Welcome to the March 2007 issue of The Write Connections. This newsletter is designed to provide a connection to news and information about the publishing industry as well as helpful tips to speed you along in fulfilling your publishing dreams. Are you ready for The Write Connections? Good, because the second issue is coming to you right now!
The Write News on Gather
The members at Gather.com have tons of helpful tips and information for aspiring writers. Here are some noteworthy groups and articles to check out:
Writing Tips group owned by Sandy Knauer: provides carefully selected articles to assist any writer in honing his or her writing skills.
Advice for New Writers by Aaron Lazar: great tips for new writers to help hone your writing skills.
More Advice for Writers: Forbidden Words by Aaron Lazar: great lesson on words commonly seen as weak by editors or agents when found in manuscripts.
Preditors & Editors by Cynthia B.: provides helpful tips and information to find out if the publisher you are considering is for real, or a predator out for your money.
CHARACTERIZATION - Creating Believable Characters by Ernie Johnson: lesson to help you create believable and intriguing characters.
Gather's Hidden Tool : Research And Development by George Corneliussen: discusses using the Gather community as a researching tool to hone your writing.
For more great articles on writing and the publishing industry, check out the articles posted at The Write Connections group.
The Write Tools
The featured writer’s tool for this issue is a must have book for any writer preparing a manuscript to be sent to an agent or publisher: Noah Lukeman's The First Five Pages. Lukeman is a Literary Agent whose clients include Pulitzer Prize nominees, New York Times bestselling authors, Pushcart Prize recipients, and American Book Award winners. Having created a list for himself to aid in deciding which manuscripts to decline, Lukeman decided that this information could help writers submit a more successful manuscript - a pro for both writers and agents alike. This short, inexpensive book includes lessons and tips to get your manuscript noticed and picked up by agents and publishers. I have personally been using this with my first novel and find it quite useful. I highly recommend it.
Travel Write
Need a cure for writer’s block? Want to get connected with other writers, agents, editors, and publishing representatives? Often these things can be accomplished by doing a bit of traveling. Here are a few upcoming writing conferences:
May 30, 3007 - BEA/Writer's Digest Books Writers Conference
Location: Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City
- The all-day event, which takes place prior to the BookExpo America trade show, offers information sessions and workshops on the business and craft of writing.
- Keynote speaker is The New York Times best-selling novelist Jodi Picoult
- The registration fee is $199, which includes a 6 month subscription to WritersMarket.com.
- More than 60 agents and editors will be available to meet with you one-on-one and discuss your book project. Pitches are limited to 3 minutes each. Every attendee will have the opportunity to pitch at least once.
June 24 to 28, 2007 - ASPEN SUMMER WORDS 31st annual Writing Retreat & Literary Festival
Location: The Gant, Aspen, Colorado
- Led by some of the nation's most gifted and engaging writers, Aspen Summer Words brings readers and writers together for author readings and talks, interviews and Q&As, writing workshops, literature appreciation classes, publishing industry panel discussions, private consultations, social gatherings and musical presentations.
- Two programs: The Writing Retreat, which takes place in the mornings, offers inspiration, knowledge and opportunity in two- and four-day writing workshops and literature appreciation classes for students of the written word. The Literary Festival, which is held in the afternoons and evenings, features a banquet of events — such as author readings and talks — for those who love all things literary, from discussing stories and ideas to learning more about the world of publishing.
- Applications accepted: February 1 through March 30
Tip: Writing conferences are a great way to network with other writers. If you have a manuscript or proposal ready for publishing, though, writing conferences can be your key to attaining an agent or even contracting directly with a publisher. Look for conferences that indicate there will be agents, editors, and/or publishing representatives present. Remember that a reputable agent, editor, or publisher will not charge a reading fee. Fees for workshops and conferences are to be expected.
Write Words
The English language is so expansive and descriptive, even the best writers can misuse words. Here are a few commonly misused or misunderstood words.
Complimentary: free, available at no charge - The hotel offers a complimentary breakfast. In this sentence, the breakfast is free.
Complementary: to make complete - The hotel offers complementary services to make your vacation memorable: great food, wonderful views, fun activities, and guided tours of the city. In this sentence, the services combine to make a complete, memorable vacation - the services may or may not be free.
Discreet: prudent in speech and behavior - The mailman was not discreet when discussing the contents of Mr. Smith's mail.
Discrete: separate, distinct - There are four discrete sections to the newsletter.
Write Trivia
How did Stephen King earn his first dollar as a writer? Post your answer in a comment below.
That’s all for this issue of The Write Connections. If you have suggestions or helpful links for other aspiring writers, please feel free to comment below. To keep up with all The Write Connections issues, click here and join.
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Comments: 26
I am glad you find this helpful. I do it as much to help myself as to help others. I am an aspiring writer too, and this helps guide my research to help me become a published author. Good luck in your writing career.
Carolion - thank you!
Thank you Laura. I appreciate the feedback.
Great list, thanks Monica, I have bookmarked this.
Kathryn - no - that is not the correct answer. I have never read his books either, other than his "On Writing" book. This is where the question came from. I'll post the answer on Monday if no one has answered correctly yet.
Great job of keeping the writing ball rolling. Good deal !
H Marie Vaughn
When you are invited to join a group you need to read the group description and see if it is a group you would have content to contribute to or would like to read the content that is posted to that group. If either question is answered no, then do not join the group.
Once again, if you need help understanding the groups and getting a set plan of where you should post things, I will help you. I have nothing against you and would love for you to be successful here at Gather, but that requires you to understand how the groups work. If you post off-topic things, I will decline them from my groups. Other group owners may do the same (especially if you see moderated beside the group name on the article options page).
I am offering again to help you, if you are willing to work with me and understand I am not against you.
If memory serves me, Stephen King's family members would pay him for his short stories when he was a little boy.
I could only buy either Lukeman's The Plot Thickens or The First Five Pages the last time I shopped for books. Since I read most of Five Pages in the store, I bought Plot. I'll be sure to get the other on my next visit to Borders.