On May 8, Good Karma Tuesday will benefit The Northern Arizona Book Festival. Ten percent of Karma Sushi Bar Grill’s proceeds that day will provide financial support for bringing national and regional authors to Flagstaff to do public readings, and presentations in schools, to promote literature, reading and writing.

Since 1998, the Northern Arizona Book Festival has been bringing top-notch authors from around the country for readings, panel discussions, poetry contest, a book fair and demonstrations. This year's festival will take place on May 19 at the Coconino Center for the Arts in Flagstaff. For more information, visit nazbookfest.org.

Karma Sushi Bar Grill serves sushi, grilled items and cocktails in a hip, casual setting, and is located at 6 East Route 66 in downtown Flagstaff. The restaurant is open that day for lunch, happy hour and dinner from 11 am to 9 pm. For more information about the restaurant, visit karmaflagstaff.com or call 928-774-6100.

See you there!

Florida Romance Writer's April online Workshop

March 2012

Nancy J. Cohen

Nancy J. Cohen invites you to join her at the following events:

Saturday, March 17, 2012
10:00 – 12:00 noon
“World Building: Creating A Sizzling Setting” with Nancy J. Cohen
Florida Authors
Academy
Murder on the Beach Mystery Bookstoree
273 NE 2nd Avenue
Delray Beach, FL  33444
561-279-7790

www.murderonthebeach.com
Fee for class; advance reservations required.

Thursday, March 22, 2012
11:00 am
Guest speaker Nancy J. Cohen
Bonita Springs Friends of the Library Luncheon
Pelican’s Nest Golf Club
4450 Pelican’s Nest Drive
Bonita Springs, FL
Advanced reservations required.

Buy tickets at target="_blank">http://www.bonitaspringsfriends.org/events.htm style="mso-spacerun:yes">  

Saturday, March 24,2012
“Writing the Mystery” with Nancy J. Cohen
Southwest Florida Romance
Writers

Miromar Design
Center
3^rd Floor
10800 Corkscrew Road
Estero, FL.

Contact Joyce at
Secretary@swfrw.org for 11:30 lunch reservation at the
Bistro.

Meeting begins at 1:00pm.

Saturday, March 31, 2012
2:00pm to 2:45 pm
“Killing People in Exotic Places” in Cypress A with Nancy J. Cohen, Bob
Morris, and Neil Plakcy
Booksigning to follow.

UCF Book Festival
University of Central Florida Arena
Orlando, FL.

Read More...

If you happen to be in the neighborhood of Nagoya, Japan at the end of
November, you might enjoy spending two days on the campus of Nanzan
University attending the 2nd annual Japan Writers Conference.

Details are available at the JWC website:
japanwritersconference.org

If you feel like making a special trip to Japan for the conference,
you'll be pleased to know that Nagoya has one of the newest airports
in Japan and is well thought-out for ground transportation too.
Getting to and from the conference site, hotels, downtown, etc should
not be a big problem at all.

The 7th Annual Urban Mediamakers Film Festival (UMFF) 2008 -- "The
Movement in Progress through Independent Filmmaking" -- takes place
October 17-19, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Select - Atlanta Peachtree
Corners in Georgia. UMFF 2008 gives a voice to positive, thought-
provoking, conscious media spotlighting people of color -- a
movement that needs sparks of energy everyday! We're presenting a
diverse group of work from filmmakers that make movies with a
mission. This is our 7th year -- a huge milestone for an independent
film festival, and we are thankful!

This three-day, dynamic festival includes:

-- UMFF 2008 Opening Night Reception and Feature Film Screening --
Friday, October 17, 2008.

-- FREE All-Day Saturday Independent Film Screenings -- October 18,
2008. See all of the films screening during UMFF 2008 for FREE!
There will be three screening rooms -- G-Rated for a general
audience, PG13-Rated, and R-Rated for films. UMFF 2008 has something
for everyone!

-- Workshops, Panels, Visual Art Displays, networking, and more.
This year's workshops include: (1) Writing A Winning Film Treatment
Workshop, (2) UMFF Intensive Actors Workshop, (3) A Producers
Workshop: Independent Film/Television Financing, Production and
Distribution, and (4) Documentaries: The Movement in Progress through
Independent Filmmaking.

-- Urban Mediamakers Awards Presentation announcing and honoring
UMFF 2008 winning filmmakers and writers, a tribute to Bernie Mac as
UMFF Entertainer of the Year. Winning films will be featured at one
of the Galaxy Fun Plex Theaters in metro Atlanta for one week after
the festival starting Sunday, October 19, 2008. The night also
includes the "Water Runs Deep" Concert hosted by poet Kemi Bennings
and featuring local neo-soul, R&B and spoken word artists
accompanied by a live band. Concert proceeds to help build a fresh
water facility in an African village.

-- Sunday Morning Breakfast to focus on our strategy for 2009.

Deadline for film submissions is September 1, 2008. Get your films,
documentaries and scripts in today!
Visit www.umff.com for the details and to register. Rooms are going
fast! Mention Urban Mediamakers Film Festival to receive the $72 per
night rooms at the Holiday Inn Select.

For more information, call 404.460.2793.

Of all the spectacular literary talent and events scheduled for Wordstock this weekend, this is the ONE you don't want to miss. It's at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 8th, in the atrium at the Wieden+Kennedy building, located at 224 NW 13th. It features four gifted writers -- Alexandra Fuller, Janet Fitch, Carole Radziwill, and Karen Karbo. Two have been on Oprah, one married a Kennedy and was an embedded reporter in Afghanistan, and another had one of her books made into a movie starring Renee Zellweger and Michelle Pfeiffer. What they all have in common, other than an extreme ability to write, is that they're funny, fiery and furious about what's going on in our country. It's going to be raucous. So come and hear them...you might just win a trip for two to Hawaii or Bayonne or anywhere else in America that you might want to go luxuriate. There'll be tickets at the door, but you might not want to chance getting left out in the forecasted drizzle. Plus, there's going to be wine. We were going to include that in the event title but decided it was just too much alliteration for such a literate crowd.

Buy tickets to Women & Words now!

East Central University
Ada, Oklahoma
Presents the 3rd Annual
Scissortail Creative Writing Festival
April 3-5, 2008

Featuring:

Diane Glancy, Phil Heldrich, Dayna Dunbar,Rilla Askew, Tim Tingle, Carol Hamilton, et al.

Call for Submissions:

• The Scissortail Festival celebrates published, established and emerging authors reading
  from their creative works.

• Submissions in poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction are welcome. All subjects and
  styles are welcome; please plan for approximately 17- 20 minutes reading time.

• Email submissions encouraged. Submit a brief cover letter with contact information
  and a brief career narrative along with title/s and sample/s of work to be considered.

• Festival participants will not be charged registration fees.
• Deadline for submission: January 15, 2008 (early submissions and confirmations
  strongly encouraged). Notification by February 15.

• Send email submissions to : khada@ecok.edu. Identify “Scissortail Submission” in the subject line.

  You may also mail submissions to: Dr. Hada, Dept. of English &
  Languages, East Central University, 1100 E. 14th St. Ada, OK 74820
  Sponsors: ECU Foundation, Oklahoma Arts Council, Vision Bank, Darryl Fisher,
  ECU Cultural Activities and ECU Department of English and Languages
  

• Estab by Drs. Bill and Camille Cosby
• DeadlineEntry Fee
• From July 15 to September 15, 2006
• Award: Up to fifteen participants will be chosen.

Other Awards/Prizes:

Workshop Specifics

• Up to fifteen participants will be chosen.
• The program meets two evenings a week starting in February and continuing for fifteen weeks.
• One evening focuses on lectures and discussions about African-American history and culture.
• The second evening is devoted to writing instruction and discussion of works in progress.
• Attendance is mandatory in both sections.
• Specific days and times will be announced after participants have been selected.
• a stipend is not available, workshop participation and books will be provided free of charge.
• All participants must reside in the Los Angeles area while attending the workshop.
• To assist writers in the completion of a film or television script, and to deepen the participants' appreciation for and comprehension of African American history and culture.

Notification Date: December 2006

Eligibility:

• You are not currently enrolled in a film/TV degree program at a university, college or community college.
• You have not been previously hired as a professional television or film writer.
• You are not a member of the WGA.
• You are 18 years of age or older.
• This workshop is not suitable for novice writers. They are primarily seeking intermediate and advanced level writers, who have taken formal classes on writing television and or feature scripts.

Rules:
Must be postmarked between July 15th to September 15th of the current year.
Applications must be received by mail. Walk-in applications will not be accepted.
Admission decisions will be sent to all applicants in December. Notification dates are subject to change.
Required

Two Completed and signed applications.
Two copies of your Statement of interest (A 200 word statement expressing your interest in the program and what you want to contribute to the entertainment industry and why).
Two copies of a completed script The script should be either a feature film, sitcom, or one hour drama. If you are submitting a television script DO NOT submit an original television show, you will be disqualified!
Two copies of a treatment or outline for a new unscripted feature or television spec script for a show that is currently on the air, that you would like to write while in the program (maximum of four double spaced pages).
Two copies of your resume.
Two copies of the coursework you have taken in studying writing (include where and when the course was taken and the length of the class)
Please read the FAQ section to clear up any questions you may have.

Register your script with the
Writers Guild of America, 323-951-4000, or
The US Copyright Office, 202-707-9100

Returns & Acknowledgments

Scripts will not be returned. Include a self-addressed, stamped postcard if you would like acknowledgment of the receipt of your application packet.
Special Note on Submissions

Your script and treatment must be for the same division that you would like to work on in the program. If you want to be considered for the feature division, submit a feature script and a treatment for a new script that you would like to work on in the program.
You cannot submit for both divisions.
Scripts should be in standard screenplay or teleplay format and attached with two metal brads.
Suggested length for scripts: feature film 110 pages, sitcom 45 pages, or one-hour drama 60 pages.
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

A Complete Application Packet should be mailed to address below.

Web Address: www.cosbyprogram.com
Contact & E-mail: USC School of Cinema - Television
Contact Title:
Organization: Guy A. Hanks & Marvin Miller Screenwriting Program
USC School of Cinema - Television
850 West 34th Street GT132
Los Angeles, CA, 90089-2211
United States
Phone: 213.740.8194

Application here:

Los Angeles, CA - Starting its fourteenth year, The Guy A. Hanks & Marvin Miller Screenwriting Program will be accepting applications from July 15 to September 15, 2007. This program was established by Drs. Bill and Camille Cosby at the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television. Unaffiliated with USC, the Hanks-Miller Program is geared toward increasing the pool of qualified African-American writers in the entertainment industry. The Program has single-handedly brought more successful African-American writers into the entertainment industry than any other program of its type.

This program meets twice a week for 15 weeks beginning February 2008. It is designed to assist writers in completing a television or feature script, while giving them the opportunity to examine African-American history, culture and iconography. Participation is free to those selected.

Our program is not designed for beginning level writers. We are seeking writers who have taken the initiative to formally study television or feature writing through workshops or classes; a degree is not necessary. In an industry that is extremely competitive, we have found our greatest success in assisting those who have a strong foundation in television or screen writing.

Although obtaining employment is not the primary goal of the program, alumni have used scripts developed in the program to further their careers. Our alumni have excelled in the entertainment industry as television and feature writers, producers and directors. We have had alumni who have created network television shows and who have written on top ten shows. This current season we have writers on: "Private Practice," "Lincoln Heights," "Saving Grace," "Cavemen," "Dirty Sexy Money," "Just Jordan" and "House of Payne." This year our Feature Writers have received honors through "Tribeca All Access," "Hollywood Black Film Festival," "Screenplay Festival 2006," and "Fade In Magazine." Their works have also been recognized by organizations including the NAACP, while the Program itself has been recognized by the California Governor's office, a state Senator and the Los Angeles Mayor's office.

As we continue to make a strong and positive mark in the entertainment industry, our alumni have become a primary source of recruitment for the ABC/Disney, CBS, NBC, FOX and the Nickelodeon Writing Fellowships; as well as the Warner Brothers Comedy and Drama Writing Program. Our alumni are also sought after by top literary agencies seeking new and talented writers.

For more information or to obtain an application visit at CosbyProgram .

The Pima Writers' Workshop, May 25-27 2007 is for all writers beginning or experienced.

The workshop offers opportunities to talk and consult with professional writers, editors and agents, as well as to write.

Where: Pima Community College
West Campus
2202 West Anklam Road
[ map | driving directions ]
When: May 25 - 27
Cost: Varies; see details below
Schedule: View a detailed workshop schedule [PDF file]
Contact: For more information, contact Meg Files,
Pima Writers' Workshop Director, (520) 206- 6084.
Email: mfiles@pima.edu

Cost, Credit and Registration:
Non-credit / Personal Interest Option: Send the $75 fee and registration form by May 8 (to have a manuscript reviewed) or by May 23.

Credit Option: To receive College credit, send the $10 workshop fee and registration form by May 8 (to have a manuscript reviewed) or by May 23;
and, sign up for Writing 285 (2 credits, Summer Session A, Section Code 30016) at Pima Community College.

Call 206-4880 to register by phone. Pay tuition and fees (Arizona residents: $92 tuition plus $15 fees; Out-of-state: $156 tuition plus $15 fees). Fee Payments: Send fees to:

(Attention: Cashier's Office.)
Pima Community College
West Campus
2202 Anklam Rd
Tucson, AZ 85709-0200

Manuscript Consultation
There is no extra fee for a manuscript consultation. To meet with an author or an agent for a manuscript conference:

Register for the entire conference
Submit one manuscript to Meg Files. It must be received by May 8. Manuscripts must by typed, double-spaced and no longer than 20 pages. For poetry, submit one to three poems. book excerpts, include a synopsis.

Requests for a particular author or agent will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis. (All except Nancy Mairs will be reading manuscripts.)

brochure.pdf

WRITING FIGHT AND ACTION SCENES With Jonathan Maberry

THE WRITERS CORNER USA

4 West Oakland Avenue, Doylestown PA 18901

Well-written fights and chase and action scenes can turn a book into a
red-hot page-turner…but they have to be done right. Join author and
martial arts expert Jonathan Maberry (author of 20 books and an 8th
degree black belt jujutsu master) for a non-holds barred workshop on how
to write believable and riveting fight and action scenes. In this 4-hour
program you'll get insights into different types of fighters; methods of
fighting; what is (and is not) possible in a fight; info on how to
create a fight scene based on the specific characters in that scene; how
to construct a realistic shoot-out; some tips on fighting and the law;
and much more.

Jonathan Maberry is a former entertainment industry bodyguard and the
author of hundreds of articles on martial arts and self-defense, and was
recently inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame. The workshop is
going to be fast-faced, fun, and packed with the kind of info that will
make your writing explode with action!

Sunday March 11, Noon to 4pm / FEE: $40.00

TO REGISTER:

Step 1: You must reserve your spot. Call 215-808-0945 or email:
info@jonathanmaberr y.com

Step 2: Make a payment: Checks (payable to Career Doctor
for Writers)

Send to PO Box 84,
Southampton PA 18966

Credit card (through
www.paypal.com )

Account ID is
info@careerdoctorfo rwriters. com

PAY AT THE DOOR (okay,
if you register or call first)

Laptops Welcome (we're WIFI capable)

Refreshments provided

*Note--there is still time to register for the No More Beans course, but the cutoff will be March 5th.

Hi, folks! I have two new courses starting, that I hope you'll sign up for. They are listed below :) And a new free course starting in March!

Lori

LATEST COURSE

NOVEL WORKSHOP

From the basics of novel writing to the specifics of how to make your own novel more marketable, you'll want to join Lori Soard for this 8-lesson course that concludes with an in-depth critique of your novel proposal, synopsis, and cover letter.

In Part I, we'll talk about :
Pre-lesson (grammar and format basics)
Creating and Structuring a Story Line
Plotting
Point of View and Powerful Writing
In Part II, we'll get more in depth with:
Finishing the Darn Thing!
Synopsis
Queries
Markets
Finally, we'll wrap things up by you sending me your first two chapters, synopsis and cover letter. I will provide detailed feedback and line edits. Microsoft Word is preferred for this as I can do track changes, but we can work around this issue if you do not have MS Word.

The Novel Workshop is 50.00 and space is limited as I will be doing in depth critiques. You can sign up by clicking here:

Paypal here

*Note: The class will start as soon as space is filled or within 2 weeks, whichever comes first.

********
Free Artist's Way Course

We will be doing the Freeing Your Creativity Workshop on my free course loop starting the first full week of March. There is no fee for this course. To sign up, go to: www.yahoogroups.com/group/Free_Course or send an email to: Free_Course-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

*******
NO MORE BEANS FOR DINNER! Are you tired of being a starving writer? I was too. Although there are still times when my husband and I struggle with money, we are slowly climbing out of debt. We were really tired of playing the money juggling game. You know the one. Where you bring in $700, pay out $700 and there are still bills left to pay. So, you feed your family what is left in the pantry, which is usually a big pot of beans or what we like to call "Hobo Stew". You know, the stew that is made from throwing all the leftovers into a big container in the freezer until you are desperate enough to use it by throwing it all together, seasoning with beef base and cooking in the crock pot. Actually, it tastes pretty good but after three days of eating of it, everyone is sick of the stew.

I was tired of this myself and came up with a game plan that allows my family to eat tasty foods and allows me to bring in my keep as a writer. This course is designed to help you come up with strategies to manage money better as well as strategies to bring more money in with your writing. If you are sick of your 9 to 5 and want to start working toward a career as a full-time writer, I think this course will help you. When I am able to put in just 10 hours a week on my writing, I consistently make around $35K a year. I do this with a mix of fiction and nonfiction, never sacrificing the stories of my heart. I'm going to share some of the tips and tricks I've learned over the past 12 years as a professional writer and as a professional bargain hunter, budget queen. I save around $8000.00 a year with couponing and refunding (yes, I've tracked it). I've published articles in a wide number of publications, including Woman's World, Cobblestone, Appleseeds, Engraver's Journal, Executive Update, and many local and online publications. I make an average of .50 a word on my writing. So, for every 1000 word article, I make around $500. Some pay a little less than .50/word and some a little more, so it all averages out and makes for a nice per hour pay rate.

The course will cover:

1) Simple Maneuvers that save big bucks
a. Creating a snowball effect with little savings
b. How to save money with coupons but not spend all your time clipping and filing
c. Rebates and why you should take advantage of them
d. Stockpiling so you never "have" to pay top dollar for an item
e. Additional tips and tricks for saving money
f. Is Mystery Shopping for you? How to avoid scams

2) Facing the Facts
a. We'll work on a simple budget so you can see where your money is really going
b. This is the time to be honest with yourself about any credit card debt you might have. (I'm in the same boat here, so not pointing any fingers)

3) Climbing out of the Pit
a. Where to start on your journey toward financial freedom
b. The truth about interest rates and return on your money
c. Planning Ahead
d. Stop digging a deeper hole!

4) Extra Money with Your Writing
a. Nonfiction tips and tricks to bring in enough to support what you really want to write
1) Just 2 hours a week spent on nonfiction will net big returns
2) Keeping track of your submissions
3) Where to find markets
4) Crafting the perfect query letter
5) Writing an article the editor will love, so s/he will throw work your way
6) The Numbers Game
7) Receiving a steady income from your writing (this can be a real challenge for freelancers!)

5) Final Wrap-up, Goal Setting, Game Plan

*Note, at the end of this course, you will have at least one solid query letter to send to editors to get you started and a solid plan in hand to get your finances in order, to make more money from your writing, and to retire more secure no matter what your age.

Included in the course is my book on WRITING FOR A LIVING. The cost for the course is 30.00. Space is limited to allow for individualized questions and feedback. You can sign up by clicking here:

Paypal here

*******
We are just finishing up this course and getting ready to start it again in two weeks. The details are below.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Warmly,

Lori Soard

PS If you want to sign up for all three, that is fine. Many of my students sign up for the course, which I will run via a Yahoo loop and then read the lessons as time allows. I can also give you an extension on assignments if you are crunched for time--just ask :)