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Darlene Beck Jacobson has loved writing since she was a girl. She wrote letters to everyone she knew and made up stories in her head. She loves bringing the past to life in stories such as WHEELS OF CHANGE, her debut novel.

When talking with Charlotte Bennardo on Friday at the conference, she showed me a receipt that she received at Barnes and Noble after buying a cup of coffee. I just thought this was so cool. Imagine seeing your book suggested on the receipt. Must have been very exciting for Charlotte. Another reason to make sure you look at your receipts.

In its nearly three centuries of existence, The Saturday Evening Post has published short fiction by a who’s who of American authors including F. Scott Fitzgerald; William Faulkner; Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.; Ray Bradbury; Louis L’Amour; Sinclair Lewis; Jack London; and Edgar Allan Poe. Now you have the opportunity to join that illustrious line-up by taking part in The Saturday Evening Post’s Second Annual Great American Fiction Contest.

The winning story will be published in the Jan/Feb 2014 edition of the magazine and on our website. The winning writer will receive a payment of $500. Five runners-up will be published on our website and receive payment of $100 each.

Helpful Hints:

“We like a good story! Entries should be character- or plot-driven pieces in any genre of fiction, but keep it readable, please! “We are looking for stories with universal appeal touching on shared experiences and themes that will resonate with readers from diverse backgrounds and experience,” says Joan SerVaas, publisher of The Saturday Evening Post.” Think local. The Post has historically played a role in defining what it means to be an American. Your story should in some way touch upon the publication’s mission: Celebrating America, Past, Present, and Future.

Submission Guidelines:

Stories must be submitted by the author, previously unpublished (excluding personal websites and blogs), and 1,500-5,000 words in length. No extreme profanity or graphic sex scenes, please. All stories must be submitted online and should be in Microsoft Word format with the author’s name, address, telephone number, and email address on the first page. There is a $10 entry fee, which helps defray a portion of the cost of operating the contest.

Click on the “Fiction Contest Entry Form” link below to upload your story and make a secure payment. Deadline for entry is 11:59 p.m. (EST), July 1, 2013.

Fiction Contest Entry Form

Thanks in advance for participating! The Editors

We’re pleased to announce “Wolf” by Lucy Jane Bledsoe the winner of our 2013 Great American Fiction Contest! Click here to read the prize-winning fiction from our winner and six runners-up.

- See more at: http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/fiction-contest#sthash.sEifrf2J.dpuf

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Our Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman sold their BLONDE OPS, pitched as The Devil Wears Prada meets James Bond for teens, featuring a fashion magazine intern in Rome who uncovers a plot to kidnap the First Lady, to Kat Brzozowski and Peter Joseph at Thomas Dunne Books, for publication in 2014, by Natalie Fischer Lakosil at the Bradford Literary Agency (World).  Congratulations Nat and Char!

Liza Royce Agency just sold two picture books written by Tori Corn.  I wonder which one will be considered her debut book?  Way to go, Tori!

At Simon & Schuster Children’s, Angela Zurlo has been promoted to production manager for the Books for Young Readers and Paul Wiseman imprints, effective June 1. Navah Wolfe and Julia Maguire have been promoted to associate editor, BFYR. In addition, Richard Ackoon moves up to executive coordinator, Laura Roode has been promoted to associate art director, and Krista Olsen moves up to design associate.

Today’s the last day to send in your first page inspired by Kathleen Kemly’s May’s Picture Prompt. You will find Agent Melissa Sarver critiques of four submissions on next Friday’s post. Kathleen’s art work was featured on Illustrator Saturday a few weeks ago. http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/illustrator-saturday-kathleen-kemly/

Please attach your double spaced, 12 point font, 23 line first page to an e-mail and send it to kathy(dot)temean(at)gmail(dot)com. Also cut and paste it into the body of the e-mail. Put “May 26th First Page Prompt” in the subject line.

ILLUSTRATORS: Here is your chance to show off a little. I am looking any subject matter as long as it has a few flowers in the illustration. I will post some as they come in during the month, but I will definitely post all by May 31st, so I need to receive your illustrations no later than May 25th. Please make sure the illustration is at least 500 pixels wide and includes a blurb about you and a link to see more of your work. Please send it to kathy(dot)temean(at)gmail(dot)com and put “May Illustration” in the subject box.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

0 Comments on Free Fall Friday – May – Kudos as of 1/1/1900

Here’s some good news to make your heart flutter! 

February Illustration by Nina Mata www.beautifique.org

There were two workshops at the New Jersey SCBWI June Conference that filled up very quickly - Plotting and Producing Freebies to Market Your Book and Reading as a Writer.  I know there were a few disappointed people, so today both  have greed to open their dors by adding a few more spots.  So if you are already registered and were someone who was disapponted, now is your chance to go back in and snag a space.

People taking Author Charlotte Bennardo & Author Natalie Zaman’s Plotting and Producing Freebies to Market Your Book workshop should send a hard or electronic copy of their manuscript–here’s the description of the workshop New Maximum: 14 Writers & Illustrators, All Genres, Advanced, Published, Under Contract or Self Published

The publishing industry is changing; authors are now largely responsible to market their own books. Nat and Char will show you how to plan and  create your own marketing materials to promote your book. There is a max of ten people for this workshop so that we can discuss each  participant’s book. Participants will need to submit a partial or full  electronic copy of their manuscript and/or an ARC and/or cover art if  available to [email protected] by May 10th.  (This is a lot of work that Natalie and Charlotte have agreed to do, so if you can send in what they need now, it would pay off for everyone attending.)

Reading as a Writer – Ann DeForest New Max 25 Writers, All Types, All Levels

All writers begin as readers. The books we loved as kids first opened us to language’s power and enticed us to create our own worlds with words. Reading can still guide and inspire us today. This hands-on workshop will transform your reading from pastime into fruitful apprenticeship. Stuck on dialogue? Having trouble choreographing a battle scene? Dissatisfied with your denouement? Turn to the experts all around you: the books that line your shelves at home or the local library. This workshop will address practical matters like incorporating reading into your writing schedule and setting up a reader’s notebook. We’ll also discuss “imitation,” “annotation,” and other methods of active, engaged reading that will sharpen your writing skills. Participants will have time to solve a particular craft problem (e.g. dialogue, conflict, beginnings) using favorite books as models. Please bring a blank notebook, a work-in-progress, and a book you love.

Two other Changes:

We have opened up two 15 minute time slots on Sunday for Lionel Bender and Eileen Robinson for anyone wanting to recevieve a 15 minute one-on-critique.  This will will lower the price to $65 for those spots – The times are 12:15pm – 12:30 and 12:35 - 12:50pm.

If you want to register or just find more info; here is the link: http://www.regonline.com/njscbwi2012conference

Deadline for “Early Bird” pricing is Midnight March 1st

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Most of the New Jersey SCBWI members know Natalie Zaman and Charlotte Bennardo and were so happy for them when their book, SIRENZ came out in June.  It was so much fun for me to read, because they both took a character and took turns writing the chapters from their characters POV. 

Their own personal voices came through loud and clear, which only added to the fun of reading the book for me.  Everyone who has read the book has told me how much they enjoyed reading SIRENZ, so you might want to add it to your collection and see how they handled co-authoring a YA novel.

This made me think that there maybe writers out there who could use a reminder of the basics of Point-of -View.

• POV is the eyes through which you’re seeing a scene. Also
  called character voice.
• There are three types of POV: Omniscient, First Person,
  Third Person
• Omniscient POV is where you’re not in any particular head.
  This POV lets you tell and know all, but lacks intimacy.
• First Person is where you’re in one character’s head, and
  speaks in terms of I. This POV is immediate, emotive, and intimate, but
  can be limiting and difficult to write.
• Third Person can be in a limited number of heads, and speaks
  in terms of he/she.

More on POV:  http://wp.me/pss2W-1Xv

Now for the inside scoop.  Over at Eve’s Fan Garden, Natalie and Charlotte take you down the road they took to get their book off the ground and published.  I think you will really enjoy reading about their journey.  Don’t miss clicking over.

http://evesfangarden.com/blog/2011/07/27/sirenz-blog-tour-the-sirenz-journey-by-natalie-zaman-and-charlotte-bennardo/

I don’t normally post jobs, but with this economy I figured it might be a good idea to let you know of this opportunity at fwmedia.  http://www.fwmedia.com/careers/publicist

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy