Tonight's Meeting Cancelled

Due to weather and road conditions, tonight's meeting is cancelled. Hang onto tonight's submissions for our next meeting on the 15th. Stay warm and be safe!

R.L. Stine on Writing, Writer's Block and a Touch of Humor

I read an interview recently with the great R.L. Stine,* author of the Goosebumps and Fear Street series. And all I can say is he continues to surprise me. Did you know he wanted to be a comedy writer? Yeah, me neither, until I saw him speak this past January at the SCBWI Winter Conference. It began a list of surreal similarities between us:

1. R.L. Stine actually worked as a comedy writer for 10 years, with Scholastic. I worked as a comedy writer for years, too. Humor was his life's goal, and for a long time, it was mine.
2. In the interview, he says he’s never had writer’s block. Ever. Me neither. But I know what he means when he says, “Some days the writing isn’t as easy or pretty as other days. But you just keep going. You know you can go back and fix it.” He’s absolute right, of course. Get that first draft done! I always say editing is easier than writing. Up to a point, anyway (but that’s a different post).
3. Mr. Stine maintains that “The easiest way to avoid writer’s block is to do a lot of preparation first.” He makes chapter-by-chapter outlines and a character list (including write-ups on their appearances and traits). I was happy to hear this because I, too, do this. Of course, don’t treat an outline as dogma, but man, does it come in handy if a story starts getting bogged down.

So how is it that R.L. Stine, the Stephen King of Kidlit, move from humor to horror? An editor asked him to try it. Which is how I started working on middle grade – an editor suggested it.

Now I can only hope Mr. Stine and I share one more similarity: success. He has sold 350 million books… and I'm 350 million behind him.

But I’m working on it.

*Interview appeared in the Gotham Writer’s Workshop

Originally published at John Briggs Books.

List of Writing Contests

Hi everyone,

Great meeting last Thursday. Good to welcome new members in Gretchen and Jo (a transfer from the morning group), and to see some old diehards come out in the July heat (I'm talking to you Sandy, Sherry, and Zack).

Sandy forwarded a list of writing contests, some of which we discussed at the meeting. Hope you find these helpful (and thanks Sandy!).

Writing Contests

http://writersdigest.com/competitions/

http://writingcontests.wordpress.com/

Poetry:

http://www.kent.edu/wick/competitions/first-book.cfm

http://www.freelancewriting.com/writingcontests/053011-poetry-international-prize.php

For someone with 3-5 books published:

http://www.stfranciscollege.edu/literaryprize


WRITING COMPETITIONS

Writer's Digest sponsors several writing competitions annually. To read more about our competitions, see below.


Writer's Digest Annual Short Short Story Writing Competition

The 12th Annual Short Short Story Competition is now accepting entries. Win valuable exposure for your your short fiction as well as cash and prizes. The names will appear in the July/August 2012 issue of Writer's Digest and the Competition Collection containing the top 25 stories will be published at that time.

www.writersdigest.com/short


Writer's Digest Poetry Awards Competition

We are now accepting entries in the 7th Annual WD Poetry Awards. Regardless of style, we want to see your best poetry. Just make sure it is 32 lines or fewer. This is your chance to gain attention for your writing as well as win cash and prizes. Winners will be announce in the July/August 2012 issue of Writer's Digest and the top 50 will be published in a special Competition Collection.

www.writersdigest.com/poetryawards


The Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Awards

The 19th Annual Self-Published Book Awards final deadline was June 3, 2011. We are no longer accepting entries.

Winners will be notified by October 14, 2011 and will be announced in the March 2012 issue.


Your Story

Every other month, Writer's Digest presents a creative challenge for fun and prizes. We'll provide a short, open-ended prompt. In turn, you'll submit a short story of 750 words or fewer based on that prompt. You can be funny, poignant, witty, etc.; it is, after all, your story. The winner will receive publication in an upcoming issue of Writer's Digest.

For rules, prompts, deadlines, voting and other details about the Your Story competition, visit:
www.writersdigest.com/yourstory

For past winners, visit:
www.writersdigest.com/yourstorywinners

Good luck!

France establishes ‘fixed price’ model for e-books

Le Monde reports that France has become the first country in Europe to impose a ‘prix unique,’ or fixed price, on e-books. This gives publishing houses the power to set a single price for e-books at which all book sellers must sell each digital copy. The idea of the ‘prix unique’ is to eliminate the ability of large booksellers to undercut smaller ones.

Since 1981, France has had a ‘prix unique’ for physical books. The UK Guardian books podcast notes that there are nearly 800 independent book stores in Paris as compared to only 10 in New York City.

Contests

-The Absent Willow Review 2nd Annual Short Story Contest. Must be horror, fantasy or science fiction. Deadline June 30, 2011. For more info, click here.

-Writers Digest hosts a number of contests, which are detailed here.

-This Wordpress website lists a number of creative writing contests.

-Kent State University is offering the Stan and Tom Wicks Poetry Prize for a previously unpublished first book of poems. Deadline is May 2, 2011. More info.

-Poetry International's contest offers publication and prize money for its contest for a single poem. Details are here.

Writing press review

-NPR has a piece on children's book apps.

-Writers Digest has advice on variety in dialogue and on how to start your story better.

-A column in Salon.com warns against too much description of setting.

-A piece in The Atlantic rails against writing how-to manuals.

-Copyblogger.com explores 5 crippling beliefs that hold back writers.

Highlights of the Empire State Book Festival

The 2nd annual Empire State Book Festival escaped bad weather but not poor attendance. At least it appeared that way to me; I suppose we'll have to wait for official numbers.

Which is too bad. There were plenty of great authors in attendance, including Ann Martin (of The Baby-Sitters Club), who gave the opening remarks, and Rosanne Cash, who gave the keynote address. In between there was plenty to do, for book buyers, lit lovers, and aspiring authors.

Empire State Book Festival Highlights

My own personal list:

1. The Illustrator's Panel. Artists discussed their approach to picture books in the Picture This presentation. Featuring Julia Gorton, Daniel Kirk and Steven Petruccio (and a host of technical problems), I found this the most informative of all the panels I attended. Julia Gorton is probably the most experimental of the three, and Steven Petruccio rich, detailed work impressed me greatly. I've long been a fan of Daniel Kirk's Library Mouse books. I found his approach to his work similar to mine, even if his art is far better. But then that's why I attended this panel.
2. Words Come First. A panel featuring two writers (Susanna Hill and Amy Axelrod) and one writer-illustrator (Iza Trapani, who I saw last year as well), on that idea that story comes first. And while there are some exceptions to this (Mo Willems created the drawing of Pigeon before he ever wrote a word), I generally agree with the premise here. The writer writes and the illustrator gives it added life. Examples of artistic disagreements and wonderful working relationships abounded here. Spoke briefly with Susanna Hill afterword, because I like both Punxsutawney Phyllis and Can't Sleep Without Sheep. Looking forward to getting her new book April Fool, Phyllis.
3. Rosanne Cash. Her speech was heartfelt but full of the a seasoned performer's tricks (audience participation, a brief break into song, etc. -- plenty of ways to keep people engaged). Best of all, she didn't use a PowerPoint presentation. Authors always seem to rely on visual gimmickry rather than words to hold their audience. Long been a pet peeve of mine, and I often wonder if my writing career gets to the point where I'm doing presentation if I'd rely on such technology. Have audiences come to rely on it, too? Can the power of words alone hold them? Is there a fresh way to do this? Or like Rosanne, would I rely on the tricks of a seasoned performer? Great to watch her work.
4. SCBWI Members. Ran into a few Eastern New York SCBWI members, some presenting, some buying, all supporting each other. Picked up a copy of Liza Frenette's Dead End, and spoke briefly with Coleen Praratore (hopefully you'll soon see her The Wedding Planner's Daughter as a TV movie). I also greatly enjoyed talking with young adult writer Eric Luper and getting his thoughts on my agent situation, the business, etc. I'm forging relations with some of the same people with whom he regularly works. Eric graciously answered my questions, and I guarantee I will be picking up a copy of his newest book, Jeremy Bender and the Cupcake Cadets when it comes out in May. It will be a summer reading project for Johnny K.

While I still believe the Empire State Book Festival is a worthwhile cause, it was not without its problems. Authors only receive one hour to sign books, a move perhaps limited by space, but one that seemed to frustrate some of them. They would have gladly enjoyed staying throughout the day to meet readers and fans, and still take time off to do their presentations. This is the way most book festivals operate and odd that this one does not. Also, some authors are scheduled to sign books after the keynote address. A keynote speech generally means the end, so walking down the hallway afterward was depressing. The booksellers and vendors had all packed up, making the Egg feel deserted. A long line waited to see Rosanne Cash, but the other authors were largely ignored. Some earlier authors had signings schedule right after their presentations (which makes sense), but others did not. There was no feeling of immediacy, of striking while the iron is hot.

All in all, I like this festival. The talent is amazing, the vendors varied, non-profits are encouraged to attend (had a wonderful time talking with The Children's Literacy Connection), and it's great for downtown Albany, but a few kinks need to worked out. Hopefully come season three.

I'll be there.

*Originally published at John Briggs Books