Editor's Blog

Mar 8, Write On Vancovuer

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:46:59 GMT

Write On, Vancouver
Vancouver, BC, Canada
The mini-conference for fiction writers
May 28th 29th, 2010

Special Guest Keynote Speaker
Laura Resnick An award-winning fantasy, romance, and short fiction author, past president of Novelists, Inc., a popular columnist and public speaker, and author of the highly acclaimed: Rejection, Romance, & Royalties: The Wacky World of a Working Writer "The best book on the writing life since Bird By Bird or The Artist's Way. The incisive and insightful Laura Resnick cuts right to the heart of the joys, sorrows, costs, and rewards of pursuing the creative dream." Teresa Medeiros, New York Times bestselling author WORKSHOPS:
Laura Resnick - Story Development and 20 Questions, an interactive industry Q&A Eileen Cook - Pitch Perfect Terri Smolar - Building Your Brand: What every writer should know about developing a media presence Nancy Warren - The Conflict's in the Character...and the Character's in the Conflict INDUSTRY PANEL AND EDITOR APPOINTMENTS:
Martin Biro - Kensington Publishing
Johanna Raisanen - Harlequin/Silhouette
Leanne Salter - Cobblestone Press

Kwantlen Polytechnic University,
Richmond Campus
8771 Lansdowne Rd, Richmond, BC REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
Early Bird bookings before March 31
Members $100 - Non Members $130
Regular bookings from April 1
Members $130-Non Members $160
An ideal Christmas gift!
For all registration information and bookings please contact
Sally Collins at SallyCollins@shaw.ca PROMO OPPORTUNITY: We welcome promo items from authors. For more information, contact SallyCollins@shaw.ca.

Mar 7, OREGON COAST CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITERS WORKSHOPS, SUMMER 2010

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:54:55 GMT

Next summer, July 12-16 and July 19-23, 2010 we proudly will present the eighth Oregon Coast Children's Book Writers Workshops, www.occbww.com, in the exquisite Oregon coast town of Oceanside. The instructors for each workshop will include five established children's book authors (between them, specializing in YA and middle school novels, picture books, non-fiction, magazine pieces, and poetry), two children's book editors from major houses, and one children's book agent. Summer Workshops 2010 promise to be our best yet because - The instructor-student ratio will be a maximum of one to six, - Each day, you will meet with an instructor for at least one comprehensive consultation, and - You can have one-on-one informal meetings with instructors each day as well, and - Every student who wishes can have an anonymous first page manuscript critique by all eight instructors in front of the class, and - We will offer at least twelve instructional lectures on various aspects of writing and publishing, and - There will be two evening readings/discussions by instructors, and - Out-of-class consultations with instructors are available, and - There will be at least three guest lectures, and - There will be two wonderful parties (quite appropriate for friends, partners, spouses, children) If you are ambitious to publish a children's book (or simply adore children's books), this is the workshop for you. It will allow you to connect directly with authors, editors, agents who are active in the children's book business. If you go to the website and look under Evaluations, you'll see that it's received extraordinarily high praise (some listed below). The course is available for graduate credit. For complete information we welcome you to visit our website at www.occbww.com We always tend to fill up early and turn many people away who wish to attend simply because there isn't space. So, if this is of interest, you may want to register sooner than later. There's a generous refund policy (described at the website) if you decide not to attend. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Mar 7, Writing Goals 2010

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:57:26 GMT

Writers share their writing goals for 2009 and receive support from Audrey Owen, editor at writershelper.com.

Feb 26, Remember...You're Only Talking to Me!

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:23:39 GMT

Have you ever noticed when some people write a memo, an email, a letter, an article or even a book which they know will be read by many people, they address

Feb 26, Hey,..I'm a Person....Not a Thing!

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:22:42 GMT

Don't forget to use personal pronouns when referring to PEOPLE. Say this: He is the person who invented the shortwave radio. Not this: He is the person

Feb 22, 5 Ways to instantly be a better writer

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:51:53 GMT

1: READ MORE The more you read the more you want to write. Appreciating a good turn of phrase or being irritated by a bad turn of phrase will make you

Feb 15, Is it yesterday's, or the previous day's trousers?

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:58:26 GMT

Is it grammatically correct to use yesterday in the following context? Thank you. I walked up the stone staircase wearing yesterday's blue trousers

Feb 15, FOCUS

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:57:41 GMT

As a writer, I have found that for every piece you write, fiction or non-fiction, it is important to FOCUS! At any given point in the piece, you should

Feb 14, Sarcasm

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 04:29:18 GMT

Sarcasm is fatal to everything i write. I love to be funny. Sarcasm could easily describe a deathly situation, or it could be the base of your next joke.

Feb 14, Be Open to Others Ideas!

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 04:28:46 GMT

My friends and I write together. We get together and take turns on who writes next. One thing I have learned from this is, don't be touchy. If someone

Jan 26, Having Trouble Paying Attention to Your Story

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:55:51 GMT

If you're having a bit of trouble keeping up with your story and contstantly looking back to remember who's name is who's or trying to remember what

Jan 25, Crush That Pesty Writer's Block!

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:13:12 GMT

Ever just sit at the computer after you've been writing? Stuck? Well, these tips helped me through my first book and my current one. 1( Set a fake

Jan 23, great starts,...so I thought!?!?

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 19:11:11 GMT

I'm brainstorming content pages for my SiteSell site without any sort of control for making progress. I have counted ten notebooks filled with

Jan 23, Edit the tidE

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 19:09:39 GMT

Read your story backwards. Don't give up! Yes, its long its tedious and you think your work is perfect from the getco but serious try it. If it makes

Jan 12, Keep a journal

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:39:54 GMT

Seriously! It works! Try keeping a journal for, say, a year. Don't write boring stuff. Notice things. The colour of something, the taste of something.

Jan 10, Beating Writers Block - Copy Hemmingway

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:21:32 GMT

I came across this blog post that has an excellent tip from Ernest Hemmingway about how to beat writer's block...

Jan 9, imagine

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:33:54 GMT

make your story look real when you imagine it so peaple will like

Jan 8, Dysfunctional Characters Become One Happy Family

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 03:35:36 GMT

Cannot seem to connect my characters even though they are all deeply

Jan 6, Book Writer Promotion

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:55:50 GMT

Hi Audrey - this is my new SBI site to help mainly self-publishers. Book Writer Promotionis a new website aimed at helping authors promote themselves

Jan 5, Let your writing inhabit you

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:08:20 GMT

I may be alone in my thinking but for me writing comes to me. It decides when it is ready, it pounces rather unexpectedly and before I know it, it is

Jan 1, Writing Goals

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:44:26 GMT

Get help meeting your writing goals.

Dec 31, FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:09:12 GMT

Write 1.When your mind is settled. 2.When cool and relaxed. 3.when there is less distractions. 4.When at your peak.

Dec 25, Gerunds and possessives

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 19:01:22 GMT

I was wondering if you had a catchy and simple explanation for the grammatical rule about gerunds and possessives? I understand the rule and use it in

Dec 15, What to rely on a editor?

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:09:10 GMT

Suppose I have my idea for my story on a novel but have trouble making the story sound good or at least un-mediocre how could a editor help me on

Dec 13, Quoting thoughts

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:13:03 GMT

Would thoughts ever qualify as quotes? Example 1) I was thinking of going to the mall. Example 2) I was thinking, Should I go to the

Dec 11, Introduction Paragraphs

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:36:51 GMT

When you are writing an essay or letter remember to always add flavor a pop to the first sentence to make the reader read it. DON'T YOU EVER USE

Dec 6, Beginning sentences with pronouns

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:49:11 GMT

The title is a bit misleading but I couldn't think of what to call this problem. I'm writing an action story and end up saying He did this. She did

Dec 2, An evil villain-worthy motive

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 06:17:44 GMT

I was doing a whole bunch of plans for my story when decided I needed to give my bad guy an evil plan. All I needed for him to do was be evil enough

Nov 30, How can I hammer by grammar?

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:57:11 GMT

I've been told I write fairly well. However, no one tells you when you've misplaced a comma or that your sentence needs a little more structure. I'm

Nov 14, Useful resources for writers

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:11:58 GMT

I came across a couple of useful sites that may help you when you're stuck for a spelling or troubled by a typo.

Nov 13, Gabbling

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:08:59 GMT

Don't over write something, or otherwise the reader gets bored. You could write, Bill let out a scream of despair. It was not like him to do this.

Nov 11, New Book Exposes Self-Publishing Company Overcharging, Deception and Ineptness, and Helps Self-Publishing Authors

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:46:39 GMT

Milford, CT, November 11, 2009: According to a new book, many companies that charge authors to publish their books grossly overcharge for their

Nov 6, face your fears!

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:00:58 GMT

dont be afraid to write! if you think you sound stupid just keep going and when someone edits it they can fix it(if it needs fixing) how do you think

Oct 28, Sizzle, My Nizzle

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:19:52 GMT

When Sizzling your Nizzle, you must first determine whether you are writing from the Nizzle or Sizzle's point of

Oct 20, Take Breaks

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:02:06 GMT

There are times when an author is writing and becomes stuck. This can occur at any time, any place, anywhere. When that happens, there isn't much that

Oct 15, Don't Be A Giver-Upper

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:14:53 GMT

When you've written pages and pages, chapters and chapters, and you're maybe even almost done with your wonderful story...then you get stuck. What do

Oct 13, Hold Your Beliefs!

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:52:12 GMT

Don't write something that is strong, energetic, and fills you with passion if you are just going to go and blow it by presenting it in a way that

Oct 11, focussing

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:37:09 GMT

not astray from your characters'

Oct 2, Beware the speed bumps!

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:05:25 GMT

Overuse of a word, sentence, or phrase is like hitting a speed bump at 90 mph. It hurts. The objective of a good writer is to draw the reader into the

Oct 1, Volcanoes in the heart

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 01:47:02 GMT

Write from the

Sep 26, Lacking Motivation?

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 04:11:44 GMT

Often, I find myself feeling lethargic about writing. I want to put it off because I've hit a slow spot and can't seem to get past a part for weeks

Sep 26, Show the scene

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 04:10:57 GMT

When you write, try to see the scene. For example, you may have four of your characters in one room. Show that some are standing and maybe all

Sep 26, Take Captive Your Thoughts

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 04:09:49 GMT

You know that feeling you get after figuring out a topic to write about and all these thoughts and voices are floating around in your head? There's

Sep 4, what is the meaning of the phrase

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:18:26 GMT

what is the difference between concerned department and department

Aug 29, A twilight rip-off?

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:32:16 GMT

I'm only twelve years old and have started writing a 5 book series about teenaged wizards. The main character Nessa, short for Jenessa, moves back to

Aug 26, Weekend Writing Intensive with Claire Robson

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:45:49 GMT

Weekend Writing Intensive with Claire Robson
Friday Evening, October 16
Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18
Gibsons Marina Place
Limit 9 participants
Fee: $235 per person

Co-sponsored by the Sunshine Coast School of Writing (SCSW) A deposit of $50 will hold your spot.

Contact Judy Lynne: jmlynne@telus.net or 604-886-7334

Now the details.....
This weekend intensive will focus entirely on close, specific critique of written work that has been submitted ahead of time and distributed to Claire and all participants -a book chapter, a short storyor two or three poems. As well as submittingyour own piece or pieces, all participants will be asked to read everyone else's work ahead of timeand critique following guidelines for annotation and comment (guidelines provided by Claire). Claire will also provide a critique of each written piece and will be available for support during this period. Work should be submitted byThursday September24 to allow us time toread all of the 8 other pieces andprepare our critique for the workshop. At theworkshop itself, each writer in turn will receive the focussed attention of the group. This process will be facilitated by Claire who will offer a range of options for group process. The annotated manuscripts will be turned in to the writer at the end of the session, and should, together with notes (or audiotape) taken by that writer about what is said, be a useful way to take the work forward. More importantly, this kind of concentrated attention to craft inspires and educates everyone involved and makes us into better writers. Rather than surface editing, it aims to explore the fundamentals of the work, and target the skills and intentions of the writer as she engages with it. Throughout this weekend we will become gentle, honest, courageous advocates for each others' work. Claire Robson has over twenty years' experience in running critique workshops such as these and is used to navigating everyone's fears and egos! She believes that engagement in this kind of re-vision is what makes us into writers. Please don't worry that your work is not 'good enough'. As long as you've done some writing, and made it the best you can (no first drafts please), you can benefit from this kind of feedback, whatever your level of experience. Send along a sample if you are still uncertain whether this workshop can help you. And although this all may sound a little scary and intimidating, everyone leaves feeling positive.

Aug 21, What's in a name?

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:28:19 GMT

A lot, actually. Choose a name that suits your Characters personality or looks. What do you think of when you hear the name? Add a more subtle reason

Aug 21, Your weakest link

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:20:13 GMT

Something I learned a long time ago...Pull out any chapter in your writing, and it should be great all by itself! If not, rewrite it until it is! Let

Aug 19, Take a breath

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:53:06 GMT

There is no rush to tell the story. Take your time and enjoy what you are writing as you are writing it. I have found that years of essay papers and

Aug 19, A life with ragged edges - writing our memoirs

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:52:23 GMT

OURSELVES AS CHARACTER It was a revelation to me when I first heard someone say that when writing memoirs you must remember to think of yourself as a