Tel: +44 161 228 2362
Return to E-zee Writer back issues
This month we have competition news, expert advice on working in collaboration with other writers, Ten Top Tips for promoting your non-fiction book, successes stories and ideas to inspire you plus the usual useful websites.
Hello dear readers,
Brrrrr – it’s cold here. Sharp sunny morning frosts follow what has been the worst soaking we’ve seen for many years in the UK – a perfect combination for falling on ones derriere I fear! And hurrah! – Christmas looms again. I look forward to some time off relaxing. However, first I need to find my festive spirit. I have to say, I am not feeling it quite yet – a bit bah humbug so far – but I will once I start to prepare my tree decorations.
Not only is Christmas approaching but so is Hannuka, Humanlight Day, the Day of Candles in Colombia, the Fetes Des Lumieres in France and Proclamation Day in South Africa. So, if you too have holidays approaching, are a student of The Writers Bureau and have been published in the last year, put a free afternoon to good use and enter our Writer of the Year 2010 competition – the closing date is 31st December 2009. You could bag yourself £250 for simply telling us what you have gained from your course and what successes you’ve had! There are also four runners up prizes of £50 each. If you want some inspiration have a read through last year’s winners.
Next year is a big one for The Writers Bureau – we are turning 21 years of age! So, as part of our celebrations we thought we’d get all of you involved by holding monthly competitions and quizzes themed around 21. Prizes range from book tokens to complete courses with a grand prize of a laptop at the end of the year. We will be announcing the competitions on a monthly basis and the first one is, of course, for January. Entries should be a poem on any subject written in only 21 words. The prize is, yes you’ve guessed it, The Poetry Writing course. Further entry details here.
And staying on the subject of competitions, here’s another. This one has a Christmas theme and will be judged by our very own tutor, Lorraine Mace. It’s for Writelink, it’s called Tinsel Tales and it’s a flash fiction competition. There are some nifty prizes and it should keep you occupied for an afternoon or two. Be quick though as they are only accepting 100 entries – register as soon as you can to be in with a chance of taking part. More details here.
And speaking of Lorraine Mace, she’s just become the editor of a new online magazine called Words with JAM. I’ll let them explain what they want, “Stories should be no more than 5,000 words (we accept flash fiction) and poems are unlimited in line length. As the magazine is very new, we are unable to pay for stories and poems we accept at the present time. Due to this, we are more than happy to consider works that have already been published either online or in print (please state where and when they were published on your submission if this is the case). For more info visit: http://quinnpublications.blogspot.com/
Also this month we have some interesting expert advice from the author of The Writer’s ABC Checklist – Maureen Vincent-Northam – on collaboration with other writers, which may be something you’ve not considered before. Ten Top Tips covers promoting your non-fiction book, with a useful widget in Useful Websites too, and Syreeta from Nigeria provides us with an inspiring story to keep us going.
Fancy meeting some like-minded word wizards this month? If so, you could attend Bob Mayer’s Novel Writers’ Workshop, 21st January 2010, Whidbey Island, Seattle. You’ll “explore your material for your one-sentence idea, ensure your story has a core conflict lock, scrutinize the integrity of your plot, examine your writing and voice, make certain all three of these critical aspects - conflict, plot, voice - are aligned to maximize characters and storyline.” The workshop is a full day and costs $250 if you book before 3rd January.
Or get yourself a place on Cecily Bomberg’s Chelsea Workshops, London. The next is due to be held in January and is a Writer’s Advice and Mentoring Surgery. The cost is £45.00 for one and a half hours of one-to-one time. More details here.
If you feel like letting someone else do the work you should attend one of the Flying Goose readings at the cafe of the same name in Beeston. The next one is on 19th January – featuring Eirann Lorsung and Dan Tunstall – at 7.30pm and costs £3.00 on the door including a glass of wine! More information here.
Remember, if you are still looking for the perfect present for that special someone, look no further than one of our courses. If you need any help choosing which course would be best call and speak to one of our student advisors. Plus, if you let us know it’s for a gift, the free trial will not start until Christmas Day. Think about it, not only are you giving the gift of knowledge, always a good start, but you could also be giving them a new career – now that’s what I call a gift!
Shelley x
