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ERMA BOMBECK WRITERS' WORKSHOP NEWSLETTER
University of Dayton
December 2005
mailto:erma@udayton.edu
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Dear writer:
I've been contacted by many PR firms and services offering to help me promote
numbers never work out. Based on my royalty rate, I didn't think the publicity
they could provide would generate enough sales for me to break even on their
fees. But I recently found a blog publicity service that was cost effective. For $500,
my book was reviewed on 29 blogs. That's less than $20 per blog. You can read
What are your experiences paying for book publicity? What's worked and what
hasn't? Let me know and I'll share your ideas in future newsletters.
Keep writing!
Tim Bete
Latest news...
WORD PLAY
Language holds a key role in writing humor. In the December issue of Writer's Digest, Tim Bete provides six steps to help you find the perfect word to nail a punchline. Read more.
STEVE MARTIN WINS MARK TWAIN AWARD
JON STEWART WINS THURBER PRIZE FOR HUMOR
DAVE BARRY WINS CRONKITE AWARD
2006 Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop faculty member, Dave Barry, recently won the annual Walter Cronkite award for journalism. The key to his success has been keeping his sense of humor. Read more.
"DICK TRACY" COMIC STRIP CREATOR DIES
Michael Kilian, an award-winning reporter and columnist for the Chicago Tribune who wrote 24 books and the "Dick Tracy" comic strip during a long and colorful career, died on Oct. 26. Kilian won the United Press International's humor writing award in 1971. Read more.
NOVELIST TO WED MAIN CHARACTER
Judith Babs Lowery is set to marry Dash Urbane, the main character from her spy romance novel series, early next year. Her feelings for Dash have apparently grown during the series. Read more.
BBC CREATES COMEDY WRITING APPRENTICESHIPS
Every new comedy program on BBC Television will have a trainee writing position, following the creation of a £150,000 apprenticeship fund by the corporation. Read more.
DILBERT BLOG
Scott Adams has created a new blog with new postings nearly every day. Read more.
GET YOUR WORK CRITIQUED
E-mail your work or synopsis (up to 1000 words) to this professional book editor for an honest critique. Response time is two to three weeks. Read more.
THE SOLUTION TO SUBMSSION SETBACKS
How do you continue the seemingly endless cycle of submitting work and receiving criticism? C.J. Van Gieson suggests plain, old fashioned naiveté. Read more.
THE ZEN OF REJECTION
Magdalena Ball provides advice on the best way to deal with rejection letters: "Ask for help from a clued-in editor, gather in the criticism, and get back to work." Read more.
BEYOND THE BOOKSTORE
Mary Emma Allen offers 12 quick tips for promoting and selling your book outside the typical markets of bookstores. Read more.
THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSIGNMENT
An “author marketing questionnaire” allows you to tell your publisher the important ideas in your book, because after all, no one knows a book better than its author. Read more.
YOU CAN JUDGE A MAGAZINE BY ITS COVER
The Magazine Publishers of America have released a list of the top 40 magazine covers in the past 40 years. The comprehensive list includes everything from The New Yorker to ESPN: The Magazine. Read more.
PROTOONER IS BACK
ProTooner, a magazine for cartoonists is back, this time in electronic form. Visit their Web site for a free online sample issue.
Humor writer of the month
JENNIFER KARIN
Jennifer Karin is an author, columnist, wife and mother of three—though not in that order. Her books include Letters to a Girl and The Bear Who Loves Halloween. She is a columnist for The Undertoad, a political newspaper in Massachusetts. Karin has recently launched a new column called "Zen Mother," which appears in The Newburyport Current. She is a member of The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators and The National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Visit her Web site.
Emmis Books 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:
* DC Stanfa
* Rosalie Villafrate
* Gina Ellis
Who's publishing what?
WORKSHOP FACULTY
ON THE STAGE: Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant will have her first stage play produced. “Are We There Yet,” a humorous look at friendship, betrayal, and reincarnation, debuts in January 2006.
UNCOMMON WISDOM: Dave Lieber's article, "Create Buzz for yout self-published book," will be published in the Feb. issue of The Writer magazine.
WORKSHOP ATTENDEES
SMALL TOWN HUMOR: Margo Bates use personal experience as a basis for her book P.S. Don’t Tell Your Mother. The book traces the life of Nana Noonan, a local legend of Telkwa, British Columbia, population 852.
ALL ABOUT CATS: Cotton mice found doing the dead man’s float in the water dish. 5 a.m. wake-up calls. A “no-closed doors” policy. The cat declares war when put on a diet. All chronicled in Dena Harris’ Lessons in Stalking.
GALLAGHER'S WORK ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE: Danny Gallagher's “Spreading Some Christmas Jeers,” a much-needed review of those heartwarming holiday films, is being performed by the Shadowbox Cabaret in Columbus, Ohio.
ADVENTURES OF A COLLEGE MASCOT: This children’s’ book is about Purdue Pete, the mascot for Purdue University. Learn more about how Purdue alum Angie Klink wrote Purdue Pete Find His Hammer.
OTHER PUBLISHING NEWS
BLY PROVIDES FREELANCE ADVICE: Robert Bly's Getting Started as a Freelance Writer shows how to start, run, and build a freelance writing business doing whatever type of writing you prefer.
HARDLY ORDINARY: Amy Krouse Rosenthal has published Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life. "I have not survived against all odds. I have not lived to tell. I have not witnessed the extraordinary. This is my story."
Markets, contests and more
SMALL ANIMAL VET HUMOR NEEDED: The editor of a veterinary magazine dedicated to young doctors who have just entered private practice is looking for a humor columnist. Columnist should poke fun at the daily issues of operating a veterinary practice. Contact Kathy Baumgardner.
HUMOR IN THE WORKPLACE: Best-selling author Allen Klein is looking for funny stories about the workplace or classroom (approximately 150 words) to include in his next book. E-mail your published or original work to humor@allenklein.com.
PUBLISH A PERSONAL TESTAMENT: Send a story about the strength and courage of the human spirit to Irene Watson for possible publication in her next book. Submissions must be sent by January 31, 2006. Read more.
WRITING FOR WOMEN’S MARKETS: "Selling to the Sisterhood" is taught by full-time freelance writer, Jennifer Nelson, whose work has appeared in publications including Writer’s Digest and The Washington Post. The curriculum covers writing articles, essays and stories for women’s magazines. Read more.
ESSAY CONTEST: Submit an essay on the influence of adults as positive role models, great parents, or about using world disasters to teach children. The first place winner will be published, receive a $100 prize, and an appearance on nationally syndicated radio program "Be the Star You Are." Read more.
FELIX MORLEY JOURNALISM COMPETITION: The Institute for Humane Studies is holding an annual competition for students under the age of 25. Applicants must submit three to five clippings of their published work. Read more.
ACCESS TO PUBLISHERS: The Web version of the annually published Writer’s Market provides information to thousands of markets and publishers. Members can search for contact information by publication title, category and keyword. Read more.
SCI-FI AWARD: The Isaac Asimov Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing is now accepting manuscripts for the 2005 award. Submissions must be between 1,000 and 10,000 words. Read more.
FREELANCING NEWSLETTER: Every month, this free newsletter provides contact information for newspapers looking for freelance work. The newsletter focuses on much more than current news pieces, from topics such as travel to family. Read more.
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE CONTEST: Send your children’s books in for a chance to win The Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature. After 20 to 25 finalists are chosen, the winner is chosen by four classes of children between the ages of 8 and 10. Read more.
WRITERS NETWORK: The Small Publishers, Artists, and Writers Network (SPAWN) offers outlets to publish and market your work. Read more.
BOULEVARD MAGAZINE: The magazine hosts annual contests for both short fiction and poetry. Send your work in by December 15. Read more.
MONTHLY CONTESTS: Byline Magazine has monthly contests for fiction, essays, and poetry. Deadlines for December start on the 10th. Read more.
ONLINE BOOK REVIEWS: A long list of book reviews. The site also has many links to national writing award Websites. Read more.
A NEW VIDLIT: This time the folks at VidLit.com preview the book Fried Twinkies, Buckle Bunnies, and Bull Riders: A Year inside the Professional Bull Riders Tour. See it for yourself.
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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 2005, University of Dayton
