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ERMA BOMBECK WRITERS' WORKSHOP NEWSLETTER
University of Dayton
February 2006
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Dear writer:
The 2006 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop is less than two months away. Because there
are so many people who aren't able to attend, we're investigating the possibility of recording
some of the sessions and selling them on CD. Stay tuned!
If you're looking for another great conference to attend, consider the 30th-annual
July 2, 2006 in Boston. Speakers include Art Buchwald and Adrianna Huffington.
Keep writing!
Tim Bete
Latest news...
YOGA FOR THE FUNNY BONE: AN INTERVIEW WITH LEIGH ANNE JASHEWAY BRYANT
Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant has published 11 books. Which was the most difficult? "Every one was the most difficult to get published while I was in the process. But none were as difficult as the thirty-seven books that remained unpublished." Read more.
NEW COMEDY, OLD SITUATION
Is the traditional sitcom dead? "The split between alternative comedy and mainstream in the 80s that led to the dark comedy of the 90s and early 21st century is about to fade," says Graham Smith. Read more.
MARKET YOUR BOOK YOURSELF
Marketing your book can be a very difficult task, especially on a budget. But it's not impossible. Erik Deckers shares some great tips. Read more.
BOOK SALES UP
In 2005, the U.S. publishing industry received a much needed 9.3% increase in book sales. Read more.
IN THE PUBLIC EYE
Workshop keynoter Gordon Kirkland explains the importance of making public appearances to help sell your book and the necessity of attending book signings, writers’ conferences and conventions. Read more.
BROOKS WINS COMEDY AWARD
The Writers Guild of America East named James L. Brooks as the inaugural recipient of its Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence. Read more.
eBAY LITERATURE
eBay auctions and their product descriptions have given rise to a new genre of self-publishing with everything from serial narratives to short-form one-liners. Read more.
SUCCESS IN BOOK MARKETING
Christine Martinello, author of The Momager Guide: Empowering Moms to Leave a Loving Legacy, describes her path to success in writing and in marketing her book. She'll be attending the 2006 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop. Read more.
TV DEBUT ADVICE
Jim Jaimeson writes about his television debut and offers many suggestions about how to make a good appearance on live TV. Read more.
GET OVER STAGE FRIGHT
AbsoluteWrite.com editor and author Jenna Glatzer talks about the negative effects of nervousness on writers and how to overcome them. Read more.
KILLER PRESS KITS
Create your own effective press kit to send to reviewers and others interested in your book. Read more.
FROM COLUMNIST TO BOOK AUTHOR
John Grogan went from a columnist at the Philadelphia Inquirer to best-selling author of Marley & Me. He discusses his approach to writing his book and the similarities to writing a newspaper column. Read more.
SELL YOUR BOOK TO LIBRARIES
The Independent Publishers Association gives advice for getting librarians to buy your book and provides a list of reviews that librarians most often rely on when looking for books to buy. Read more.
Humor writer of the month
DAVE MEURER
Dave Meurer is a humor columnist and the author of seven books. His articles have been published in major magazines including Focus on the Family and HomeLife. He has won many writing awards and honors, including the top scholarships from the California Newspaper Publishers Association and the Gannet Foundation. 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:
* Joni Thomas Harbin
* Shelle Castles-Melton
Who's publishing what?
WORKSHOP FACULTY
KIRKLAND PENS FOURTH BOOK: Gordon Kirkland will release his latest book, I Think I’m Having One Of Those Decades (AuthorHouse), in March 2006, in conjunction with the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop.
PAST WORKSHOP ATTENDEES
MONTO HITS AGAIN: Maria Monto's story, "An Old Wives' Tale," will appear in A Cup of Comfort for Expectant Mother, to be released by Adams Media in Spring 2006.
OTHER PUBLISHING NEWS
ZEZIMA IN NEW BOOK: Columnist Jerry Zezima is featured in a new book by Reader's Digest, called Laughter, the Best Medicine. Other humorists in the book include Dave Barry, Steve Martin, Rick Reilly and Mary Roach.
LITTLE MONSTERS: I Hate Other People’s Kids by Adrianne Frost is a handbook that can help us all deal with the precious little angels that we encounter.
Markets, contests and more
OOPS!: TLC is looking for funny, embarrassing and unusual stories of real-life blunders for the new TV series "Ultimate Blunders." Read more.
FELLOWSHIP AWARD: Fishtrap Inc. is holding a contest for fiction under 2,500 words. The top five winners will receive a fellowship covering the cost of registration, food and lodging for the week-long Summer Fishtrap Workshop. Read more.
SHORT FICTION COLLECTIONS: The annual Mary McCarthy Prize in short fiction is awarded to the best collection of short fiction between 150 and 250 pages. The first-place prize is $2,000. Read more.
SHORT SHORT CONTEST: Send up to three short short fiction submissions to The Southeast Review for a chance to win $500. The contest is judged by Robert Olen Butler. Read more.
FICTION CONTEST: The Association of Writers & Writing Programs is a nonprofit organization of writers, teachers, colleges, and universities. AWP sponsors an annual competition for the publication of new book-length works. Read more.
CANADIAN FICTION CONTEST: Summer Literary Seminars and The Walrus magazine are holding contests for fiction and poetry. The winners will receive airfare, accommodations and a full tuition waiver to the 2006 Summer Literary Seminars program in St. Petersburg, Russia, and publication of the winning entry in The Walrus. Read more.
BOOK SHEPHERDS: Need a book shepherd to help you during the process of self publication? Here's help. 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. Join now.
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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 2006, University of Dayton
