is cost the saddle-stitched chapbook like my poetry volume The for advertising and mailing the book before arriving at net Last Indian on the Trail of Tears that costs $2.91 and sells profit. All POD publishers based in America offer the same for $7 at book signings and $10 when shipped. There’s also basic services, including iUniverse, PublishAmerica, XLi- do-it-yourself desktop publishing. POD is the surest way bris and Tate Publishing (Christian books). to get big books published fast--and inexpensively if you If the firm offers to publish your book for free, or as lit- carefully edit your own work before uploading a single tle as $1, believe it. Why? Because the publisher makes its page to the e-publisher. Once published, your book’s shelf money from copies it sells, not from the quality of content, life will be forever, even though there’s not a single hard unless it jealously safeguards its reputation to avoid being copy stored on the non-existent bookshelf. called a vanity press (publisher that will publish anything for money). That’s where the rub comes in. Once you start POD = Posterity, and that’s priceless! to find errors and glitches that must be changed, you’ll eat Scribbles August 2010 Ready to publish? Just starting to write? East of Eden is the conference for writers of all levels! www.SouthBayWriters.com 2010 East of Eden Writers Conference September 24 - 26, 2010 Salinas Community Center Registration Fees Improve your writing Learn from the pros in 48 workshops in 5 tracks: General fiction, Mystery, Nonfiction, Poetry, Publishing/Business. Andrei Aleinikov Lisa Alpine Nina Amir Kevin Arnold Sally Ashton Bill Belew Kendra Bonnett Robert Gregory Browne Robin Burcell Matilda Bulter Sue Campbell David Corbett Selden Edwards Martha Engber Tanya Egan Gibson Leslie Hoffman Carla King Joyce Krieg Salinas, California Craig Lancaster Becky Levine Antoinette May Jana McBurney Lin Indigo Moor Linda Joy Myers Nils Peterson Diane Lindsey Reeves Thomas B. Sawyer Linda Kay Silva Geri Spieler David Henry Sterry Terri Thayer Wendy Nelson Tokunaga Carolyn Hayes Uber Luis Valdez Penny Warner Maralys Wills Includes all conference events, workshops, pitch sessions, and meals Full Conference: $435 (Friday, Saturday, & Sunday) Saturday Only: $239 Students, anytime (under 24 yrs, present valid ID at check-in): Full conference $275, Saturday Only $151 Group rate: Save $60 (pay by check only) Full Conference $375 per person for groups of 4 or more. Discounts for larger groups available. Contact the conference director, Dave LaRoche at [email protected] Enter the Writing Contest Deadline August 14, 2010 - EXTENDED! $1000 Grand Prize! $200 1st place / $100 2nd place each category 4 categories: Short Fiction, Novel, Poetry, Nonfiction Entry fee $20 Get your manuscript critiqued Pitch your work Pitch your book-length project to literary agents and publishers. Sign up for as many appointments as you like at the conference, as available. No extra charge! Andrea Brown Amy Burkhardt Michael Larsen Laurie McLean Elizabeth Pomada Alan Rinzler Andy Ross Gordon Warnock Pro editors critique your work 8 pages for only $35 Fee includes a 15-minute review session with the editor at the conference. Deadline August 15, 2010 Be Inspired by these speakers: Selden Edwards, David Corbett, Nils Peterson, David Henry Sterry, Andrei Aleinikov, Linda Kay Silva, Wendy Nelson Tokunaga, and Saturday evening keynote address by Luis Valdez For registration and details go to www.southbaywriters.com The East of Eden Writers Conference is presented by South Bay Writers, the Santa Clara Valley branch of California Writers Club. CWC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For sponsorship opportunities contact [email protected]. Scribbles August 2010 INBOX INKLINGS Potable quotables excerpted from Scribbles editorial e-mail inbox. He’s Looking to Lessen Long Links that Lose Lookers (from Scribbles correspondent Kemberlee Shortland) I tried to find Kemberlee Shortland’s novel online, but the long link in July’s Scribbles failed. I might self-publish, but won’t pay for web publicity if potential buyers can’t link to my title. Long links lose lookers. Is this flaw fatal or is there a cure? Wondering in Watsonville, via e-mail There’s a free service at www.bit.ly where you put in longer site addresses and it spits out a much condensed version. For example, my previous article “Blowing the Curtains” link looks like this: http://kemberleeshortland.blogspot.com/2010/07/ importance-of-senses.html Using bit.ly, the link then becomes this: http://bit.ly/camVoX When a reader clicks on that address, they’re automatically sent to my site with the longer address. I think this would be an excellent cure for the long site address problem with the newsletter. It’s one extra step, but it works on all fronts. I have three blogs. The abbreviated link I sent you was for an example. You can use the original links to my blog(s), as I think they’re short enough: http://www.kemberlee.com (my author site) http://www.kemberleeshortland.blogspot.com (my articles site) http://www.heartshapedstones.blogspot.com (my personal site) Self-Published Poetry: Doctor off duty, poet on call Miracles Never be without a pen and paper on a day as beautiful as this or as painful as yesterday for you might see God among the golden wildflowers or recall a moment of peace amidst the pain. in either case, you will want to use words to help you carry the joy and sorrow with you to savor when you are lonely or to fuel the fire that tempers your soul. Miracles are seldom scheduled or massive. They often occur in silence or are hidden among the notes coming from a piano you have never heard played before although it is in a room you have visited many times. Patrick W. Flanigan Retired Hematologist/Oncologist Patrick W. Flanigan, whose profile is featured on page 5, participated in Local Authors Live! on July 24 and will appear in Sept. at the Carmel Authors and Ideas Festival. This is a new poem, published here for the first time. Contact: [email protected] 10 Scribbles August 2010 Lee – continued from page 1 “In playwriting we jump to the chase–go to the high point of the action. There is nothing more exciting than having five hundred people and bringing them together breathing the same breath. Have them right there with you. Dialogue makes it. We’re dealing with people here. See how they deal with stuff, and then make the action bigger and bigger. See how they deal with life. . . . “One thing leads to another. You have created these two characters, and it makes a great scene. My point is, see where it goes. Explore what they say. Keep going. Listen to the voice that’s inside you.” Participants had an opportunity to see how these techniques work by doing a writing exercise. Lee handed out three-by-five cards and had us briefly describe two characters. We then exchanged cards with two other people and created a short conversation between characters that were created by our partners. As we read these conversations to the entire group, it was apparent how easily action and plot developed naturally between the contrasting personalities in dialogue. It was fun. Be well. By C. Jonathan Shoemaker INFO EXCHANGE For CCW members only. Submit items to [email protected] by the 23rd of the month preceding month of publication. NOTICES [email protected] Central Coast Writers meeting is Sun., 8/8/10. Details on page 1. Web site update and changes will be announced soon. Central Coast Writers 2011 Creative Writing Contest--See web site at www.centralcoastwriters.org Search is on for “Examiners”--Cheri Love, member-in-progress of CCW, is Monterey Good Life Examiner (blogger) for the old San Francisco Examiner’s new entirely online, national presence written by citizen journalists known as “Examiners.” Contact Cheri at [email protected] or 831-375-6186 or Google “Cheri Love Examiner”. Palettes & Quills 2nd Biennial Poetry Chapbook --Deadline 9/1/10. See web site at www.pallettesnquills.com Anthology, Anyone?--California Writers Club plans to publish a short-story anthology commemorating our centennial. It will be the fifth edition of West Winds anthology since the early years of CWC. The stories have already been selected. Estimated cost is $10. To purchase, contact Central Board representative, Joyce Krieg, at [email protected] CONFERENCES & CONTESTS East of Eden Conference, Salinas, 9/24-25--See page 9 and www.centralcoastwriters.org Redwood Writers Conference, Santa Rosa, 10/29--Details at http://redwoodwriters.org Fault Zone: Words from the Edge anthology/short story contest--SF Peninsula branch CWC. Deadline 9/30/10 Prizes $300/$100/$50 & publication. Request the rules from CRITIQUE, OPEN MIC & BOOK SIGNINGS CCW Critique Group--Interested in joining a CCW critique group? Send name, e-address and phone to [email protected] or “CCW Critique”, P. O. Box 997, Pacific Grove, CA 93950. “SatChat” Critique--Sat., Aug. 21, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Juice & Java, 599 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. Contact Harold Grice, [email protected] Local Writers Open Mic & Happy Hour--Thurs., Aug. 12, 5:30–7 p.m., Baum & Blume Carriage House, 4 El Caminito Road, Carmel Valley Village. Featured writer: Jennifer Allen, author of Bone Knowing. www.invisiblegrandparent.com. Pat Hanson: 831-601-9195. [email protected] Pizza and Prose, Capitola: Summer schedule at www.pizzaandprose.weebly.com Booktoberfest: CCW authors sell/read their works: Tues., Oct. 19. See web site at www.centralcoastwriters.org S t i l l i n P u r s u i t of the Dream SELF-PUBLISHING SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS by Gwyn Weger Word count won’t allow much here; however, the following are important things to consider before taking the plunge. Remember: Caveat emptor. Let the buyer beware! 1. Use local resources. There’s no need to go out of town (or state) to publish your book. You’d be better off using your dollars close to home. Your money will go further and results will be better accomplished through community contacts. Talk to Patricia Hamilton first. 2. Start saving your pennies. Be prepared for hidden expenses. Everything costs money. Whether it’s making flyers to pass out, advertising, website design/hosting, traveling out of town to give a talk or book signing, it’ll involve spending money. 3. Does your family support you? Expect to be putting LOTS more time and energy than you think promoting your work to keep the ball rolling, in the public eye, and be successful. This equals time away from significant others and will be outside your working “job” too. What will happen when you can’t make the annual family picnic? 4. Do your own research before making decisions. Don’t take anyone’s word as gospel for anything. Check references and sleep on big decisions. Don’t let ANYONE RUSH YOU. If you’re having a hard time deciding, the At Local Authors Live! Photo by Joyce Krieg. answer should probably be “no.” 5. What is your definition of success? Like everything in life, but especially when self publishing, your success (or failure) is proportional to how much time (and money) you spend on it. To quote a cliché, you have to practice to get to Carnegie Hall. Ultimately, you’re on your own when you self publish. You only have yourself to blame or congratulate, depending. Fellow writers, be sure you accept all of the above before using this route to publication. Remember: if it were easy to be successful, everyone would self publish. Scribbles August 2010 11 CALIFORNIA WRITERS CLUB CENTRAL COAST WRITERS BRANCH P.O. BOX 997 PACIFIC GROVE, CA 93950 August 8, 2010 Noon – 3 p.m. Literary Luau Picnic/Potluck Hosted by David Rasch and Ixchel Leigh 27200 Prado Del Sol Carmel Valley (details on page 1) If the Shoe Fits . . . So the Little Red Hen did it Herself. O by C. Jonathan Shoemaker nce there was a little book entitled Juggling for the Complete Klutz. It was given to me as a joke, but I did follow the instructions and practiced a little every day. As I learned to juggle, I realized some similarities between juggling and the sport of golf, and I jotted down ideas as they occurred to me. One day I mentioned to teaching pro Fred Shoemaker that I was considering writing a book on the subject. He said, “Do it!” When I showed a copy of the newly finished typewritten manuscript of Juggling Golf to Tom Kite, he said, “Good ideas! Get it published.” I went for advice to Patricia Hamilton: “It’s ready right now. Get it printed.” Aye, there’s the rub! That takes cash. My cousin said, “No problem! Get $100 from fifteen friends.” Of course, he made no offer of his own money. I shared that conversation with my son. No way was I about to go begging my friends for cash. We had a good laugh that day, but soon afterward, my son presented me with the needed funds out of his savings from working as a greenskeeper. Books should to one of these four ends conduce: for wisdom, piety, delight, or use. Sir John Denham (English Poet, 1615-1659) Copies in hand, I made the rounds to our local independent bookstores. Most of them took a few on consignment. Some even paid me sixty percent right then and there! I went to the golf courses. The pros read the book first, then decided to sell them at 50/50 percent. Not much profit for me, but my book was out there and selling. The biggest problem is that I find myself with a product to sell. Marketing and making callbacks are not part of my lifestyle. Maybe my next step is to try to sell it on the internet. Be well and do good work. Jonathan Self-Publishing in a Nutshell “Self-publishing is the publication of any book or other media by the author of the work, without the involvement of an established third-party publisher. “It is generally done at the expense of the author. . . . “Vanity presses cater exclusively to this market niche, but authors may prefer to hire a printer directly, or use an e-book format.” Wikipedia ( excerpt from “Self-publishing”) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-publishing