Writer's Symposium by the Sea: February 20-28

Greek Amphitheater, Point Loma Nazarene University

The last week of February marks the 19th Annual Writer's Symposium by the Sea at Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU). This year's symposium is entitled Writing That's Raw.

Among the evening speakers at this year's symposium are author, professor, and New York Times columnist Samuel Freedman (February 20), author of three memoirs Jeannette Wall (February 26), the delightfully witty Anne Lamott (February 27), author of Bird by Bird, Traveling Mercies, and Operating Instructions, plus the 2nd Annual Storyline Conference featuring Donald Miller (February 27-March 1). More information for all of these events, including cost and ticket purchasing, may be found on the Writer's Symposium by the Sea webpage.

If you have to choose only one writer to see, I have to highly recomment Anne Lamott. I've seen her at a previous Writer's Symposium in 1997 (link to the one-hour YouTube video of her talk here: Anne Lamott 2007), and she's simply magical. 

I would LOVE to be able to attend the Donald Miller Storyline Conference, but it's sold out. Perhaps next year. 

ENJOY!!

East County Writing Contest!

From East County Magazine

Win prizes for your prose--including admission to a writers conference and a literary festival!

February 13, 2014 (San Diego's East County)-- Love to write?  East County Magazine invites you to enter our 1st annual East County Writing Contest.  Description: Crank up your creative juices and send us your best short story, or first chapter of a novel, set in our inland region, East County (mountains, deserts, cities or towns east of I-15 in San Diego County).  Your story can be historical or contemporary, in any genre or style you choose – dramatic, romantic, mystery, humor, time travel…The only limit is your imagination!

Prizes: Our top winner will receive a free admission to next year’s San Diego Writers Conference.  Top three winners will be featured at East County Magazine’s Arts & Literary Festival later this year, plus publication online in the “Bookshelf” section at the award-winning East County Magazine, which averages 150,000 readers a month. Excerpts of winners’ works and/or interviews with winning authors will also be broadcast on the East County Magazine Show’s Bookshelf segment on KNSJ 89.1 FM radio. Our judges include award-winning authors and editors. Additional prizes will be announced shortly. (Readers, if you would like to be a sponsor of our contest or arts/literary festival, or have additional prizes to donate in exchange for promotional opportunities, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.)

Entry rules: Short stories should be 3,000 words or less. Alternatively, you can enter up to 3,000 words from the first chapter of a novel. All entries must be set in East County (see definition above) and suitable for a general audience in compliance with FCC public broadcasting rules.

How to enter:   Mail a $15 check for each entry to East County Magazine, 4438 Hideaway Place, La Mesa, CA 91941 (or make a $15 donation online atwww.eastcountymagazine.org). Include 3 printed copies of each entry, double-spaced in 12 point font with 1 inch margins. Include a cover sheet with your name, address, phone, and e-mail, title of entry and contact info.  Please also send an electronic copy of your entry toeditior@eastcountymagazine.org with subject line: Literary Contest.       

Deadline to receive entries is April 30, 2014 at midnight.

Next Meeting: February 11!!

Yes, writerly people of the Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council (MECAC), our next meeting of the MECAC Writers Workshop is this Tuesday evening, February 11 at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library. 

Bring a short sample of your recent work to share and we'll offer our thoughts and ideas as we work together to improve our writing and support one another on our writerly journeys!!

And good news!! Our own MECAC Writers Workshop member Maureen Brown's new book The Exile of Cain is now available on Amazon here: The Exile of Cain. You may also find more information on her site: The Exile of Cain. (This link is also in the sidebar of this site.) 

So let's celebrate Maureen's publication success and work together to get our writing published as well!

See you all on Tuesday!!

WRITE-IN!

In November our Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council held a Write-In as part of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and we had a lovely time writing and chatting and drinking warm, bracing coffees and teas. 

In fact, the Saturday meeting was so successful that we thought we'd try it every couple of months.

So we'll be meeting on Saturday, January 18 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library. 

Bring your laptops, notebooks, pens, and whatever writing utensils you use, and we'll have a wonderful writing session together!! 

See you there!!

PS The Writer's Symposium by the Sea at Point Loma Nazarene University is coming up in late February. Thanks to a dear friend, I'm attending the session with Anne Lamott, author of the incredible book on writing Bird by Bird. Check the link for dates, times, and prices. 

Next Meeting: November 12!

As National Novel Writing Month begins, it's time for our lovely reminder regarding our monthly meeting.

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, November 12 in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library starting at 7:00 PM.

Bring copies of a page or two (three at most) of your latest writing, and we'll read together and offer verbal and written feedback.

We always have a terrific time together, so we hope to see a full room on November 12th!

And don't forget NaNoWriMo!!  Even if you don't reach 50,000 words in November, you will write more than you would have otherwise...and that's a great thing. :)

See you all on the 12th!!

November Means NaNoWriMo!!

 

November is coming quickly upon us, and November means National Novel Writing Month, or affectionately known as NaNoWriMo.

Here's the link for the website: NaNoWriMo

Basically, several hundred thousand writers join together to each write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November.

Yes, that averages to writing 1,667 words per day in order to finish all 50,000 words by 11:59 PM on November 30.

I will be trying (and I emphasize "trying") to participate since I offer NaNoWriMo as extra credit for my Expository Essay students. If anyone would like to add me as a Writing "Buddy," my user name is SusanneB and my profile is available at http://nanowrimo.org/participants/susanneb.    

So let's keep on writing as November comes!! We'll be getting together for our regular meeting on Tuesday, November 12th at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library. I'll send a reminder a day or two before the meeting as usual.

See you then...and happy writing!! :)

 

 

November's NaNoWriMo Is Just Around the Corner....

Dear Burgeoning Novelist,

I'm writing to tell you I need you. That's right, I've been swirling around in the breathtaking labyrinths of your unconscious mind for a while now, and I'm itching to leap into the world. The only way I can come out, though, is if you commit to writing me in November.

So, if you haven't already, please sign in for 2013 NaNoWriMo and create me. For inspiration, just read Abby's story in our 2012 Annual Report. Abby's novel was such a powerful force that she faced down naysayers, found a way to write while juggling a busy life, and then crossed the finish line on the shoulders of NaNo's amazing community.

I know we'll write a gobsmacking, mind-bending story as well, so please commit to writing me in the following ways.

Donate $10 for the love of me. NaNo research shows that people who donate are more likely to write 50,000 words. But your donation means more than that. Your support will help approximately 500,000 people realize their writing dreams this year. You can spark a creative revolution!

Start prepping with a NaNo notebook—just released! We have so much to decide. Who is our protagonist? What sorts of wicked plans are our tales' rapscallions hatching? Sure, I've been swimming among the stories in your unconscious depths, but we have to start working to get 'em all out onto the page.

So let's get in the noveling mood. Check out these NaNo Prep resources to get primed:

• 10 Reasons You Should Do NaNoWriMo
• Inside the Mind of a Planner
• Pantser? Planner? Percolator?

Above all, please just write me. November is a grand celebration of everyone's amazing creative powers, so let's plunge into NaNo's rollicking mayhem and give light to a riveting story.

With rip-roaring wishes,

Your 2013 NaNo Novel
Word count: Ready to go...

***********

So, are we ready to write our novels, dear writers???

Think about it...and perhaps we can meet at the Pine Valley Library or at Pine Valley Java to write together a few times during November. :)

Writing with you,