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ERMA BOMBECK WRITERS' WORKSHOP NEWSLETTER
University of Dayton
January 2005
mailto:erma@udayton.edu
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Dear writer:
Columnist and stand-up comic, Dave Glardon, asked me a great question the other day: How many writers have achieved a new level of success after attending the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop?
I know the number is at least two. Dave credits the workshop with getting some TV and radio appearances. Most people don't know this but the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop gave me my start as a humor writer. I entered one of the annual Erma Bombeck Writing Contests long before I was involved with the workshop. I didn't win but my boss, Teri Rizvi, who founded the workshop, encouraged me to continue writing. Now I'm a self-syndicated newspaper columnist and my first book will hit the presses in a few weeks. None of it would have happened without the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop.
If you've experienced some writing success because of the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop or this newsletter, please let me know. It might be something as simple as getting published in a local newspaper or as big as signing with a major publisher. Either way, we'd like to hear your stories. I'll compile the stories and publish them in a future issue.
Keep writing!
Tim Bete
Latest news...
DAVE BARRY ROUND-UP...
Dave Barry writes his last column. Readers weep. Columnists eulogize.
ERMA BOMBECK WRITING COMPETITION IS OPEN
The ninth annual Erma Bombeck Writing Competition is open for entries. You can enter this year's contest between now and Feb. 18, 2005 (midnight, EST). There is a limit of one entry per person. Entries must be submitted using the contest's online form.
There is no entry fee. One Dayton, Ohio-area winner and one global winner will be awarded a $100 cash prize in each category: (1) humor and (2) human interest. Essays should be 450 words or fewer and can be previously unpublished or published since Jan. 1, 2004. The Washington-Centerville Public Library reserves the non-exclusive right to publish the winning entries. Read complete contest details.
A TOUCH OF HUMOR
Author Wayne Holmes shows how to add humor to your writing -- even if you're not a funny person. Read more.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CLEAN HUMOR
Actor and comedian, Dave Petitjean, is well-known for his upbeat, clean humor. You may remember him from The Big Easy and In The Heat of the Night. Here are some of the "clean humor quotes" Dave has gathered over the years. Read more.
HOW TO USE A PRESS RELEASE TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
Christine Louise Hohlbaum provides tips on crafting a news release that will get noticed. Read more.
MGM PROMOTES UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON
GRAD TO SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
MGM Studios, a unit of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., has promoted Judith Jecmen to senior vice president, legal finance, announced Jonathan Bader, the studio's executive vice president of business affairs. Read more.
BAD LUCK BRUCE
Writer Kristen Twedt talked with Bruce Cameron about his experiences as a best-selling author and a career that started with an ambitious early novel titled “Bad Luck Bruce.” Read more.
PRESCRIPTION OPTIMISM
Coach Lynn Colwell's client realized her real problem was not too many ideas but fear of making the wrong choice. Lynn give five tips for overcoming fear of failure. Read more.
WHAT NOT TO WRITE
The new book, Resumes from Hell, includes the entries, "BA in Biology. Passed out in the year of 1998" and "When I saw your ad in the paper, my eyeballs literally fell out!" The Web site also showcases rejection letters the authors received from agents. Read more.
PUBLISHERS' LACK OF MARKETING
A great analysis of the economics of book promotion. Read more.
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST-SELLER LIST
Margo Baldwin, publisher of Chelsea Green Publishing, describes her battle with the New York Times and the power of independent publishing. Read more.
ESTIMATING AMAZON.COM SALES
A detailed look at how Amazon.com sales ranks are calculated. Read more.
FINDING AN AGENT AT CYBERSPEED
A fascinating story about how one author used the Internet to find an agent. Read more.
SECRETS FOR GETTING BOOKED ON NATIONAL TV
Free audio seminar provides great advice on how to pitch the most-popular talk shows. Read more.
MUSE AGENCY RESPONDS
TO FALSE ADVERTISING LAWSUIT
In an unprecedented case, a writer is suing a muse agency for false advertising, misrepresentation, and poor performance, alleging the muse placed at her home did little to help her achieve her literary goals. Read more.
GREAT NEW BOOK ABOUT SELF-PUBLISHING
U-Publish.com: How ‘U’ Can Compete with the Giants of Publishing by Dan Poynter and Danny Snow is in its third addition and has been updated for 2005.
I was first introduced to Dan Poynter about 15 years ago when read his book, "The Self-Publishing Manual." I consider Dan to be one of the most knowledgeable publishing experts in the field and U-Publish.com doesn't disappoint. Poynter and Snow provide detailed, practical advice on self-publishing -- everything from "It does not matter if you sell your manuscript to a publisher or publish it yourself; the author must do the promotion" to “Don’t write a book first, then try to find readers for it. Instead, target your readership before you start writing.”
The book covers the entire self-publishing process from concept to publishing process to sales and publicity.
Humor writer of the month
PETE CHIANCA
Peter Chianca's award-winning humor column, 'At Large,' appears in the Boston Herald and in dozens of newspapers around Massachusetts. Visit his Web site.
Emmis Books giveaway
Each month we give away a book on writing to a few subscribers to our newsletter. If you're subscribed, you're entered to win! This issue's winners are:
*Phil Truman; Broken Arrow, OK
*NAME
Thanks to Emmis Books for providing the books for our giveaway!
Who's publishing what?
PAST WORKSHOP FACULTY
AUTOGRAPHED GRUEN: Autographed copies of Judy Gruen's award-winning books, Carpool Tunnel Syndrome and Till We Eat Again, can now be ordered from her Web site.
PAST WORKSHOP ATTENDEES
SUNDBERG INCLUDED IN ANTHOLOGY: Norma Sundberg children's story, An Odd Fable, was included in "Beyond Time and Space," a new book from Linden Hill Books.
OTHER PUBLISHING NEWS
SINGER PUBLISHES 14 HOURS: Jen Singer has published 14 Hours 'Til Bedtime. Mothers who have put their careers on hold to spend their days scraping peanut butter off the cat will find much needed humor and an overdue pat on the back. A portion of the book’s proceeds will be donated to the Endometriosis Association.
KOOY'S NEW BLOG: Cathy Kooy has created a new blog, Alter Ego Therapy -- the last frontier for gutsy women.
RAMJEWAN LANDS FIRST ARTICLE: Stephen Ramjewan first published article, “He Was There," is in the January issue of the Canadian Messenger of the Sacred Heart.
HINCK SIGNS TWO-BOOK DEAL: Sharon Hinck has will publish The Secret Life of Becky Miller, Supermom and its sequel with Bethany House.
Markets, contests and more
LOOKING FOR BOOKS TO REVIEW: Dotsie Bregel, founder of www.boomerwomenspeak.com, is looking for authors to promote in the Featured Author Book Club Forum on her site. Books about writing and books of interest to baby boomer women are being considered. Contact Dotsie at dots@boomerwomenspeak.com for more information.
AMITYVILLE HOUSE OF PANCAKES: An anthology of humorous speculative fiction. Read more.
CREATIVE GUY LOOKING FOR SATIRE: Creative Guy Publishing is looking for satire and farce. Read more.
MOTHER DEVOTED: Mother Devoted is a bi-monthly publication for Christian mothers. Read more.
PRAYERS OF SOLDIERS: Harvest House Publishers is looking for stories about how God has answered the prayers of soldiers and their families. Read more.
PAYING MARKETS: The Just Markets provides new job leads six times per week. Read more.
CONNECTICUT FAMILY TODAY: Parent and family monthly publication. Read more.
EDITORIAL FREELANCERS ASSN.: The Editorial Freelancers Association is a national, nonprofit, professional organization of self-employed workers in the publishing and communications industries. Read more.
NEED PUBLICITY? Christine Louise Hohlbaum offers book PR services. Read more.
CAREER CENTER: The Editor and Publisher Career Center allows writers to search many job categories. Read more.
INTL. SOC. FOR HUMOR STUDIES: The ISHS has a new Web site. Read more.
COPLEY NEWS: Copley News Service syndicates columns on finance, travel, food, arts, lifestyle and opinion, as well as editorial cartoons and comic strips. Read more.
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NETWORK WITH OTHER HUMOR WRITERS: Network with other humor writers. Join the e-mail discussion group for past attendees of the Erma Bombeck Writers'
Workshop and those who would like to attend in the future.
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SUGGEST A RESOURCE: If you have a favorite book or Web site, let us know at bete@udayton.edu.
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Copyright 2005, University of Dayton
