Sept. 2003 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop newsletter

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ERMA BOMBECK WRITERS' WORKSHOP NEWSLETTER

University of Dayton

September 2003

mailto:erma@udayton.edu

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Within hours of opening online registration for the 2004 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop, writers from across the country began to register -- and we hadn't even promoted the workshop yet! That's an indication of how quickly we expect workshop spaces to fill up. While the workshop isn't until next March, it will sell out way ahead of time. (The 2002 workshop sold out very early, disappointing dozens of writers.)

Don't be shut out. Register today at http://www.humorwriters.org

This issue begins my series on the "Anatomy of a first book," in which I'll walk through the entire process that landed me a book contract -- from Web site promotion, to branding, to contract negotiation, to writing the book (which was the easy part). I'll also take you through the book publishing and promotion process as I experience it.

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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WORKSHOP REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Plan to be in Dayton, Ohio from March 25-27, 2004 for the event of a lifetime -- the 2004 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop. In the last issue of this newsletter we listed a ew of the faculty for the 2004 workshop. Here are a few more...

* Jill Conner Browne (New York Times best-selling author of the Sweet Potato Queens' books)

* Steve O'Keefe (20-year book publishing veteran and book marketing guru)

* Deb DiSandro (syndicated humor columnist, radio personality, creative writing instructor and author of Tales of a Slightly Off Supermom)

* Gordon Kirkland (syndicated humor columnist and author of "Justice Is Blind -- And Her Dog Just Peed In My Cornflakes")

* Allison Hemming (author of the book "Work it!," who has been called "the greatest networker the world has ever known." )

* Patricia Wynn Brown (three-time winner of the James Thurber "My Life and Hard Times" writing contest )

MEET THE FACULTY: http://www.humorwriters.org/Speakerbios.html

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE: http://www.humorwriters.org/Sessions.html

REGISTER TODAY: http://www.humorwriters.org/Registernow.html

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ANATOMY OF A FIRST BOOK

Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop director, Tim Bete, recently sold his first book. How did he sell it? What type of query letter did he use? What would he do differently if he did it over again?

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

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ANATOMY OF A QUERY LETTER

How do you write a killer query letter? Book marketing guru Steve O'Keefe provides a straight-forward formula.

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

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8 WAYS TO PROMOTE YOUR WRITING ONLINE

Promoting your writing online isn't difficult but it doestake some time and effort. Here are eight ways to do it right.

See http://www.humorwriters.org/8waystopromote.html

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AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PRINCE OF DORKNESS

Steve Kissing's first book, "Running from the Devil: A Memoir of a Boy Possessed," is a fascinating read. He blends humor and honesty in a way that takes the reader back to his or her own childhood. When I chatted with Steve, he offered some great advice on writing and marketing a book.

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

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'SAVVY' SUCCESS IN SELF-SYNDICATION

Dave Astor tells how columnist Jim Miller got his column into more than 400 papers and landed three appearances on the Today show.

See http://alumni.udayton.edu/rd.asp?cd=AstorEBWW903&rf=EBWW903

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HOUSEWIFE CONFIDENTIAL

A tribute to the old-fashioned housewife, and to Erma Bombeck, her champion and guide.

See http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2003/09/flanagan.htm

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ON THE ROAD WITH A SYNDICATE SALES REP

Dave Astor shows what it's like to sell columns and comics.

See http://alumni.udayton.edu/rd.asp?cd=Astor2EBWW0903&rf=EBWW0903

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LOVE ME

Garrison Keillor's short story about a washed-up writer is a must read.

See http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2003/07/keillor.htm

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SECRETS OF THE BEST SELLER LISTS

Robyn Jackson gives the inside scoop on how "best seller" lists are determined.

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

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WHO'S PUBLISHING WHAT?

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DEATH OF A DOMESTIC DIVA: Dayton Daily News humor columnist, Sharon Short, has published the first novel in her Josie Toadfern humorous mystery series. Avon Books is the publisher. See http://www.sharonshort.com

WHAT'S WRONG WITH DORFMAN? John Blumenthal has written his fourth humorous book, published by St. Martin's Press. See http://www.whatswrongwithdorfman.com

TIM'S FAMILY ROOM: Tim Herrera, author of "I’m Their Dad! Not Their Babysitter!" and "Where the Dust Never Settles," has created a new Web site. See http://www.timherrera.com

DIARY OF A MOTHER: Christine Louise Hohlbaum, writer and busy mother of two small children, has written her first book. iUniverse is the publisher. See http://www.mypages.iparenting.com/webs/diaryofamother/diaryofamother.html

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HUMOR WRITER OF THE MONTH: DEBBIE FARMER

Debbie Farmer began writing her family humor column "Family Daze" in 1996 after the birth of her material (Heather and Ben) with nothing but a few pencils and a Brother word processor. Now it's syndicated by Oasis Newsfeatures Syndicate to more than 40 newspapers -- and more than 400,000 readers a week.

See http://www.familydaze.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 Shelly Jones from New Bloomfield MO. Shelly has won a copy of "Write the Perfect Book Proposal: 10 That Sold and Why" by Jeff Herman and Deborah Levine Herman, 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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PERSONAL ESSAYS: Check out these paying markets. See http://www.writersweekly.com/articles/081303-01.html

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THE GREAT WORD OFF: Write the funniest story using a minimum of 30 of 34 specified words. Sept. 30 deadline. See http://www.witwords.com/contest2.cfm

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A WOMAN'S WRITE: Monthly writing contests. See http://www.awomanswrite.com

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NOVEL WRITING COMPETITION: Donard Publishing is looking for writers. See http://www.donardpublishing.com/novel03.html

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WRITER CLASSIFIEDS: Connecting writers and opportunities. See http://www.writerclassifieds.com

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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

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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OTHER ERMA BOMBECK WRITING WORKSHOP LINKS

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

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE http://www.humorwriters.org/Sessions.html

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

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