New Page

We've updated our blog, so we have some new pages for you to glance through and use as reference in the future.  If you have something you want to add, then comment and let the rest of us know. 

Upcoming Literary Events

The Westland Public Library is hosting a skill building conference for local writers, Saturday, May 11th, from 9:30-3pm.  You can check out the details at: http://www.westland.lib.mi.us/node/4877.

Also, our local library is hosting its Local Author Event.  Our own Stephanie Neilan will be there with some of her books as well as other local authors.  It will take place Thursday, May 30th, from 7-8:30.  You can find out more details at: http://catalog.cantonpl.org/search~S10?/Xlocal+authors&SORT=D/Xlocal+authors&SORT=D&SUBKEY=local+authors/1%2C37%2C37%2CB/frameset&FF=Xlocal+authors&SORT=D&2%2C2%2C.

Georgetown Academy Contest

Step 1.  Read Book one (they provide a free electronic version.) 
Step 2.  Write a story (1,000 words or less) using two of the characters at a DC Monument.  
Step 3.  Enter it through figment to win by May 8th.

Note: All the entries (not just the top rated ones) will be read for possible publication in Georgetown Academy: Book 4.  If you win, then you will also get to submit a different story for possible publication with the publishing company. 

 Details can be found at http://dailyfig.figment.com/2013/04/10/the-georgetown-academy-contest/?utm_source=Contest+Newsletter+4%2F18%2F2013&utm_campaign=Contest+Newsletter+4%2F18%2F2013&utm_medium=email

Book Fairs

There is a publishing group that is promoting Bookfair book placements (as in they will include a copy of your book -cover to the front- and its contact information in their booth that they will set up at various book fairs across the country.) For more details about where they plan to go, and the corresponding cost per title, you can go to http://www.globalbookshows.com/bookfairs.html.

Note: Even if you don't use them, it is still a good list of bookfairs you can attend yourself when you get to the marketing stage.

Some good Sites

A site that looks like it might be a good one for critiques is critters.org. (It was originally created for sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writers-primarily short story-ists, but they have since branched out.) You join a forum that specializes in your genre (Fantasy/romance/etc.), upload your piece, or section you want reviewed (there is a special process for whole novel reviews) and put a special tag on it if it is *adult* (innapropriate for 12 year olds).  Then you choose pieces to critique from each week's (or two weeks') batch, to earn critiquing points.  You have to stay active (give 1-2 critiques/week) to keep your submission moving up the line.  They estimate that it will take about a month until its sent out, but house-published authors get to cut in line.  On average, you would get 10-12 responses/work/ (longer pieces get fewer responses)

Another good site about potential scams and things to look out for is called, Writers Beware (www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/).  It acts as part of the SFWA's site, but the information can be applied to all authors.  It talks about contests, publishing houses, agents, copyrights, writer's services, etc. 

Writers Conferences

Writing and Illustrating For Young Readers  has a weeklong conference in June.  One of their classes was a "Full Novel Class" that will actually critique your entire (YA/Middle Grade) novel during that week.  Unfortunately, it costs $1000 and it's in Sandy, UT.  Boo. 
The event closer to home lets you bring an entire pictutre book or the first ten pages of your work in for a critique.  Details for the tri-state mid west conference (May 3-5) in Fort Worth Indiana can be found at: http://www.kidsbooklink.org/PDFFiles/2013WWMBroch.pdf (It's $235/ members, and $255 for non-members. - Early bird pricing ends April 1st).  Professional critiques are an additional $45, and they try to pair you up within your sub-genre.
Additional Events in our area can be found at: http://www.kidsbooklink.org/id4.html

"I Can Make History"

For those in 4th-12th Grade, Kroger's 6^th Annual “I Can Make History” contest will award more than $67,000 in scholarships/prizes to the best art, essay, poems, and music selections that show/talk about how they can “make their own communities better and relate their thoughts to Black History Month.”

All entries must be submitted by 5pm, Thursday, Feb 28^thto I Can Make History, c/o CBS Radio, 26495 American Drive, Southfield, MI, 48034. Contest details and forms are available at Kroger stores and www.icanmakehistory.com.