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WIWA NEWSLETTER
News from the Whidbey Island Writers Association
Vol. 8, No. 3, June 2008 – July 2008
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WIWA Web Site News and Member Services
To Contact Us or Submit an Article
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Happy spring/summertime to all WIWA Newsletter readers!
Well, it looks like our long-awaited sunny days have finally reached the beautiful Northwest. The trees are green, the flowers are blooming and the deer are molting (it’s not their most attractive season).
Time for fresh beginnings, which for some of us means we need to dust off that old project and start getting serious.
Why do I say this? Because I’ve been guilty of neglecting my own practice, and I assume I’m not alone. Sometimes days, weeks, even months go by before I realize I’ve spent more time staring into the refrigerator than I have at a Word document. All that wasted time, all those ideas idle in my head, vulnerable to becoming missed opportunities and forgotten scenes.
Don’t let this happen to you.
Say this with me: I will take this opportunity to motivate myself. I will be constantly reminded that I have a duty to write, even when it doesn’t come as easy as I think it should. I will remember that it’s not always about the search for inspiration, but about taking the time to inspire others. That is the goal of the writer. That is my purpose.
If you need more motivation, read on. This edition’s feature article is about Hedgebrook, an organization created to inspire. And there is much excitement in the following pages regarding the 2009 Writers Conference as well as info on dozens of contests and happenings around town and beyond to keep you on task.
May you spend many warm days doing what you were born to do. Go forth and write, write, write!
Until next time,
Dalia Monterroso
P.S. - Since this edition is about new beginnings, I’d like to make my first mea culpa as your novice Newsletter Editor. It seems there were a few individuals I neglected to thank in my first edition. Cecilia Matta really saved me with her sharp-as-a-tack proofreading. And I am continually grateful to my peer reviewers, Susan Wilmoth and Katie Perry, who go through my work with a fine-toothed comb and make it sparkle. Thank you so much to Candace Allen, another thanks to Achaessa James, and thanks-a-billion to all the members of WIWA who have been so supportive of this new venture… Lastly, thank you to my dear husband, John – he proofs this thing more than anyone!
I’m always on the lookout for new stories and exciting happenings in the writing community! Keep me in the loop by writing to NewsletterEditor@writeonwhidbey.com.
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WIWC 2009 CONFERENCE NEWS
Let the planning begin! The buzz about next year’s conference has already begun. If you are interested or know someone who may be interested in joining our prestigious group of presenters, we want to hear from you. But hurry – the deadline is June 6 ! Click here for more information.
You can handle the truth! Conference Team Seeks a Few Good Members. Do you have the talent and drive to help carry out the 11th Annual Writers Conference? If you’re a wiz at public relations, marketing, graphics, InDesign, planning and scheduling, contact Micky Coleman to find out how you can become a part of our Writers Conference Team. Monthly team meetings are usually held the second Thursday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland. We look forward to working with you!
Bring us to your leadership skills. WIWA is currently on the lookout for a Conference Director. This is a contract position at the rate of $25 per hour. If you are interested, hurry – our application deadline is June 6. For more information on how you can become a part of our team, click here.
Do you organize your sock drawer? If yes, we want to hear from you! WIWA is seeking a part-time office manager to work out of our Freeland office. This is a contract position at the rate of $15 per hour. If you would be a perfect fit, then don’t delay – the deadline for application is June 6. For more information on how you can become a part of our team, click here.
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As many of you read in the April edition, Burning Word: The Festival of Poetic Fire was held at Greenbank Farm on April 29. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to attend and was exposed to brilliant work and many booths showcasing a variety of local organizations and small presses. It was then that I came across information regarding Hedgebrook, a rural retreat on Whidbey Island where women writers can go for support and inspiration. I had heard about them before, but always wanted to know more about this organization founded to assist women writers in achieving their dreams. The following article is about their program, which continues to provide opportunity to so many talented writers.
Twenty Years of Inspiration
By the Staff at Hedgebrook
In a perfect world, every woman writer would settle into her work surrounded by a lush environment, a supportive community, and the comforting aura of the many who came before her. Located on a 48-acre parcel of forest and meadow, Hedgebrook has offered this ultimate scenario for twenty years.
“Upon arrival, you will notice how beautiful Hedgebrook is, how welcoming the people are, how abundant the garden, immaculate and interesting the kitchen, peaceful the forest,” said poet Carolyn Forché of her visit in the fall of 2007. She went to Hedgebrook with a deadline looming, hoping to write 50 pages.
She wrote 130.
“You’ll sit down to write every morning, or every night, and a great realization will take hold: that everything around you—forest, footpaths, woodstoves, walls—have kept watch over the work of other women, have absorbed their energies and struggles and most of all, have absorbed what you are most feeling yourself by the end: gratitude.”
And there is a lot to be grateful for, mainly because Hedgebrook almost didn’t happen.
Two decades ago, when philanthropist Nancy Nordhoff bought the piece land that is now Hedgebrook, her intention was clear: she planned to garden and live on it.
However, Nancy soon realized that this place was not meant for her home, but for some other purpose. She asked her friend, writer Sheryl Feldman, what women writers need. “Space and time,” she replied. Nancy then knew that this was to be a retreat for women writers from all around the world.
Since 1988, Hedgebrook has hosted more than 1,000 women. These writers have penned books of poetry, novels, plays, essays, screenplays, song lyrics, graphic novels and works of non-fiction. And their lives have been changed by their experience on the land and in community with other writers.
“Hedgebrook gave me something which, as a professional writer, I'd been finding it increasingly difficult to hang on to: the space and the time not just to write, but to remember why I write,” said Sarah Waters, a Hedgebrook alumnae. “It put me in touch with my passion for words; it recharged my writerly batteries. Months on from my stay at Hedgebrook, I'm still feeling the benefit of the unique month I spent there.”
As Hedgebrook continues to thrive and expand, the aim is not just to preserve the retreat space on Whidbey Island, but also to continue developing an extensive alumnae network, connecting Hedgebrook writers with diverse audiences on the island, in Seattle and beyond. Current alumnae programs include the Women Authoring Change Reading Series, which hosts alumnae readings throughout the year in Seattle, Literary Landscapes which offers readings at the Hedgebrook retreat, and the Hedgebrook Writer’s Series featuring work by Hedgebrook poets and nonfiction writers in collaboration with independent Seattle publisher, Whit Press.
Community is the heart of Hedgebrook, and Forché stressed that none of her accomplishments during her retreat would be possible without the dedication of all those involved.
“…you also think about the people working quietly around you—the other women writers, the woodcutters and gardeners, the chefs, the people in the office, all are working from well before you arrived to well after you depart to make your writing possible, and because of this, it is possible.”
For more information about Hedgebrook, how you can apply, and for a calendar of upcoming events, visit www.hedgebrook.org. The next reading at the Hedgebrook retreat will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 28. The reading is free and open to the public.
To help women writers with your support, volunteer work, or donation, click here.
For more on Poet Carolyn Forché, click here.
To visit the official Sarah Waters Web site, click here.
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WIWA’s Master of Fine Arts program is preparing for its August residency (August 16-26), which will include a mix of old favorites and new presenters. We’ll hear returning speakers poet Marvin Bell, nonfiction author John Calderazzo, and children/young adult author Kirby Larson, one of our founding faculty and a Newbery Honors Award winner. In addition, poet and editor Kate Gale and agent Andrea Hurst will return to reveal the world of publishing poetry and prose. New presenters novelist Marc Acito and screenwriter Kathleen Rowell will explore humor writing and script writing, respectively. Other new additions include two panels: one on magical realism, with faculty members Kathleen Alcala, Bruce Holland Rogers and Wayne Ude; and another, “The Long and the Short of It,” in which best-selling fantasy novelist Terry Brooks and World Fantasy Award short-story writer Bruce Holland Rogers will discuss writing novels versus short and short-short stories. Evenings will include readings by several of the presenters and faculty.
Nonfiction author Lawrence Cheeks joins MFA faculty
Lawrence W. Cheek, author of fifteen books of nonfiction, has joined the MFA faculty starting with the August residency and fall semester. His latest book, The Year of the Boat, has just appeared from Sasquatch Books in Seattle. Previous books include A.D. 1250: Ancient Peoples of the Southwest, from Arizona Highways Press; and Frank Lloyd Wright in Arizona, from Rio Neuvo Press. Cheek is architecture critic for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and has also written for American Heritage, Sunset, Chicago Tribune, and Los Angeles Times and has served as a magazine editor as well. He will join Susan Zwinger on the MFA nonfiction faculty. During the residency and in the fall semester he’ll teach the nonfiction workshop while Zwinger teaches the Craft of Nonfiction.
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WIWA congratulates the winners of this year’s Students Celebrate Writing Contest! With categories in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, the range of talented young people was astonishing. To check out our list of winners, click here . We would like to thank the students, their parents, their teachers, and the Sno-Isle librarians (Winning submissions are also on display in a binder at each Sno-Isle Library) for their participation. For a chance to volunteer with next year’s contest, please contact the WIWA office at 360-331-6714.
Soundings Review , WIWA’s first literary magazine, is scheduled to debut September 2008! If you are not yet a subscriber, click here to find out how you can receive it. Soundings Review publishes poetry, fiction, prose, essays and interviews. We are dedicated to showcasing different styles and voices, so please check out our writers’ guidelines for an opportunity to submit your work. For consideration in our first issue, manuscripts must be received no later than July 1.
Don’t miss the Soundings Review First Publication Contest! If you’re a writer ready to break out, then this contest is for you. Designed for those who have never been published (click here for guidelines), the reading fee is only $5 for WIWA members and $7 for nonmembers, but the winner will receive publication and $100! All entries will be considered, but only if you get it to us by June 15. Click here for more details.
The Soundings Review Founders Circle Contest is open to all genres, prose and poetry. The reading fee is $5 for WIWA members and $7 for nonmembers. The winner will receive publication and $300, but the only way to get a chance to win is to enter by June 15, so hurry! For guidelines and additional information, click here.
The Soundings Review Reader’s Choice Award has no fees to enter and is selected by readers out of each publication. Winners will be announced in a following publication and will receive $100! Sound good? Then get your submission in before by July 1 to be considered for our first issue. For more details, click here.
Attention all WIWA members or fans of WIWA: This is a call for WIWA Board members! If you or someone you know would like to play an active role in the growth of WIWA, we want to hear from you! You don't have to be a writer; all you need is a desire to support writers and the Association. We're looking for a wide variety of talents and backgrounds, so let us know if you feel you could serve. To be considered, contact Susan Wilmoth at slw@whidbey.com.
Are you a WIWA member who enjoys being kept “in the loop”? If so, feel free to join us at our monthly board meetings! The meetings are usually held the third Wednesday of each month. For location and directions, call the WIWA office at 360-331-6714 or E-mail wiwa@whidbey.com.
WIWA Member Links. Are you a WIWA member with a writing-related Web site? For an opportunity to link your site to the WIWA resources page, click here. And be sure to check out our latest additions.
WIWA Member Publications List. WIWA is creating a list of our authors and their publications to be used in advertising and other related writing activities. If this list should include you, please send your list of publications to wiwa@whidbey.com.
WIWA is seeking writing teachers! If you have the qualifications and are interested in helping this community’s gifted writers, please forward a class description and bio to wiwa@whidbey.com. We are looking for a wide variety of classes and workshops.
Whidbey-poets@googlegroups.com is an online poetry critique group open to all members of WIWA. To subscribe, email a request to wiwa@whidbey.com. Each month features a suggested topic for writing, though subscribers are encouraged to circulate poems on any topic at any time.
WIWA-Sponsored Writing Groups. WIWA sponsors a wide variety of writing groups on the island and online. Check out details for your particular locale or genre at WIWA Writers Groups.
Haven’t found the writing group that fits? We encourage our members to form groups that meet their genre’s special needs. If you have an idea for a group and wish to make it a reality, go to new group proposal on the WIWA Web site. Remember, you don’t have to be a WIWA member to join a group, but you do have to become a member to remain in the group once you’ve joined!
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ON THE ISLAND
Congratulations to the Washington Poets Association for this year’s Burning Word: The Festival of Poetic Fire, held at Greenbank Farms on April 26. I had a chance to stop by, do some networking and hear some exceptional poetry. I also took the opportunity to sample some top-notch wine (and bring a few bottles home with me) as well as take in the beauty of the surrounding woodlands and ocean view. If you missed it this year, be sure and keep an eye out for next years festival and other events by checking out the Washington Poets Association Web site. Click here .
Check out the WIWA Web site for the most current listing of our classes and workshops !
The Writers Café Open House is here! WIWA invites writers of all genres to a monthly open house, held on the first Tuesday of every month from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Rockhoppers Coffeehouse and Folk Art Gallery in Clinton. Take this opportunity to mingle with peers, participate in an open-mic, and make use of our professional development program. To find out more, visit WIWA’s home page here . And if you're interested in giving a presentation regarding writers’ interests or wish to sell your book(s) at the open house, email donnahood@whidbey.com about Tell and Sell, a mini book fair that is a standard part of the monthly meeting. Not available on a first Tuesday? Not to worry. Writers are invited to meet, write, critique, and (of course) EAT at Rockhoppers on each and every Tuesday.
Hedgebrook presents From Author to Speaker: Public Speaking Made Easy for Writers (& everyone else!) Join experienced public speaking coaches Gail Larsen and Peggy Taylor as they train you to speak about your work with ease! Takes place June 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in Seattle. Workshop fee is $125. For more information about this valuable workshop, click here . And be sure to check out this edition’s feature article !
The Island Arts Council Poetry Slam will be held June 19 at the historic Dog House Backdoor Restaurant and Tavern . What’s the best part about this event (besides the great poetry)? Prizes for everyone! The fun starts at 7:30 p.m. Beginners and listeners are welcome and encouraged.
Molly Larson Cook’s Skylark Writing Studio is a great resource for writers of all levels who are looking to hone their skills and network with peers. Molly has over 25 years of experience writing and working with writers. For a list of her upcoming workshops, including Guided Critique, The Craft of Fiction and one that’s great for beginners, Dive In!, click here .
Hedgebrook's 2008 Women Authoring Change & Literary Landscapes Reading Series is an enlightening way for women to stay inspired, learn about the craft, and expose themselves to various talented authors. Subjects include Literary Landscapes: Families, Literary Landscapes: Working Lives & Stories, and Women Authoring Change: Of Memory & Childhood. For a complete list of events with dates and times, click here . And be sure to check out this edition’s feature article !
Orcas Island Writers Festival takes place September 4 - 7 at the breathtaking Moran State Park . Spend your days taking in beautiful scenery while you attend workshops, lectures, and readings. Faculty and presenters include Peggy Shumaker, Ellen Lesser, Diane Lefer, Matthew Goodman, Paul Owen Lewis, Karen Fisher and Sam Green. Need more details? Click here , email festivalgurus@orcasislandwritersfestival.com , call Francie Greth-Peto at 360-472-0254, or send snail-mail to Orcas Island Writers Festival at P.O. Box 1726, Eastsound, WA 98245.
The Novel Writer’s Workshop at the beautiful Saratoga Inn in Langley will be held November 6-9. NY Times Best-selling author and presenter at this years WIWA Writers Conference Bob Mayer hosts this intimate retreat designed to provide what all writer’s are looking for: individualized feedback. For registration guidelines and other information, or to inquire about Bob’s Advanced Writer’s Workshops, go to bobmayer.org.
Is it your dream to support writers by holding a workshop or other event but you just don’t have the cash to make it happen? Every year, Poets & Writers offers funding for those who give readings or conduct writing workshops. For more on how you may be able to benefit, click here.
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OFF THE ISLAND
Richard Hugo House offers a variety of writer’s events on an ongoing basis. For a complete list of upcoming happenings, go to hugohouse.org/events . This month includes:
How the End Begins: Sexuality, Power and Mortality
Join Elizabeth Austen and Kathleen Flenniken as they read new and recent poems.
Admission is free.
Cabaret
June 5, 7:30 p.m.
So Long, So Short: A Good-bye Reading
Join the Hugo House in bidding goodbye to Wendy Call after two years as writer-in-residence.
Admission is free.
Cabaret
June 12, 7:00 p.m.
Seattle Haiku Night
Members of the Haiku Society of America and Haiku Northwest will read haiku with music, followed by an open-mic.
Cabaret
June 27, 7:00 p.m.
The Pagdiriwang Festival: Filipina Women Writers will take place at the Seattle Center in the Centerhouse Theatre beginning at 1 p.m. on June 7 and continuing through June 8. Admisssion is free. Writers include Toni Bajado, Donna Miscolta, Nancy Calos-Nakano, Rebecca Mabalo-Mayor, Melissa Noledo, Marianne Villanueva, Angela Martinez Dy and Tess Uriza Holthe. For more information, e-mail to Bob.Flor@kingcounty.gov .
Richard Hugo House presents Write-o-Rama on June 17. The day features more than 30 workshops for anyone who wants to write. The event includes prizes, free food & drink, open-mics and a party finale. Write-O-Rama is a benefit for Richard Hugo House. To find out more, visit hugohouse.org/giving/writeorama, call 206-322-7030 or e-mail Development Director Chris Leasure at development@hugohouse.org.
Youth Speaks Seattle knows how to throw fundraiser! Located at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center , this front-lawn barbeque features hip hop artists, local bands and the spoken word. There will be an open-mic, plus a feature by the 2007 Seattle Youth Slam Team. Benefiting Youth Speaks Seattle programming, this party-style event takes place on June 22, from 3 p.m. until dark. For more information contact Program Director Angela Martinez at 206-661-2036.
Jumpstart your career! Join past WIWA conference presenter Sheila Bender at the Writing It Real In Port Townsend Writers Conference. This conference focuses on professional guidance in writing and publishing memoir, nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. Held at the Harborside Inn in Port Townsend , WA, June 26-30. For more details, click here .
Attend the Seattle Author-Editor Clinic and get that novel, memoir, or nonfiction manuscript in shape! This clinic has helped authors revise and polish their books-in-progress since 2004. For information on the fall clinic, check out www.authoreditorclinic.com, or contact Session Manager Kyra Freestar at kyra@bridgecreekediting.com or 206-300-2601. Application deadline is August 29.
Authorlink offers convenient online classes. 2008 WIWA Conference presenter Doris Booth is the Editor-in-Chief of Authorlink.com, a resource for online writing workshops taught by top New York editors and award-winning authors. For a current list of classes, click here.
The California Writers Club South Bay branch is holding its fourth East of Eden Writers Conference in Salinas, California on September 5, 6, and 7. Attend workshops and take advantage of opportunities to pitch your work to agents and publishers in an environment beautiful enough to inspire Steinbeck himself. Click here for more information, including the Basil Stevens Memorial Writing Contest.
This year’s Nature Poetry Workshop at the Padilla Bay Reserve in Skagit County, Washington will be held September 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The workshop will feature Washington poet and teacher, Joseph Green, whose poems have appeared in literary magazines across the United States and beyond. Entry fee is $20. For more information contact Alex at 360-428-1070 or alex@padillabay.gov.
If you are you an ambitious poet looking for some happenings, check out The Academy of American Poets’ events calendar at Poets.Org. Click here to view.
Is it your dream to support writers by holding a workshop or other event, but you just don’t have the cash to make it happen? Every year, Poets & Writers offers funding for those who give readings or conduct writing workshops. For more on how you may be able to benefit, click here.
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RECENT RELEASES
Alan Rinzler, sought-after Editor and past WIWA Writers Conference presenter, has launched a new blog called The Book Deal. This valuable resource offers an insider’s take on the publishing industry, keeping readers savvy to the many changes of the business today.
To read, comment, and learn with The Book Deal, go to www.alanrinzler.com.
Are you a WIWA member or past WIWA conference presenter with a new release or publishing contract? Let us know at NewsletterEditor@writeonwhidbey.com. We want to celebrate your success!
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CHEERS!
The Washington Poets Association has made Charles Potts of Walla Walla the winner of the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award. In WPA President Paul Nelson’s words:
“A published poet for nearly fifty years, the work of Charles Potts is unparalleled in Washington for its savage and prophetic political bite. There is no other poet writing in this state with that kind of edge, yet his family history as depicted in books such as Lost River Mountain show a deep sense of place, as well as a dedication to healing the bloodline, a noble pursuit handled with grace and powerful emotion. Charles earned this award years ago and we are delighted to present it to him now.”
This year’s winner of The Washington Poets Society Faith Beamer Cooke Award is Victory Lee Schouten, in recognition of her contribution in helping to conceive the annual Burning Word Festival and in facilitating it as a volunteer for its first four years. Click here to read more.
Congratulations to author and 2008 Writers Conference presenter, Garth Stein, for the success of The Art of Racing in the Rain. His latest novel, told through the eyes of an insightful and extraordinary dog, has been selected as the Starbucks Pick for Summer 2008 and will be offered at more than 7,000 Starbucks locations across the country. The Art of Racing in the Rain is also the #1 Book Sense Pick for June. To read more, go to booksense.com or click here. And check out Garth’s upcoming appearances by clicking here.
A big hurray for Julian Taber, whose sonnet Our Fool was published in The New Verse News this past April. Click here to view.
On Sunday, May 25, Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian, debuted on the New York Times bestseller list. WIWA would like to extend our congratulations to Chris, who was gracious enough to be a presenter at the 2006 Writers Conference!
Are you a WIWA member who has placed in a competition or has your submission been accepted for publication? Let us know at NewsletterEditor@writeonwhidbey.com. We want to celebrate your success!
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CONTESTS AND MARKET REQUESTS
Don’t miss the Soundings Review First Publication Contest! If you’re a writer ready to break out, then this contest is for you. Designed for those who have never been published (click here for guidelines), the reading fee is only $5 for WIWA members and $7 for nonmembers, but the winner will receive publication and $100! All entries will be considered, but only if you get it to us by June 15. Click here for more details.
The Soundings Review Founders Circle Contest is open to all genres, prose and poetry. The reading fee is $5 for WIWA members and $7 for nonmembers. The winner will receive publication and $300, but the only way to get a chance to win is to enter by June 15, so hurry! For guidelines and additional information, click here.
Ruminate Magazine is currently seeking short stories, poetry, creative nonfiction and visual art for their fifth issue themed "flux." The deadline for submission is June 15. For more information, go to ruminatemagazine.com.
Raving Dove, an online literary journal that focuses on themes of peace and human rights, is currently accepting submissions for their 2008 edition to be posted online June 21. For more information, go to ravingdove.org or click here.
Lunch Hour Stories, run by graduate of the WIWA MFA program Nina Bayer, is holding its Annual Short Story Contest. Any theme or genre is welcome, as long as the narrative is 4000-8000 words and appropriate for a general audience. At least three winners will be selected for publication during their 2009 literary season. Entry deadline is June 30. For more information, click here.
The 2008 Omnidawn Poetry Prize is Omnidawn Publishing’s first annual contest for a first or second full-length collection of poems by a poet writing in English. Submissions accepted until June 30. Go to www.omnidawn.com/contest.htm for details.
The quarterly magazine Teachers & Writers sponsors the annual Bechtel Prize to honor an exemplary article about writing or teaching. The winning author will receive publication and a $2,500 honorarium. Deadline is June 30. For more information, click here.
The University of Pittsburgh Press’ Drue Heinz Literature Prize Competition champions writers of short fiction and exposes their work to readers around the world. The winner will receive a cash award of $15,000 and publication in the press. Think you’ve got a shot? Click here for more information. Deadline is June 30.
The Antigonish Review, a quarterly literary journal published by St. Francis Xavier University, is currently accepting poetry for its 8th Annual Great Blue Heron Poetry Contest with $2,400 in prizes. Entry fee is $25. Deadline is June 30. For full details, click here.
Soundings Review, WIWA’s first literary magazine, publishes poetry, fiction, prose, essays and interviews. We are dedicated to showcasing different styles and voices, so please check out our writers’ guidelines for an opportunity to submit your work. For consideration in our first issue, manuscripts must be received no later than July 1.
The Soundings Review Readers’ Choice Award has no fees to enter and is selected by readers out of each publication. Winners will be announced in a following publication and will receive $100! Sound good? Then get your submission in before by July 1 to be considered for our first issue. For more details, click here.
The Cup of Comfort series will pay for essays on adoptive families, fathers, parents of children with special needs, dog lovers, and grief. Deadlines vary. For more information, click here.
Blue Mountain Center, a writer and artist colony in Blue Mountain Lake, New York, is holding its annual Richard J. Margolis Award Contest, which grants $5,000 to a new journalist or essayist whose work combines wisdom and humor with concern for social justice. The award also includes a one-month residency at the Center. Deadline is July 1. Click here for more information.
The Tony Hillerman Writers Conference and Wordharvest are co-sponsoring two contests, one for mystery short stories (deadline is September 15) and one for mystery novels (deadline is July 1). Both contests include cash awards and publication. For more information, click here.
Exhibition, a journal of visual and literary arts published by the Bainbridge Arts and Humanities Council is currently accepting submissions for the fall issue of Exhibition on “The Senses”. They invite literary and visual art that relates to sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. The deadline is July 31. For more information, click here.
George McWhirter, Vancouver's first Poet Laureate, is looking for poetry submissions for an anthology regarding the features that give Vancouver its identity. For more information on guidelines and pay, click here. Deadline is July 31.
Rattle, a journal that loves accessible poetry, is holding its annual Poetry Prize contest, offering $5,000 for a single poem, plus ten honorable mentions of $100 each. All eleven winning poems are published in the winter issue and additional poems are frequently offered publication as well. Deadline is August 1. Click here for more information.
Gival Press grants a Short Story Award annually with a prize of $1,000 and publication on the press's Web site as well as their anthology of short fiction. Submit 5,000 to 15,000 words with a $25 entry fee by August 8. Click here for more details.
The Writer Magazine 2008 Short-Story Contest welcomes mystery stories. All winning pieces will be posted on Writermag.com. Deadline for entry is September 30. There is an entry fee of $10. Click here for guidelines and additional information.
Brand is published bi-yearly and is currently accepting submissions of high quality, risk-taking short stories, plays, poems and creative non-fiction. Deadline for the winter issue is September 31. Click here for more details.
Dzanc Books is accepting submissions for the 2008 Dzanc Prize, which provides monetary aid in the sum of $5,000 to a writer of literary fiction. Participants must have a work-in-progress they can submit for review. Deadline is November 1. For more information, click here.
Editor and author Carol Smallwood is seeking submissions from U.S. Women Writers for three Proposed Books. For more information and guidelines click here, and scroll to the bottom of the page.
The Bellevue Literary Review is currently accepting submissions of high-caliber, unpublished work regarding their theme of health, healing, illness, the mind, and the body. They read year-round, but make most editorial decisions in October and May. Click here for more information.
LaChance Publishing and its "Voices of" anthology series seek personal essays on a variety of topics, including childhood cancer, depression and individuals affected by the war in Iraq. Deadlines vary. Visit lachancepublishing.com/guidelines.html for guidelines and additional information. Pay is up to $200.
Check out Glimmer Train’s submission calendar at glimmertrain.com/writguid1.html.
Stay updated on Poets & Writers deadlines for grants, awards and submissions at pw.org/mag/grantsawards.htm.
Absey & Co. accepts mainstream fiction, nonfiction, poetry and educational books (especially those dealing in language arts). For submission guidelines, click here.
Carnifex Press is proud to announce the formation of their new imprint, which focuses exclusively on Young Adult Fantasy and Horror novellas. For details and guidelines go to carnifexpress.net/guidelines.htm.
Coffee House Press publishes emerging and mid-career authors. They are looking for literary novels, full-length short story collections and essays. Details at coffeehousepress.org/resources.asp.
ColumbiaKids is the Washington State Historical Society’s new online children's magazine set to launch in August 2008. Written for kids up to age 12, ColumbiaKids will feature amazing people, places, and objects from the Pacific Northwest's history. Writers and illustrators interested in receiving submission guidelines should email columbiakids@wshs.wa.gov.
Dreamriver Press is a freshly launched publishing house that prints books contributing to the positive change taking place on the planet. They are interested in works on topics of spirituality/mind-body-spirit and the environment. For more information, go to dreamriverpress.com.
Leaf Press – Monday's Poem selects four poems each month for publication. For more details go to leafpress.ca/guidelines.htm.
Main Channel Voices: A Dam Fine Literary Magazine seeks eclectic, accessible poetry. Rolling submission periods. Find details at mainchannelvoices.com.
The Malahat Review is aggressively seeking creative nonfiction for publication in their Summer 2008 and future issues. Click here for more information. And if you are a writer of poetry or short fiction, click here for information regarding additional opportunities.
Mid-List Press is a nonprofit literary press dedicated to the survival of the mid-list, those quality titles that are being neglected by the larger commercial houses. Their focus is on new and emerging writers. Details and guidelines can be found here.
Narrative Magazine welcomes submissions of previously unpublished manuscripts of all lengths, from short stories to complete book-length works. They regularly publish fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. More details and submission guidelines at narrativemagazine.com/shared/submit.php.
No Record Press is a new press specializing in literary and experimental fiction and poetry titles. They also publish The Red Anthology and Poetry Flyer. Someone on their staff reportedly said, "We accept only previously unpublished writers who have neither obtained, nor are in the process of obtaining, an MFA in fiction." More details at no-record.com.
The online journal O'Brien's Literary Speculator is accepting submissions of prose, fiction or creative nonfiction, poetry, essays, and interviews. Pays is $25 for prose, $10 for flash fiction and $10 for poetry. Find more information by clicking here.
Red Morning Press accepts unsolicited poetry manuscripts year-round. They are interested in the work of published and unpublished poets. For more information, click here.
River City Publishing publishes books of national appeal, with an emphasis on Southern writers and Southern stories. Details at rivercitypublishing.com/contact/submissions.html.
SNReview is looking for short stories of less than 7000 words, creative nonfiction of less than 7000 words, and poetry. Details and submission guidelines at snreview.org.
The Sylvan Echo online literary journal is accepting electronic submissions of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, editorial works, book reviews and artwork. Check out submission guidelines at sylvanecho.net.
Unbridled Books is dedicated to publishing high-quality works that are moving, beautiful, and surprising. Details and guidelines at unbridledbooks.com.
The Wellesley Centers for Women Women’s Review of Books is looking for writers to be considered for reviewing assignments. Click this link for more information and guidelines.
The Whidbey Student Choice Award for Short Forms is open to writers of all genres, locations, and levels of professional attainment. Check out this newsletter’s Whidbey Writers Workshop News or go to whidbeystudents.com/WSContest for more information. And for editing suggestions, click here.
Wolf Pirate Publishing specializes in genre fiction: Contemporary Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Paranormal, Suspense, and Thriller. Details and submission guidelines can be found at wolf-pirate.com.
World Hum publishes high quality travel writing, including first-person narratives, opinions about travel-related subjects, book reviews and more. For more information, including pay, click here.
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WIWA WEB SITE NEWS AND MEMBER SERVICES
Keep Up With Your Favorite WIWC Presenters!
The WIWA Web site, writeonwhidbey.org, links to the Web sites of past conference presenters as a convenient way to find out where they’re reading and what they’re publishing. To view our list of past presenters with links to their Web sites, click here.
If you’re a past WIWC presenter and your link doesn’t appear on our page, please let us know so we can make it happen. Our only request is that you provide a reciprocal link to WIWA and/or the conference Web site at: writeonwhidbey.com.
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WIWA'S WISH LIST
WIWA is on the look-out for individuals or groups interested in donating any of the following items:
The Chicago Manual of Style, University of Chicago Press to be ordered through Amazon.com and shipped to us at WIWA, P. O. Box 1280, Langley, WA 98260
Phone cards
Copy paper
New books on writing to be used as prizes in the annual youth writing contest
Your generous contribution assists WIWA in our constant effort to offer outstanding programs to local writers and readers like you. If you are interested in making a donation, please contact us at 360-331-6714 or wiwa@whidbey.com. WIWA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and donations may be tax deductible.
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WIWA SEEKS
2009 Conference Team Members
Do you have the talent and drive to help carry out the 11th annual Writers' Conference? If you’re a wiz at public relations, marketing, graphics, InDesign, planning and scheduling, contact Micky Coleman to find out how you can become a part of our Writers Conference Team. Monthly team meetings are usually held the second Thursday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland.
Writers Conference Director
WIWA is currently on the lookout for a Conference Director. This is a contract position at the rate of $25 per hour. If you are interested, hurry – our application deadline is June 6, 2008. For more information on how you can become a part of our team, click here.
Part-time Office Manager
WIWA is seeking a part-time office manager to work out of our Freeland office. This is a contract position at the rate of $15 per hour. If you would be a perfect fit, then don’t delay – the deadline for application is June 6, 2008. For more information on how you can become a part of our team, click here.
WIWA is seeking writing teachers! If you have the qualifications and are interested in helping this community’s gifted writers, please forward a class description and bio to wiwa@whidbey.com. We are looking for a wide variety weekly classes and workshops.
Members at Meetings
Are you a WIWA member who enjoys being kept “in the loop”? If so, feel free to join us at our monthly board meetings! The meetings are usually held the second Wednesday of each month. For location and directions, call the WIWA office at 360-331-6714 or E-mail wiwa@whidbey.com.
Looking to volunteer for an exciting publishing opportunity? Expose your writing to approximately 2,000 writers, agents and publishers by becoming an event-specific or beat reporter for the WIWA Newsletter. WIWA does not pay for articles published in the newsletter, but two of our contributing reporters have already been contacted by outside publishers as a result of their WIWA articles.
Reporters will work with the newsletter editor to report on current events. For publication details and other information, please contact the Newsletter Editor at NewsletterEditor@writeonwhidbey.com.
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QUOTATIONS
If you’re searching for meaning in your writing, consider the following quote:
The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life. -William Faulkner
Feel free to send your favorite quotes about writing to NewsletterEditor@writeonwhidbey.com.
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CYBERSURFING
Bored? I’ve got a link that will keep you clicking until next year’s Writers Conference! Check out Writers Digest’s 101 Best Sites for Writers by clicking here.
Are you sad because your favorite book has been out of print since 1962? Do not despair! Check out this article regarding a new imprint from Faber and Faber designed to make available a large number of out-of-print titles. Click here to find out more.
If you know of a Web site you think other writers would find useful, let us know at NewsletterEditor@writeonwhidbey.com
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Need a break from all the seriousness? This one had me ROFL. Click here.
Don’t forget to send any writing-related funny you find on the Web. Even serious writers need a laugh sometimes! Send them to NewsletterEditor@writeonwhidbey.com.
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WRITERS ASK / WRITERS RESPOND
Do you have a question on writing or publishing that could use additional input? Do you have writing or publishing resources, information or experience that you’d like to share with our readers?
Questions and responses can be sent to NewsletterEditor@writeonwhidbey.com and may be published in upcoming editions of the newsletter for the benefit of all readers.
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PASSAGES
If you would like to honor a passed love one who was a valuable member of our local writing community, please e-mail me at NewsletterEditor@writeonwhidbey.com.
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TO CONTACT US OR SUBMIT AN ARTICLE
Attention Readers: We Want to Hear from You!
Have you been to a recent book fair, heard a favorite author speak, or gained valuable tips from a writing class? Are you a professional willing to share your expertise?
Perhaps you have discovered interesting markets, contests and cyber sites that others should know about. Or maybe you have an inspirational quote to share (we all need a little up-lifting sometimes).
The WIWA Newsletter is on constant lookout for all types of writing-related information, so send us your articles, news of your recent publications, contest wins, or anything you think our readers would want to hear and we will consider it for publication.
To submit content or contact the WIWA Newsletter, e-mail NewsletterEditor@writeonwhidbey.com.
For information about the Writers Conference, e-mail writers@whidbey.com.
Check out the WIWA Web site at writeonwhidbey.com.
Remaining 2008 Newsletter Submission Dates:
July 15 for August 1 edition
September 15 for October 1 edition
November 15 for December 1 edition
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TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE
The WIWA Newsletter is published approximately every two months and is available on our Web site at writeonwhidbey.com/Publications. If you wish to receive an email announcing when each new edition of the newsletter is posted, please send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE WIWA in the subject line to wiwa@whidbey.com. If you wish to unsubscribe please reply to the announcing e-mail with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line to be deleted from our records. WIWA does not share or sell your name or e-mail address.