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ThE NEWSLETTER Of PENNWRITERS INC. JAN/FEB 2019 • VOL. XXVII NO. 1
Advance Your Writing Career in 2019 By SUSAN GOURLEy, PENNWRITERS SECRETARy AND AREA 5 MEMBER
It’s the time of year when writers think of goals and what they hope to accomplish in the next year. I always say I make plans rather than setting goals. It sounds like I have a solid idea how I’m going to reach those goals. I recently attended a one-day workshop led by Damon Suede. The session about author branding grabbed my interest. Whether you’re published or not, building a platform, networking, and gaining name recognition is important in any writer’s career. One thing that Damon shared numerous times really stuck with me as I think of what’s ahead for my career in 2019. He suggested that each day we should do something that advances our career and/or builds our platform. HERE ARE SOmE SuggESTIOnS: • Attend a workshop or writers’ meeting, or take an online class. Being with our peers motivates us, and there’s always something new to learn. Pennwriters offers some great online courses. • Visit an indie bookstore and get to know the owners. They will love to sell your books when you’re published. • Use social media to promote more than yourself. Share a book review of something you read. Talk about how wonderful the library or that indie store is. You probably should avoid controversial topics like politics and religion, but cat and dog pictures are always a hit.
• Keep a list or record of what you’re doing to advance your career, and make sure you’re only doing things you enjoy. If you hate Twitter, don’t feel pressured to use it. If you hate a platform, you won’t use it productively anyway. Do at least one thing, but don’t let it cut into your writing time. If it does, you will feel guilty and that will sabotage your efforts. • Volunteer in your writing groups. This is an entire subcategory. Let me give some examples of ways you can grow your network by getting involved more fully. —> Write and submit an article for this newsletter. Even if you feel like you don’t have anything expert to share, we all know something that someone else in our group doesn’t. It can be about your struggles as a writer or your triumphs that will inspire others. See the back cover of this newsletter for submission details, and email the newsletter editor with any questions. —> Enter the Annual Pennwriters Writing Contest. You’re almost sure to get some valuable feedback on your submission, and the price of entry is a great deal compared to most other contests. —> Join and participate in Pennwriters Presents. Pennwriters Presents is a terrific Facebook group open only to Pennwriters members, where you can participate in a Q&A dialogue with guest industry professionals.
• In that same vein, comment on and share posts and articles —> Find a Pennwriters Writing Group. that you enjoyed or found helpful. Talk to your Area Representative about joining an existing group, or be daring and consider starting your • Read outside your genre or whatever form you write in and own. Your Area Rep would love to help you. See page 3 note what worked and why you enjoyed reading it. or pages 8-9 for contact information. continued on page 13
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The PeNNWRITeRS ANNUAL WRITINg coNTeST oPeNed JAN. 1 ANd WILL cLoSe oN JAN. 31 AT mIdNIghT. Visit pennwriterswritingcontest.com to read contest guidelines and to submit your entries.
President’s Column Happy new Year! may this year be full of health, happiness, and writerly accomplishments! Last issue I shared some tips on editing fiction I’ve learned through Pennwriters, whether in classes, at Conference or from fellow members. This time I want to discuss advice I’ve received on sharing writing for feedback. Though once in a while it can be hard to hear, getting feedback is most often invaluable for learning and growth as a writer. We can look for feedback from critique partners, from industry professionals at events like Read and Critiques, and certain contests that offer feedback from the judges.
hilary hauck, Area 4 PRESIDENT
Especially early on our writing journey, it can be daunting to let someone see what we have written. It can feel like baring your soul. A good thing to remember is that others want you to do well. I personally have never met anyone who has given a critique with animosity, but I have experienced an entire army of people willing to help. It’s helpful to be objective and not take the feedback personally. Be open to hearing what other people have to say. Do listen to every piece of feedback, but don’t feel obliged to follow absolutely everything everyone tells you. It is still your writing, and in the end, you make the decisions. Do try to interpret what the person is saying. Sometimes it’s straightforward—skip the adverbs, strengthen your verbs. Other times you might be confused about what they’re advising, or it might seem off the mark, but this does not mean you should discount what they are saying. Their feedback might tell you that you have not achieved what you intended to achieve, so review your writing objectively to make sure the words really do convey what you had intended. most importantly, keep working at your craft, and keep searching for the kind of stories and kind of writing that mean the most to you.
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 ©2019 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
If you want to test your skills in a contest, there is a lot of information about writing contests online. Contests charge different fees, have different rules, and not all offer feedback. The Pennwriters Annual Writing Contest is open January 1 to 31. not only do we ask our judges to provide feedback, first prize in each category is a free registration for an upcoming Pennwriters Conference, where you can learn and grow even more—a win-win. The categories are short story, novel beginning, non-fiction and poetry, and the cost is $15 per entry. Registration for the 32nd Annual Pennwriters Conference will open in early march. Check our website or Facebook page for details. When you register, be sure to sign up for Friday night Read & Critiques, where you’ll get immediate and anonymous feedback from industry professionals. It is free to participants and takes place after the keynote dinner. Also look for information about the In Other Words contest held at the event.
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Board of Directors President Hilary Hauck, 814-659-6191 President@Pennwriters.org
many of our Pennwriters Online Courses provide one-on-one feedback. We are planning a full year of classes, beginning in January. In the class my Journal is Smarter than Your Smartphone, led by instructor Laura English, you’ll learn creative ways to pursue your daily writing habit in the form of brief journal entries. To see what other classes are coming up, check the Latest news section of our website, kept up to date by our secretary, Susan gourley. At this time of year, I’m usually lauding our industrious conference co-coordinators. That seems a little self-indulgent this year, as I am one of the said co-coordinators, so I will limit myself to sharing praise for the industrious and dedicated Pauline Drozeski, my co-coordinator. Pauline is going above and beyond in leading the charge to make sure your Pennwriters Conference experience will be one to remember. Thank you, Pauline!
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
Once you’ve finished reading this issue of The Penn Writer, get writing, get sharing, get learning, and Pennwrite on!
2019 conference coordinators Pauline Drozeski and Hilary Hauck ConferenceCoordinator@Pennwriters.org
-Hilary
Public Relations chair Leslie Tobin Smeltz PublicRelations@Pennwriters.org Bylaws chair Jean Jenkins, 814-774-0557 BylawsChair@Pennwriters.org Internet Activities coordinator Pauline Drozeski
Pennwriters Online 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.
Interim online courses coordinator Donna Royston OnlineCoordinator@Pennwriters.org Pennwriters Presents coordinator Denise Weaver, 814-442-4876 PennwritersPresents@Pennwriters.org 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 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
PW Areas Map
All areas outside of Pennsylvania are Area 7
ThE PENN WRITER • Jan/feb 2019 • www.pennwriters.org
AReA 6 Rep: Suzanne Mattaboni Area6Rep@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 3 Terri Bertha has recently released the third book in her Spooky Twisties series from museItup Publishing for middle grade and older. The group of friends once again find themselves encountering the creepy and supernatural in their hometown. Secrets are revealed and old questions are answered. Will a family reunion finally put things to rest? Can you solve a puzzle to save your life? Can a school book report uncover a little too much for one student? Is it possible to catch a ghost? Available in paperback and eBook on Amazon, the museItup Publishing bookstore, Barnes & noble, and other major retailers. www.terribertha.com.
Area 3 Joshua David Bellin recently published THE DEvOuRIng LAnD, the second book in a fantasy series set on a future Earth in which the environment has evolved into a sentient and malevolent entity known as the Ecosystem. While the human survivors huddle in small villages of stone, individuals known as Sensors, who possess a psychic connection to the Ecosystem, are able to travel within the Ecosystem’s deadly forests to gather food, water, and fuel. The series follows Sarah, a novice Sensor who discovers the hidden truths of the Ecosystem that may offer her people their only chance for survival. To read more about the Ecosystem series and Josh’s other novels, visit him at joshuadavidbellin.com. 4
Area 3 Jim Knights has signed a contract with S&H Publishing for his book SOLDIER gIRL BLuE, which is based on a true story. To escape cruelty at home, a Canadian woman flees to Civil War America disguised as a man where, forced by her conscience to help end slavery, she becomes a soldier and then a spy. After learning her secret lover has been captured, she must choose between fulfilling her mission and risking everything to save him.
Area 4 Jim Lee is doing a series of zombie-related book and video reviews for horror novelist D.m. Draper’s website. Two were published in november with more to come.
Area 5 Jeanne Moran has released THE PATH DIvIDED, the long-awaited conclusion to her YA historical novel RISkIng ExPOSuRE. First-place winner in the “novel Beginnings” category of the 2018 Pennwriters Annual Writing Contest, THE PATH DIvIDED weaves the tales of two protagonists in two timelines into one historical/magical realism novel. A Hitler Youth member in pre-war Germany hatches a plan to sneak her traitorous best friend out of the country. Decades later, her aged brother, hiding in the US under an alias, is confronted with his role in the girls' fate. Each narrative begins when a Romani stranger presents the siblings with a magical picture frame, showing potential outcomes for the choices they face. visit her at jeannemoran.weebly.com and jeannemoran.blogspot.com.
Area 3 Amy Wagner was selected a Pitch Wars 2018 mentee! This contest is a mentoring program in which editors, published/agented authors, and industry interns review submissions and select a manuscript they wish to mentor. Then they assist the writer in polishing their novel for an agent showcase. Cole nagamatsu selected Amy’s YA contemporary/fantasy novel. Cole’s fiction has been published online and in print at cream city review, Tin House, and West Branch, among other publications. She is the editor-in-chief of Psychopomp Magazine, a journal of genre-bending prose. She is represented by Erica Bauman at Aevitas Creative management. Cole will work with Amy over the next several months, guiding her through edits and critiquing a query and pitch. The agent showcase for participants will be held February 8, 2019. For information, visit https://pitchwars.org.
Area 5 Robert Walton released his third Harry Thursday thriller, WISH TO DIE, in August. The Greek countryside and a beautiful woman might seem like enough to satisfy anyone's vacation plans, but the intrepid archaeologist Harry Thursday seems bereft of a good time if someone isn’t trying to kill him. During WWII, the Russian Amber Room and a hoard of diamonds worth more than 200 million dollars were stolen from Goring’s Kunstschutz commander, Erich Koch. Now over 30 years later, Russian art historian Elina Kulinov is attempting to recover these items when Harry Thursday stumbles along. He joins her in a race against a Philadelphia museum run by Koch, and SMERSH.With everyone looking for the same items, who will find them first? And who will survive?
ThE PENN WRITER • Jan/feb 2019 • www.pennwriters.org
It’s Pennwriters Election Time By DAVE fREAS, ELECTION ChAIR
Hello, fellow Pennwriters. The 2019 elections will open march 4 and close march 29. Offices up for election this year are Pennwriters Secretary, Area 2 Rep, Area 4 Rep, and Area 6 Rep. Anyone interested in running for these offices needs to provide me with a head shot, selfie, or photo from your modeling portfolio, and a brief bio (approx. 200 words) telling a little about yourself. Send them to me at quillracer@pa.metrocast.net by Jan. 31. general requirements for eligibility to run for any of these offices are membership in Pennwriters for at least one year and a working knowledge of Pennwriters’ ByLaws and Policies & Procedures. If you have any questions about a specific office, contact me at the above email address.
2019 Pennwriters Annual Writing Contest Now Open The writing contest will close on Jan. 31, 2019, at midnight, EST. Winners will be announced during the Pennwriters Conference in May. Prizes will be awarded to the highestscoring entries in each category. Visit pennwriterswritingcontest.com to read contest guidelines and to submit your entries. Good luck!
OPEN POSITION: Webmaster needed If you have website development skills and want to get more involved with Pennwriters year-round, we would love to hear from you. We are looking for an enthusiastic Webmaster to join the Pennwriters Board. Initially you will shadow our current Webmaster, taking over the duties in spring 2019. Knowledge of the Wordpress development environment is a must, experience with PhP programming is preferred. Please email hilary at President@Pennwriters.org.
Pennwriters Conference Volunteers and Program Chairperson Needed If you plan to attend the 2019 Pennwriters Conference, please consider volunteering. We have a number of opportunities. Many jobs take only a few minutes, while others may take more. Positions are available prior to and during the conference. In addition to getting to see what happens behind the scenes, you can interact and network with many accomplished authors and speakers. Some jobs even pair you with agents or editors. MODERATORS introduce a session speaker by reading a short bio (already written and provided to you) and distribute handouts if necessary. TIMEKEEPERS for agent/editor pitch appointments keep the 10-minute sessions running smoothly. PENN PALS greet agents, editors and speakers, pass out materials and answer questions that arise throughout the event. We will also need a few people to work the REGISTRATION DESK on friday and/or Saturday morning. We also have an OPEN ChAIRPERSON POSITION: Conference Program Chair needed. The Program Chair will design and lay out the conference program booklet, manage program ad sales, generate a print-ready pdf file to send to the printer, and coordinate the printing of the program. Relevant design experience is a must, using document design software such as QuarkXPress, Adobe InDesign, or Microsoft Publisher. If you have questions about this role, contact heather Desuta at thepennwriter@gmail.com. To volunteer for any of these positions or offer help with other tasks, contact Pauline and hilary at conferencecoordinator@pennwriters.org.
Marketing Toolbox: Buyer Types In personal selling situations, it will help you to do like sales professionals do and study the decisionmaking tendencies of the 4 DISC buyer types—Dominators (results-driven power-oriented people), Influencers (inspirational excitement-oriented people), the Steady (honesty and consistency-oriented people), and the Conscientious (rules, quality, and facts-oriented people). Based on work by psychologist William moulton marston, these buyer types are especially significant in your sales pitches and other attempts to influence decisions of media contacts, event planners, store managers, and potential customers. - 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
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32nd Annual Pennwriters Conference May 17-19, 2019 Pittsburgh Airport Marriott Friday Evening Keynote
Saturday Luncheon keynote
Jessica Strawser
Jason Jack Miller
Friday Evening Keynote JESSICA STRAWSER is the editor-at-large at Writer’s Digest, where she served as editorial director for nearly a decade and became known for her in-depth cover interviews with such luminaries as David Sedaris and Alice Walker. She’s the author of the book club favorites ALmOST mISSED YOu, now new in paperback, and nOT THAT I COuLD TELL, a Book of the month selection and Barnes & noble Best new Fiction pick for march 2018 (both from St. martin’s Press). Her third novel, FORgET YOu knOW mE, is forthcoming in 2019. She has written for The New York Times modern Love, Publishers Weekly and other venues, and is a popular presenter at writing conferences and book festivals. She lives with her husband and two children in Cincinnati. Connect with her on Twitter @jessicastrawser and on Facebook @jessicastrawserauthor.
Saturday Luncheon Keynote JASOn JACk mILLER knows it’s silly to hold onto the Bohemian ideals of literature, music, and love above all else. But he doesn’t care. His own adventures paddling wild mountain rivers and playing Pearl Jam covers for less-than-enthusiastic crowds inspired his Murder Ballads and Whiskey Series. He wrote HELLBEnDER as a student in Seton Hill university’s prestigious Writing Popular Fiction program, where he is now a mentor and adjunct instructor. The novel won the Arthur J. Rooney Award for Fiction, the macLaughlin Scholarship, and was a finalist for the Appalachian Writers Association Book of the Year Award. When Jason isn’t writing, he and Heidi are in Paris, perusing the bouquinistes, or in the Cinque Terre trying to taste all of the focaccia. And for the rest of the year he plays the role of mr. miller, mild-mannered science teacher at uniontown Area High School. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @jasonjackmiller or email him at jasonjackmiller@gmail.com.
Three Days of Workshops, Panels, Discussions Friday, Saturday and Sunday feature an open-attendance slate of one-hour workshops on all things writing. The schedule is structured with open attendance, so you can take whatever classes appeal to you. Attendees will have 40+ hours of sessions to choose from. Faculty is comprised of published authors, literary agents and editors, and other writing industry professionals.
Pennwriters Conference Highlights • Pitch Sessions: One-on-one agent/editor appointments are available at no additional fee. When you register for the conference, writers with finished manuscripts will be able to sign up for 10-minute pitch sessions. • networking Opportunities: Chat with Pennwriters, agents, editors and speakers throughout the conference.
Learn what agents and editors are seeking, find a critique partner, make new friends and rekindle old friendships. • Friday Evening Read and Critiques; Saturday Author’s Book Signing; Saturday night Social; Area meetings; Friday networking & Published Penns lunches; and The In-Other-Words Contest and Raffle Baskets. Get the latest news via www.pennwriters.org and social media, or contact Conference Coordinators Pauline Drozeski and hilary hauck at ConferenceCoordinator@Pennwriters.org. Stay tuned for registration dates and info. 6
ThE PENN WRITER • Jan/feb 2019 • www.pennwriters.org
PRE-CONFERENCE INTENSIVES: THURSDAY, MAY 16 FuLL-DAY Intensive with Timons Esaias The Crafts of Fiction: The Nuts, the Bolts, and Hoisting the Girders into Place
HALF-DAY Intensive (morning Session) with Deb Riley-magnus Author Marketing Masterclass
The Crafts of Fiction: the Nuts, the Bolts, and Hoisting the Girders into Place with Timons Esaias This instructor thinks vague writing advice doesn't help you put words on the page, and he knows that what folks really need are Tools That They Can use. This workshop will emphasize a wide variety of specific procedures to get the story on the page, and then rewrite it into a publishable product. There will be exercises, examples, tricks, and warnings. The plan is to touch on ALL the major crafts that go into fiction, and to take actual steps toward mastery. Subjects to include: • A variety of approaches to the First Draft, because there is no single path • Finding a Plot [using Orson Scott Card's mICE Quotient, and elements of my "muddle in the middle" workshop] • Characterization [with very specific devices] • Description [again, with specific devices] • Point of view [which is the whole shooting match, for crying out loud] & Tim's POv voice Chart • non-neutrality [which includes injecting Conflict, because the life of a fictional character must be hard] • Diction [using the right word doesn't mean using a word from the Thesaurus that you don't actually understand] & Dialogue • Those pesky final edits • Exercises on most or all of the above Workshop benefits include an Esaias critique of 10 manuscript pages for each registered participant (submitted either before or after the workshop), and access to a number of Esaias’s written lecturelets. Also malt balls, for participation. It is suggested that participants bring some of their own text to work on during the workshop. Instructor Timons Esaias is a satirist, poet, essayist and short fictionabulator. His works have appeared in twenty languages. A finalist for the BSfA, and winner of the Asimov’s Readers Award for poetry, his story “Norbert and the System” has appeared in a textbook, and in college curricula. He teaches in the Seton Hill University MfA in Writing Popular fiction.
HALF-DAY Intensive (Afternoon Session) with Lyell P. Cook Coroners: Their history, What they do, What they see
Author Marketing Masterclass with Deb Riley-Magnus This powerful Author marketing masterclass covers everything from basic to advanced creative marketing techniques that bring sales results. It’s not your average marketing class focused solely on the newest social network blasts and shortcuts. This masterclass builds and polishes a marketing thinker who can seize opportunities creatively and turn them into book sales. Instructor Deborah Riley-Magnus is an author and an author success coach with 30+ years of marketing and publicity experience. Her book, WRITE BRAIN/LEfT BRAIN, bridges the gap between creative writer and marketing author. Her approach to author marketing is creative, unique, and teaches the difference between selling, and allowing readers to buy.
Coroners: Their history, What they do, What they see with Erie County Coroner Lyell P. Cook Topics include: • The History of Coroners – where it all began and why • Difference between a coroner and a medical examiner • Determining the circumstances, manner, and cause of death • unusual ways some people died • Slide presentation of different causes of deaths, entry/exit bullet wounds, knife wounds • How to estimate the time of death • When and how an autopsy is performed • Statistics on causes of death • Procedures for collecting evidence at the scene • Interesting cases he has worked on mr. Cook encourages attendees to ask lots of questions, general and specific, related to whatever book they might be working on. His presentation is packed with his extensive knowledge of the duties of a coroner and his good sense of humor. Instructor Lyell P. Cook is the Coroner for Erie County, PA. He has overseen 6,000+ death investigations and autopsies for Erie and 13 other counties in northwestern Pennsylvania. His office investigates all sudden and suspicious deaths and all deaths due to violence, which include suicide. Past president of Pennsylvania State Coroner’s Association, Lyell has given more than 100 interviews, including Primetime with Diane Sawyer, BBC, Japanese National Media, and the New York Times.
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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
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. 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 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.
Sandra Bush • Area 5 Representative Area5Rep@Pennwriters.org york Area Group Starting in January 2019 the group will meet at the West york Panera on Carlisle Road, on the 2nd Thursday of each month, at 6 p.m. format: Share up to 5 pages via email with members one week prior to meeting. Members should come to the meeting prepared to share their critique with fellow writers in person. for additional information, contact group facilitator 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 Carrie Jacobs at carrieinpa@gmail.com or facebook.com/4thWednesday. 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.
ThE PENN WRITER • Jan/feb 2019 • www.pennwriters.org
Area 3
Area 3 workshop: Jan 12
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 crakiecz@verizon.net Critique Group North Eight members writing shorts, flashes, novels. Meets on the second Thursday of the month at Perkins Restaurant on Route 19 in Cranberry Township from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., including time for lunch. The group is now at full capacity of eight and is accepting candidates for a wait list. 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, PA. 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 is 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 am. This group is now at capacity. To get on a wait list or for more information contact Amy Wagner at amywagner00@gmail.com. South hills Critique Group A small group meeting one Saturday per month at 10 am in the Galleria of Mt. Lebanon. Work to be critiqued is emailed one week ahead of the meeting. There is space available. Rosemary Ray: southside27@outlook.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.
Date: Time: Place:
Saturday, January 12, 2019 10:00 a.m. - noon Sewickley Library 500 Thorn Street, Sewickley 412-741-6920
This workshop is free, but please RSVP to Stephanie Claypool, Area 3 Representative: Area3Rep@Pennwriters.org.
“GROANERS”
Humor from Todd Main’s Area 1 monthly e-blast 1. A man goes to see a psychologist and says: “I’m a TIPEE, a WIGWAM… I’m a TIPEE, a WIGWAM.” What did the psychologist say? 2. What are Spiderman’s two favorite books? 3. Why don’t sheep tell jokes? 4. how did the kangaroo start his car? 5. how do you make a witch itch?
1. Calm down, buddy. You’re two tents!
AREA 3 CRITIQUE GROUPS:
2. Charlotte’s Web and Webster’s Dictionary.
Second Tuesday of the Month Meet-To-Chat 7-9 pm at Panera in Ross Town Center, 7217 McKnight Road. Enjoy the company and conversation of other local writers. Come meet other writers and talk about writerly things in a relaxed environment. We’ve been having a great time. Make some new friends. Learn. find out about stuff.
have you thought about blogging but weren't sure where to begin? Of did you wonder, "Who would care what I have to say?" Do you have a message you want to share with the world? It's amazing how many people across the globe will visit your blog, provided you know how to drive visitors to your site. In this workshop, we'll discuss reasons why you might want a blog, ways to reach the widest possible audience, and how to make your blog stand out from all the rest. Note: This workshop will not include the technical aspects of blogging.
3. Because they’re baa’d at it.
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.
4. He jump started it.
AREA 3 MEETINGS:
ThE PURPOSE DRIVEN BLOG presented by hana haatainen-Caye
5. You take away the “w.”
Stephanie Claypool • Area 3 Representative Area3Rep@Pennwriters.org
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Don’t be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. RALPh WALDO EMERSON
Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions. - DALAI LAMA
The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. - VIDAL SASSOON
Dear world, I am excited to be alive in you, and I am thankful for another year.
Pennwriters Annual Writing Contest is
NOW OPEN The writing contest will close on Jan. 31, 2019, at midnight, EST.
Q
• NOVEL BEGINNING—first 10 pages. Include your genre, so we can match your entry with a suitable judge. $15 entry fee per piece. • ShORT STORy—Entries must present a complete story within the allotted 10 pages. Include your genre, so we can match your entry with a suitable judge. $15 entry fee per story. • NONfICTION—This includes creative nonfiction, narrative nonfiction and articles. Submit no more than 10 pages. Must present a complete piece within the allotted 10 pages. $15 entry fee per piece. • POETRy—Up to 40 lines per poem. $15 entry fee for up to three poems. (1, 2 or 3 poems/$15; 4, 5 or 6 poems/$30)
Q
- ChARLOTTE ERIKSSON
1st Place Prize- either a full registration fee voucher to the Pennwriters Annual Conference ($300 value—voucher must be redeemed within two years) or $50 cash.
Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.
2nd Place Prize- a choice of half the registration fee voucher to the annual conference ($150 value—voucher must be redeemed within two years) or $30 cash. 3rd Place Prize- A $15 voucher to be used for a free entry in the following year’s writing contest.
Q
-hELEN KELLER
Don’t count the days. Make the days count..
Contest starts on Jan. 1, 2019, at 12:01 a.m. and closes Jan. 31, 2019, at midnight. Entries must be uploaded no later than 11:59 p.m. Jan. 31, 2019. Please email D.J. Stevenson with any questions: WritingContestCoordinator@Pennwriters.org.
- MUhAMMAD ALI
for contest guidelines and to submit your entries, visit
pennwriterswritingcontest.com 10
ThE PENN WRITER • Jan/feb 2019 • www.pennwriters.org
Journey to the Book-Signing Table By CAThy hESTER SECKMAN, AREA 3
1975 The first time I encountered a book signing was in my local kmart. The author promoting her latest release wore a long, narrow leather skirt and an awesome pair of boots. She was standing beside her table full of books, right at the front door. I stopped dead. She was a writer! A real, actual person who wrote books for a living (I assumed) was standing in front of me. I was 20 years old, recently married, and didn’t have money to spend on books. All my books in those days came from the library. But I had to talk to this stylish, accomplished woman, though I didn’t quite have the nerve to ask the question hidden deep in my heart: “How can I be a writer, too?” I walked away bookless but with stars in my eyes. Did I ever think I’d be sitting at one of those tables myself ? I didn’t even know enough to dream about that, but I asked for a typewriter for Christmas.
1991 After six publishers, seven managing editors, and half a dozen chances to be fired, I’d had enough of small-town newspaper politics. “What would you think,” I asked my husband, “if I went back to dental hygiene?” I did just that, but I also took a lot of writing experience along with me, and I began to freelance for magazines. Writers’ conferences and a good writers’ group were next. Soon I’d collected dozens of magazine credits and was working, in fits and starts, on fiction. I had an agent for about five minutes once, but that was as close as I got to publishing success.
2009
After getting enough rejection slips to last a while, it was clear my future was in nonfiction. I took a class and became a successful indexer, along with continuing in magazines. Still, the fiction bug never quite went away. I discovered Through a strange, random, and wonderful series of events, I found myself working at a newspaper. I had written a letter True Confessions magazines, took another class, and began submitting to the Trues. Though all the stories were based to the editor about my lost cat, and the guy must have been on real events, they always included at least some creative stuck for a column idea that week. He printed the letter in fiction elements. I sold 16 stories to the Trues before they his column and said I was a “very good writer.” I called and asked him for a job. He wanted to know if I had a journalism folded for good—alas. or English degree. “I’m a dental hygienist,” I admitted. Well, no, he said, I couldn’t have a job, but did I want to write some freelance pieces? A year later I was working at a There has been modest success in the long quest to turn smaller paper whose editor had admired those freelance myself into a “real writer.” A small press published my young pieces. At one point I was given the opportunity to visit a adult novel, then quickly went out of business. With friends nearby city on a press junket for travel writers. There were from my writers’ group, we’ve put out three indie novels and nationally known journalists present, and I was in awe. By an indie anthology. I’ve had two nonfiction books published. the end of the event I had mustered up enough courage to The second one did well enough to merit a modest book tell one of them that I had always wanted to be a “real tour. This past summer I began sitting at book-signing tables writer,” but was presently “just a newspaper wire editor.” myself, facing lines of people waiting to meet me and buy The man looked down at me from his 6 foot 5 inches and my book. At one point I pushed another book back across whispered, “Cut the wire.” the table, smiled at the buyer, and thought incredulously,
1984
2018
“This is it, isn’t it? This is the dream!” Well, sort of. my writing life has not turned out the way I dreamed it would, back in 1975. I still fantasize about blockbuster novels that Still at the newspaper, I was assigned to interview Dr. Jane Louise Curry, a young adult novelist based in California who top the bestseller lists and catch the eye of Hollywood had returned to her roots for the summer to write a book set producers. But I’ve decided that nonfiction sales are nothing to sneeze at. I love my nonfiction books, and I love the long in her hometown. I was fascinated by her portable word list of magazine articles and indexes to my credit. Dreams processor—the first I’d ever seen—and I watched closely as don’t always come true, but what you get instead can be just she demonstrated. I listened to her stories of traveling to research books. I took in her tales of tough editors and strict as important, just as good, and just as fulfilling. deadlines. At the conclusion of the interview, I looked around at her notes, her page proofs, and her word processor. Cathy hester Seckman is the author of OhIO DAy TRIPS from my inner wannabe-novelist finally burst out: “I WAnT this! AdventureKEEN Publishing and East Liverpool, an Images of America title from Arcadia Publishing. She is a professional indexer I really, really want this life for myself.” She hiked her and has sold more than 150 magazine articles. eyebrows up and said, “Then you’d better get started.”
1985
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Pennwriters Online Courses JANUARy 7-31 fEBRUARy 1-28 My Journal Is Smarter than your Smartphone Story Spark to Story Done Instructor: Laura English $49
Instructor: Catherine McLean
Get in the habit of daily writing by writing brief journal entries that are inspired by phone apps. for example, use “Photo” to create a vivid scene using words. Unlike when you use a photo app, you’ll be able to appeal to as many of the senses as you wish. And how about “Text”? This is the ultimate texting because you can message people who are no longer in your life, those who have moved away or passed on. Or you can message a problem you’re having—you can talk to your anxiety! your imagination is the limit! Students will receive individualized feedback from the instructor, give and receive feedback from other students, and be given suggestions for developing their assignments into longer works. Instructor bio: Laura English studied nonfiction and poetry at Penn State University and University of Pittsburgh respectively. her work has appeared in dozens of journals and magazines including Sow’s Ear, Cider Press Review, Straylight, and the Minnesota Review. GRAVES TOO SMALL TO BE RED, a collection of poetry honoring the deaths of children in the media, was published this year by finishing Line Press. five days a week she posts to Eat More Life, a blog focused on healing from anorexia. her favorite form of activism is to fill this world with poems and stories. To that end, she teaches memoir writing and works one-on-one with people who want to put their experiences into words. She lives in Elizabethtown, PA, with her husband and four sons.
Visit www.pennwriters.org for details and to register for courses. For additional information or suggestions about upcoming courses, email Donna Royston, Interim Online Courses Coordinator, at OnlineCoordinator@Pennwriters.org.
Short stories that capture a reader's attention are ones that entwine character, conflict, and plot. This is a handson course with exercises, cheat sheets, questionnaires, and real-time feedback from the instructor that focuses on writing a worthwhile and marketable short story. If you've been struggling to write short or to write more marketable fiction, this course is about: •Learning where ideas come from and how to discover potential story idea material. •Learning how to test a story idea to determine if there's enough there to merit writing a draft. •Developing a worthwhile protagonist and understanding the built-in relationship of his or her tags and traits that provide engaging conflict, tension, and drama when pitted against the antagonist (which may be a who or a what). • Providing setting and scene details that ensure a believable story world. •Understanding dialogue is necessary to enhance action and drama. •Understanding beginnings, middles and ends as they play into the dynamics of plot and theme. •Learning the secrets of Point-of-View and Viewpoint to show more, tell less, and keep the reader engaged. Instructor bio: Novelist and short story author Catherine E. McLean is a longtime Pennwriter who gives in-person and online courses and workshops on the craft of writing fiction. her short stories have appeared in hard cover and online anthologies and magazines. her books include JEWELS Of ThE SKy (sci-fi adventure), KARMA & MAyhEM (paranormal fantasy romance), hEARTS AKILTER (a fantasy/sci-fi romance novella), and ADRADA TO ZOOL (a short story anthology). her nonfiction guidebook for writers is REVISION IS A PROCESS - hOW TO TAKE ThE fRUSTRATION OUT Of SELf-EDITING. Visit her online at CatherineEmclean.com, WritersCheatSheets.com, and writerscheatsheets.blogspot.com.
JUNE: Storytelling for Kids Instructor: Val Muller AUGUST: A freelancer Prepares: Publication Workshop Instructor: Timons Esaias SEPTEMBER: Writing your Life Instructor: Laura English 12
TESTIMONIALS: Catherine, has anyone every told you that you are a spectacular teacher/trainer? I learn more from reading one of your posts than most other people I get info from. -C.M., Wickliffe, Oh I found the course extremely user-friendly and helpful. I learned a lot of tricks that will make my writing better. Her handouts were easy to understand and very informative. -R.B., Jericho Ny
ThE PENN WRITER • Jan/feb 20198 • www.pennwriters.org
Fifth Annual Pennwriters Area 7 Event 3/30/19 Saturday, March 30, 2019 Fifth Annual Pennwriters Area 7 Writers Project Runway Ida Lee Park, Leesburg, VA Registration 8-9 a.m. • Workshops 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Book signing and meet the authors: 4-5 p.m. Enjoy a day of ideas, inspiration and networking with people like you who are ready to take their writing to new heights. Open to all writers, this conference is also designed to introduce Pennwriters to aspiring and published authors in the Northern Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. areas. Stay tuned for details on www.pennwriters.org and our social media sites. Contact Bobbi Carducci at VicePresident@Pennwriters.org. Presenters include but are not limited to: Larry Schardt, Don Helin, Michael Lyle, Colleen Grimes, Diane Helentjaris, Terry Fischer, and Bobbi Carducci. continued from page 1
I like to believe that you don’t need to reach a certain goal to be happy. I prefer to think that happiness is always there, and that when things don’t go the way we might like them to, it’s a sign from above that something even better is right around the corner. - DAVID ARChULETA
It is our attitude toward life that determines life’s attitude toward us. We get back what we put out. - EARL NIGhTINGALE
’
Advance Your Writing Career in 2019 By SUSAN GOURLEy, PENNWRITERS SECRETARy AND AREA 5 MEMBER
—> Attend book signings by Pennwriter authors. The boomerang effect: Support them and their support will come back to you someday. —> Share to strengthen the Pennwriters network.When you read a Facebook post or the Pennwriters blog, leave a comment and share. Those things help other writers recognize your name and helps the group as a whole. If you Tweet about writing, use the @Pennwriters so all members see your Tweet. —> Volunteer at the Pennwriters Annual Conference. There are so many ways to get involved, and many of the volunteer positions will not take away from your time attending workshops. Instead, you’ll meet industry professionals and get to know fellow Pennwriters. This is a great way to build a network of fellow writers who might help you somewhere down your career path. This is also a great way to take a small step out of that introverted mindset so many writers dwell in and meet others just like you. I meet many writers at the conference every year whom I recognize by name only. I feel I know them from their comments and interactions online. Some final advice: Write that article. Comment on that post. Tweet all about it. Do one small thing each day to advance your career. You can do it. Susan Gourley is published in epic fantasy and multi-published in science fiction romance under the pen name of Susan Kelley. She is a long-time member of Pennwriters and currently serves on the board as secretary.
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Market News
COLUMN #129
By JIM LEE, AREA 4, ASSOCIATE EDITOR, MARKET REPORTS
first up: A major writing contest that has no entry fee and offers an exceptional $3,500 grand prize, plus $750 prizes for four additional finalists. Writers can enter 1 or 2 works of unpublished fiction, 8,000 words or less, for The Nelson Algren Literary Awards. The deadline to submit is Jan. 31, 2019, so check out the guidelines at www.algren.submittable/com/submit and get cracking! Another contest with a substantial prize ($1,000) is The Working Class Writers Grant. Sponsored by the Speculative Literature foundation, the contest is specifically focused on helping emerging writers of Sf/f who come from less-than-wealthy backgrounds. The deadline to apply is feb. 28, 2019. There is no entry fee, which makes sense due to its focus on helping talented people struggling against limited incomes. There are three things required to apply. 1.) Include a personal statement (750 wds maximum) on your financial background and writing goals. 2.) Include a writing sample (up to 10 pages of drama or poetry or as much as 5,000 wds of fiction. 3.) Provide a one-page bibliography of any published works. (It’s okay if you have none. Just let them know.) www.speculativeliterature.org/grants/the-slf-working-class-grant A major magazine for kids 9-14 years of age, Cricket pays 25 cents/wd for short stories and $3/line for poetry. Themes for each issue are listed on their guideline page. Google “Cricket mag” to find the link. (If anybody out there has a clue why that address is so insanely long and complex, please enlighten me. I’d really like to know.) I have an update on Constellary Tales, a new Sf/f e-zine and podcast mentioned last time. They have put out their first quarterly issue. They no longer are looking for reprints. They now only want new stories, 1,000-3,500 wds. Pay remains 6 cents/wd. New publications rethinking or changing their guidelines soon after launch is not terribly unusual and in itself is no red-flag. www.constellary.com/story-submissions
City Lights Books is one of the longest-lived small presses, having been founded back in 1955. They’re perhaps most famous for their beat-generation poetry books, but they also put out booklength fiction, essays, memoirs, translations and nonfiction focused on political and social issues. They are open to unagented writers. They want to see proposal packages that include 1-2 pages describing the book, a resume with info on your writing or other professional experience, a 10-20 page sample of the manuscript, an outline and (for nonfiction) a table of contents. No mention of pay level, which usually means royalties-only. (Always get that spelled out before you commit to anything with any publisher.) There is some info (but no guidelines) at www.citylights.com/publishing/. Watershed Books (an imprint of Pelican Books) specializes in Christian fiction for readers in the 14-19 age range. Lengths used are 25,000-65,000 wds. for guides, visit www.pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main=page=page&id=60. A bit over a year old, Black Spot Books pays royalties on a semiannual basis. They mostly do fantasy, dark humor, thrillers and paranormal novels, with the odd Sf or yA title thrown in for good measure. They expect queries before submission, as most publishers do. At www.blackspotbooks.com/submit.html, you’ll find their guidelines and (at the bottom), a link to click on to send them your query (and later your submission). Another small press that doesn’t require you to have an agent, Square One Publishers puts out adult nonfiction for specific markets. Their focus is niche audiences on topics such as parenting, alternative health, personal finances, collectables, cooking, gambling, postcards, health, self-help, writing and how-to. www.squareonepublishers.com/TopMenu/submissions
Another new Sf/f publication, Unfit Magazine appears twice a year. They use stories, 500-5,000 wds, and will consider both new and reprint submissions. They’ve just upgraded their pay level to 3 cents/wd (via Paypal). The editor is D.S. White. Their guides are to be found at www.unfitmag.com/submit/.
The Masters Review is designed to be “a platform for emerging writers.” As such, they want short fiction and narrative nonfiction from unpublished writers. Pay is 10 cents/wd up to a maximum of $200. I think I covered them a while back, but their determined focus on as-yet-unpublished writers makes them worth mentioning again. www.themastersreview.submittable.com/submit/26106/ new-voices-free.
Alas, as new publications emerge, others exit the scene. SQ Mag, an Australian Sf/f/h outlet that used a couple of my stories a few years back, has gone out of business. Likewise, the horror magazine Grimdark and the horror-focused small press Post-Mortem Press also recently bit the dust.
your Genealogy Today is published in Canada, but most of its readers are American. They pay American contributors in US money at 8 cents/wd and $7 per piece for accompanying images. They want nonfiction on all aspects of genealogy research. www.familychronicles.com/author_notes.htm.
Pyr is still in business, putting out Sf/f novels (85,000 wds minimum for Sf; 95,000 wds and up for f). The news here is that this imprint has been sold to Start Publishing. In any case, they still accept submissions only from recognized agents.
Backwoods home Magazine wants how-to articles on building your own home in the country. They pay $40-200 per article on acceptance. They also use related writing on health, raising animals, food production and preservation, country life skills, home schooling, arts & crafts, recipes and relevant book reviews. They promote self-reliance in all things. www.backwoodshome.com/docs/writer-guidelines.html.
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Polymer Arts is a publication covering all aspects of polymer clay art, aimed specifically at artists interested in that medium. They pay 5-10 cents/wd, and queries are required before submission. www.polymerarts.com/sub_guidelines.htlm. A magazine for fly fishing enthusiasts, The Drake pays negotiable fees for a wide variety of magazine departments (study of the magazine is always a good idea). 600-2,000 wds. www.drakemag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view= article&id=17&Itemid=3. Online Magazine is targeted at librarians and other information professionals. They need nonfiction articles about aspects of information delivery, research and knowledge management, particularly through the internet. Pay varies according to article length, quality, etc. www.infotoday.com/online/authors.shtml. The College Store Magazine is a trade publication that wants articles to help collegiate retailers improve their service, operations and bottom lines. Query first. Pay (amounts negotiated upon confirming assignments) is sent upon acceptance of the finished piece. Lengths: 1,200-2,000 wds. www.nacs.org/publications/thecollege storemagazine/guidelines.aspx. Wesleyan Life Magazine is not accepting submissions. Consult www.wesleyan.org/wph/writers-guidelines for info regarding their other related religious publications, including announcements of their reopening.
Amazonas and Coral Magazines are sister publications dealing with tropical fish and aquariums. Amazonas focuses on aquariums for fresh-water fish, while Coral deals with the marine/salt-water animals. Both magazines are bimonthly and want articles on all aspects/issues related to aquarium environments, management and maintaining, selecting and caring for the particular species involved, etc. Pay ranges are $100-600 for articles, with additional pay for images. They also buy material for a blog site. Read guides and query before sending anything. www.reef2rainforest.com/contributor-guidelines. Any Pennwriters know much about wild turkeys? Turkey Country is an adult-focused publication for people who actively hunt, study and/or support the restoration and conservation of the North American wild turkey. They want articles, 500-1,200 wds in length, and pay $250-550 depending on several factors. The same people have a magazine for younger (17 and under) wild turkey enthusiasts called JAKES Country. Information for both titles can be found at www.nwf.org_resources/dyn/files/ 146746zd9f0624d/_fn/Contributors-Guidelines-2015.pdf.
Info this time comes from Authors Publish.com, freedom with Writing.com, Ralan.com, Facebook’s Open Calls pages and freelanceWriting.com. As always, tips and leads are more than welcome.
The official publication of the Assemblies of God Churches, Pentecostal Evangel is a weekly. They use articles (500-1,200 wds) from an Evangelical Christian viewpoint, mostly focusing on a better understanding of Bible passages, developing a personal prayer connection with God, and how to live a better, more “victorious” life. Pay is 6 cents/wd. They claim first Rights and pay on acceptance. Sierra is the magazine of the National Sierra Club, one of the largest conservation-oriented nonprofits in the US. This bi-monthly is looking for nonfiction articles, mostly 2,000 wds and (rarely) up to 4,000 on various aspects of the natural world. Pay starts at $1/wd. Regular, well-known contributors can get up to $1.50/wd. A number of shorter departments are open to freelancers. Pieces are typically 250-1,000 wds, paying $250-$1,000. www.sierraclub.org/sierra/editorial-guidelines. Defense One is published by Atlantic Media Co. and deals with the future of defense and national security issues. They want knowledgeable nonfiction (800 wds and less) on one of five general topics and/or trends: Threats, Politics, Management, Technology, and Ideas. Inquire about current pay rates when you query: www.defenseone.com/about/writers-guidelines/.
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About Pennwriters
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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: fEB. 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.)