Bits & Pieces

January Issue:

I'm sure many of you are wondering, Where's the January issue? Well, we've been working diligently, and it should be up soon. Those of you that know me, probably think I'm going bald by now from pulling my hair out, LOL.

Today we were supposed to kick off our interviews with Fall 2007 Contest Winners, but, since we leave the final winners as a surprise, the first interview will be postponed until next Tuesday. Sorry ladies! I know you all have been waiting patiently to hear the results...which will be delivered very soon. Sit tight! ;-)

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Letter from Amy Smith Linton: Spring 2007 Runner Up

When we interviewed Amy in August she'd told us that she was going to Greece for a sailboat race. Of course, we wondered how it went, and we were glad that she sent us this recap:

Hi Wow!

Hope you are having a great New Year.
You were kind enough to ask about my sailing last summer -- you may remember, we did an e-mail interview while I was competing at a sailing regatta. Which goes a little way to explaining my photograph.

In any case, we had a great year on the water. It's not quite an embarrassment of riches, because I am going to go right ahead and toot my horn: we won the Lightning Worlds in Athens, the Flying Scot Wife-Husband Nationals in CT, and took first place at the South American Lightning Championships on Lake Tomine in Colombia. Icing on the delicious cake: my husband and I were both short-listed for the Rolex U. S. Sailing Yachtsman/Yachtswoman of the Year.

I treasure my WOW! bag and hope to report exciting progress on the writing front sometime -- this year? Meanwhile, best wishes for another successful year of WOW!ing.

Amy Smith Linton
Runner Up
Spring 2007 Flash Fiction contest.

WOW: Congratulations Amy! That's quite an achievement. Three wins, and a finalist in the Rolex U.S. Sailing Yachtsman/Yachtswoman of the Year. Very impressive! We wish you the best of luck, and remember to take time to write about the experience. :-)

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Submission Guidelines Updated:

Senior Editor, Annette Fix, has revised our submission guidelines to be a lot more comprehensive. Hopefully, this will answer any questions you may have. Check it out:
http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contact.php

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Are you near Brooklyn and want to network this weekend?

WRITEOUS CHICKS™ presents...

WRITE Into The New Year!

An All-Day Writing Party

Workshop for Women

Do you want to:

* Reflect on your past year and where you've been?

* Set your focus and intention for the year to come and where you want to go?

* Get inspired and excited about new beginnings & infinite possibilities?

Then this workshop is for you!!!

The beginning of a new chapter - in your writing and in your life - is always within your reach, and within you!

All-Day Writing Parties are full-day writing intensives specifically designed to provide a big juicy burst of inspiration to jumpstart your writing practice or take your existing practice to the next level! Using fun & freeing techniques, you will break through blocks in your writing and your life and celebrate and nurture yourself in the process.

Date: Saturday, January 12, 2008

Time: 12:00pm - 6:00pm

Place: A convenient Cobble Hill location, close to the F train in Brooklyn

Contact: Jennifer Garam ● (917) 509-7564 ● jeng@writeouschicks.com

Registration Fee: $149

A maximum of 10 women will be accepted in this session.

What my students have to say...

About One-Day Writing Workshops

"...The writing, the laughing, the camaraderie, the closeness, the emails afterwards. One of my top ten days EVER!!"

- Sue, 56, Executive Assistant to CEO

"Things are crazy good with me. I feel such a shift since "removing obstacles." The work you do is soooooooo empowering!"

-Robyn Myhr, Holistic Health Coach

"I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your writing workshop yesterday. It was such a wonderful experience for me - so well put together and a truly warm and accepting atmosphere - and such a gorgeous group of women you attracted! You really have a beautiful spirit and energy about you and that really came through during the workshop and made for a really safe and open environment."

-Bridget, Actress

"I just want to thank you again for such a wonderful class today. It really felt great to be writing again and be around such a talented group of women. I truly appreciate the opportunity for being a part of today's class."

-Dayna, 29, Teacher

BIO

Jennifer Garam graduated summa cum laude from Boston College with a degree in English and Theatre. She has studied writing at the Northwestern University Summer Writers' Conference, Sarah Lawrence Playwriting Conference, and Ensemble Studio Theatre, and acting at The Neighborhood Playhouse and The Barrow Group. Three of Jennifer’s one-act plays have been selected for The Samuel French Festival. In addition to readings at The Lark Play Development Center, The Belt Theatre, and the Time Inc. Author Connection Reading Series, she has performed her solo material at the Drama Desk Award-Winning Barrow Group Theatre. Jennifer’s celebrity music articles have appeared in Interview magazine, and she produced the documentary film Singing Out Loud about singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw. She writes the blog "One Writeous Chick" at www.writeouschicks.wordpress.com, and her writing can also be found on DailyOm.com, DivineCaroline.com, and Health.com. As the founder of WRITEOUS CHICKS™, she teaches writing workshops for women with an emphasis on personal growth, self-care, and having fun! Jennifer has been practicing yoga for 9 years, and infuses her passion for spirituality in all her teachings.

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Call for Submissions:

Seeking Submissions
from U.S. Writers for 3 Proposed Books*


1.

Women & Poetry: Tips on Writing, Publishing and Teaching
from American Women Poets

Foreword by Robin Merrill, Maine Poets Society President 2006-2007. M.F.A. Stonecoast. With hundreds of poems published, some from her chapbook Laundry & Stories (Moon Pie Press) were featured on Garrison Keillor's "Writers' Almanac." http://www.robinmerrill.com

Afterword by the editors of Iris Magazine, an award-winning publication of 27 years celebrating and empowering young women through provocative articles, essays, and fiction pieces that are uplifting, inclusive, and literate. http://womenscenter.virginia.edu/coreprograms/iris.html

Markets for women, why women write, time management, using life experience, women's magazines, critique groups, networking, blogs, unique issues women must overcome, lesbian and bisexual writing, formal education, queries and proposals, conference participation, family scheduling, feminist writing, self-publishing, teaching tips, are just a few areas women poets are interested.

Practical, concise, how-to articles with bullets/headings have proven the most helpful. Please avoid writing about "me" and concentrate on what will most help the reader.

2.

Milestones for American Women: Our Defining Passages

Foreword by Carolyn Lesser, Webster University, St. Louis, MO, nonfiction writing faculty; natural science children's books published by Harcourt, Alfred A. Knopf; essayist, poet, photographer, keynote speaker, artist.

Afterword by Dr. Loriene Roy, 2007-2008 President of the American Library Association. Professor, University of Texas at Austin, founder of "If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything," a national reading club for Native American children.

Please consider sharing the important milestones, life changing events, transitions in your life--material that would broadly fit the "Women's Studies" genre that is highly readable, moving and relatable. There are the passages that occur to us (for example, losing a loved one, having to relocate) and then the passages we choose (such as getting a degree in mid-life, adopting a child). Please focus on those pivotal moments and why they were milestones for you.

This book celebrates our passages as women, from one moment into another, from one door to the next. Often it is after the navigation, that in reflection, we see that some of the most difficult are the ones we have learned the most and have had lasting effects as well on those around us.

Guidelines for Women and Poetry
and/or Milestones for American Women:

Word total for 1-3 articles based on your experience: 1,900 minimum; maximum 2,300. Two articles minimum preferred.

If you are submitting 2-3 articles, please break them up fairly evenly in word count to reach the 1,900-2,300 range.

Please submit all contributions at one time.

No previously published or simultaneously submitted material. Books such as this can typically take up to a year to compile. Contributors receive a complimentary copy and contributor's discount on additional copies.

Please first send topics before writing to avoid duplication, and a 65-70 word bio with your present position, location, relevant publications, career highlights for the contributor page; please use POETS or MILESTONES as the subject line to smallwood@tm.net

Once your topics have been approved, deadline for e-mailing articles is February 28, 2008. Again, please use POETS or MILESTONES in the subject line to either Cynthia at
brackett-vincent@encirclepub.com; or Carol at
smallwood@tm.net in a Word document (.doc format only) using 12-point Times New Roman font.

Co-editor Cynthia Brackett-Vincent is publisher/editor of the esteemed Aurorean poetry journal; poetry instructor; award-winning poet; author of The 95 Poems chapbook (2005) and contributor to Educators as Writers: Publishing for Personal and Professional Development. In 2007, her poems received a citation, honorable mention and second place in the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, New England Writers and Maine Poets Society competitions. View Cynthia's background http://www.encirclepub.com/poetry/aurorean/editor

Co-editor, Carol Smallwood has written, co-authored, and edited 18 books such as Michigan Authors, for Scarecrow, Libraries Unlimited. An award-winning writer, her work has appeared in English Journal, Clackamas Literary Review, Phoebe, The Writer's Chronicle, and several others including anthologies; Who's Who in America, Who's Who of American Women. A chapbook is forthcoming from Pudding House. Her recent book
http://www.peterlang.com/index.cfm?vID=68601&vLang=E&vHR=1&vUR=2&vUUR=1

3.

Women Writing on Family:
Writing, Publishing, and Teaching Tips by U.S. Women Writers

Foreword: Robbi Hess, Journalist, co-author, Complete Idiot's Guide to 30,000 Baby Names (Penguin Books); Editor, Byline Magazine

Afterword: Suzanne Bunkers, Professor of English, Minnesota State University, editor of Diaries of Girls and Women: a Midwestern American Sampler (University of Wisconsin Press).

This is a book not just on writing but tips for women writing about family. Possible subject areas you might address include: Markets; why women write about family; using life experience; critique groups; networking; blogs; unique issues women must overcome; formal education; queries and proposals; conference participation; family scheduling; self-publishing; teaching tips; family in creative nonfiction, poetry, short stories, novels.

Guidelines for Women Writing on Family:

Practical, concise, how-to articles with bullets/headings have proven the most helpful to readers. Please avoid writing about "me" and concentrate on what will help the reader. Word total for two or three articles based on your experience, 1,900 words minimum; maximum 2,300. One article may be 1,000 words, another 900 (or three 634 word articles) to reach the required 1,900 words. Minimum, two articles. Please submit all contributions at one time.

Deadline: January 30, 2008

No previously published or simultaneously submitted material, please.
Please submit all contributions at one time.

Contributors receive a complimentary copy and contributor's discount on additional copies. It is common for compilation of an anthology to take upwards of a year, but we will be in touch with updates on securing a publisher.

Please send your topics first before writing (to avoid possible duplication) along with brief descriptions; a 65-70 word bio with your present position, relevant publications, awards or honors. Use FAMILY for the subject line and submit to Rachael at rachael_hanel@yahoo.com

Co-Editor Rachael Hanel is a freelance writer and college instructor in Madison Lake, MN. The first chapter of her memoir was named runner-up for the 2006 Annie Dillard Award for Creative Nonfiction at the Bellingham Review and appears in the Spring 2007 issue. The chapter was also a semifinalist for the 2006 Gulf Coast Creative Nonfiction Award. She teaches personal essay and editing. Her website is www.rachaelhanel.com

Co-Editor Carol Smallwood has written, co-authored, and edited 18 books such as Michigan Authors, for Scarecrow, Libraries Unlimited. Her work has appeared in English Journal, Clackamas Literary Review, Phoebe, The Writer's Chronicle, The Detroit News, several others including anthologies; she's in Who's Who of American Women. A co-edited anthology is with an agent. A recent book is
http://www.peterlang.com/index.cfm?vID=68601&vLang=E&vHR=1&vUR=2&vUUR=1


*For All Three Calls: In our experience, most publishers return rights to individual contributors variously after publication. However, because we am still seeking a publisher, we cannot speak to those rights specifically at this time. Contributors will be asked to sign a release form from the publisher and therefore will be have the opportunity to agree to the details of the contract or withdraw one's work at that time.

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Recent Question on Winter 2008 Flash Fiction Contest:

When we receive a question a few times, I like to post it here on the blog for everyone to see. This week's question is:

Q: Can men enter?

A: Yes. Our contest is open globally, to any age, as long as the entry is written in English.

One guy wrote back something humorous, and I had to share with you:

"I suppose the name--Women On Writing--and all the pictures of women on the site discourages men, although you say the contest is open to all people on the planet who write in English. I'm glad I thought to ask if that included the male species."

LOL. WOW! loves a good sense of humor!

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From Carolyn Howard-Johnson:

Columnist and Author Takes on the Nobel Prize Committee

Praised or maligned, the Nobel Prize for Literature is always news. It selects the best from the world and therefore misses much of value. Carolyn Howard-Johnson, “Back to Literature” columnist for MyShelf.com, closes the gap (only slightly) with her an annual “Noble (Not Nobel!) Prize for Literature.”

Over the last years the Nobel committee has recognized authors for their literary expertise but there has also been a trend toward awarding the prize for, as Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Tim Rutten says, “an author’s particular relevance to the moral moment in which the world finds itself.”

Howard-Johnson’s prize therefore concentrates on books that address these same issues. For her Noble Prize (as opposed to the NOBEL prize), Howard-Johnson considers books written in English (which narrows the field of prospects considerably) because writers who write in English have been rather neglected over the years and because that is the language in which she . . . ahem, reads well enough..

Howard-Johnson’s lists have included well-known authors who explore discrimination in their writing like Toni Morrison and Ralph Ellison but she tries to concentrate on authors who have not been posted to bestseller lists or won major awards. Some past winners are poet Lloyd King and LA's Leora G. Krygier, Randall Sylvis and Suzanne Lummis.

The winners for 2007 just announced in January's issue of Myshelf are: Los Angeles writer and UCLA instructor

Howard Johnson, sponsor of the Noble, is no stranger to literary prizes. Her first, This is the Place, won Sime-Gen's Reviewers’ Choice Award after it was published in 2001 and went on to win 7 other awards. A chapter from the book was a finalist in the Masters’ Literary Award and another was selected for inclusion in The Copperfield Review. Her book of creative nonfiction, Harkening, has won three awards, her Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't is an Irwin Award winner and that book and her The Frugal Editor were both named USA Book News' Best Professional Book in their years of publiciation. Her book of poetry, Tracings, was named "Top 10 Reads for 2004" by The Compulsive Reader and awarded for excellence by the Military Writers' Society of America. She is also an instructor for UCLA Extension's renowned Writers' Program.

Learn more about Howard-Johnson at http://www.authorsden.com/carolynhowardjohnson.

Her "Back to Literature" column that features winners may be found at http://myshelf.com/backtoliterature/column.htm . Past columns with winners are archived.

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Okay, that concludes today's bits & pieces!

Happy Writing!