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ERMA BOMBECK WRITERS' WORKSHOP NEWSLETTER
University of Dayton
May 2, 2003
mailto:erma@udayton.edu
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I'm often asked what service I use to manage the 5,000+ e-mail subscribers to my humor column. The service is run by Mike Hodapp. When I started with Mike, I only had 400 subscribers. I credit his service with a large portion of my increase. If you have a "clean list" (no swearing or other items or topics offensive to families or children) and are interested in asking Mike if he would host it, he can be reached at Tigger@hundred-acre-woods.com. The cost is $120/year and includes free Web site hosting. You can review some of the other lists Mike hosts at: http://www.hundred-acre-woods.com/lists
Keep writing!
Tim Bete
Humor columnist (http://www.TimBete.com) and director, Erma
Bombeck Writers' Workshop (http://www.HumorWriters.org)
P.S. Feel free to forward this newsletter to all your
writer friends.
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SOME STARTLING STATISTICS
So you want to write a book. Well, why not? So does about 80 percent of the United States population according to a survey by the Jenkins Group.
See http://www.humorwriters.org/startlingstats.html
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HOW GARRISON KEILLOR WRITES
In the comedy field, you only need a few facts to get you started, and sometimes it helps if they're wrong.
See http://www.prairiehome.org/content/how_i_write.shtml
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SELF-PUBLISHING SUCCESS
Robyn Jackson interviewed Monica Carter about self-publishing her novel, "As If Nothing Happened." The interview provides some great tips on promoting a self-published book.
See http://www.humorwriters.org/RobynJackson2.html
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NEW ONLINE NEWS UNIVERSITY
The Poynter Institute and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced they will develop News University, an online training portal for journalists.
See http://alumni.udayton.edu/rd.asp?cd=newsuniv&rf=EBWW0503
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12 TIPS FOR TURNING JOURNAL ENTRIES INTO PERSONAL ESSAYS
How to transform parts of your daily entries into essays that sell.
See http://www.kporterfield.com/journal/Journal_Turning.html
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WRITING COMIC BOOKS
Steven Philip Jones provides tips and resources to break into this market.
See http://www.writersweekly.com/articles/040203-01.html
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COLUMN FODDER
The "shocking but true" tabloid column provides enough material for humor writers to write until the end of time.
See http://www.tabloidcolumn.com
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HOW TO WRITE WINNING FIRST-PERSON STORIES
Cheryl Paquin shows how to take the reader on a journey with you.
See http://www.writing-world.com/freelance/essay.shtml
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HUMOR WRITER OF THE MONTH: BOB HAUGHT
Writing is Bob Haught's line -- deadlines and headlines to be specific. Since 1989 he's written Potomac Junction, a commentary on the wackiness of Washington, for the Daily
Oklahoman. More recently, he's shared his observations about life in the real world in Now I'm No Expert.
See http://www.haughtline.com
If you'd like to be considered as our featured writer, send an e-mail with a link to one of your columns to: mailto:bete@udayton.edu
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BOOK GIVEAWAY
Each month we give away a book to one of the subscribers to this newsletter. If you're subscribed, you're entered to win! This issue's winner is Sally Axelrod. Sally has won a
copy of "The Comedy Bible" by Judy Carter, as well as an Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop mouse pad.
Stay tuned! You could be next issue's winner!
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MARKETS, CONTESTS AND MORE
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KRACK'D POT MOMS: Anthology contest for humorous mommy-related stories. See http://krackdpotmoms.com
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SUBMIT TO NPR: Ever thought of pitching an essay to National Public Radio? Here's how. See http://www.npr.org/about/pitch/index.html
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PITCH YOUR STORY TO HOLLYWOOD BUYERS: Two-day intensive networking event in Los Angeles on June 7-8. See http://www.hollywoodawards.com/writing/index2.html
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HUMOR COLUMN CONTEST: Submit a column on the fun, frustrations and foibles of being a writer. May 15 deadline. See http://www.writingfordollars.com/contest.cfm
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THE WRITING PARENT: Now accepting humor based on the writing life. See
http://www.thewritingparent.com/guidelines.shtml
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CHRISTIAN WRITERS' MARKET GUIDE 2003: Simply the best guide available for Christian markets. See http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0877880727
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RESOURCES FOR WRITERS
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GET PUBLISHED! Get published! Get published! Get published! Get published! Get published! Get published! Get published! Get published! Get published! Get published! Get published! Get published! Get published! Get published! Get published! To find out how, visit http://www.1stbooks.com/erma.html
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IT'S NEVER TOO LATE to Become A Freelance Writer. Buy Freelancing Later in Life by Kimberly Ripley at http://www.booklocker.com/books/86.html
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SELL WRITING ONLINE: "Sell Writing Online" is an interactive weekly newsletter for writers. Voted # 1 as Zine Editor for 2002! Discover paying markets, marketing tips, and more! Plus a chance for writers to promote their Web site and/or books in each issue. Come, grow with us! Send an email to: dallas@sellwritingonline.com OR click on
the link at: http://sellwritingonline.com
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DREAM OF PURSUING A SUCCESSFUL FREELANCE WRITING CAREER?
Subscribe to "WriteSuccess" -- the free ezine of ideas, information and inspiration that will help you turn your dream into reality! mailto:writesuccess-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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FUNDS FOR WRITERS: FundsforWriters is a family of newsletters for serious writers. Receive grants, markets, jobs and publisher opportunities to make a living at what
you love. 5000+ people can't be wrong! See http://www.fundsforwriters.com
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BE PUBLISHED IN USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand: Get free access to the world's favorite Writing Market Directory at Worldwide Freelance Writer See
http://www.worldwidefreelance.com
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MAKE YOUR WRITING SPARKLE: Make Your Writing Sparkle. Write Killer Queries. Get Published. Subscribe to Writing Etc., the FREE e-mag for writers. Receive the e-booklet "Power Queries" when you subscribe. See http://FilbertPublishing.com
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BELLAONLINE'S WRITING ZINE: Get a free ebook titled "Writer's Freebies" when you subscribe to this free bi-monthly newsletter featuring news, reviews, and
regularly updated links to sites including freelance job listings, free stuff for writers, markets and publishers, publications for writers, classes and contests,
publications seeking submissions, self-publishing information, online writing labs, research resources, and much more. Plus all subscribers get one free advertisement
and free ebooks and reports. To start your FREE E-mail subscription to BellaOnline's Writing Zine, either send a blank e-mailto:bellaonlinewriting-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or visit: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art157.asp
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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. To join, visit the Yahoo! Group at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/humor_writers
SUGGEST A RESOURCE If you have a favorite book or Web
site, let me know at bete@udayton.edu.
mailto:bete@udayton.edu
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OTHER ERMA BOMBECK WRITING WORKSHOP LINKS
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ERMA MUSEUM http://www.ErmaMuseum.org
FLIGHT HUMOR CONTEST http://www.flighthumor.org
ERMA T-SHIRT
http://alumni.udayton.edu/rd.asp?cd=ermashirt&rf=EBWW0203
FREE SCREEN SAVER
http://www.humorwriters.org/Screensaver.html
FREE NEWSLETTER http://www.humorwriters.org/Newsletter.html
WORKSHOP SPONSORS http://www.humorwriters.org/Sponsors.html
CONTACT US http://www.humorwriters.org/Contact.html
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Copyright 2003, University of Dayton
