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ERMA BOMBECK WRITERS' WORKSHOP NEWSLETTER
University of Dayton
June 2006
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Dear writer:
What are you doing June 29-July 2? If you can swing it, you should be in Boston for the National Society of Newspaper Columnists annual conference. They have great sessions planned, including "How and why columnists blog" and "Writing your way to the airwaves." Many past Bombeck Workshop attendees will be there. As an added incentive, the first five people to mention the "Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop" when they register for the NSNC Conference will get a free MP3-CD of the Bombeck Workshop sessions -- a $99 value. Considering the registration fee is only $260, that's a pretty good deal.
Keep writing!
Tim Bete
Latest news...
IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREENY
Danny Gallagher interviewed ESPN host Mike Greenberg about his new book, Why My Wife Thinks I'm an Idiot: The Life
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF?
Lynn Colwell believes that when we are stuck in any area of our lives, whether writing-related or not, negativity envelopes us. We’re like flies in a spider web. All our kicking and screaming only serves to tighten the noose. Read more.
NICHOLAS WINS FUNNIEST MOM IN AMERICA
Rubi Nicholas has been selected as the winner of Nick at Nite's Search for the Funniest Mom in America 2. She will have the opportunity to develop her own show for the network. Read more.
CELEBRATING BELOVED BILKO
Fifty years ago, American television viewers fell in love with Sergeant Bilko, a sneaky character who cheated his fellow noncommissioned officers, roiled the brass and conned his underlings at Fort Baxter in Kansas. Read more.
BENCHLEY FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
Ten finalists for the Robert Benchley Society Award for Humor have been announced. This year’s judge is Dave Barry. Read more.
DINNER WITH THE BOMBECKS
Susan Konig writes about her experience with Erma’s family last March. Read more.
HOW TO WRITE THIS COLUMN
Darrin Crescenzi, columnist for Oregon State's Daily Barometer, gives some advice to his successor, including: "Jokes about college students living off of Top Ramen get funnier and funnier with each successive telling." Read more.
THE HUMORIST AT HOME
Humorist B. Elwin Sherman says, “Only two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.” Read more.
PROFESSOR PROVIDES HUMOR RESOURCES
Don Nilsen, Arizona State University professor and historian for the International Society for Humor Studies, has an incredible array of humor resources -- from the history of British humor to lists of satirical Web sites. Read more.
AUTHOR INVESTMENT YIELDS LARGER PAYOFF
Publishers Weekly outlines a study comparing sales of books marketed only by publishers and books with outside help. Read more.
FAKE NEWS?
A new Web site offers full page fake news stories customized for yourself or friends. Read more.
WHAT IS ONLINE MARKETING?
Richard Hoy presents a six-part series on every aspect of Internet promotion. Read more.
Humor writer of the month
FAITH FOYIL
Faith Foyil is columnist and author of Sunny Daze-the Misadventures of a Tropical Island Mom and 101 Haiku for Moms. She made use of her varied literary background by producing and also directing her own work, which she calls "Two Children." Faith has been published in Family Circle, Air Currents, International Living, The Orlando Sentinel and The Nassau Guardian. Visit her Web site.
Book 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:
* Karen Guidarelli
* Carl Smith
* Susanne Floe
Who's publishing what?
WORKSHOP FACULTY
THE BOOK SISTAH: Sophfronia Scott provides advice on writing your book and getting it published.
MILLER REPORT: Karyl Miller recently launched a new Web site that includes a daily blog, cartoons and more.
PAST WORKSHOP ATTENDEES
TABLE DANCING: DC Stanfa will be signing her book, The Art of Table Dancing: Escapades of an Irreverent Woman, in Cincinnati, Ohio, later this month.
AMERICA’S FUNNIEST HUMOR: Noreen Braman has again been named as a finalist in the America’s Funniest Humor contest. Her story “Hearing Electronic Voices” will be published both in print and online at www.humorpress.com.
OFFBEAT FICTION: Dan St. Yves has published Nonsense and Stuff, a book poking fun at daily life.
OTHER PUBLISHING NEWS
MAXX COMEDY: This book about "The Funniest Kid in America" puts a humorous twist on issues of divorce, fitting in and following big ambitions.
777 GREAT CLEAN JOKES: A sparkling new collection of unsullied humor, ideal for any age and situation.
Markets, contests and more
MAD MAGAZINE: If you have a twisted sense of humor, a peculiar way of looking at the world, or are simply eager to express your immature, strange or just plain silly side, then Mad Magazine wants to see your stuff. Read more.
DOG TALES: John Cali is looking for uplifting, inspiring stories of canine companions. Read more.
FUNNIEST FAMILY MEMBER: Send stories about your craziest family member to Reading Writers for a chance to be published and win $100. The deadline is July 31. Read more.
FATHERS & SONS: Submit letters from your father containing profound understanding, thoughts, stories or wisdom for a chance to be published in A Father’s Message in a Bottle. Read more.
PUBLISHING NEWSLETTER: PublishingBasics.com offers a monthly newsletter on the basics of the publishing industry. Read more.
MYSTERY CONTEST: La Belle Lettre is offering a contest in the mystery genre for pieces under 1,000 words. The deadline is August 1. Read more.
FOR FREELANCERS: MediaBistro.com has now published its first book, Get a Freelance Life: mediabistro.com's Insider Guide to Freelance Writing. Read more.
TAKE HUMOR SERIOUSLY: The Humor Project has re-launched its e-mail newsletter, which includes information on humor as a serious art. Read more.
BEST BOOK AWARDS: Submit your book to USABookNews.com for a chance to win the Best Books Award, one of the nation fastest growing literary contests. 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
