Greetings!
Ah...I'm feeling relaxed and
inspired already! The word "escape" makes
me think of freedom, wide-open spaces, and
creative writing time.
As a writer, it's important to expand your
knowledge of the writing world around you and
work on your craft. Attending a writing
conference will certainly give your
creativity a boost as you garner writing
advice from professionals and network with
other like-minded individuals. If you haven't
attended a writer's conference, make it a
priority to discover what conferences are
nearby and attend. The articles in this issue
will provide you with all the information you
need to ensure that your first conference is
a positive and fruitful experience. And if
you're familiar with conferences, you will
delight in new finds and delve deeper into
the conference scene as you read interviews
from conference founders and participants.
Feel the energetic buzz that only a writing
conference can bring!
Another great way for a writer to escape is
by journeying to a writing retreat. Retreats
are the ultimate vacation for writers!
Imagine having undisturbed writing time in a
gorgeous setting--what could be better? This
issue we unearth hidden retreat
treasures--from the portable writing retreat
to exotic locales--all of them bound to
inspire your inner muse. So, pack your bags
and come along as we explore the possibilities.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This issue is sponsored by:
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material on ANY SUBJECT fast. Expand research
across the Web; Produce better work, FASTER.
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your deadlines and make more money as a
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A big, warm, Thank You goes out to our
freelancers & staff:
We welcome Karon Goodman, a new
freelancer, to the WOW! family. Karon
shares her expert advice and teaches us how
to create a writing retreat.
We welcome back Cathy C. Hall this
issue and thank her for providing us with the
cheap
writer's guide to conferences.
To WOW! columnist, Marcia
Peterson, for her fun and informative interview
with author Jennifer Musselman.
To WOW! columnist, Susan
Eberling, for providing us with two
fantastic articles this month! Susan interviews
Elizabeth Ayres on the portable writing
retreat, and she provides readers with
delicious eye-candy in our Must-Have Writing
Retreats column.
We welcome Barbara Hudgins, a new
freelancer, to the WOW! family.
Barbara heads up the How
2 column this month and teaches us how to
create a travel piece from your visit.
We also welcome Empish J. Thomas to
the WOW! family. Her interview with
author and licensed writing therapist Carol
Celeste, will inspire you to use writing
for healing and growth.
To WOW! columnist, Margo L.
Dill, for providing us with two articles
this month! Margo interviews Carolyn
Yoder, senior editor of Highlights for
Children, on the Chautauqua Writing
Workshops. Margo also shares an exciting
recap of the Words
in the Woods Retreat she recently
attended.
To C. Hope Clark for guiding shy
writers through the conference scene.
Hope makes any shy writer feel proud and
points out the strengths of being an
introvert. It's about time, hooray!
To WOW! team member, Jill Earl,
for her informative article on conference
basics for newbie writers featured in the Freelancer's
Corner Column. Great job Jill!
And last, but certainly not least, to senior
editor, Annette Fix, for her excellent
editing skills and attention to detail.
----------
Note to SPRING '08 Contestants:
As you may have noticed, the Spring 2008
Flash Fiction Contest Winners feature is
still not live. We have a placeholder for it
on the homepage,
and are working swiftly to
critique stories and deliver the final
results.
The Spring '08 season was the first contest
to run with the critique option, and we
underestimated the time it would take to
complete the critiques, but you can be
assured that your stories will receive the
extra attention they deserve. This month,
July 2008, we will be posting the contest
winners in a feature on the homepage.
Be sure
to bookmark it, and please check back often.
Thank you for your patience and best of luck!
----------
Summer 2008 Contest:
Contest Details:
Deadline: Aug 31st, Midnight
(Pacific Time) Word Count: 250 - 500
words
OPEN PROMPT!
This will be the last season for an open
prompt, so if you've been thinking about
entering, now is the time!
We're open to any style and genre. From
horror to romance! So, get creative, and most
of all, have fun. Just keep in mind that it
must be fiction and must be within the word
count. Visit our Contest
Page and download the new Terms &
Conditions.
Your fabulous guest judge for this season is
Literary Agent Elise Capron. Get your
work reviewed by a top literary agent! To
find out more about Elise and the Sandra
Dijkstra Agency, please visit: www.dijkstraagency.com
Don't Wait Until the Last Minute... ENTER
TODAY
Check out our exclusive interview
with Elise Capron and get some insider info!
----------
Join the WOW! Family!
WOW! is growing at an exponential rate
and with increased industry recognition comes
great new opportunities for you to get
involved!
We are currently seeking women who love the
WOW! brand and spirit and would like
to work behind the scenes.
Independent Sales Representatives
(commission based): If you love sales and
can sell ice cubes to Eskimos, we are looking
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the site. Please download our Media
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Interns: We have several diverse
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Most of our interns have been aspiring or
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Prospective interns must have: reliable
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software programs such as MS Word and Excel,
strong proficiency in use of English
language, and of course, WOW! spirit!
If interested, please submit an email to [email protected].
Include your previous writing and work
experience, education, writing interests, any
links to your blog or website, and a brief
statement about why you would make a great
candidate for the WOW! Intern Program.
We look forward to working with you!
----------
Now on to the issue...enjoy!
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The Cheap Writer's Guide to Conferences
By Cathy C. Hall
In this economy, we all have to watch our
spending. Cathy C. Hall pinches pennies and
shows you how to use your skinny wallet and
tight budget to attend the writer's
conference of your dreams!
Cathy's tips include:
- The Shorter but Cheaper Conference
- To Submit or Not to Submit? That's a Good
Question
- The Buddy System
- Choose Wisely, Grasshopper
- Freebies, Oh-h-h-oh-h-oh Freebies
- The Tax Man Cometh
Curious? Check out this fun-loving and
helpful article!
MORE>>
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Give Yourself the Ultimate Gift that Gives Back
ALL YEAR ROUND!
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that simply
"list" a bunch of markets without any personal
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you'll have access to a private community of
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We know that becoming a freelance writer
takes more than just market listings. You'll
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PREMIUM GREEN:
- Monthly 100+ page ebook in friendly
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I.T.T. In the Trenches, Tips & Tricks, Meet
Your Mentor, Get Writing Mamas!, Project
Workbook, and more...
- Access to the PG Subscribers
Group: Network with your peers through
the Google list-serve, post
discussions, ask questions, and receive
insider tips.
- Documents for PG Subscribers:
Upload, download, and share content with
the group. We put up f*r*e*e* articles,
contracts, and ebooks for the group each
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- First Calls from WOW!: We
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immediate calls for what we need on the spot
(or when we're in a crunch) to fill each
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- Pink & Green: Find women's markets
only, and get insight from the editors and
what their needs are right now.
- Markets, markets, and more
markets. We provide markets for all
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markets, slogans, and anything you can write
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out our markets
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Earn the money you deserve, and get a real
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The subscription price is $48 a
year, which is $4 per month. We want to
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you!
Let's make this a
banner year for all women writers. We can
only do it by helping each other and creating
a strong network and community for ourselves.
Together, we can do it!
VISIT OUR MARKETS PAGE >>
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The Great Escape! Writing Retreats
By Susan Eberling & Angela Mackintosh
What could be more inspirational than packing
your bags and laptop and heading off to a
gorgeous locale where you have nothing but
beautiful scenery and plenty of time to
write? WOW! kicks off the summer fun
with an inspirational selection of writer's
retreats that are bound to fuel your creative
soul.
Want to write about your Must-Haves?
We're collecting them all for compilation!
Write about yours by emailing us at: [email protected]
and tell us about your favorite product,
website, gadget, retreat, or relaxation
tool--anything that's helped your writing
experience. We're open to suggestions!
Want to submit your product for review?
Email [email protected]
and ask for advertorial details. Please note:
we only review products that we believe are
useful.
MORE>>
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Special Offer for WOW! Readers!
15% OFF Regular Subscription Price!
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WOW! BLOG: THE MUFFIN
Find out the latest from the Bakers of WOW!
Have you checked out what we've been baking
for you on the daily Muffin? We've stirred
together some traditional ingredients with
new ones to deliver more interviews,
enlightenment, thought-provoking ideas, and
inspirational messages to help you through
those gray writing days.
----------
Pump Up the Book Promotion!
Schedule a Blog
Tour with
WOW! Women On
Writing, and our Sister Blogs:
We love to promote women authors! If you're
interested in finding out more details,
please email us with "Blog Tours" in your
subject line.
Send your request to:
WOW!'s Blog Mistress, Marcia Peterson:
[email protected]
or to the Editors: [email protected]
Please include:
- Book Title
- Publication/Launch Date
- Author Bio and Links
- Tour Dates: First Choice
- Any Additional Info--to help us help
you!
We love working one-on-one with authors to
create the best possible campaign and
exposure. Promotion is our expertise! We
receive
over a million page views per month--and
that's not to mention, our sister
sites. So,
pump up your book promotion by
contacting us. We're here to help, and our
prices are very reasonable. Our goal is to
promote, and support, you as an author.
----------
Never Stale! Here's the Latest:
Tuesday Contest Winner Interviews:
If you're interested in our writing contests,
find out the scoop from previous winners!
Winter
'08 Contest Runner Up - Stephanie Haefner
Interviewed by LuAnn Schindler
Winter
'08 Contest Runner Up - Andrea Dennin
Interviewed by Jill Earl
Winter
'08 Contest Runner Up - Kim Hytinen
Interviewed by Carrie Hulce
Winter
'08 Contest Runner Up - Sarah Brady
Interviewed by LuAnn Schindler
Winter
'08 Contest Runner Up - Rebecca Jens
Interviewed by Valerie Fentress
Winter
'08 Contest Runner Up - Allie Comeau
Interviewed by Margo Dill
Remember: Tuesdays are Contest
Winner Interviews, so check back and learn
from the writers that won our guest judge's
hearts and captured the prize!
Blog Posts of Interest:
HARO
- A GREAT RESOURCE By Annette Fix
If you're an author looking and looking for
the opportunity to be quoted in articles or
even featured in stories, you may be the
expert reporters are looking for. And if
you're a journalist, you can post calls for
experts as well. Check out this hidden
treasure of a resource! Best of all...it's
f*r*e*e*!
After
the Conference Let Down--Don't Let it Happen
to You By Margo Dill
What do you do after a conference or a
writers' retreat? Margo has some outstanding
tips to help you beat the
post-conference/retreat blues to help you
keep your buzz!
Are
All Media Worldwide Rights Becoming the
Norm?
By Angela Mackintosh
As a freelancer it's important to know what's
going on in the publishing world. That
includes understanding the rights to your
written work. Read what scary trends are
taking over the marketplace today, and learn
what you can do to protect yourself.
All
Hail the Mighty Librarian
By Susan Eberling
Librarians are experts at research. Learn how
to tap their knowledge of online databases
and celebrate these beautiful, noble people
for giving you the tools to research well.
What
He Said/She Said About Attributive
Clauses
By Annette Fix
Are you guilty of overusing busy attributives
and wrylies? Learn what they are and how to
avoid them. "Keep it simple," she said.
The
Inside Scoop on Finding Freelance Writing
Jobs
By Margo Dill
Learn how to navigate the freelance job
boards and discover some great tips from a
writer in the trenches! Margo provides good
advice on what to look out for and how to be
prepared in the highly competitive world of
freelance gigs.
Positive
Changes Inventory
By Marcia Peterson
We're already halfway through 2008, and
instead of flogging yourself for goals not
met, try acknowledging the positive steps
you've taken so far this year. Marcia poses
some great questions to help you take
inventory!
How
to Pitch in 30 Seconds or Less
By Angela Mackintosh
Learn how you can craft and rehearse sound
bites to better prepare you to pitch your
story idea, book, job skills...practically
anything!
Tips
For Promoting Your Book at a Book Fair
By Annette Fix
Annette provides a helpful checklist of
recommended items to take to your next book
fair to make it a smashing success!
Read
Any Books That Make You See Red Lately?
By Jill Earl
Have you ever actually hated a book? Jill
mentions a recent article where critics
listed books they not only hated, but
couldn't bring themselves to read again.
Curious to find out if any of your favorites
are on that list?
Finding
Inspiration, Part 4
By LuAnn Schindler
Even if you haven't followed the series,
you'll want to read this installment of
LuAnn's tried and true methods for generating
ideas that turn into freelance cash. In this
installment, LuAnn writes a letter to a
spaghetti sauce company and is surprised when
they send her a year's supply of coupons!
Stress!!!
By Carrie Hulce
There are so many things that bring stress to
our lives--financial problems, our family,
etc.--but finding a way to channel our
stresses can certainly make us feel better.
When writing doesn't cut it, check out these
other resources that may provide you with the
release you need!
~~~~~~~
Want to participate on The Muffin?
Email our Blog Mistress, Marcia Peterson, with
your request: [email protected]
Visit The Muffin >>
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Upcoming Events
Get Involved
The Power of Words Conference: Liberation
through the Spoken, Written and Sung Word
www.goddard.edu/powerofwords
When: Sept. 12-15, 2008
Where: Goddard College, Plainfield,
VT
Seek greater freedom and transformation for
yourself and your community through the power
of words at this unique gathering of people
who write, tell stories, perform, and do
other language arts. Make community with
others in the emerging field of
Transformative Language Arts, and discover
ways to make a living doing what you love.
Keynotes: Walter Mosley, Bread and Puppet
Theatre, Kelley Hunt, Rick Jarow, Sherry
Reiter, Lewis Mehl-Medrona plus 25 more
presenters. Organized by Goddard College's
Transformative Language Arts Concentration,
this conference features hands-on workshops,
performances, open readings & celebrations at
the peak of fall foliage.
Conference costs start at $210 for
registration plus additional fees for pre-
and post-conference workshops. Lodging and
meals on campus begin at $216/double or
$276/single. Some partial scholarships
available including scholarships through the
Roxanne Florence Fund for people of color.
Work-study positions available. Professional
and poetry therapy hours available.
Complete schedule and registration at www.goddard.edu/powerofwords
or call 802.454.8311, x204.
~~~~~~~~~~
Write to Dream Radio Show
July 14, 2008, 7PM EST
Cost: F*R*E*E
Topic: Who are you writing for?
This session of Write to Dream Radio Show is
essential for any professional woman writer
or expert who wants to get published by a top
publisher. Amy Tannenbaum, Associate editor
of Atria Books, an imprint of Simon and
Schuster, will reveal key knowledge that can
impact not only the quality of your book, but
its ability to attract a publisher and media
attention. Even if you plan to self-publish
your book, this show will help you to:
- Know what a platform is and how to build
it so that your book sells well.
- Understand your readership even before
you begin writing.
- Know when and how to begin marketing your
book.
- Quicken the creation of your Marketing
Plan with laser-focused pointers by Maria
Mar.
- Get a sense of the path you need to
follow to make your book visible.
- Enjoy the publishing success story and
rich narrative of Anjanette Delgado, author
of the witty and insightful novel The
Heartbreak Pill.
Note: This event is only for women and it is
free.
If you can't make it that day, you can hear
the recording.
Register at: http://www.writetodream.com/radioshow.htm
~~~~~~~~~~
The Muse Online Writers Conference: The
Only online conference of its kind!
When: October 13 - 19, 2008
DEADLINE: Register by September 1, 2008
If you haven't attended before, make it a
must this year! "Our Online Writers
Conference is aimed to offer you, the writer,
whatever resource we can to give you the
opportunity to better your craft, to offer
the opportunity to make some contacts to get
you to that next level all writers seek and
that is to be published."
Jean Lauzier, of StoryCrafters,
interviewed conference founder, Lea Schizas,
in WOW's
September Review Column. Get the inside
scoop from Lea and learn more about the
conference.
To find out more about their numerous
presenters, and to register, please visit The
Muse Online Writers Conference Website.
Hope to "see" you there!
~~~~~~~~~~
Journeys for Women with Cahoots
Magazine
A Winnipeg woman, Ruth Jensen, now living in
New Delhi, wants to share her experience of
living in exotic India with other adventurous
women or women who want to become more
adventurous!
Embark on a journey with Jensen's travel
company, Lodestone Travel and Tours, and
Cahoots Magazine designed for women travelers
who seek adventure and connection in a safe
group environment led by knowledgeable
guides. This will be a tour unlike any other
group tour where we will explore a rich and
exotic culture through being with the people,
exploring their customs and sacred places,
and immersing ourselves in the culture, the
smells and food, the clothing and art.
Carla Atherton, editor of Cahoots Magazine,
will be there to write about the experience
and will be working with interested
participants in the writing of their own
experiences while in India. If participants
would like to share the writing that comes
out of our journey, it will be
included in a special feature for
publication in the winter 2008-2009 edition
of Cahoots.
Come to write, come to grow, or come simply
to enjoy.
Tour dates:
India and Nepal
November 13th-December 5th, 2008
India only: November 13th-29th, 2008
Upcoming Tours:
Crafts and Artisans Tour: Southwest India and
Thailand
January 13th-January 30th, 2009
Nepal Himalayan Adventure Tour
February 28-march 14, 2009
For more information, registration forms, and
itinerary, please contact Carla Atherton at
[email protected]
or go to www.cahootsmagazine.com
~~~~~~~~~~
Do you have an event that you'd like to
share? If you think our readers would enjoy
it, please send a detailed announcement to:
[email protected]
and we'll consider publishing it in our
Upcoming Events Column.
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WOW! Women On Writing Freelance Job Board
Have you visited the job board lately?
Writers, Editors, for Womens Online
Magazine
Description: The position calls for
new or experienced writers, bloggers, video
web journalists/webcasters and editors with a
passion for fashion, beauty, diet, fitness,
health, and men.
The website is currently under construction
and is scheduled to launch Feb 2009.
Interested participants should not hesitate
to respond as payment in form of company
share percentage will be discussed and
awarded to trustworthy and serious
writers/editors.
Initial salary is volunteer-$5 per article.
Every article must be original. Deadline for
response/reply/application is August 31 2008.
Send a very brief letter of interest, a
paragraph or two and a writing writing
sample(s). Feel free to ask any questions.
Orji, L.
[email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~
Writers: Find jobs on the freelance
job board today!
Employers: Post gigs, calls for
submissions, and reach freelance writers!
VISIT THE FREELANCE JOB BOARD>>
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Visit our sponsor:
Slash
Your Research Time & Make More Money
Writing!
Write more, earn more. Cut research time by
79%. Push-button solution helps find key
material on ANY SUBJECT fast. Expand research
across the Web; Produce better work, FASTER.
Meet deadlines with ease. Gain EXPERT status
on any topic. New high-speed research tool
with sharpshooter precision places the
world's largest resource center at your
command and control 24/7. Get more time for
your deadlines and make more money as a
writer today.
Click
Here To Claim Your FREE Video
Please visit our sponsor and find out more
about this wonderful research tool for writers!
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ANNOUNCEMENTS: From WOW! Subscribers and Alumni
Let's kick off the
congrats:
---------- Sandi Ault:
WOW! Alumni Member, Sandi Ault's book
Wild Indigo Receives the Prestigious
Simon & Schuster/Mary Higgins Clark Award!
The Mystery Writers of America announced
their Edgar Allan Poe Awards category winner
for The Simon & Schuster/Mary Higgins Clark
Award. The winner of this prize is Sandi
Ault's WILD
INDIGO. It is the first time a
debut mystery novel has received this award.
Ms. Ault is available for interview. In
addition to her work as an author, she
provides lively commentary on issues
concerning wolves, wildlife and the vanishing
West, Native American issues, ruins and
indigenous rock art, wildland fire and
firefighting, and the Southwest in general.
Ault has sold four WILD Mysteries to
Penguin/Berkley Prime Crime, and she is
especially honored to receive the Edgar� for
the debut episode of her work.
WILD INDIGO's success is only the beginning
for author Ault. The second in the series,
WILD
INFERNO, was released in February, 2008,
simultaneously with the paperback edition of
WILD INDIGO. Reviewers are touting the
latest release, WILD INFERNO, as even better
than the debut Edgar Award� winner.
The third installment, WILD SORROW, is
already in editorial process at Berkley.
Keep an eye on Ault as she continues to
develop the WILD series, which weaves the
mysticism of Indian cultures with the
excitement of a young woman working as a
Resource Protection Agent and living with a
wolf in a series of WILD outdoor adventures.
Read more about Ault and the WILD mystery
series at www.sandiault.com
----------
Are you an WOW! Subscriber who'd like
to be in
our announcements section?
We'd love to hear what you've been up to!
Drop us a note: [email protected]
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In Closing:
We hope this issue has inspired you to take
advantage of all the wonderful writing
retreats and conferences that are out there.
It's important to expand your horizons and
make time to write!
Even if you don't have a big budget, there's
something for everyone. We hope the articles
have prepared you with the knowledge you need to
make the most out of your experience. You
deserve it! And, Write On!
Warmest,
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