March 2003

DENTON WRITERS LEAGUE
FIRST EDITION
MARCH 2003 VOL. 14 NUMBER 3

If you would like a copy of the newsletter e-mailed to you instead of through the US post, please contact George Avera or Joni Latham.

WHERE WE MEET AND WHEN

The second Saturday of every month, at the

Rib Rangers Ranchhouse
2109 W. University Dr
Denton, TX 76201

General Meeting 10:30 a.m.

Lunch at Rib Rangers at Noon.

NEXT MEETING -SATURDAY, MARCH 8

Guest Speakers

March-Roxanne Longstreet Conrad
April-Jeff Crilley
May-Rhondi Hillstrom Davis
June-Lila Guzman
July-Patty Pfeiffer
August-Jim Pence
September-Workshop
October-Diane Fanning
November-Julie Rogers & June Ford
December-Open Meeting

Although she was born in New Mexico and raised in the Army, Roxanne Longstreet Conrad is undeniably a Texas author. Her novels have been referred to as "twisted" and "inspired" and both are classifications she's proud of. Her past works include Stormriders, The Undead, Red Angel,Cold Kiss, Slow Burn, Copper Moon, and Bridge of Shadows. Visit Roxanne's website at http://www.artistsinresidence.com/rlc/

Borrowed from the AggieCon 2001 website.

FEBRUARY MEETING RECAP P.N. (Pat) Elrod was February's speaker. She talked about how and why she began writing. She also gave us the 10 Reason Why I'm Not Published-the reasons people give for not submitting their work to a publisher. They are listed below in her own words. The list may seem a little harsh, but it is meant to evoke a reaction and motivate you to submit your work to one of the large publishing houses. Ten Reasons (Excuses) Why I'm Not Published (With subtext of the real reason)

1 It's not what you know it's WHO you know. (You're too chicken to send anything in to be judged by the big boys. Having contacts doesn't hurt, but you'll not make any unless you produce and submit work and show them you're serious. Publishing is full of wannabes clinging to this excuse, and the people who might otherwise be helpful won't waste their time on them.)

2 My friends and family tell me I'm good; the publishers don't just don't get me. (Maybe your friends and family are too kind (or inexperienced) to clue you to the truth that you stink. Listen up: all pros stink at first. They get over it by not trying to feed their egos and instead try to make their stuff better. If you have a mountain of rejection slips, file them, and keep writing until you are up to pro level. A wannabe wants to be told they're good, a serious pro wants to be told how to make it better.)

3 I am an artist; to keep my work *pure* I'm not going to "sell out" to commercial publishers. (Saving my watch now. Hoping the "great artist" has a nice secure day job and doesn't mind absolute obscurity.)

4 The publishers never take anything off the slush pile seriously, that's why it's called slush! The only ones who sold were just lucky. Sooner or later someone has to win the lottery. (Elrod snarks water up her nose on this one. She's now feeling SO hypicritical thinking that *talent* had anything to do with selling her first book off the slush pile. Her first SIX, since they offered a multi-book contract and after 13 years they're still in print.)

5 I can't get published without an agent, and I can't get an agent without being published. (You're just not trying. Go read the 808 section of the library and find out how many writers got over that delusion.)

6 All the editors are men/women and they HATE women/male writers! (Oh, pul-eeze, you can come up with a better one than that!)

7 It's REALLY hard for me to get into the right kind of MOOD to write, so I never finish anything. (You just don't want it bad enough. Fine with me. Because you weren't in the mood I'll take home with the check that should have gone to you. You can't wait for the "mood" to happen. You sit down and write. The mood will show up. Inspiration is great when it happens, but in the meantime you keep plugging.)

8 There's no publisher who carries anything like the stuff I write. (Afraid to blaze a trail? Keep at it. If it's up to pro level and good they will look at it. They WANT to discover the next trend! Blatty got 32 rejections for The Exorcist, until someone decided to buy it and changed the face of horror books, imprinting on the pop culture, spawning hundreds of imitations, yadda-yadda.)

9 I want it to be absolutely *perfect* before I send anything in. (All pros are still waiting for that moment. You'll never run out of things to fix.)

10 I AM a published writer! I have 12 electronic-POD-desktop published-vanity-subsidized-website-archived) books to prove it! (Well, you just keep plugging away and once you run out of ego, money, delusions, denials, and/or get good enough maybe you'll try playing in the big leagues. You can have TWO dozen e-books, but a writer with a *single* print-published title sold to a real print publisher for a real advance STILL gets more respect. That person just told the world they were stubborn enough and good enough to stick it out and truly make it in the business.)

P. N. Elrod

On a personal note from Joni: If you're worried about the "no solicited submissions accepted or non-agented submissions accepted" tags, just keep your eyes open. I've found several of the publishers relinquishing or relaxing those requirements to bring in new genres or authors. I recently submitted a manuscript to TOR, so we'll see.

September Workshop

I've been trying to plan a workshop for September and thought I would ask what you want this year. Listed below are the presenters and topics under consideration. Please review and let me know which one you would be most interested in attending. We need to make a decision soon, hopefully by May.

Rondi Hillstrom Davis Independent Publishing--who should and who shouldn't; Marketing and Non-Traditional Sales.

Lorraine Heath-she could probably work in 3 of the topics from the list below:
1) Weaving Characterization to Create a Tapestry of Emotion - Lorraine Heath will share various techniques that help create believable characters, characters that will touch the readers' emotions and become memorable.
2) Journey through a Copy Edited Manuscript - Discussing the mistakes she made and the valuable lessons she learned, Lorraine Heath will take you on a journey through her first published manuscript.
3) Show Me the Money - Lorraine Heath will explain how advances and royalties are paid out. She will share her experiences with joint accounting, foreign rights sales, and book clubs.
4) What I Wish I'd Known Then - Lorraine Heath will share her experiences writing books for lines, series, and single title. She will explain the publication process from THE call to holding the book in your hand.
5) Making a Presence Online - Lorraine Heath has been online since 1991. She will share tips on promoting your work on the Internet. She will also share her experiences networking with readers, authors, reviewers, and booksellers.
6)Agents: When to Hold, When to Fold - USA Today Bestselling and Award-winning author Lorraine Heath will take us through the process of the agent hunt. Where should you search for an agent? What should an agent do for you? When do you sign on the dotted line? When is it time to move on?

Julie Rogers/June Ford
1) Developing a Picture Book
2) Tricks to Developing Your Writing Style-original workshop limited to 10 people, but checking to see if it can be modified.
3) Fine Tuning Your Book Proposal

Jim Pence Workshop

1 Finish that Novel! (Novel Writing from Idea to Bookstore)
9:00-10:15 Getting Your Story Off the Ground (Ideas, Outlines, and Story Development)
10:30-11:45 Polishing and Perfecting (Drafts, Revisions, and Rewrites)
11:45- 1:00 Lunch
1:00- 2:15 Marketing Your Novel (Synopses, Publishers, and Agents)
2:30- 3:45 Once It Sells (Editors, Rewrites, and Promotion) Workshop

2 Getting into Print (Developing and Selling Your Non-Fiction Book)
9:00-10:15 What are Publishers Looking For? (The Three Ingredients of a Salable Book Idea)
10:30-11:45 The All-important Query
11:45- 1:00 Lunch
1:00- 2:15 Writing a "Home-Run" Book Proposal
2:30- 3:45 Publishers, Contracts, and Agents

Lila Guzman
Ten Critical Mistakes in Fiction Writing – covers items such as POV problems and how to correct them; lack of voice; proper format; and the Hero's Journey.
Flash Fiction
Writing A Young Adult Novel
Writing Short Stories

Dreamin' in Dallas

The Dallas Area Romance Authors and the North Texas Romance Writers of America will host the annual Dreamin’ in Dallas conference for writers of romantic fiction, a one day event held at the Holiday Inn Select in Richardson on March 29. Registration for the conference begins in January. The fee is $85; $95 after Feb. 15; $105 on site.

Keynote is New York Times Bestselling Author Mary Jo Putney. Workshops will be given by several authors including Susan Grant, Kara Lennox, Julie Kenner, Catherine Spangler, Evelyn Vaughn, Kristi Gold, and Kathleen Givens. Agent Pattie Steele-Perkins, Agent Elaine English, Editor Jennifer Green of Harlequin, and Editor Lauren McKenna of Pocketbooks will be taking appointments. The conference kicks off with the 5th annual gala book signing and fundraiser on Friday, March 28, 2003 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Select, IH 75 and Campbell Rd, in Richardson, TX.

The public is welcome to attend the book signing and admission is free. For more information on the conference, visit www.dara.romance-central.com or contact Lorraine Heath at lorraine-heath@attbi.com.

Texas Conferences and Events

March 22-27, Canyon of the Eagles Writer's Retreat and Workshop (Marble Falls). Contact: Mike Blakely. mike@281.com .
March 29, Writers Mini Conference (Wagoner, OK). Contact: Lydona Atchley wildrosepublishing@yahoo.com March 29-31, “Book Marketing Blast-Off Seminar,” Museum of Printing History, Clay & Waugh (Houston). $495 for 3 full days. Contact: Rita Mills rmills@ghgcorp.com or http://www.bookmarket.com/blastoff.html
April 1-4, Texas Library Association Convention, (Houston). http://www.txla.org/
April 5, San Antonio College Book Fair, (San Antonio) 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Contact John Hammond jhammond@accd.edu .
April 5, Beeville Library fundraiser (Beeville). Contact JoAnn Oliphant jao@bclib.org
April 10-13, Austin International Poetry Festival 2003, (Austin). Contact: Gayle Hight info@aipf.org .
April 26, Caldwell Market Day, (Caldwell). Book & Media Tent. Contact: Elizabeth Reid buenobooks@yahoo.com and http://www.geocities.com/txlions/
May 3, Somerville Community Library Book Fair, (Somerville). $25-$40 table fee. Contact: Elizabeth Reid buenobooks@yahoo.com .
May 17, 3rd Annual North Texas Book Festival, (Denton). Denton Civic Center, 9-4. $25/booth plus 10% of proceeds. Benefits literacy programs.
May 28-June 1, 2003 Book Expo, (Los Angeles). http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/
June (Dates TBD), 2003 Amarillo, TX Frontiers in Writing, Panhandle Professional Writers http://users.arn.net/~ppw/
August 2, Salado Book Fair, (Salado). Contact: James V. Lee, saladopress@airmail.net
August 30, Georgetown Blue Grass Festival and Book Fair, (Georgetown). $25/booth. Benefits G'town Public Library's children's programs. Contact: Gerald Carson, jcarson@igg-tx.net .
Sept. 26-27, 3rd Annual West Texas Book & Author Festival (Abilene) Civic Center. Contact: Glenn Dromgoole, glenndromgoole@cox.net
October 4, 2nd Annual Book & Art Festival (Brenham). Contact: Charlene Keller phb@alpha1.net .
October 17-18, The Red Dirt Book Festival, (Shawnee, OK). Contact: Jan Anthony, Tecumseh Library, janthony@pls.lib.ok.us.
October 18, 3rd Annual Texas Writers Roundup (Wimberley). Contact: Linda Bingham Linda@texasauthors.org
October 18 and 19, Second Annual Latino Book and Family Festival (Houston). George R. Brown Convention Center, 10 am - 6 pm. Contact: Tony Diaz AztecMuse@aol.com .
November 8-9, Texas Book Festival (Austin). Watch for updates on website http://www.texasbookfestival.org . TCoA will begin organizing co-op booths in June.

From the Texas Author’s Coalition, Inc website. URL in listing below.

On-Line Writers resources

Author's Network-for writers about writing based in Europe, but interesting-http://www.author-network.com/
Copyright Forms- http://www.loc.gov/copyright/forms/
Dallas Sceen Writers- http://www.dallasscreenwriters.com/
New Writer's Market http://hge.members.atlantic.net/
Preditors and Editors-a resources to check out agents and publishers http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/
Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators http://www.scbwi.org/
Texas Coalition of Authors, Inc. http://www.texasauthors.org/
The Novelist's Workshop-essays and advice on how to publish your book-http://www.monash.com/writers.html
Writer's Exchange http://www.writers-exchange.com/epublishing/
Writer's Market http://www.writersmarket.com/index_ns.asp
Writers Net-source for information for writers, editors, agents, and publishers-http://www.writers.net
The Zuzu's Petals Literary Resource Homepage-for both writers and poets-http://www.zuzu.com/

There are multitudes of writing resources available on the Internet. Go to any search engine and ask for writer's resources, writer's markets, writer's contests, writer's conferences, etc

DWL OFFICERS:

President - Joni Latham (joni@verizon.net) - 940/243-5200
VP - June Powell - 940/565-1013
Treasurer – Joseph Marino
Secretary - Rae Nell Causseaux - 940/321-2739
Newsletter - George Avera (gavera@chatter.com) - 940/382-4130