Aug. 2004 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop newsletter

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ERMA BOMBECK WRITERS' WORKSHOP NEWSLETTER

University of Dayton

August 2004

mailto:erma@udayton.edu

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Last month, I shared the story of three writers who were "discovered" on our Web site and asked to audition for a national reality TV show. See http://www.humorwriters.org/RealityShow.html and http://www.humorwriters.org/HicksTVshow.html

I'm constantly amazed at the power of the Internet. A few weeks ago, a newspaper editor asked to run my column on a weekly basis. She had discovered my writing on my Web site. I got my book deal the same way -- the publisher asked me for a proposal after reading my column on the Web.

Every writer needs a Web site. I get a lot of e-mail messages asking how to create a Web presence and what types of information to include. There's an article on our site -- http://www.humorwriters.org/8waystopromote.html -- that gives some great tips on promoting your writing online. If you haven't read it before, take a look.

And, let me know the success you've found using the Internet to promote your writing. I'm always looking for stories to share in this newsletter.

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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NETWORKING FOR THE DISINCLINED

Maggie Van Ostrand tells how to "Take the fear from in front of you where it inhibits, and place it behind you

where it impels."

See http://www.humorwriters.org/VanOstrandNetworking.html

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GETTING A CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

Want to interview Tom Hanks, Doris Roberts or Ben Affleck? William Cabrera provides some great tips and resources for hooking celebrities.

See http://www.writersweekly.com/this_weeks_article/001857_07282004.html

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HAVE YOU HUGGED YOUR GREMLIN TODAY?

When Lynn Colwell was asked to write Erma Bombeck’s biography, she reacted like many other first-timers. She panicked.

See http://www.humorwriters.org/ColwellGremlin1.html

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FROM LETTER WRITER TO COLUMNIST

Thanks to the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, Monty Snow is living his dream.

See http://www.columnists.com/special/reallybad.htm

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CELEBRATE YOUR BOOK'S SMALL SUCCESSES

Lori Hein shares how "small, sweet victories" are what publishing a book is all about.

See http://www.writersweekly.com/print/success_stories/001730_06232004.html

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READING IN DECLINE?

Literary reading is in dramatic decline with fewer than half of American adults now reading literature, according to a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) survey released recently. Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America reports drops in all groups studied, with the steepest rate of decline -- 28 percent -- occurring in the youngest age groups.

See http://www.arts.gov/news/news04/ReadingAtRisk.html

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TIPS FROM A MASTER

Best-selling author, Nicholas Sparks, tells how he found an agent and publisher, and shares his experiences with learning the craft and the business of writing.

See http://www.nicholassparks.com/WritersCorner/Index.html

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QUIRKY BOOK LAUNCHES

Hazel Edwards is a master of strange but effective book launches. Among other novelties, Edwards released doves for the launch of her mystery, "Birds on the Brain."

See http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/feb04/edwards14.htm

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BAD WRITING PAYS OFF

The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest celebrates bad writing. And, this year's winners were really, really bad.

See http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/West/07/19/worst.writing.ap/index.html

Read all the winners: http://tinyurl.com/3j4qs

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TAKE THE SURVEY

Lynn Colwell is launching a program called WriteNOW! to help aspiring writers kick start their writing careers.

See http://www.bloomngrow.net/page/page/1277566.htm

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WHO'S PUBLISHING WHAT?

HOLMES SELLS 100,000 COPIES: Wayne Holmes, who attended the 2004 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop, recently sold 100,000 copies of his book, "The Heart of a Mother," to the MOPS organization (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers). See http://www.WayneHolmes.com

MADDEN IS ON THE AIR: Barbara Madden is now a commentator on Mississippi Public Radio. See http://tinyurl.com/4tu4d

KIRKLAND LAUNCHES NEW CD: Gordon Kirkland's "Write For Your Life" is a humorous and inspiring half hour recorded live at the Florida First Coast Writers' Festival.See http://www.gordonkirkland.com/wfylpurchase.html

LYNN SIGNS ON WITH TOP SITE: BabyCenter.com, the most popular baby and pregnancy Web site, has enlisted the help of nationally syndicated parenting expert, Jodie Lynn. See http://www.parenttoparent.com/news/7704.html

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HUMOR WRITER OF THE MONTH: KRIS DECKER

Kris Decker writes "Toy Directory Mom," a monthly online column featured in "Toy Directory Monthly Magazine." It's a column that focuses on toys, nostalgia, kids and the things they'll do to get what they think they want. See http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=92

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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WRITER'S DIGEST BOOK GIVEAWAY

Each month we give away a book on writing to a few subscribers to this newsletter. If you're subscribed, you're entered to win! This issue's winners are:

* Barb Eimer from Fort Wayne, Ind.

* Tracy Jones from Martinsville, Ind.

Each has won a copy of "Comedy Writing Secrets" by Mel Helitzer. They've also won an Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop mouse pad.

Thanks to Writer's Digest for providing the books for our giveaway. To learn more about the book we gave away this month, see http://www.writersdigest.com/store/booksdisplay.asp?id=10291 Stay tuned! You could be one of next issue's winners!

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MARKETS, CONTESTS AND MORE

LOOKING FOR WRITERS AND FEATURES: The Classified Guys are looking for unique ideas, features or products that fit a newspapers classified section. See http://www.classifiedguys.com/newspaper/pressarchive/pr030804_upssplit.htm

CONVERSELY MAGAZINE: Looking for articles and essays on all aspects of male-female relationships. See http://www.conversely.com/Masth/submi.shtml

AMERICAN ONLINE COLUMNISTS: Links to 700+ columnists. See http://www.blueagle.com

SUMMER SCHOOL ON HUMOUR: Fourth International Summer School on Humour and Laughter will be held at the University of Wolverhampton (England) from Sept. 6-11. See http://www.wlv.ac.uk/humourschool04

LITERARY AGENTS: Free list of e-mail addresses for literary agents. See http://www.writers-free-reference.com/agents/index.html

BOOK REVIEWS: Bookviews.com welcomes books for review. See http://bookviews.com

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

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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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2004 WORKSHOP SPONSORS

University of Dayton National Alumni Association: http://alumni.udayton.edu

Ohio Humanities Council: http://www.ohiohumanities.org

AuthorHouse: http://www.authorhouse.com

National Society of Newspaper Columnists: http://www.columnists.com

Andrews McMeel Publishing: http://www.amuniversal.com/amp

Dayton Daily News: http://www.daytondailynews.com

Books & Company: http://www.booksandco.com/events/dayton04.html

ThinkTV: http://www.thinktv.org

Washington-Centerville Public Library: http://www.wcpl.lib.oh.us

WHIO-TV: http://www.whiotv.com

WYSO public radio: http://www.wyso.org

Dayton Marriott: http://marriott.com/property/propertyPage/DAYOH

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OTHER ERMA BOMBECK WRITING WORKSHOP LINKS

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WORKSHOP FACULTY http://www.humorwriters.org/Speakerbios.html

ERMA MUSEUM http://www.ErmaMuseum.org

FREE SCREEN SAVER http://www.humorwriters.org/Screensaver.html

FREE NEWSLETTER http://www.humorwriters.org/Newsletter.html

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