Job Opportunity

This in from our friends at LAwritersgroup.com

Looking for a Proofreader:

Proofreading of typset version of book manuscript. Book has already been copy edited, need proofreading for submission to printer. References and prior experience required.

Company: Funny Path Publishing

Contact: Deborah rummelhart
Email: deborah@funnypath.com
To Email Click Here

Notes: Please contact Ms. Rummelhart directly if interested and let her know you found the ad through LAwritersgroup.com!

Help for Remembering Your Dreams

You may remember there was a call to share what inspires you to write for our Inspiration column, for our upcoming issue. Carrie sent us a couple of sources that work for her. We will print one as part of Inspiration.

The other we've decided to post here because many say dreams are a source of ideas for creative writing. But not everyone has dreams they remember, they're not much good to the writer that way. We thought Carrie had some ideas that might reduce frustration and turn up the memory of our dreams. See if you can benefit from her hints. Thanks, Carrie.

Beryl


Look into Your Dreams

By Carrie Hulce

Everyday we look at the outside to find our stories. The police car racing off to the nearest accident, the couple fighting on the corner of the street, the little girl playing in a park with her friends; but, there is one place we don’t always look, deep inside.

Have you ever taken a look at your dreams for inspiration? Our dreams provide a lot to us, including maybe the next best seller. But, you have to listen close and try to capture it. Here are some suggestions to do so.

First off, make sure you try to relax before going to bed. Enjoy a good book, keep a list of things you need to do the next day, a nice warm cup of tea and a funny movie, what ever your normal routine is.

Second, make sure to keep a notebook and a pen or pencil on your bedside table. This becomes your dreams journal. I know you are saying but, what if I don’t remember my dreams; well, then make it into a daily journal, one that you can list all of the events of your day. Sometimes, this will even help you to relax your mind, especially if you had a stressful day at work.

Finally, get a good night sleep. Bundle up, and sleep.

The next morning, upon awaking, grab your notebook, put the date on the top of the page, and write down what you remember from your dream. Even if you see sweet pickles flying in the air, or how about that purple elephant with little green polka dot wings. Write everything you possibly can. This little technique may even help you to ease your mind for the morning, give you a nice relaxing start to your day. Quick note, you may need to set your alarm a little earlier so you have plenty of time, especially if you have to get your little whip-per snappers out the door, or get yourself off to work.

I block out a bit of time each afternoon or evening, to write, when I grab up my writing bag, I make sure that I have my dream journal as well. I read through all that I've written down, and then see what kind of story I can come up with. It may be a children’s story or even a horror novel. You would be amazed at some of the ideas you can draw just from your dreams.

New Math Adds Up To FREE Publicity

By Carolyn Howard-Johnson

An excerpt from THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER:
HOW TO DO WHAT YOUR PUBLISHER WON'T

The new math for free publicity is: E-book + E-gift = Promotion. Oops. Error. Make the answer FREE promotion!

There are three magical concepts to this e-book formula:

1. Accidental
2. Free
3. E-book.

My best promotion ever, a free e-book called COOKING BY THE BOOK, accidentally fell into my lap and it uses all three. I’ll share more about these three promotional potions a bit later.

COOKING BY THE BOOK began when more than two dozen authors from several countries contributed to a book that would be given away free to anyone—as a gift of appreciation to the support teams it takes to write and market a book and to the legions of readers who cook but were probably never exposed to our books. Each invited author had written at least one kitchen scene in his book. Each segment of the cookbook begins with an excerpt from that scene, the recipe comes next and that is followed by a short blurb about the author..

This cookbook e-tool is a cross-pollinator. Each contributing author was to publicize it any way she chose. Participants promised to promote it and not to charge for it. That way each contributor benefited from the efforts, the lists, and the contacts of the other authors. We had some superior promoters among us:

• Most of us set up a page on our websites.
• Contributor Peggy Hazelwood promoted it in her newsletter for book lovers.
• Mary Emma Allen featured it in the columns she writers for New Hampshire dailies, The Citizen and The Union Leader.
• David Leonhardt, ( the happy guy ) author of CLIMB YOUR STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN, incorporated the cookbook into a Happiness Game Show he uses in his presentations.
• We gave away coupons for this book at our signings. Because it costs nothing, it can be given to everyone, not just those who purchase a book.
• I use them as thank yous to people who visit my site.
• Some include information on these freebies on the back of business cards and bookmarks.
• I query site editors whenever I run across another place that seems as if our CB Book would interest their audience.

Reviewer JayCe Crawford said, “For a foodie-cum-fiction-freak like me, this cookbook is a dream come true.” That review has popped up in places we didn’t know existed.

Our most startling success came from sources we had no connection to. It was featured in Joan Stewart’s The Publicity Hound, in Writer’s Weekly, on MyShelf.com, in the iUniverse newsletter and more. I had the highest rate of interest I’d ever had when I queried radio stations for interviews and that was in competition with a pitch for THIS IS THE PLACE just before the 2002 games in Salt Lake City and an intolerance angle on the same novel right after 9/11.

Wait, we're not through yet. Mother's day invites us to repeat our publicity blitzes every year, because -- if you haven’t noticed -- mothers tend to do lots of cooking. This book was so successful I collaborated with Sarah Mankowski on a similar one called SEASONED GREETINGS for holiday promotional blitzes.

Back to those three magic words:

1. Accidental: I don’t take credit for knowing a good thing when I saw it. What I learned from this experience is to never dismiss something that is placed on your desk without careful consideration-- even if it seems vaguely hokey. I nearly did just that. “E-book indeed,” I said to myself. I was worried that association with this concept might taint my literary works. Hubris can be very self-defeating.

2. Free: This charmed word convinced editors to offer our cookbook as a freebie to their readers. Usually the contributing author who pitched it was privileged with their own promotional site’s URL being used as a link but when some editors chose to place the entire cookbook download on their own sites, we all benefited just the same.

3. E-book: An e-book is easy for readers to obtain. The author need not budget for postage or processing expenses. In the invitations, queries, and releases I sent out, I emphasized a no strings attached attack: I assured everyone that they would not be expected to register to the site, sign up for a newsletter nor purchase a thing. The E-book concept is also important because—though it may not be new to you and me—the media is still infatuated with it.

Here is a fourth magic word. Cookbook. It has universal appeal. You might find something else that works better for you. I’ve been thinking of doing something similar utilizing the subject of genealogy because my novel is based on the stories of my own ancestors--four generations of them. It is not necessary that the freebie be knitted to your primary title; you may benefit by a theme that reaches out, draws in those who might not otherwise be exposed to your work. Your idea may appeal to a narrower audience but niche markets work, too. Everyone loves something that is FREE.

COOKING BY THE BOOK and my other e-books (check out several at my site or at authorscoalitionandredenginepress) are like hospitality gifts. Only better. That's because they promote not only my work, but that of others. Those who are interested in how these work can download a sample at carolynhoward-johnson.

----------

Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the author of the award-winning This is the Place, Harkening, and Tracings. She is also the author of the How To Do It Frugally series including The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won’t, the winner of USA Book News' Best Professional Book 2004 and the Irwin Award and the soon-to-be-released The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. Frugal is available in a full 248 p. e-book format at and in paperback at www.Amazon.com. The author was honored by members of the California Legislature as Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment and was named outstanding woman of the San Gabriel Valley in California for her "literary activism" by the Pasadena Weekly. She is the founder of Authors' Coalition http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com. Find the subject of this article, Cooking by the Book, along with other cookbooks and a book of inspiration for writers FREE at this URL: http://carolynhoward-johnson.com.

EMAIL WORKING!

Ladies,

Our e-mails have been restored. We apologize for this inconvenience.

If you recently tried to send us an e-mail and it came back to you with an error, please resend that e-mail and we will get it. This goes for all contest entries today February 16, and any other e-mails sent to any @wow-womenonwriting.com accounts.

THIEF! BOOK SIGNING: SAT FEBRUARY 17

Check Out THIEF! in lights on the marquee at Mandalay Bay! Now that's amazing! Both Cherie Rohn and William 'Slick' Hanner deserve all the recognition for their hard work in making THIEF! a success.

If you are anywhere in the area, please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to meet the guy behind the crazy true-life-story, and get to know the kind and colorful character he really is. What better chance to get Slick's signature, and to read a book written by Cherie Rohn, a dedicated and talented woman author.

Saturday February 17, 2007
Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas
2:00 P.M. - ?

If you can't make that date, visit Slick at the Meadows Mall, Las Vegas: Sunday, February 18 at 2:00 p.m.

Be sure to get your signed copy of THIEF! before Slick's interview with multi award-winning reporter, George Knapp!

Check out Cherie and Slick's blog!

Interview with Andrea Uptmor - Runner Up in the WOW! Flash Fiction Contest

Andrea Uptmor's story, 500 Words About Sally Rincker, was such a fast-paced adrenaline rush of words and images, we had to get to know the woman behind the story. Here's what Andrea had to say:

WOW: We loved your experimental story -- I say experimental, because it was all one sentence! What inspired you to write this story?

Andrea: The prompt, of course! The image of the lost pom-pom, all faded and crinkled, was a powerful one. The rest of the narrative sort of worked backwards from there.

WOW: Have you written any other stories that are all one sentence?

Andrea: I have, actually, and I'm beginning to think it's because I drink so much coffee while I write. The text takes on a sort of jittery, caffeinated quality that appeals to me.

WOW: Well, it appeals to us too, as does your detail to description. You received the Union League of Arts & Civics Foundation 2006 Fiction Prize -- can you tell us about the foundation, and what you wrote to receive this prize?

Andrea: The Union League club of Chicago has a great annual contest for the city's young writers and musicians. I won the fiction competition for a short story called, "Hives." It's so important to encourage young writers to just keep doing what they're doing, and organizations like the Union League club can really make an impact.

WOW: Currently, you're finishing your Masters of Arts in Creative Writing at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. We think that shows tremendous dedication. What do you plan to do after you get your degree?

Andrea: Good question! The very first thing I'm going to do is consolidate my student loans, peek at the final number, and faint.

WOW: LOL. Well, whatever you do, we know you'll be successful! You sure were up to the challenge of writing for the WOW! 2006 Flash Fiction Contest. What did you find most challenging about it?

Andrea: I've never worked from a prompt before, which is challenging in itself, because you've got to push yourself even harder to make your piece unique. If everyone's starting from the same point, how can you work with structure to make yours stand out?

WOW: Well, you definitely did that! Can you tell us what you're working on right now?

Andrea: I'm finishing my capstone project at Northwestern, a collection of short fiction.

WOW: Since you're majoring in creative writing, do you have any writing exercises that you can share with us?

Andrea: I love freewriting, especially if you can type quickly. If you can type fast, it closes the gap between your first inspiration and the hesitation that always comes afterwards. Just spit it out - fast!

WOW: Good advice. So, how has entering the WOW! contest been for you?

Andrea: Incredibly worthwhile. Thank you!

If you haven't done so already, check out Andrea Uptmor's short story: 500 Words About Sally Rincker

Since we talked to Andrea, she sent us this kind e-mail:

"Angela and Beryl,

Thank you so much for the box of gifts you sent! What an incredibly generous gesture. I am really looking forward to indulging in all of the prizes - especially Amy Tan's book. Thanks again for an amazing experience.

Andrea Uptmor
Flash Fiction Runner-Upper"

Your welcome Andrea. We look forward to reading more of your work in the future! Please keep us updated on all your projects. :-)

Call for a Ghostwriter: Celebrity Biography

Just in, from LAwritersgroup.com:

"I am looking for a ghost writer. I have a book about my brother the actor Jeremy Applegate. His life and sudden tragic death forom sucide in March 2000. I have some photo's I would like to use from when Jeremy was a child.
Please let me know.
thank you
Margaret Gomez"

NOTE FROM LA WRITERS GROUP: We have corresponded with this person and she is aware that cost / price needs to be worked out and she is primarliy interested in maintaining the copyright of the material but is willing to give credit to the writer (so *ghost writer* is a relative term.)

To contact Margaret Gomez, email: pegsue50@sbcglobal.net

This listing is courtesy of Nicole & Sanora at www.lawritersgroup.com

Gival Press Writing Contests

This just in from Gival Press. Three writing contests!

2007 Gival Press Novel Award for best original previously unpublished literary novel in English, approximately 30,000 to 100,000 words.

Prize $3,000, copies and publication.

Reading fee $50 per novel submitted.

Deadline May 30th.

Email givalpress@yahoo.com or visit website
www.givalpress.com for complete details.
Gival Press,PO Box 3812, Arlington, VA 22203.

------------

2007 Gival Press Oscar Willde Award for best previously unpublished poem in English that best relates GLBT life.

Prize $100 and publication on website.

Reading fee $5 per poem submitted, any form, style, length.

Deadline June 27th.

Email givalpress@yahoo.com or visit website
www.givalpress.com for complete details.
Gival Press,PO Box 3812, Arlington, VA 22203.

-------------


2007 Gival Press Short Story Award for best original previously unpublished literary story in English, approximately 5,000 to 15,000 words.


Prize $1,000 and publication on website.

Reading fee $25 per story submitted.

Deadline August 8th.

Email givalpress@yahoo.com or visit website
www.givalpress.com for complete details.
Gival Press,PO Box 3812, Arlington, VA 22203.

Creative Stories Break Down Writer's Block

By Annette Fix



Let’s face it…some days, it’s just not happening. There you sit, staring at your computer screen with the blinding white of a completely empty page and that blinking cursor mocking you, but nothing comes out.

Sometimes, all it takes is a little skip down a creative path to get your muse back on track with the work that needs to be done. All work and no play can leave your creative child pouting in a corner. However, there is a way to coax her back to the page.

Read through this list of 50 and choose a prompt that resonates with you. Pick one that gives you an immediate image—a story, memory, event, or thought—from which to create.

• What I know for sure...
• A letter to my younger self… (at four milestones in your life)
• Lessons I learned the hard way...
• Something someone said still haunts me…
• My guilty pleasure…
• On my tombstone, it reads...(4-5 short phrases)
• In my eulogy, they said…
• Mistakes were made...
• In my next life...
• She was always right…
• A summertime memory…
• It was like fireworks…
• Innocence--yours or someone else's…
• A random act of kindness…
• My message in a bottle…
• When I first learned about sex…
• My rebirth, the decision I’m making from here forward…
• My 1st impression was wrong…
• A dream you wish came true…
• He left…
• Independence—yours or someone else's…
• The consequences of my actions…
• A crazy person who is (or was) in your life…
• Running in the sprinklers…
• A story from your life you've told a million times but have never written down…
• I’ve never laughed so hard in my life…
• It was a loss…
• A Secret…
• I thought it was forever…
• Only a little white lie…
• Snow days…
• An obsession…
• A job, a boss, and a sticky situation…
• Monsters in the dark…
• A bad haircut…
• Holidays with the family…
• It was the truth…
• I just won the lottery…
• A broken promise…
• The best or worst date/night/sex of your life…
• A nickname that stuck…
• When the truth is enough and when it’s not... A time when you had to take the truth and twist it…
• A personal win that was icing on the cake…
• A bad thing you did and didn’t feel guilty about... And a bad thing you did that you did feel guilty about…
• My last day…
• Innocence is…Humiliation is…Comfort is…Joyfulness is…Solitude is…
• It was a miracle…
• My first kiss…
• That neighbor…
• With my bare toes in the sand…

Now that you’ve chosen a prompt, begin freewriting about whatever comes to mind. It doesn’t have to be a literary masterpiece—allow yourself to build a sandcastle with words.

You never know…the gems you may find from writing through one of these prompts could inspire your next novel, short story, or poem. At the very least, your muse will thank you for giving her a much needed chance to play.


---------------------

Annette Fix is an author and spoken word storyteller based in Laguna Niguel, CA. An excerpt from her e-book, The Hungry Writer's Guide to Tracking and Capturing a Literary Agent was featured in WOW!'s September 2006 Issue. Annette's memoir, The Break-Up Diet will be available in October 2007. You can catch her next spoken word performance at The Powerhouse Theater in Santa Monica on March 5th.

Interview with Jeri Rafter - Runner up in the WOW! Fall 2006 Flash Fiction Contest

Jeri Rafter is an amazing woman with a wonderful vision for creating imaginary worlds. Just read her story, Death By PomPom, and you'll see why. Her writing is raw, edgy, and in tune with the underground scene. It's no wonder that her guilty pleasure is 'indulging in dirty gossip rags' because she writes with a fashion-vibe (to coin a term), and I could easily see her creating the next girl-version of the uber-popular "Fight Club."

In an e-mail from Jeri, she had told us that she hadn't entered a contest since high school, and we were amazed. In fact, this is how the interview starts...

WOW: Jeri, is it true that you haven't written anything since high school? You're such a great writer, we find that hard to believe! What made you decide to enter the WOW! 2006 Flash Fiction Contest?

Jeri: Of course not! Did I say that? Seriously, I don't know where my brain goes sometimes. I have been writing everyday since high school, but not until the WOW! 2006 Flash Fiction Contest have I ever had anything published since 2001. I think it's important for women to have support out there in this literary world, and WOW is an amazing source of that support.

WOW: Thank you! And 'my bad' -- I assumed when you said you hadn't entered a contest since high school, that you weren't writing. Okay, it's my brain that's going places!

Jeri, one thing we love about your short story, Death By PomPom, is your ability to transport the reader into this other world -- an underground subculture of Goth Anti-Cheerleaders. What inspired you to write this story?

Jeri: I'm all for anti-heroes of any sort. I think black comedy is the best comedy, and the 'pom-pom' theme just generally leads itself into this dark subculture that had already existed in my mind.

WOW: That's great! And you look like such a sweet girl ;-) No really, I tend to be drawn to that kind of writing myself... you should ask Beryl about my short stories!

Anyway, let's move onto your bio. You were born in Montana and recently moved to L.A. How do you like it so far? Is it different from where you grew up?

Jeri: I love LA! The energy, people, and ideas here impress me every day. Back in Montana, you have to slow way down and learn to be patient and take things easy. Nothing happens in a day, but that is the beauty of it. No high heels either, there isn't a whole lot of pavement.

WOW: Oh no! I don't know if I could survive. I'm 5'4" and have to wear high heels if I don't have time to tailor my jeans. LOL. So tell us, what are you reading right now?

Jeri: Nine Plays by Sam Shepard

WOW: And what was the most challenging thing about entering the flash fiction contest?

Jeri: Making myself edit.

WOW: Yes, that 500 word count can be a bear. So, do you have any writing, or other, goals for the New Year?

Jeri: I want to finish my screenplay and get it out to the world.

WOW: That's a great goal. We can see this happening for you. Please keep us up to date! Thanks again Jeri, and we hope that all your dreams come true.

If you haven't already checked out Jeri Rafter's short story, Death By PomPom, check it out HERE.

Side Note: Since we talked to Jeri for this interview, she sent us an e-mail about her prize-pack:

Dear Beryl and Angela-

WOW! is right! I can't believe how sweet and beautiful the package was that I received yesterday! I had no idea that was coming, what a nice surprise. You two are doing a great job, keep up the good work. I really appreciated all of the little touches, it was an amazing gift and I thank you so much!

With kindest regards,
Jeri Rafter

WOW's comments: You're so welcome Jeri, you deserve it and much more! We know you will go far with your writing.

Call for Submissions: Cup of Comfort

SINGLE MOMS: LET YOUR VOICES & PRAISES BE HEARD!

As Oprah Winfrey has often said, parenting is the most difficult and important job in the world -- even more so for single mothers, who single-handedly face all the usual parenting challenges, plus a whole set of unique ones. While being a single mom can be tough at times, it also brings many joys and rewards. And those blessings, along with the achievements and other positive aspects of single motherhood, too often go unrecognized. So the editor of the bestselling Cup of Comfort book series is now seeking personal stories for publication in an anthology that honors and celebrates single mothers.

Stories must be original and true, and can be dramatic or humorous. Preference is given to slice-of-life stories that read like compelling fiction, that speak a positive universal truth about the human spirit, and that both entertain and inspire readers.

* Deadline: March 20, 2007

* Story Length: 1000-2000 words

* $500 grand prize; $100 for each other story published in book

* Simultaneous submissions accepted

* Authors may submit multiple stories

* Each submission must include:
Author's name
Author's mailing address
Author's phone number
Author's email address
Story title
Story wordcount

Submit by email or mail:

EMAIL: Copy and paste the story into the body of the email; no attachments. One story per email. Send to wordsinger@aol.com

MAIL: Send hard copy (no CDs or disks) and SASE to:
Colleen Sell
Cup of Comfort Editor
P.O. Box 1539
Cottage Grove, Oregon 97424, USA

Event Announcement: Patricia Fry Luncheon

Come meet Patricia Fry and the Editors of WOW! at this special O.C. event!

When: Saturday, February 10, 2007, 11:30 AM

Where:

Town and Country Manor
555 E. Memory Lane
Santa Ana, CA 92706
**in their Garden Room

Who: Patricia Fry, Author, Editor, President of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artist, and Writers Network)

What: Luncheon with Patricia Fry


Why: To learn about promoting fiction, self publishing, and more.


Contact: Russell Traughber

Cost: $10.00 for event

Learn More and see who's coming HERE

Interview with Sarah Jane Stratford - Runner up in the WOW! Fall 2006 Flash Fiction Contest

Sarah Jane Stratford had such a unique take on our prompt, we just had to find out her motivation behind it. Join us in a discussion with this very talented writer and find out just what she's up to!

WOW: What inspired you to write, The Cat Toy?

SJ: In thinking about a lost pom-pom, I remembered a house I used to pass on my way to school that had an elaborate English garden, even though it was surrounded by hideous modern LA apartments. We called it 'The Enchanted Garden' and occasionally tried to sneak in - just to walk around, very 'Alice in Wonderland'. So I just took the mental leap over the wall and lost a pom-pom in the process.

WOW: And during that leap, you managed to create some very interesting characters: Auntie Ellen who became a nudist, and a scary cat lady who grows exotic vegetables in disturbing shapes. What visuals! Were these characters based on anyone you know?

SJ: Hee-hee! Er, well, yes, but since I'm running the risk of being barred from all family gatherings into infinity, I'd best just say they're an amalgam of people I've had run-ins with over the years.

WOW: Okay, we don't want you to get in trouble, so we'll gracefully change the subject... How did you get into writing screenplays?

SJ: I think very visually and discovered that my written dialogue is much more eloquent than anything that actually comes out of my mouth, so I became addicted to the process of spinning out the sort of conversations I'd rather like to have in real life but rarely do. It's weird, because my real passion is theatre, but I was in LA and it was very much a Roman thing.

WOW: Ah yes, when in Rome. You wrote a contest-winning screenplay entitled, "The Tale of the Torturer's Daughter," a medieval farce about torture, romance, and good hair -- what contest did you enter, and how important do you think having good hair is?

SJ: I entered several - it was a semifinalist in two others and winner in the Comedy category of the Fade In contest. Good hair is one of the pillars of life. It's a goal I strive for every day. That I often fail is of little consequence - it's still a primary force in my life.

WOW: As good hair should be! But from your pic, I can see that you DO have good hair. So, Sarah Jane, what are you working on right now?

SJ: Hoo boy. I'm busy. In addition to sundry strange stories, I'm writing a novel about vampire espionage, a comic script about stalking and reality TV, and the teensy tiny extremely amorphous beginnings of a play that may or may not involve time travel.

WOW: Sounds like you have a ton of interesting projects and plots whirling about your good hair. ;-) Writing seems to come easy for you; what did you find most challenging about entering the WOW! Fall Flash Fiction Contest?

SJ: Getting it polished and sent in time - seriously, I sent it in a whopping 14 minutes before the deadline. What a night that was!

WOW: That's crazy! But you definitely pulled it off. Many writing websites recommend that you get your work in early, but we had quite a few that slid right under the deadline and they did very well. So, do you have any tips on prompt-writing that you'd like to share with other writers?

SJ: Try to plan your time better. It's loads of fun, but 500 words is much trickier than you'd think. No joke - you've got yourself a beast of a page and a half. You might need a whip and chair. (and we all need the fabulous leather boots)

WOW: Yes we do.

Thanks Sarah Jane for a great interview! If you haven't got a chance to read SJ's story, check it out HERE.