Click below for more links --  

Conferences & Workshops    Contests    Places to Publish

Writers Groups    Miscellaneous Links    GCWA Member Websites

-- Conferences & Workshops --

SCRIBBLERS’ RETREAT WRITERS’ CONFERENCE

August 12-14, 2010 King and Prince Resort

Our August Conference is certain to inspire writers who enjoy high adventure and variety.  We are proud to present the very best talent to discuss their writing secrets: highlighting biography, business writing, ghost stories, chick lit and hot romance including great historical fiction. Steve Berry will entertain us with his research adventures that go into creating incredible, circuitous and obscure ancient symbolism and history that take his readers on thriller rides of the highest order. - You won't want to miss this one!

·         Author - Steve Berry, The Venetian Betrayal, The Romanov Prophecy, The Paris Vendetta, The Charlemagne Pursuit, The Third Secret, The Templar Legacy, The Alexandria Link, The Amber Room, among others.

·         Author - Haywood Smith, “My Life: A True Southern Adventure Story.”  The Red Hat Club, Wedding Belles, Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch, Border Lord, Highland Princess, Secret in Satin, among others.

·         Author/Professor - Jonathan Rabb,  “Place as Character in Historical Fiction.”  Rosa and Shadow and Light.  He teaches Creative Writing at both NYU and SCAD.

·         Author - Vincent Coppolla, The Siciliian Judge: Anthony Alaimo, An American Hero, Quest, Uneasy Warriors: Coming Back Home, The Perilous Journey of the Green Berets.

·         Author - Anna DeStephano,  “The Character Driven Story.” - Dark Legacy, Winter Heat, The Perfect Daughter series.  An award winning novelist for Harlequin and Silhouette.

·         Author, Thomas E. Dennard, Jr.  “Putting Your Passion into Print” - Born a Ramblin' Man, Discovering Life's Trails, Buzzard's Roost, plus adventure editor for Splash Magazine.

·         Author - Karen McElmurray  “From Memory to Memoir: Telling Stories From the Heart.”- The Motel of the Stars, Surrendered Child: A Birth Mother's Journey.

·         Author - J.M. Lacey, “Writing For Businesses.” - A professional freelance writer with fourteen years of corporate experience.  She also writes women's literature and novels.

·         Author - Ron Miller, “Mining Your Life for Writing Material.”- Horse Bones: Twelve Tales of Secrets and Legends.

·         Author - David Rocklin,  “Visibility at All Cost.” - The Luminist.

Please visit on website at http://scribblersretreatwritersconference.com.

Call to register 1-800-996-2904

4th Annual Mississippi Writers Guild Writers Conference

August 6-7, 2010

To be held in Historic Vicksburg, MS, right on the Mighty Mississippi

At a past writers conference, a senior editor from a New York Publishing House stated that 90% of submissions are fiction while 90% of what is published is non-fiction. Hmm. You do the numbers.

Therefore, the 2010 Mississippi Writers Guild Conference’s main focus this year is the non-fiction market and offers five expert speakers on writing non-fiction, from children’s literature, to memoirs, to haunted houses, to creative non-fiction. Click here to find out more.

The Master Class-Writers’ Retreat for Women will be held in Ancramdale, NY

August 27-29.

Cost is $495 for tuition and $100 per night room and board. Full information by contacting  RMarcus@woodhull.org

The Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

September 18-19

 at the Sheraton Denver West.

FLORIDA WRITERS ASSOCIATION OCTOBER 2010 CONFERENCE
FEATURES INDIVIDUAL CRITIQUE SESSIONS

— Industry professionals to work with writers on works-in-progress —

The Ninth Annual Conference of the Florida Writers Association (FWA), which will be held October 22-24, 2010, at the Lake Mary Marriott in Orlando, promises to keep the estimated 350 attendees focused on improving their writing skills and promoting their work for publication.

FWA intends to fulfill every writer’s current interest. At least three workshops are held at any given time, and attendees may join whichever ones appeal to them.

In addition to perfecting their craft and networking with fellow writers, for an additional fee attendees may choose from among the faculty of authors, agents, and acquisition editors to make face-to-face manuscript pitches. They also may register for professional critiques. There is no limit to the number of pitch sessions or critiques available.

The 2010 faculty members available for critiques are Adrian Fogelin, award-winning author, for middle-grade and young adult manuscripts; Dr. Douglas Houck, Professor of English and Writing at Edison State College in Punta Gorda, Florida, for adult nonfiction; Dianne Ochiltree, nationally recognized author of children’s picture books and chapter books; and John Pelot, Professor of English on the Charlotte Campus of Edison State College, for adult fiction.

FWA does more than teach writers how to become published. We give published works exposure through professional exhibits and our FWA bookstore. Interested authors can submit their titles for sale and hold book signings.

Saturday night features a banquet, with author Carlo D’Este presenting the keynote speech, “Tell Me a Story.” Afterwards, an awards ceremony presented by the 2010 Royal Palm Literary Awards recognizes winning competition submissions. Activities remain in high gear on Sunday morning during a brunch and keynote speech closing the conference at noon.

Throughout the conference, attendees are eligible to win door prizes, some valued over $300. The third annual Silent Auction provides an impressive selection of books and gifts to be awarded to the highest bidders. The auction is run by the Florida Writers Foundation, a nonprofit charitable association promoting literacy among children, youth, and adults throughout Florida. The Florida Writers Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation, promotes literacy throughout Florida. All donations to FWF are tax deductible. Attendance is not necessary for bidding. For more information or to donate items, contact the FWF President, Karen Lieb at klieb@cfl.rr.com.

For the best conference fee of $289, register no later than July 31. From August 1 through September 22, the conference registration fee is $309, and thereafter it is $329. The registration includes all workshops, sessions and signature meals from Friday morning through Sunday noon. Daily rates are available for attendees who prefer to attend one or two days. The conference schedule, plus descriptions of faculty and seminars, is posted at www.floridawriters.net.

2010 GCWA Authors Conference November 5 - 7, 2010

Southern Expressions
Located at: Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center of Arts & Education

Online: Complete That Manuscript

CTM Online fulfills the primary goal of completing your manuscript. More importantly it is designed to create a writing habit that can be carried throughout your writing career. CTM Online expects 2 chapters in an 8 hour writing period. That is double the time it takes to complete one chapter at a party. The writer sets up their schedule to meet an 8 hour per week writing goal. At this rate, a writer can usually complete their first draft of the manuscript in 12-15 weeks.

THE BLUECAT WORKSHOP Tour

Free Expressions Seminars

 ... offers a unique program of editorial solutions and individual guidance to writers in any genre of fiction and creative nonfiction. We work with writers to:  ► help reach beyond their current artistic capabilities  ► teach critical self-editing skills and ► assist in achieving publishing success

Funds For Writers

Great lists of contests, grants, and markets for free-lance writers