Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Terrific advice for lit writers

Don't miss Lynne Barrett's, What Editors Want; A Must-Read for Writers Submitting to Literary Magazines at The Review Review, http://bit.ly/idhYWP.




Saturday, April 16, 2011

Submishmash Submission Opportunity

Submishmash is starting a newsletter for calls for submissions. Sign up here, http://www.submishmash.com/newsletter/.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Submit Manuscripts That Shine

Dawn Goldsmith, a successful freelance writer who Christian Science Monitor frequenty features, shared these ten before submitting a manuscript tips:

Things I look for in a manuscript that's ready to submit,
1. Grammar and mechanics are as clean as I can get them.
2. When read aloud it flows smoothly without glitches.
3. What I'm trying to explain is easy to understand.
4. It has energy.
5. Is free of clichés and overused words.
6. Provides something new to whatever topic is being discussed.
7. Offers something original, or from a new perspective.
8. Has some humor or a balance of light and serious.
9. I've checked my facts; checked everything for accuracy.
10. It makes me smile.

Visit Dawn's blogs, http://www.subversivestitch.blogspot.com/, http://www.wordsogold.blogspot.com/.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Boosters Needed

This small town has no school, no library, no Senior Citizen's center, no movie house, roller rink, skating rink, no grocery, clothing, or hardware stores; not even a pharmacy or medical clinic. The only Quick Stop closed it's doors last year, although the Exxon gas pumps still operate by card. The only public transportation is a flag-stop for a bus that goes to a Casino, eight miles away, over in Idaho.

But it has a big heart, lots of youngsters, lots of seniors, and a few hundred families whose breasdwinners drive 30-60 miles one way to work, except when winter blizzards close roads.

Rockford Community Center's dream is to have a building to provide opportunities to all ages, and especially access to computer classes in addition to whatever classes various groups want.

RCC may have an opportunity to acquire a building from Freeman School District in the near future, when it's no longer need for a temporary classroom while a new elementary school is under construction.

If you'd like to help this small close-knit community in the Palouse farming region south of Spokane, WA, you can participate in a current fund raiser here, http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/campaign?campaign_id=6928.

RCC Fundraiser Goal: $1,000
Fundraiser End Date: 04/29/2011

RCC email contact: rockfordcommunitycenter@gmail.com

Learn more about the community and area:
S.E. Spokane County Community Fair, http://www.sespokanecountyfair.org/
Rockford, WA, http://rockfordwa.com/pages/common/index.html
Rockford Lion's Club, http://rockfordlions.org/

Digitized Books Dispute Update

Update on Google's grab all attempt to digitize books, http://tinyurl.com/3ms4wgj. New York Times published (March 22, 2011) "Judge Rejects Google’s Deal to Digitize Books," written by Miguel Helft ((http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/23/technology/23google.html?_r=1_).

Historical Fiction Opportunity

July 1, 2011 deadline: Agent Irene Goodman is seeking applicants to pitch their historical fiction. She's taking it one careful step at a time though. http://irenegoodman.com/historical_fiction_contest.php.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Book Signing For Author Katie Youngen

On Sacred Grounds, http://onsacredgrounds.blogspot.com/, the popular gathering spot for writers, artists and photographers at Valleyford, WA is hosting a book signing for Katie Youngren, author of Itty, Bitty Schoolbus Kitty, Friday April 8, 5:00-5:30 p.m.

Itty, Bitty Schoolbus Kitty is Youngren's first book, and although children were the vivacious Katie's initial target market, adults immediately took a liking to her picture-illustrated book, and sales spiked for the Valleyford author.