the
the NeWsletter of PeNNWrIters INC. MaY/JUNe 2018 • Vol. XXVI No. 3
FRIDAY KEYNOTE SATURDAY KEYNOTE Gayle Lynds Wende Dikec
• Writing for New Technologies with Katie Ernst • School Visits 101 with Donna Galanti • Play Jenga With Your Prose with Kathryn Craft • Eight Secrets to Creating Bestselling • London, Paris, or Dublin with Don Helin Thrillers with Gayle Lynds • Story Shrink: Writing the Synopsis • You, too, Can Write Killer Plots with Kathryn Craft with Gayle Lynds • Old School Scene Planning • The Rules of Romance with Ramona DeFelice Long with Wende Dikec • Writing a Mystery novel: • How to Rock a Book Signing a crash course with Hallie Ephron with Wende Dikec • Story is a Shapeshifter • Narrative Voice with Lauren Bieker with Timons Esaias • A Master Class in Pitching Agents • Harness Your Inner Child to Write with Sheree Bykofsky for Children with Donna Galanti • First Pages with Alexa Pastor • World Building 101 with Jack Hillman • Publishing by the Numbers • House Style: How to Earn a Living with Paul Stevens as a Freelance Editor with Stuart Horwitz • Damsels, Dames & Darlings: • Facebook Party Basics Writing Realistic Women with Lisa Lawmaster Hess with Ramona DeFelice Long • Writing a Marketing Plan with Don Helin • Parallel Tracks: from back story to • Let Conflict Drive Your Romance front story, managing multiple with Susan Meier character trajectories with Hallie Ephron • Organizing for Writers • Who are you, and why your readers with Lisa Lawmaster Hess care with Hilary Hauck • The Four-Act Novel with Jon Sprunk • Tips For Novelizing True Events • Does Your Protagonist Need a Shrink? with Kathryn Craft with Brent Maguire 40+ hours of sessions to choose from. Read workshop descriptions at http://pennwriters.org/2018-conferenceworkshop-descriptions/
• Doing Historical Research for Authentic Stories with Jim Rada • Where Two or More are Gathered: How the Presence of Others Affects Behavior with Brent Maguire • Meditation for Writers with Stuart Horwitz • Non-traditional vs. Traditional Poetry with Veronica Mattaboni • Sorry, It’s Not for Us: Dealing with Rejection without Losing Your Marbles with Brent Maguire • The Art of Pacing with Don Helin • Writing the Sweet Romance with Susan Meier • Making Extra Bucks as a Freelance Writer with Jim Rada • Pitching to Agents and Editors with Jon Sprunk • Writing Fantasy After a Game of Thrones with Jon Sprunk • Western Writing: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly with R.G. Yoho • The Epic Quest with Jack Hillman • What NOT to do as an Author with R.G. Yoho • Real-life perspective for memorable characters with Hilary Hauck
https://www.regonline.com/2018_PW_Conference
President’s Column This is the most exciting and busiest time of year for us at Pennwriters. Preparations for our 31st Annual Pennwriters Conference are in full swing. Some of us enjoyed a nice warm up to the annual conference at Area 7’s Writers Project Runway mini-conference, held April 7 in Leesburg, Virginia. Organized by Pennwriters Vice President Bobbi Carducci, the event offered attendees an outstanding lineup of workshops and networking opportunities, as well as the chance to pitch to literary agent Eva Scalzo from Speilburg Literary Agency.
hilary hauck, area 4 PresIDeNt
This year’s Annual Conference Coordinators, Leslie Tobin Smeltz and Malissa Close, have been hard at work to ensure the best conference experience possible. Their work began a full two years ago at our 2016 conference, and in recent months, it’s been more like a full-time job for them. I’m extremely grateful for all they are doing, as well as the many chairpersons and volunteers helping with registration, marketing, graphics, pitch appointments, read and critique sessions, the Saturday evening social, workshop moderators, the In Other Words contest, the basket raffle, the conference bookseller and book signing, and more. The next Pennwriters board meeting will be held before the conference on Thursday, May 17, at 7 p.m. Interested members are permitted to attend, upon prior arrangement. For me, one of the conference highlights is the announcement of the year’s Meritorious Service Award. Four dedicated volunteers are selected by a committee of previous winners, then membership is called to vote. I am very grateful to the candidates, who’ve been selected because of their hard work and dedication to Pennwriters over the years. I also look forward to the results of the Pennwriters Annual Writing Contest and the In Other Words contest. Other highlights include the Friday and Saturday keynotes, not to mention the Saturday night theme party. And seeing the many, many published Pennwriters filling the hospitality room, ready to sign their books. I also treasure the friendships and connections I make each year. I enjoy hearing from members who have signed with agents they pitched to the year before and hearing about the “A-ha!” moments people have for works in progress or ideas for new stories or collaborations. I suppose what I’m saying is there’s much to enjoy! next page
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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, Inc. readers are urged to determine for themselves the reliability, integrity, and financial responsibility of those with whom they deal. The contents of this newsletter are copyrighted ©2018 by Pennwriters, Inc. All rights are reserved. Permission to photocopy is expressly denied. All rights revert to individual authors immediately upon publication. any time you change your mailing address or email address, please notify Jackie shaffmaster at treasurer@Pennwriters.org. We thank you in advance for helping to keep our member roster current. 2
the PeNN WrIter • May/June 2018 • www.pennwriters.org
Board of Directors If this will be your first Pennwriters Conference, the most important thing I want you to know is that you belong. Our mission at Pennwriters is to help writers of all levels, from the novice to the award-winning, to improve and succeed in their craft. Remember that we were all beginners once, and that no question is unworthy. You will find an array of different workshops to choose from to provide you with a firm foundation upon which to build. And whether this is your first or thirty-first time, my advice is to make the most of this networking opportunity by introducing yourself to as many people as you can. Ask questions. Participate in as much as you can. Take notes—copious notes. Even after the conference is over, use your notes and contacts to continue to advance along your writing path. The next Pennwriters Online Course, Nonfiction Places and Spaces with instructor Vicki Mayk, will be held in July. For information year-round, join our Pennwriters Presents Facebook page and tune in the fourth Monday of every month for a Q & A with our guest industry professionals. Thank you for sharing part of your writing journey with Pennwriters! You make it all worthwhile.
President Hilary Hauck, 814-659-6191 President@Pennwriters.org Vice President Bobbi Carducci 540-338-5064 & 540-903-6831 VicePresident@Pennwriters.org Secretary Susan Gourley Secretary@Pennwriters.org Treasurer Jackie Shaffmaster, 570-878-7056 Treasurer@Pennwriters.org Author Advocate Ayleen Gontz, 717-359-9279 AuthorAdvocate@Pennwriters.org Webmaster Mark Boerma, 570-578-1473 Webmaster@Pennwriters.org Newsletter Editor Heather Desuta, 412-337-6966 Newsletter@Pennwriters.org 2018 Conference Coordinators Leslie Tobin Smeltz and Malissa Close ConferenceCoordinator@Pennwriters.org Interim Public Relations Chair Donna Royston PublicRelations@Pennwriters.org Bylaws Chair Jean Jenkins, 814-774-0557 BylawsChair@Pennwriters.org
See you in Lancaster, and Pennwrite on! -Hilary
Internet Activities & Online Courses Coordinator Pauline Drozeski, 814-392-8819 OnlineCoordinator@Pennwriters.org
Pennwriters Online
Pennwriters Presents Coordinator Denise Weaver, 814-442-4876 PennwritersPresents@Pennwriters.org
Website: www.pennwriters.org Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pennwriters/join facebook Groups: Pennwriters; Pennwriters annual Conference You can also join the Pennwriters linkedIn group and follow us on twitter.
Election Chair Dave Freas ElectionChair@Pennwriters.org Annual Writing Contest Coordinator D.J. Stevenson WritingContestCoordinator@Pennwriters.org Coordinator of Area Reps (CAR) Annette Dashofy CAR@Pennwriters.org AREA 1 Rep: Todd Main, 814-459-8752 Area1Rep@Pennwriters.org AREA 2 Rep: Mark Boerma 570-578-1473 Area2Rep@Pennwriters.org AREA 3 Rep: Stephanie Claypool Area3Rep@Pennwriters.org AREA 4 Rep: Denise Weaver Area4Rep@Pennwriters.org AREA 5 Rep: Sandra Bush 717-891-6412 Area5Rep@Pennwriters.org AREA 6 Rep: Suzanne Mattaboni Area6Rep@Pennwriters.org
PW Areas Map
All areas outside of Pennsylvania are Area 7 the PeNN WrIter • May/June 2018 • www.pennwriters.org
AREA 7 Rep: Terry Friedman 610-331-2558 & 843-236-8189 Area7Rep@Pennwriters.org 3
Pennwriters Member News & Happenings to share YoUr NeWs, email Newsletter@Pennwriters.org with “PennWriter submission” in the subject line. Please include your Pennwriters area # in the message. Area 6 Chris Bauer’s JAnE’S BABY, a political conspiracy thriller, will be released June 1 from Intrigue Publishing. Fiction. Whatever happened to Jane Roe’s baby? In this novel, the real-life Roe v Wade baby is now a woman in her late forties, her identity unknown. Someone wants to reveal her; someone else wants her dead. Tourette’s-afflicted K9 bounty hunter Judge Drury, a retired Marine, stands in the way of a religious rights splinter group’s attempt at stacking the Supreme Court via blackmail, murder, arson, sleight of hand, and secret identities. Visit chrisbauerauthor.wordpress.com.
Area 3 Doris Dumrauf, an awardwinning bird photographer, published her second picture book COMMOn BACKYARd BIRdS in April. The book introduces young readers to 20 birds frequently found in north American back yards. It’s available through Amazon, Barnes & noble, and select stores. Learn more about doris at dorisdumrauf.com and dorisdumraufauthor.com.
Area 6 Heather Greenleaf’s debut novel, An IMPERFECTIOn In THE KITCHEn FLOOR, was released May 15 by Morgan James Publishing. This historical fiction is set in Willow Grove, Pa., and tells the story of two women living in the same house about 4
100 years apart. Visit Heather online at heathergreenleaf.com
Area 3 Susan Helene Gottfried, Area 6 Suzanne Grieco Mattaboni, and Area 6 Gretchen Lockwood (writing as Gemma L. Brook) are featured in the new RunnInG WILd PRESS AnTHOLOGY OF STORIES: VOLuME 2. The collection highlights short works by authors from across north America, including and transcending the genres of speculative fiction, mystery, women’s fiction, horror, science fiction, and fantasy. The stories span oceans, starscapes, lifetimes, and generations. Each one will make your imagination run wild. Edited by Lisa Diane Kastner, former Pennwriters president, the anthology is available through bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & noble, iTunes, and Kobo.
Area 6 Rep Suzanne Grieco Mattaboni is proud to announce that two of her short stories were recently published in anthologies. Her short story “Cartoons” is featured in the Living Springs Publishers’ STORIES THROuGH THE AGES: BABY BOOMERS. Her short story “dawning” was included in the RunnInG WILd PRESS AnTHOLOGY OF STORIES VOL. 2. In addition to these, Suzanne’s short
fiction series “A Run in My Tights” won runner-up for Best Short Story Series in the 2017 “Best of Channillo Awards.” That series is running on the subscription-based literary platform Channillo.com.
Calling All Volunteers If you plan to attend the Pennwriters conference, we have a number of volunteer opportunites available. Many jobs take only a few minutes, while others may take an hour. We need several volunteers for each: MoDerators introduce a session speaker by reading a short bio (already written and provided to you) and distribute handouts if necessary. to volunteer, email ayleen at ayleengontz@gmail.com with “Moderator” in the subject line. tIMekeePers for agent/editor pitch appointments keep the 10-minute appointments running smoothly. to volunteer, email heather at thepennwriter@gmail.com with “timekeeper” in the subject line. If you would like to donate a basket for the raffle, or items to be assembled into baskets, please drop your items off in the hospitality suite, to the attention of Jack hillman. someone will be able to direct you. thaNks!
Please take a moment to verify that you’ve supplied Pennwriters with a current, valid email address. log in to your account info at Pennwriters.org. We thank you in advance for helping to keep our member roster current.
the PeNN WrIter • May/June 2018 • www.pennwriters.org
Pennwriters Online Courses
www.pennwriters.org
Visit www.pennwriters.org for more information and to register for courses. For additional information or suggestions about upcoming courses, email Pauline Drozeski, Internet Activities & Online Courses Coordinator, at OnlineCoordinator@Pennwriters.org. sePteMBer 2018 MarketING tIMe MaNaGeMeNt for aUthors Instructor: Deborah riley-Magnus
JUlY 2-27 Nonfiction Places and spaces Instructor: Vicki Mayk Place plays an important role in nonfiction writing, often assuming the role of another character in memoir, essays and literary journalism. In this workshop, we’ll consider writers who have made place and location central to nonfiction. Participants will write about personal and public landscapes from a variety of perspectives, from memories of home to capturing places visited. exercises will include incorporating multi-sensory detail, the role of research, and using place to support character description. fiction writers who are setting their work in real-life places also will benefit from this workshop. Instructor Bio: Vicki Mayk is a seasoned memoirist, nonfiction writer and magazine editor whose work has appeared in print and online publications including Ms Magazine, Hippocampus Magazine, Literary Mama, and The Manifest-Station. she is the editor of the magazine at Wilkes University, where she also teaches adult creative nonfiction workshops and a class about the power of story for freshmen. she created and teaches a memoir workshop for the bereaved at st. luke’s hospice in Bethlehem and teaches writing workshops under the umbrella of her consulting business, Write to heal. she earned a Master of fine arts degree in creative nonfiction at Wilkes University. www.vickimayk.com
It’s the classic author whine: “If I market, I have no time to write!” the truth of the matter is that more than marketing eats into our writing time, and only a serious commitment to time management can give us the flexibility and freedom to get it all done without exhausting ourselves. this workshop is filled with tips and tools to help the author respect and give fair attention to every aspect of a writer’s life. this workshop is for authors and writers of all levels and covers the following topics: • Your social Media time • Your Blogging time • Your Writing time • Your Personal time Instructor Bio: Deborah riley-Magnus is an author and an author success Coach. for 30+ years, she has worked in marketing, advertising, and public relations, and has been a writer for print, television, and radio. her nonfiction—fINDING aUthor sUCCess, Cross MarketING MaGIC for aUthors, and the newest, WrIte BraIN/left BraIN— teaches authors how to bridge the gap between the creative writer and the marketing author. she has also written a series of aUthor MarketING PlaYBooks to help authors polish their marketing skills. to learn more, visit http://theauthorsuccesscoach.com.
The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity. - keIth ferraZZI
It's not about finding great people, it's about becoming a great person. - Mark YarNell
Networking is simply the cultivating of mutually beneficial, give and take, win-win relationships. It works best, however, when emphasizing the "give" part. - BoB BUrG
the PeNN WrIter • May/June 2018 • www.pennwriters.org
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Thursday Pre-Conference Intensives Full Day with Stuart Horwitz
Finish Your Book in Three Drafts: Crafting Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction with the Book Architecture Method Half Day (Morning) with Bobbi Carducci
Creative Writing for Truth Tellers (Nonfiction) Half Day (Afternoon) with Timons Esaias
Warfare For Writers
Friday Evening Keynote
Saturday keynote
GAYLE LYNDS
WENDE DIKEC
lauren Bieker, agent, Fine Print Literary Agency sheree Bykofsky, agent, Sheree Bykofsky Associates, Inc. sandy lu, agent, L. Perkins Agency Paul stevens, agent, Donald Maass Literary Agency alexa Pastor, editor, Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers louise fury, agent, The Bent Agency
Friday night keynote speaker GAYLE LYNDS is a New York Times bestseller and award-winning author of 10 international espionage novels, including THE ASSASSSInS, THE BOOK OF SPIES, and THE LAST SPYMASTER. Her books have won numerous awards. Publishers Weekly lists her thriller MASQuERAdE among the top 10 spy novels of all time. LIBRARY JOuRnAL hails her as “the reigning queen of espionage fiction.” Lee Child says she’s “today’s best espionage writer.” The Associated Press calls her “a master of the modern Cold War spy thriller.” With Robert Ludlum, she created the Covert-One series. The first, THE HAdES FACTOR, was a CBS miniseries. A member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, she is co-founder (with david Morrell) of International Thriller Writers, Inc. She lives outside Portland, Maine, with her husband and a bossy geriatric cat. Visit her online at www.GayleLynds.com and www.RogueWomenWriters.com. Saturday luncheon keynote speaker WENDE DIKEC has spent her life traveling the world and collecting stories wherever she visited. She majored in Japanese and International Economics in college and worked in import/export and as an ESL teacher before she committed herself full time to writing. She writes in several romance genres, and her books are quirky, light, fun, and sexy. She teaches writing classes for young people and is a member of Romance Writers of America, Three Rivers Romance Writers, YARWA, Women’s Fiction Writers, Mindful Writers, and Pennwriters. Wende is a trekkie, a book hoarder, the master of the nespresso machine, a red wine addict, and the mother of three boys (probably the main reason for her red wine addiction). A puppy named Capone is the most recent addition to her family, and she blogs about him as a way of maintaining what little sanity she has left. To learn more about Wende and her books, check out her websites: www.wendedikec.com or www.abigaildrake.com. She can also be found on Facebook as “wendedikecwriter” and “abigaildrakewriter.” To read her dog blog, go to www.facebook.com/Capone-the-Wonder-dog-911837042208982/. 6
the PeNN WrIter • May/June 2018 • www.pennwriters.org
31st Annual Pennwriters Conference • May 18-20, 2018 the Pennwriters Conference pricing structure allows you to build a conference experience that suits your budget and your writing needs. You can choose the full, three-day registration, then add on any of our additional events. there are also one-day options, available as friday-only, saturday-only, or sunday-only registration. this year, we are bringing back the pre-conference intensive sessions, which will be held on thursday before the conference begins. read through this newsletter and see what’s available this year. Information will also be online at www.pennwriters.org. You’ll be able to make your conference selection; pre-register for pitch appointments and friday night read and Critiques; add admission to the saturday Night social; and choose your meal options, etc. for assistance with registration, contact registration Coordinator Pauline Drozeski at Conferenceregistration@pennwriters.org. online registration closes May 9. register online at https://www.regonline.com/2018_PW_Conference.
Base Conference Fees
Optional Add-Ons
three-DaY CoNfereNCe, frIDaY throUGh sUNDaY
frIDaY NetWorkING lUNCheoN “Plan-ahead Promotion: Branding & Marketing strategies to Use Before You Publish”
$329 for Pennwriters / $384 for nonmembers •40+ workshops and sessions to choose from •Buffet breakfast (saturday) •keynote lunch with Wende Dikec (saturday) •agent pitch sessions (first come, first scheduled) •“Your Agent For 20 Minutes” appointments with agent louise fury (first come, first scheduled) •friday evening read-&-critiques (first come, first scheduled) •Book signing (saturday)
Whether you have finished writing your book or it’s in the final editing phase, it is never too early to start thinking about promoting your work. Veteran book publicist and marketer Claire McKinney will explain why it is a good idea to plan early. She’ll give examples of some successful strategies for priming the market for your book and tell how to implement them. $28 for Pennwriters / $35 for nonmembers
frIDaY oNlY (no meals included) $149 for Pennwriters / $174 for nonmembers • 20 workshops and sessions to choose from •agent pitch sessions (first come, first scheduled) •“Your Agent For 20 Minutes” appointments with agent louise fury (first come, first scheduled) •friday evening read-&-critiques (first come, first scheduled)
satUrDaY oNlY (includes breakfast & keynote lunch) $189 for Pennwriters / $239 for nonmembers •20 workshops to choose from •Buffet breakfast •keynote lunch with Wende Dikec •agent pitch sessions (first come, first scheduled) •“Your Agent For 20 Minutes” appointments with agent louise fury (first come, first scheduled) •Book signing
sUNDaY oNlY (no meals) $60 for Pennwriters / $75 for nonmembers •9 workshops to choose from
frIDaY PUBlIsheD PeNNs lUNCheoN “Writing Past Your Book: Get Paid While Promoting sales” Facebooking, tweeting and blogging all play an important part in self-promotion, but what if you could promote your work, build readership, and get paid to write—all at the same time? James Rada, Jr., a full-time freelance writer and novelist, will offer the strategies he uses to make money while promoting his work, including short stories that bridge the gap between novels, nonfiction articles that expand your platform, backlist revival, and presentations about writing in general or your book in particular. He'll touch on writing query letters to magazines, pitching a column to newspapers, self-publishing short supportive works, and making public presentations at libraries, fairs and conferences. $23 for Published Pennwriters (for guidelines on receiving Published Pennwriter status, contact author advocate ayleen Gontz at ayleengontz@gmail.com.)
frIDaY keYNote DINNer with Gayle lynds “Confessions of a spy Writer" $50 for Pennwriters / $65 for nonmembers
Non-Writer Guests Meals-only options for companions: •friday meals only: $85 (includes lunch and keynote dinner) •saturday meals only: $65 (includes breakfast and lunch) •the saturday after-hours social: $20
satUrDaY after-hoUrs soCIal “shaken, Not stirred” Calling all International Men of Mystery and Femme Fatales. Join us Saturday evening at precisely 8 p.m. Dress to impress, and come enjoy spirits, hors d'oeuvres and perhaps some dubious company. 20 big ones gets you through the door
the PeNN WrIter • May/June 2018 • www.pennwriters.org
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Area 1
Area 4
todd Main • area 1 representative 814-459-8752 • area1rep@Pennwriters.org
Denise Weaver • area 4 representative area4rep@Pennwriters.org
Meadville Vicinity Pennwriters (MVP) Meets 1st saturday, 1-4 p.m. at tarot Bean roasting Co. at 252 Chestnut st. Contact Janet Wells at wellswoodjanet@gmail.com.
the Inkwell (altoona area) Meets 1st thursdays from 6-8:30 p.m. in the altoona area. Contact Denise Weaver at area4rep@Pennwriters.org.
Presque Isle group Meets 2nd saturday, 1-4 p.m. at tom ridge environmental Center on Presque Isle. Contact todd Main at todd_main@steris.com. shenango Valley Pennwriters (sVP) Meets 3rd saturday, 1-4 p.m. at the shenango Valley library in sharon. Contact Catherine Mclean at catherinemclean00@gmail.com. erie group Meets 4th saturday, 1-4 p.m. at Barnes & Noble near the Millcreek Mall in erie. Contact Dave szymanowski at daveszy@adelphia.net. fellowship of the Quill (fotQ) Meets every thursday, 7-10 p.m. at eat ‘n Park in erie. Contact todd Main at todd_main@steris.com. Corry writers group Meets 1st Mondays, 6:30-9 p.m. at tim horton’s, 7 e. Columbus ave., Corry. Contact kathy otten at jersey.vt.1774@hotmail.com.
Area 2
the southern alleghenies Writers Guild (Johnstown, Pa) Meets 3rd saturdays from noon-3 p.m. Contact Jim lee at 814-442-1241 or jimlee.author@gmail.com. Additional groups meeting in State College: ollI Writer's Group meets monthly at the schlow library (211 s. allen st.). Contact rita lumpkins at ritalouise@gmail.com. Nittany Valley Writers Network meets 2nd tuesdays from 6-7:30 p.m. at schlow library (211 s. allen st.). Nittany Valley Writers Network: the early risers meets 3rd Wednesday from 7-8 a.m. at the Waffle shop on W. College avenue. Nittany Valley Writers Network: social meets 4th tuesdays from 5:30-7 p.m. at the autoport (1405 s. atherton st.).
Area 5
Mark Boerma • area 2 representative area2rep@Pennwriters.org Danville Group Meets 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 7 p.m. at the episcopal Church on Market street. Contact Dave freas at quillracer@pa.metrocast.net.
Area 6 suzanne Mattaboni • area 6 representative area6rep@Pennwriters.org there are currently no Pennwriters groups meeting in area 6, but if you are interested in forming a group, contact suzanne.
Area 7 terry friedman • area 7 representative 610-331-2558 • area7rep@Pennwriters.org Blue ridge Group (Virginia) Meetings include critique on request, sharing resources, writing exercises and discussion. Beginning to multi-published writers welcome. Meets 2nd & 4th Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. at the Purcellville library in Purcellville, Virginia. Contact Bobbi Carducci at VicePresident@Pennwriters.org.
sandra Bush • area 5 representative area5rep@Pennwriters.org York area Group Critique structure: Bring 7 copies of up to 5 pgs. of manuscript, double-spaced. Meets 3rd tuesday from 6-7:45 p.m. in the study room of the Dover area Community library (3700-3 Davidsburg rd., Dover) Cynthia hospador at chospador@gmail.com. harrisburg area Group Critique structure: Bring 10 copies of up to 5 pages, double-spaced. all genres welcome. Meets 4th Wednesdays from 6-9 p.m. at the New Cumberland library’s back annex (1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland). Contact Don helin at dhelin@copper.net. Additional writers groups meeting in Area 5: the Gettysburg Writers Brigade meets every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at o’rorke’s eatery (44 steinwehr ave.) to talk about writing topics. readings are every 3rd Wednesday. Contact Jim rada at jimrada@yahoo.com.
Northern Delaware Group Meetings will be held monthly. all levels of experience are welcome. for details, email Cindy Callaghan at callaghancindy@gmail.com.
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the PeNN WrIter • May/June 2018 • www.pennwriters.org
Area 3 stephanie Claypool • area 3 representative • area3rep@Pennwriters.org area 3 MeetINGs: second tuesday of the Month Group the second tuesday of the Month Group meets on 2nd tuesdays at Panera Bread in settlers ridge (295 settlers ridge Dr., Pittsburgh 15205) near robinson township from 7 to 8:30 pm. the topic is chosen each month by group attendees and posted on the area 3 Yahoo group pennsarea3@yahoogroups.com. all requests and suggestions for topics are welcome as are guest presenters. for more information contact anne slates at prinatiller@hotmail.com. Mindful Writers Groups: Mindful Writers is for writers of all levels. the weekly meetings begin with 15 minutes of Body, heart, or Mind Meditation followed by 3-4 hours of writing. the camaraderie and the productivity are so fulfilling that it even surprises the writers who have been practicing this for years. North: Meets every Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at eat’n’Park, 2650 Brandt school rd., Wexford 15090. to join, email lori Jones at lomojo33@yahoo.com east: Meets every friday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 pm at Panera Bread, Waterworks Mall, 942 freeport rd., Pittsburgh 15238. this group is presently taking a wait list. email Madhu B. Wangu at madhu.wangu@me.com south: Meets every friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mt. lebanon United lutheran Church, 975 Washington rd., Pittsburgh 15228. to join, email stephanie keyes steph@stephaniekeyes.com. only two seats remain. Brand New!! Beaver: Meets every thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Beaver area Memorial library, 100 College ave., Beaver 15009. to join, email Wendedikec@comcast.net area 3 CrItIQUe GroUPs: the Pittsburgh east Writer's Group small, friendly critique group focusing on fiction. all genres welcome. Meets on the third saturday of each month, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the upstairs conference room at the Monroeville Public library. Contact Chuck rakiecz at crakiecz@verizon.net Critique Group North seven members writing shorts, flashes, novels. Meets on the second thursday of the month at eat ‘n Park (2650 Brandt school rd., Wexford 15090) from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., including time for lunch. the group is now at full capacity of seven and is accepting candidates for a wait list. Writers interested in Critique Group North, contact Maryalice Meli at maryalicemeli@yahoo.com the Bridgeville Critique Group Meets the fourth Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at Panera Bread in the Chartiers Valley shopping Center, 1025 Washington Pike, Bridgeville 15017. fiction or nonfiction WIP are accepted, and any level of writer is welcome. We review one person's work each month. Work to be critiqued is sent to all group members at least a week in advance so everyone has ample time to review it before the meeting. the group is currently full but keeping a wait list. We welcome anyone, published or not. anyone who would like to join the group, get additional information, or come to a session to try us out and see how we work, please contact Barb D'souza at barbrett@verizon.net. Cranberry township Critique Group a small group focused on fiction, mainly novels, meeting at the Cranberry library every three weeks on saturdays at 9:30 a.m. this group is now at capacity. to get on a wait list or for more information contact amy Wagner at amywagner00@gmail.com JoIN the area 3 Yahoo GroUP Pennwriters who wish to stay informed of area 3 news and last-minute updates, may join the area 3 Yahoo Group. Joining allows you to post news of sales and new markets, ask questions, suggest discussion topics, or announce area events of interest to Pennwriters. to join, email Pennsarea3-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Please note: If you are a Pennwriter outside of Area 3, but would like to come to Area 3 meetings, you are most welcome. Prospective new Pennwriters members are welcome to check us out. the PeNN WrIter • May/June 2018 • www.pennwriters.org
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Market News
ColUMN #125
BY JIM lee, area 4, assoCIate eDItor, Market rePorts
Some publications are only open to established writers, others will consider unknowns but prefer working with experienced pros and still others actively seek newcomers. But even in these last cases, the new writer is often competing for spots with veteran authors. So let’s start today’s column with a market of particular interest to our unpublished members... the Quarto Publishing Group has offices in the Us, the Uk and hong kong. they call themselves the world leader in illustrated/ picture books for kids and adults alike. they use nonfiction titles on a very wide range of topics for numerous imprints, covering an array of niche markets. Check their detailed guides for needed info: www.quartoknows.com/Corporate/submission-Guidelines/. In the Uk, Platypus Press wants books of poetry and prose, but no erotica, horror, fan fiction, rhyming poems or religious material. here’s what they Do want: www.platypuspress.co.uk/guidelines. a veteran independent press, Pelican Publishing Company focuses mostly on picture books for kids (ages 5 and up), though they also do some books for adults (including cookbooks.) they produce titles in hardcover, trade paperback and mass-market paperback. It appears they offer only royalties (no advance), but that isn’t explicitly stated. www.pelicanpub.com/viewer.php?region=92 small Beer Press puts out book-length fiction, mostly of a quirky, speculative nature. they offer a small advance against royalties and also run an odd little magazine. (see their guideline page.) www.smallbeerpress.com/about/submission-guidelines/. North atlantic Books is a nonprofit, independent publisher with reportedly good distribution. they do nonfiction on a range of topics, including ecology, self-help, health, cultures & anthropology, the arts, metaphysics, society & politics, spirituality/religion and kids. they take proposals by both email and regular mail, with what you need to include listed at the bottom of their guideline page: www.northatlanticbooks.com/submission-guidelines/. Parabola, a magazine from the society for the study of Myth & tradition, buys essays (1,000-3,000 wds) and pays $50-400. they also use book reviews (500 wds max), retellings of traditional tales (500-1,500 wds), and poems on their area of interest. each issue has a theme, and they accept translations as well as original work. Visit www.parabola.org/submissions/. there seem to be trade magazines for every industry under the sun. Case in point: scrap is for those running or working in the scrap recycling businesses. they need articles (1,000 wds) that help pros succeed in their business, and they pay a hefty $600 plus expenses. If you have expertise in this area, query for assignments. www.scrap.org/home/about-scrap#.Wrp0eljwblW. “the magazine for epic road trips,” roVa pays a $200 flat fee for articles on rV-focused, outdoor, nonfiction adventures. editor Gemma Peekman wants queries but will only respond to ones she finds of interest. they especially need pieces focused on a young audience. there don’t seem to be written guidelines, but their submission/query form is at www.rovamag.com/be-a-contributor. Wine Maker Magazine is, of course, looking for nonfiction articles about “the spirit and challenges of wine-making.” Pay range is $50250. Visit www.winemakermag.com/writers-guidelines then query. 10
Providence is a magazine and website that explores the intersection between religion and foreign policy. they want “rigorous analysis and accessible prose” on how theology relates to matters of national policy, security concerns, and the like. Maximum length is 4,000 wds for the print version (paying up to $1,000); 500-1,000 wds for the website ($100 there). for more information, visit www.providencemag.com/guidelines/. a quarterly, earth Island Journal focuses on environmental/ecological articles to 4,000 wds. Pay is 25 cents/wd, with a top rate of $1,000. www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/guidelines/ any lawyers who hate their jobs among the Pennwriters? Bitter empire is a blog-site that wants humorous, satirical and dark ‘listicles’ and articles about law schools and legal careers. they’re paying $25 for 300-700 word posts; $100 for ones topping 1,000 wds. Visit www.bitterempire.com/bitter-enough-write-for-us/ for procedures, then query with story ideas. hello Giggles is a blogsite interested in articles about all kinds of issues that matter to women. Visit pitches@hellogiggles.com for instruction on querying. If you have writing samples, send them along as well. Pay is reportedly 4-7 cents/wd (may need to negotiate). Guides: www.hellogiggles.com/contact/. harrisonburg, Virginia, isn’t terribly far from Pennsylvania, so maybe someone here has something that would appeal to Valley living. this blog wants “positive stories about real life” in that vicinity. they say they’re Christian, but articles don’t have to have a particular Christian focus. they’d like pieces in a 250-1,000 word range and pay variable rates (to $60 max). for details, visit www.valleyliving.org/about/writer-guidelines/ Guyvorce is a blog about advice for men going through divorce. they’ll pay $100 for articles to 1,200 wds max. a link to their submission manager (for pitches, writing samples and subs) is with their guides: www.guyvorce.com/write-for-us/. I don’t know if there’s a similar publication for women out there, but if so, I’ll provide info when I find it. Wooden Boat is, like you’d expect, a publication for owners, designers and others interested in boats made of wood. It’s a bimonthly and uses all sorts of how-to type articles, paying $250-300 per every 1,000 wds. www.woodenboat.com/woodenboat-editorial-guidelines. It seems the latest revival of amazing stories is going to happen. they will be open for submissions on May 1 as a quarterly, paying on acceptance 6 cents/wd for new sf/f (1,000-10,000 wds). limited reprints, too—so query for those. they plan to be doing both print and e-zine editions. Managing editor Ira Nayman seems to be in charge. You need to sign up (at no charge) to use their submission manager. Just go to www.submission.amazingstoriesmag.com/guidelines/ and click where shown to sign up.
the PeNN WrIter • May/June 2018 • www.pennwriters.org
another quarterly, though smaller and based in australia, andromedia spaceways Magazine wants fun sf/f/h fiction (10,000 wds max) and poetry (to 2 pages max). General Manager robbie Mathews is the contact person. Poems and flash fiction pay $10 each, longer stories pay 1 cent/wd (minimum of $20 and up to $100). this is in aussie dollars, which is generally slightly less than UsD$. they’ll probably use Paypal for Us sales, but check. one drawback is a long response time: 7 months? oh, well... www.andromediaspaceways.com/submission-format-guidelines/. heroic fantasy Quarterly uses s&s/adventure fantasy stories (10,000 wds tops) and related poems. they pay $100 for fulllength stories, $25 for short poems and flash fiction, and $100 for epic narrative poems. each issue has a month-long submission window, with the next coming in June. Don’t send except when they’re open, as such will be deleted unread. another important detail is that they want subs pasted into the body of emails (no attachments!). subs go to editor@heroicfantasyquarterly.com but first be sure to check their guides: www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?page_id=39. asJ Publishing does mostly audio books (usually of alreadypublished books), along with some PoD and ebooks. they do a wide range of fiction and nonfiction. erotica is about the only thing they won’t consider. lengths are novella and up. they want pitches, and their guidelines include a detailed how-to section on writing them: (www.asjpublishing.com/submission-process/). Dialogue Magazine puts out large print and braille editions for the visually impaired and the blind. they want articles, personal essays, interviews, news and resources for the vision impaired & blind. they have numerous departments & columns, and pay $15-35. lengths: 200-1,000 wds. Very detailed info is at www.blindskills.com/submit.html. In the air is a themed anthology in a series that transmundane Press is assembling. (other titles deal with the three other alchemy elements: earth, fire and Water.) they want f/sf/h and even erotica on the theme. 3,000-7,000 wds. Pay is modest: $10-20 plus 1 print copy and 1 electronic copy. sub deadline is June 15, with publication scheduled for Winter 2018/19. www.transmundanepress.com/current-calls-for-submissions.htm helios Quarterly (a midsized sf/f/h magazine) is on hold after producing only 3 issues. they may someday return, but until they get straightened out—don’t submit.
Up in Canada, Martian Migraine Press is reading for Monstrous outlines, an anthology of weird and/or horror fiction (1,500-7,000 wds) about camouflaged/hidden characters (whether people, entities, monsters, gods, etc.). Pay is 3 cents/wd (CaN$) via PayPal, plus copies. Deadline: Nov. 30, 2018. send subs attached to submissions@martianmigrainepress.com, and on the subject line put oUtlINes, your story title & your name. for further info, visit www.martianmigrainepress.com/monstrous-outlines. horse Illustrated pays variable rates (reportedly up to $475) for articles about (yes) horses for horse owners. they say the range of money is more about quality then length. they’ll accept both email and snail mail subs. Details: www.horsechannel.com/horse-magazine/horse-illustrated/writer-guidelines.aspx. Meanwhile, the Chronicle of the horse offers between $150-400 for articles or news pieces (1,500-2,500 wds) and $30-50 for accompanying photos. www.chronicleofhorse.com/page/writers-guidelines Notre Dame Magazine boasts a large readership, mostly of university alums. Using nonfiction of interest to their audience (length: 750-4,000 wds), they pay anywhere from $250 up to an impressive $3,000. www.magazine.nd.edu/about/writers-guidelines/ a women’s lifestyle type mag, sasee uses 500-1,000 wd articles. they pay variable rates and will accept subs by email, regular mail and fax. Info: www.sasee.com/submissions/. the Polymer arts wants nonfiction for clay artists: how-to, artist profiles, etc. they have a number of departments and pay 5-10 cents/wd., but query first. www.thepolymerarts.com/sub_guidelines.html). symphony pays very well ($500-900) negotiable rates for feature articles (1,500-3,000 wds) on the world of classical music. Pays upon acceptance. www.americanorchestras.org/symphony-magazine/about-symphony/submission-guidelines.html. Information this time cribbed from THE 2018 GuIDE TO MAnuSCRIPT PuBLISHERS, Facebook’s Open Calls pages, AuthorsPublish.com, Ralan.com, FreedomWithWriting.com and FreelanceWriting.com. Send market tips by email to jimlee.author@gmail.com. As always, contributions are welcome.
Writer’s Toolbox: Marketing ——> Exude Success Exude success, even when you haven’t made a sale, to increase your odds of making one. don’t let people see you sweat. don’t seem desperate. don’t lose confidence in yourself, which deters people from buying into you. People view these things as signs that something is wrong or you can’t back up what you’re offering. When you’re happy and positive and exuding success, there are times when people are still difficult to sell. Sometimes it’s simply a personality issue. Professionals in the sales industry train for sales difficulties due to personality. For example, they watch how well they’re matching the personality and energy level of the customer. If the customer is soft-spoken, they become soft-spoken. If the customer is no-nonsense, they become no-nonsense. - from the book Strategic Marketing Made Easy For Writers: Optimize Your Promotions For Bestseller Results by Dr. Nate hardy, area 6, available on amazon.com
the PeNN WrIter • May/June 2018 • www.pennwriters.org
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The Mission of Pennwriters Inc. is to help writers of all levels, from the novice to the award-winning and multipublished, improve and succeed in their craft. Pennwriters, a not-for-profit organization of more than 400 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 Hilary Hauck at President@pennwriters.org.
NeXt DeaDlINe: JUNe 1 The Penn Writer is published bimonthly. Contact Heather desuta, newsletter editor, at newsletter@pennwriters.org. Please share your news, accomplishments, tips, great quotes, book recommendations, etc. Include relevant artwork, photos and book cover images. Word counts—articles: 800 words (1-pg), 1,600 (2-pg). For articles exceeding 1,600 words, contact the editor in advance. Blurb submissions of any length are welcome. Type “PEnn WRITER SuBMISSIOn” in the subject line of your email message, and please include your Area number. (See the map on page 3.)