Friday, December 24, 2010

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #207

BITS & PIECES WILL RETURN JANUARY 28, 2011.
Have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous, blessed New Year.

REASON TO KEEP WRITING: DAVID L. WOLPER, age 82, his 1977 miniseries "Roots" engrossed the nation with its saga of an American family descended from an African slave. The series won a slew of honors including nine Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. Wolper was a consummate salesman and advocate for filmmakers. He helped establish a new "school" of West Coast films at a time when New York-based TV networks' news divisions and filmmakers dominated the field. He brought the documentary to Hollywood and became the major force in Hollywood for making documentaries. Before becoming a titan in the miniseries genre, Wolper had a series of highly successful TV documentaries, including "The Making of the President 1960," which received 4 trophies including program of the year. He obtained Soviet space footage for a documentary that was carried by 100-plus stations after networks refused to air an independent production. "The Race for Space" earned a 1960 Academy Award nomination. During his lengthy career, Wolper produced the children's classic "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and demonstrated his showman instincts with New York's 1986 extravaganza celebrating the Statue of Liberty centennial and the 1984 Olympic Games ceremonies in Los Angeles. He also produced the National Geographic special "The World of Jacques-Yves Cousteau," which opened up the ocean depths for television viewers. Wolper branched out into docudramas such as "The Trial of Lt. Calley," sitcom hits "Welcome Back, Kotter" and "Chico and the Man," and films including the Oscar-winning "L.A. Confidential." His opening and closing ceremonies for the 1984 Olympics featured a spaceship floating mysteriously above the Coliseum. In 2002, Wolper produced a 25th-anniversary special on the impact of "Roots," which aired on NBC after ABC turned down the idea. Wolper also produced several other miniseries, including the 1979 sequel "Roots: The Next Generations," "The Thorn Birds" and "North and South." Time magazine crowned him "Mr. Documentary."

IGUANA MAGAZINE - children’s mag, written entirely in Spanish. Guidelines: http://www.nicagal.com/iguana/eng/ig_submission.html

NEO-OPSIS SCIENCE FICTION MAGAZINE - Open for submissions Sept 1–Nov 30, 2011. Guidelines: http://www.neo-opsis.ca/guidelines.htm

ROCKY MOUNTAIN RIDER - looking for positive, human interest stories that appeal to an audience of horsepeople, ranchers, seniors, and folks who live in the West. Pieces may include profiles of unusual people or animals, history, humor, anecdotes, coverage of regional events and new products. Occasionally accepts excerpt from books by regional authors. Guidelines: http://www.rockymountainrider.com/writers.htm

TRAVEL THRU HISTORY - publishes stories featuring the historical, archaeological, and cultural aspects of a destination. We also accept stories about literary journeys and exotic adventures. Stories should convey a strong sense of place so the reader can experience the destination. Guidelines: http://www.travelthruhistory.com/html/submissions.html

AMERICAN STYLE MAGAZINE - consumer mag focused on contemporary craft, craft collectors and the artists who create studio craft art. Explores eclectic lifestyles of artists, elegant homes of craft collectors and features about “the art of creative living.” Guidelines: http://www.americanstyle.com/about

PASSAGE MAKER MAGAZINE - covers all aspects of trawlers and ocean motorboats, welcomes contributions from around the world. Lifestyle focus addresses the realities of cruising under power and passage making. Looking for balanced articles that are creative, constructive, and informational w/depth. The combination of personal experiences with technical or informative aspects is the type of story interested in. Guidelines: http://www.passagemaker.com/TheMagazine/SubmissionGuidelines/tabid/307/Default.aspx

DISCOVERY BOSTON REVIEW 2011 POETRY CONTEST - Deadline: Jan 15, 2011. Open to poets who have not pub’d a book of poems (chapbooks and self-pub’d books included). Those who have a book contract at the time of submission or who are subsequently awarded a book contract are not eligible for the contest if their book is scheduled for publication before Fall 2011. Individual poems that have been or will be published in periodicals or anthologies may be submitted; however, at least two of the submitted poems must be unpublished and under two pages in length. http://bostonreview.net/about/contest/#Thirteenth (scroll down)

2011 JAMES LAUGHLIN AWARD - $25 Entry Fee. Given to recognize and support a poet's second book. It is the only second-book award for poetry in the United States. Submissions are accepted each year from January 1 to May 15. Guidelines: http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/109

WRITERS DIGEST CONFERENCE - January 21-23, 2011, in New York City at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers. Pitch 50+ agents as well as attend various panels. Info: https://www.etouches.com/writersdigestconference

29TH KEY WEST LITERARY SEMINAR – Jan 6-9, 2011. The Hungry Muse: An Exploration of Food in Literature will present dozens of today’s most compelling, thought-provoking, and funniest writers–memoirists, novelists, poets, historians, journalists, and all manner of lettered gastronome, gourmand, and epicure. Info: http://www.kwls.org/lit

BOOK COVER DESIGN FOR SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHORS – http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/book-cover-design_b13309

CHECK BEFORE SENDING OFF YOUR NOVEL - http://io9.com/5520058/4-danger-signs-to-search-for-before-sending-off-your-novel

INDEPENDENT BOOK STORE LIST - Stop in &introduce yourself. Leave a stack of your book flyers. Offer to do a signing. http://www.newpages.com/bookstores/default.htm

FROM MY TWITTER THREAD:
ONLINE WORKSHOP: Blurb it - Jan 31-Feb 7, 2011 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=401

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Career Building - Jan 31-Feb 13, 2011 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=485

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Podcasting - Jan 31-Feb 27, 2011 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=664

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Weapons, Violence & Wounds Jan 31-Feb 27, 2011 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=563

LITERARY SCAMS – Suggest writers bookmark these links & check lists before embarking on any writing venture. A search will give you more links.
http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware
http://www.spamlaws.com/literary-scams.html
http://www.bookawards.bizland.com/literary_scams.htm
http://www.authorslawyer.com/litscam.shtml
http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/avoid/av_avoid.php
http://www.writing-world.com/rights/contests.shtml

Friday, December 17, 2010

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #206

REASON TO KEEP WRITING: TONY JUDT, age 62, Pulitzer Prize finalist, a highly praised and controversial historian who wrote with sharp persistence about the changing world at large and the tragic world within, the fatal Lou Gehrig’s disease that paralyzed him. Judt was a professor of European studies at New York University. Although confined like "a modern-day mummy," his thinking was unimpaired, and Judt demonstrated as much in 2010 through a series of personal essays for The New York Review of Books. Judt's illness and his determination to tell the tale brought sympathy and admiration for a historian not known for sparing feelings. He took on communists, free marketers, supporters of the Iraq war and, most contentiously, Israel. In an admiring review of "Postwar," The New Yorker's Louis Menand noted that the book's strength was inseparable "from the personality of its author, who does not count self-effacement a literary virtue." In 2009, Judt received an honorary George Orwell Prize for "intelligence, insight and conspicuous courage." In 2010, he completed "Ill Fares the Land," a passionate call for a return to liberal governance and for a close look at the "ways in which our grandparents' generation handled comparable challenges and threats."

POETRY IRELAND REVIEW, Ireland - journal of poetry, accepts unsolicited submissions from both emerging and established poets, writing in Irish or English. There are no restrictions on style or subject, but strongly dislikes sexism or racism. Will also consider proposals (but not completed manuscripts) for articles and reviews. Guidelines: http://www.poetryireland.ie/publications/submissions.html

SNOWBOOKS, UK - independent book publisher, winner of the 2008 Independent Publisher of the Year award. Publishes about 20 titles a year in the fields of general fiction, sci-fi, horror, fitness, sport, historical and general non-fiction. Considers complete fiction manuscripts and proposals for non-fiction books. For fiction send full manuscript. For non-fiction a proposal and short example of the proposed work, e.g. a sample chapter. Read detailed descriptions of their procedure on submissions page. Royalties on sales. Guidelines: http://www.snowbooks.com/submissions.html

CHILDBIRTH SOLUTIONS.com - 90% freelance written, the online storehouse of info, services and support for childbearing women worldwide. It includes several main categories: Preconception, Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum and Birth Stories as well as other slots currently in the planning stages, including; humor, poetry, and Dad's page. Guidelines: http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/about/submissions.php

KNOW MAGAZINE, Canada - the science magazine for curious kids ages 6-9. contains short news items, regular departments, a lengthy section related to our theme, short fiction, activities, hands-on projects, interviews and more. Guidelines: http://www.knowmag.ca/about/guidelines.php

ALPINIST MAGAZINE - celebrating world alpinism and adventure climbing in the simplest, most beautiful manner possible, in first-person accounts of long routes from around the world, investigative reports of subjects compelling to climbing aficionados, and documentary pieces that capture the spirit of ascent in any of its myriad forms. Guidelines: http://www.alpinist.com/p/magazine/contribute

DIABETES HEALTH – provides patients, educators and healthcare professionals with practical advice and the latest information on new methods, technologies and research related to diabetes. Guidelines: http://www.diabeteshealth.com/company/submission-guidelines.html

HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE – gen’l-interest, advertising-free magazine for and by children up to age twelve. The mag has no religious or organizational affiliation. Individual guideline links on the guideline page. Seeks fiction, non-fiction,children art, crafts, etc. Guidelines: http://www.highlights.com/contributor-guidelines

RELISH MAGAZINE - celebrates America’s love of food. The best things in life happen around the table from Wisconsin's cheesemakers to New Mexico’s chile pepper farmers. Advises on the best cooking gadgets and cookbooks, nutrition tips and helps you get dinner on the table fast. Guidelines: http://www.relishmag.com/aboutus (scroll down for guidelines)

JAMES LAUGHLIN AWARD - January 1 to May 15, any year. Given to recognize and support a poet's second book. It is the only second-book award for poetry in the U.S. It is named for the poet and publisher James Laughlin (1914-1997), who founded New Directions in 1936. Only manuscripts already under contract with publishers are considered for the Award. The Academy awards the winning poet a cash prize of $5,000 and purchases copies of the book for distribution to its members. Submissions are accepted An entry form, signed by the publisher, is required.
Guidelines: http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/118
Entry Form: http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/119

ALEX AWARDS – January. American Library Association Children & Young Adult Book Award. The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. The winning titles are selected from the previous year's publishing. Submission form: http://yalsa.ala.org/forms/alexnominate.php

25th ANNUAL AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB FICTION CONTEST - Deadline Jan. 31, 2011. No entry fee. Winning stories are pub’d in AKC Gazette and AKC Family Dog. Entries can be on any subject, but must feature either an AKC-registrable breed or a breed listed in Miscellaneous class. 2000 wds/max. Guidelines: http://www.akc.org/pubs/fictioncontest

FROM MY TWITTER FEED:
ONLINE WORKSHOP: Slippery Art of Book Reviewing Jan 24-Feb 11, 2011 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=663

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Roman Empire Promotion for Authors - Jan 31-Feb 6, 2011
http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=547

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Structure 4 Character-driven Stories Jan 31-Feb 6, 2011
http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=557

LITERARY SCAMS – Suggest writers bookmark these links & check lists before embarking on any writing venture. A search will give you more links.
http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware
http://www.spamlaws.com/literary-scams.html
http://www.bookawards.bizland.com/literary_scams.htm
http://www.authorslawyer.com/litscam.shtml
http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/avoid/av_avoid.php
http://www.writing-world.com/rights/contests.shtml

Friday, December 10, 2010

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #205

REASON TO KEEP WRITING: TOM MANKIEWICZ, age 68, screenwriter of such James Bond films as "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Live and Let Die" and the first two "Superman" movies. Mankiewicz began his career as an assistant director on Curtiz's last film, "The Comancheros" in 1961, in which John Wayne starred. In 1970, he was hired to rewrite "Diamonds Are Forever," which was the beginning of a longtime association with the Broccoli family and the Bond franchise. He also wrote "The Man With the Golden Gun" and made uncredited contributions to "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Moonraker." Director Richard Donner asked Mankiewicz to rewrite and condense the scripts for 1978's "Superman" and the 1980 sequel "Superman II," for which he received credit as a creative consultant but not as a writer. Mankiewicz again went by the "creative consultant" credit on "Hart to Hart," which aired from 1979-84, even though he was a writer and director on the series. Mankiewicz directed the 1987 movie "Dragnet," starring Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks, and several episodes of the TV series "Hart to Hart." He taught filmmaking to graduate students at Chapman University in Orange, Calif.

CHARLOTTE PARENT – readers include parents, teachers, child-care providers and other advocates for children ages newborn through teens. Each issue has a theme, regular features and departments. We seek new perspectives, voices and viewpoints from local parents about the issues that impact families. Guidelines: http://www.charlotteparent.com/aboutus/writerguidelines.php

AMERICAN STYLE - full-color, focused on contemporary craft, craft collectors and the artists who create studio craft art, provides art lovers w/valuable collecting, interior design and display ideas, focusing on everything from designer jewelry and art glass to collectible teapots, art furniture and sculptural ceramics. Those who travel with the arts in mind will find hundreds of art festivals, gallery exhibitions and museum events in the Datebook listings, Datebook Previews and Arts Travel sections. With every issue, readers explore eclectic lifestyles of artists, elegant homes of craft collectors and features about “the art of creative living.” City Arts Tours and small Arts Walks in AmericanStyle promote awareness of the economic and aesthetic contributions that art and craft bring to our homes and communities. Each year, cities compete to be included in AmericanStyle’s Top 25 Arts Destinations edition. Contact form to query: http://www.americanstyle.com/contact

PASSAGE MAKER MAGAZINE – covers all aspects of trawlers and ocean motorboats, welcomes contributions from around the world. Addresses the realities of cruising under power and passage-making. Wants balanced articles that are creative, constructive, informational, personal experiences w/technical or informative aspects. Guidelines: http://www.passagemaker.com/TheMagazine/SubmissionGuidelines/tabid/307/Default.aspx

THE SATURDAY EVENING POST - focus has broadened to include well-researched, timely and informative articles on finance, unusual photo/story packages, home improvement, humor, transportation, travel, fashion, entertainment, personality profiles, technology, communication w/healthy emphasis on medical breakthroughs, promising new treatments, prevention, fitness. The Post's goal is to remain unique, with content that provides additional perspective on the ever-evolving American scene. In addition to feature-length articles, the Post buys anecdotes suitable for "Post Scripts," as well as cartoons, illustrations and photos. Guidelines: http://saturdayeveningpost.com/submission-guidelines.html

YOUR CAT, UK - for all cat lovers, giving practical info on the care of both pedigree and non-pedigree cats and kittens. Looking for true life stories that are unusual, entertaining or contain information. Only considers practical articles from experienced journalists or people who write on their topic of expertise -- behaviourists for example. Guidelines: On request from Sue Parslow, Editor s.parslow@bournepublishinggroup.co.uk Mag link: http://www.bournepublishinggroup.com/mag_yourcat.html

TRANSITIONS ONLINE, Czech Republic - online journal providing unique coverage of Eastern Europe's 28 post-communist countries. Publishes news, features, opinion and analyses. Seeks new contributors who can provide relevant and timely reports, articles, commentaries, interviews, book reviews covering a broad range of topics. Interested in original stories, under-reported or ones that give an alternative angle on the more conventional news. Authors are paid per word, and illustrators and photographers per published work. Guidelines: http://www.tol.cz/look/TOL/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=18&NrIssue=1&NrSection=4&NrArticle=11877

AUSTRALIAN YOGA LIFE – conveys the broad message of yoga without being linked to any one style or school of yoga, to give readers a deeper understanding of yoga. Stories and articles are sourced from practising yogis throughout Australia. Guidelines: http://www.ayl.com.au/contribute.html

MYSTERY CONTESTS - http://us.macmillan.com/Content.aspx?publisher=smpminotaur&id=4933

CLOUDBANK POETRY CONTEST – Deadline: Dec. 31, 2010. Entry Fee: $15. $200 prize awarded for one poem. Two contributors' copies will be sent to writers whose
work appears in the mag. All poets who enter the contest will receive a 1 yr subscription to Cloudbank mag. Guidelines: http://www.cloudbankbooks.com/Contest.html

LILITH MAGAZINE: Annual Fiction & Poetry Competition - Deadline: Dec. 15, 2010. First prize $250. Guidelines: http://www.lilith.org/writers.htm

23rd ANNUAL BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AWARDS - SECOND CALL — Deadline: Dec. 31, 2010. Primarily for titles published September 1 – December 31, 2010. All titles carrying a 2010 copyright date will be accepted in this round of entries.
Guidelines: http://ibpabenjaminfranklinawards.com

BOOK CONFERENCES & FESTIVALS – check back often for updates
http://www.writermag.com/wrt/community/events/events.asp

FROM MY TWITTER FEED:
ONLINE WORKSHOP: Inside the Criminal Mind - Jan 3 – 30, 2011
http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=552

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Changing Genres: What 2 Keep/What 2 Dump Jan 3 - 30 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=283

ONLINE WORKSHOP: One Story, Many Voices - Jan 3 – 30, 2011
http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=254

ONLINE WORKSHOP: The First Chapter - Jan 3 – 31, 2011 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=331

ONLINE WORKSHOP: The Dark Hero - Jan 3 - 31, 2011 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=508

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Short Story - From Idea to Draft in 30 Days - Jan 3 - 31, 2011
http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=391

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Achieve Your Goals in Writing & Life - Jan 3 – 31, 2011
http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=351

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Powerhouse Scenes - Jan 3 – 31, 2011 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=397

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Richard the Lionheart & the Crusades - Jan 3 - Feb 6, 2011
http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=343

10 PLACES TO USE YOUR BOOK FRONT COVER:
Signature on your emails
Each page of your website
Your blog
Your comments on other blogs
With articles you submit to online newsletters
In the package you send out to get testimonials
Your business card and letterhead
Each page of your book's media kit
Your speaker/book blurb sheet
Your book order blank
ANY PLACE IN YOUR SOCIAL NETWORK profiles where you are using your photo

LITERARY SCAMS – Suggest writers bookmark these links & check lists before embarking on any writing venture. A search will give you more links.
http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware
http://www.spamlaws.com/literary-scams.html
http://www.bookawards.bizland.com/literary_scams.htm
http://www.authorslawyer.com/litscam.shtml
http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/avoid/av_avoid.php
http://www.writing-world.com/rights/contests.shtml

Friday, December 3, 2010

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #204

I hope everyone had a super Thanksgiving. ~Elizabeth

REASON TO KEEP WRITING: MITCH MILLER, age 99, an influential record producer who became a hugely popular recording artist and an unlikely television star a half century ago by leading a choral group in familiar old songs and inviting people to sing along. The “Sing Along With Mitch” album series, which began in 1958, was an immense success, finding an eager audience among older listeners looking for an alternative to rock ’n’ roll. Mitch Miller and the Gang serenaded them with chestnuts like “Home on the Range,” “That Old Gang of Mine,” “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen” and “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.” When the concept was adapted for television in 1961, with the lyrics appearing at the bottom of the screen, Mr. Miller, with his beaming smile and neatly trimmed mustache and goatee, became a national celebrity. Miller was a studio innovator. Along with the guitarist Les Paul and a few others, he helped pioneer overdubbing, the technique by which different tracks are laid over one another to produce a richer effect. He also achieved what he called a sonic “halo” on numerous recordings by the use of what came to be called an echo chamber, an effect an engineer produced by placing a speaker and a microphone in a tiled restroom. Miller and the Gang eventually recorded more than 20 long-playing discs, many of which made the Top 40. By 1966 they had sold about 17 million copies. 1980s and ’90s he was a frequent guest conductor of symphony orchestras.

WESTERN NY FAMILY MAGAZINE - 90% freelance-written, about current parenting issues with a Western NY tie-in whenever possible. Strong emphasis is placed on how and where to find family-oriented events, as well as goods and services for children, (newborn to 14 yrs) in Western NY (the Buffalo metro area). Guidelines: http://www.wnyfamilymagazine.com/writers-guidelines.aspx

AMERICAN JOURNALISM REVIEW – current events, features, book reviews. Guidelines: http://www.ajr.org/ajrgart.asp

THE ARTIST’s MAGAZINE – created for artists and art enthusiasts. It showcases the best work in all media and in all styles of the best artists working today. Practical lessons in technique, engaging interviews, lively discussions of timely issues and news of exhibitions and events. Guidelines: http://www.artistsnetwork.com/tam-submissions

INTERGALACTIC MEDICINE SHOW – opportunity for sci-fi/fanatasy writers. Guidelines: http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com/cgi-bin/mag.cgi?do=content&article=submissions

SIERRA – nat’l mag publishing writing, photography, art about the natural world. Readers are environmentally concerned, politically diverse, actively enjoy the outdoors. We are looking for painstaking reporting and smart writing that will provoke, entertain, inform, and enlighten this readership. Guidelines: http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/guidelines/writers.aspx

ASTRONOMY MAGAZINE – science and hobby mag, serves readers who want to keep up with the latest discoveries and understand astronomical science, as well as those who want to know what is happening in the sky each month. Guidelines: http://www.astronomy.com/en/sitecore/content/Home/Magazine/About%20Magazine/Contributor%20Guidelines/2004/06/Article%20submission%20guidelines.aspx

CANADIAN AVIATOR MAGAZINE – about flying, buys features and contributions to depts. Aviation enthusiasts across the country share a common interest in flying. The bulk of our writers and photographers come from Western Canada and Ontario. Guidelines: http://www.canadianaviatormagazine.com/about-us/writer-submission-guidelines

FRANKLIN-CHRISTOPH POETRY CONTEST – Deadline: Dec. 31, 2010. Poetry. Enter up to 3 poems of not more than 100 lines each, any style. $1000 Grand Prize - $2450 total. Guidelines: http://www.franklin-christoph.com/Writing/PoetryContest.html

2011 ARTSMITH LITERARY AWARD POETRY CONTEST - Deadline: Dec, 31, 2010. Entry fee: $5. Theme: Home. Guidelines: http://www.orcasartsmith.org/contest.html

DREAM QUEST ONE POETRY & WRITING CONTEST – Deadline: Dec. 31, 2010. Entry Fee: $5 - $10. Write your best short story or poem for a chance to win cash prizes. All works must be original. Guidelines/Entry form: http://www.dreamquestone.com

NASHVILLE INTERNATIONAL SONG & LYRIC COMPETITION – Over $100,000 cash & prizes awarded; Multiple contests throughout the year mean prizes are awarded faster and more often than contests that happen only once a year. Emerging songwriters don't have to compete with writers who've already had major-label recordings. Entry instructions: http://www.paramountsong.com/song-contests

29th ANNUAL DELACORTE PRESS CONTEST - for a First Young Adult Novel. Deadline: Dec. 31, 2010. The prize of a book contract (on the publisher’s standard form) covering world rights for a hardcover and a paperback edition, including an advance and royalties, will be awarded annually to encourage the writing of contemporary young adult fiction. The award consists of $1500 in cash and a $7500 advance against royalties. Guidelines: http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/writingcontests/#youngadult

FROM MY TWITTER FEED:
ONLINE WORKSHOP: How To Create A Professional Self-Published Book - Dec 13- 15, 2010 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=561

ONLINE WORKSHOP: MATCHMAKING 101 in Romance - Jan 3 – 17, 2011 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=486

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Loglines – Just the Facts, Ma’am - Jan 3 – 23, 2011
http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=400

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Warrior Writer - Jan 3 – 24, 2011
http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=352

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Writing a Mystery - Jan 3 - Jan 30, 2011 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=505

LITERARY SCAMS – Suggest writers bookmark these links & check lists before embarking on any writing venture. A search will give you more links.
http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware
http://www.spamlaws.com/literary-scams.html
http://www.bookawards.bizland.com/literary_scams.htm
http://www.authorslawyer.com/litscam.shtml
http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/avoid/av_avoid.php
http://www.writing-world.com/rights/contests.shtml