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ERMA BOMBECK WRITERS' WORKSHOP NEWSLETTER
University of Dayton
March 2006
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Dear writer:
Call me Ishmael. Or Marsha Brady. Or, maybe, Mr. Potato Head. Using the literary classic
Moby Dick, nearly 200 writers registered for the upcoming University of Dayton's Erma
Bombeck Writers' Workshop have created the world's longest "Mad Lib." A Mad Lib is a story
with blank spaces where words have been left out. The leader asks the other players to
provide words to fill in the blanks but doesn’t tell them what the story is about. The result is a
humorous story with lines such as, "Call me Mr. Potato Head." A typical Mad Lib has 10 to 20
blank spaces and is played with three to four players. The Moby Dick Mad Lib features more
than 1,100 blanks and is believed to be the longest Mad Lib ever created. Read more.
"Erma Bombeck: A Legacy of Laughter," a 30-minute documentary produced by ThinkTV (Greater Dayton Public Television) will appear on more than 270 public television stations beginning in May. The program is being distributed by American Public Television. More about this project in the April newsletter.
Keep writing!
Tim Bete
author of In The Beginning...There Were No Diapers
director, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop, University of Dayton
Latest news...
2006 ERMA BOMBECK WRITING COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Congratulations to the winners of this year's writing competition!
Dayton-area winners
Humor: Amy Krug (Centerville, OH)Honorable mention: Tess Evans (Centerville, OH)Human interest: Donna Hrkman (Dayton, OH)Honorable mention: Beth Tucker-Graves (Clayton, OH)Irene Wong (Dayton, OH)Jennifer Wagley (Dayton, OH)Global winners
Humor: Jennifer Brown (Liberty, MO)Honorable mention: Wendy Sang Kelly (Isle of Palms, SC) Rae Frazier (Texico, IL) Gabriella Papic (Toronto, Can.)Human interest: Rita Lussier (Jamestown, RI)Honorable mention: Dennis Roddy (Pittsburgh, PA) Ava Miller (Argyle, TX) Marcy O'Brien (Warren, PA) Mary Fran Bontempo (Southampton, PA) Bonnie Sivyer (Tonganoxie, KS)You can read the winning entries at the Washington-Centerville Public Library Web site.
LAUGHING TO THE END
Beloved columnist Art Buchwald talks about his life and his decision not to seek treatment for his kidney disease. Listen to the segment from The Diane Rheme Show on NPR.
THE MAN WITH TWO BRAINS
Steve Martin has made millions off of his wacky sense of humor and slapstick physical comedy, but there is a more serious side to him he’d like audiences to appreciate as well. Read more.
“NEWSPAPERS ARE DEAD”
That’s right. Directly from the mouth of Dave Barry himself. His answer: blogs and podcasts. Read more.
DAVE BARRY TO JUDGE 2006 ROBERT BENCHLEY SOCIETY AWARD FOR HUMOR
"We're looking for the next Robert Benchley," said David Trumbull, chairman of the Robert Benchley Society, "and Dave Barry, America's leading Humorist, has agreed to help." Read more.
NO ROOM FOR DELICATE EARS
General counsel Marshall M. Goldberg defends the "creative imperatives" of comedy writing and takes the court inside the sanctum sanctorum where he worked for 24 years on such series as "The Bob Newhart Show" and "It's Garry Shandling's Show." Read more.
WHAT TO WEAR?
Debra Garfinkle, author of Storky: How I Lost My Nickname and Won The Girl discusses what goes into her writing process, including what she likes to wear while writing. Read more.
DIGITAL BOOKS START A NEW CHAPTER
Lighter devices, better displays, and the iPod craze could make them best-sellers. Read more.
WRITERS BEWARE
Jim Barnes, editor of Independent Publisher, talks with the authors of The Street-Smart Writer: Self Defense Against Sharks and Scams in the Writing World. Read more.
WHY NEWS RELEASES FAIL
Publicist Paul Krupin explains how to write good news releases that will help market your work. After all, “one fatal error and it’s all over.” Read more.
FIRST-TIME AUTHORS
La Belle Lettre gives opportunities for debut authors to have their books reviewed and showcased on the Web. Read more.
FREELANCE ADVICE
Kelly James-Enger provides insights into gaining success in the freelance market. She also discusses her book Six-Figure Freelancing. Read more.
THE ROAD TO BECOMING A PUBLISHER
Michael W. Quinn explains how he went from cop to author and eventually self-publisher. He talks about the writing of his book and the many important decisions in getting it published. Read more.
SELF PROMOTE OR DISAPPEAR
Larry James offers a “Discourse on Puttin’ on the Blitz.” He also suggests strategies for marketing yourself and your book in nearly every way possible. Read more.
SELL MORE BOOKS
Fern Reiss, CEO of PublishingGame.com, discusses how to use e-mail and newsletters to win in the game of publishing. Read more.
Humor writer of the month
BARRY SMITH
Barry Smith writes the syndicated humor column, "Irrelativity," for The Aspen Times in Aspen, CO, and has done so for a good ten or so years now, so he's just starting to get the hang of it. He also writes poetry, radio sketch comedy, short film/TV scripts (including the award-winning comedy "Diary of a Flagger"), little to-do lists and the occasional phone number on his hand. Visit his Web site.
Who's publishing what?
WORKSHOP FACULTY
MIND IN THE GUTTER: Craig Wilson says bowling is cool again.
PAST WORKSHOP ATTENDEES
OVER THE HILL & LOVING IT: Humorist Noreen Braman has published I'm 50 -- Now What? -- a compilation of her 2005 blog chronicling her view of the world, as seen through her newly-50-year-old eyes.
WILL ROGERS BLOG: Robert Haught recently launched a blog honoring the writings of Will Rogers.
BLARNEY BABE: Diane O'Brien Kelly has launched www.BlarneyBabe.com. She recently sold a short story to True Love magazine.
OTHER PUBLISHING NEWS
CORPORATE SURVIVAL: Is the corporate world stifling your creativity? Gordon MacKenzie provides some advice on how to avoid the mess of business’ bureaucratic procedure in Orbiting the Giant Hairball.
A VERY DAIRY CHRISTMAS: A heart-warming comedy about dysfunctional family life during the holiday season -- with cows.
FOURTH BOOK IN SERIES: On March 1, 2006, Ann Spangler and Shari MacDonald will release the latest book in their Help! I Can’t Stop Laughing series.
ESPN SPORTSCASTER: Mike Greenberg examines his everyday role as father and husband in Why My Wife Thinks I’m an Idiot.
NEW SCHULZ COLLECTION: March 28, 2006 marks the release of a new collection of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip. Peanuts All-Stars features all sports-related strips.
SCREENWRITERS: Katherine Atwell Herbert, a Hollywood insider, has written a guide to writing well-presented and sellable screenplays. The Perfect Screenplay: Writing It and Selling It is scheduled for release on March 1, 2006.
Markets, contests and more
MASTER COURSE IN HUMOR: Gene Perret is offering a 12-week e-mail course for public speakers teaching them how to add and use humor in their presentations. Read more.
DAN POYNTER IN DAYTON: Dan Poynter will give his Books 101: Writing & Publishing Nonfiction seminar at the Oct. 6-7 Pen to Paper Literary Symposium. Read more.
HUMOR IN MARRIAGE: Seeking true, short-story anecdotes that pertain to the humorous aspects of marriage -- things spouses have said or done that have triggered feelings of stress, frustration, confusion, embarrassment or anger, but in which you ultimately saw humor, or words or actions that simply made you laugh. Contact Moreonmorons@aol.com.
CHRISTIAN WOMEN ONLINE: New online magazine is looking for editorial content. Read more.
BELLINGHAM REVIEW: The Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction is now accepting submissions up to 8000 words long. The winner receives a cash prize and publication in The Bellingham Review. Read more.
UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS CONTEST: Send unpublished fiction or poetry for a chance to win the River City Writing Award. The deadline is March 15, 2006. Read more.
FICTION COLLECTION CONTEST: The University of Nebraska Press is sponsoring the Prairie Schooner Book Series competition. The winners of the fiction and poetry categories each receive a $3000 prize and publication. Read more.
NELSON ALGREN AWARDS: Sponsored by The Chicago Tribune, this contest accepts fiction submissions between 2500 and 10000 words. Authors can submit up to two entries. Read more.
SHORT STORY CONTEST: Send your short story to The Colorado Review for an opportunity to win the Nelligan Prize for Short Fiction. Winners will be published in The Colorado Review. Read more.
NEW WRITERS CONTEST: Writers whose fiction has not appeared in any publication with a circulation over 5000, send your short stories to Glimmer Train Press, Inc. First, second, and third place winner all receive cash prizes. Read more.
POETRY, FICTION & NONFICTION CONTEST: Submit one previously unpublished story, essay, or up to five previously unpublished poems. The deadline is March 31, 2006. 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
