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For the FULL listing
of all of Alice's April Events
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NC Writers' Network Spring Conference is
Saturday,
April 13, 2013
8-5pm
UNC-Greensboro
$99, members
$150 nonmembers
Details
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Kakalak 2013
The journal featuring North and South Carolina poets and artists returns. Reading period is April 1 to May 31. Submit one to three poems, up to 60 lines each, for a $10 reading fee. Info
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Jacar Press 2013 Book Competitions
Full length poetry book competition, poetry chapbook competition
and call for poems for an anthology, "What Matters?"
Deadline May 15
Info HERE
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Know a young reader or writer? Send them to N.C. State this summer! Sponsored by the English Department within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the N.C. State University Young and Teen Writers' Workshops nurture the creative spirit and teach creative writing skills and techniques. Applications for the 2013 workshops are now open! Deadline is June 3.
Young Writers' Workshop: rising 4th-8th graders, July 8-19 Teen Writers' Workshop: rising 9th graders-college freshmen, July 22-Aug. 2 Tuition is $250/two week session. Workshops meet each weekday from 1:30-4 p.m. For more information and application:
Click Here
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Connect with Alice
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Greetings!
 Email me here.
National Poetry Month has been celebrated since 1996. What would it take for you to invite more poetry into your life this month? If you work in either fiction or nonfiction, reading and practicing poetry will make you a better writer. I guarantee it! In fact, I'll make a bet that if you're willing to participate in my FREE Poetry Workshop on Sunday April 14 at the Nazim Hikmet Poetry Festival in Cary and aren't satisfied, I'll return your money!
Here are 7 ways you can celebrate National Poetry Month:
- Celebrate a poem in your pocket day-select a poem and share it with friends, family and coworkers
- Read a book of poetry
- Memorize your favorite poem
- Write a poem in chalk on your sidewalk
- Attend a poetry reading
- Read a poem at an open mic (check out local open mics below)
- Subscribe to www.poets.org
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For this month's random contest, I'd like to have you Email Me your favorite poem and tell me why it's your favorite! Congrats to Fran Wheeler who won last month's contest. Thank you so much, Fran! Here's her poem:
March Gladness by Fran Wheeler
March first appears on the back of the great Welsh Dragon-
Soaring down from Snowdonia, calling the Welsh to celebrate St David,
Beloved Patron Saint, although he couldn't best St. George and the English.
Soar on then, great red dragon-next to Texas!
A wing dip above the Alamo to celebrate Bowie and Austin and Davy Crockett!
The battle was lost, but the war was won for Texas Independence.
Fly on now, ignoring the dentists, the pork roasts and Nasty Day.
But salute the workingwomen with a roar, as well as the Girl Scouts,
With us for a hundred years now, providing the best cookies ever!
O great red dragon, give a winged salute to Johnny Appleseed, the great planter!
Then, cris-crossing time and space, watch poor Caesar die again,
Cut down by friend and foe in the name of freedom, upon those dreadful Ides!
On to Ireland now where great St Patrick spread the word of God,
But could not protect his Celts before St. George.
Again the English won the day, but who is celebrating them?
Fly round the earth, sound the alarm as those below celebrate our planet!
Oh yes, they celebrate, but most give no thought to preserving
This tiny orb, the jewel of our cosmos, our only home.
Then dance, great dragon, dance the great dance with players and teams (especially mine)
As basketball captures all attention in America and even further a field!
Who will cut the nets and win the cup, saluted as the number one?
At last, great dragon, return to your mountain
As your own Welsh people and the Christian world celebrate
The greatest victory of all on Easter Morning.
Rest, dear dragon, as the world falls into the day of fools.
April, come she must.
It's only 5 months till my Dream It, Do It Women's Writing Retreat and for this month, I'm offering $200 off the regular tuition. Check out the coupon at the end of this newsletter. Also, Ask Me about the installment plan.
**Check out my upcoming workshops and other events by downloading the PDF at the top of this newsletter and reading the event schedule below**
And check the various writing opportunities/contests on the left-hand margin!
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 To become an accomplished writer, you need to master 5 things: characterization, dialogue, plot, style and voice.
Stay true to your voice throughout the writing of your book. If you break with your voice, the book dies.
Try writing a story as an "inverted pyramid." Facts first, then elaboration.
Until you decide the story is finished, the plot is tentative.
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Wake County Open Mics
Royal Bean Coffee House (Literary Open Mic)
1st Thurs of every month
Next one is Thurs April 4th
Time: 7-8:30pm
Organizer: Maureen Sherbondy
Fuquay Varina Third Thursdays Open Mic Reading Series (Literary Open Mic)
Lazy Lion Used Books
Time: 6-8:30pm
3rd Thursday of every month (Thurs. April 18th)
Organizer: Jan B. Parker
Amplified Voices Poetry Open Mic (poetry and music)
Amplified Art Gallery, City Market, 325 Blake St. Downtown Raleigh
4th Tuesday of the month, 7:00-9:00 pm (Tues. April 23rd)
Organizer: Glenn CassidyEnjoy a glass of wine and original poetry in an intimate setting with music-themed art displayed on the walls. Beer, wine, and bottled water are available for purchase, as is the art.
Saints and Scholars Open Mic (music only)
Saints and Scholars Pub, 909 Spring Forest Rd., N Raleigh
Every Tuesday, starting at 7:30pm with accoustic
Organizer: Phil Okrend
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April Events and Programs!er |
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How to Write the Next Great American Novel with Alice Osborn
Location: Center for Excellence, 3803-B Computer Dr. Suite 106, Raleigh, NC
Saturday, April 6, 2013 Time: 9:30am-1:30pm
Tuition: $59
Online Class
Fiction begins with the main character wanting something so badly it hurts. Your job as the writer is to make life very difficult for your main character so a fresh and inventive plot and story will emerge without clich�. We'll discuss the craft of fiction, which includes point of view, setting, dialogue and figurative language. Alice will give in-class prompts to strengthen and support your work. All levels of fiction writers are encouraged to attend. Alice is an experienced fiction book editor who has guided scores of novelists on the traditional and independent path to publication.
Creating Fresh Content for Your Blog at WritersOnlineClasses.com
Online Class
April 8, 2013-April 21, 2013 Cost : $25
We all know blogging is vital to build your "platform" and attract readers. If you have a blog do you get stuck trying to figure out what to say in your blog posts? You are a writer, but how many times does frustration hit when you don't know what to say? Do you wonder how other bloggers always have something new to contribute? Blogs grow and attract readers because of their content and because they help readers solve problems. Join experienced blogger Alice Osborn as she shares tips and tricks on gathering ideas, creating the perfect headline, and developing posting templates to make content creation a snap. All of these techniques have proven results! Most of all, Alice will drive home that blogs need to be reader-centered and they need to answer the question: why should I care? Blogs grow and attract readers because of their content and because they help readers solve problems. She will also discuss idea generation, activity, links and keywords. Alice believes that no one else can blog about your business as well as you can. So no more excuses--let's start writing today!
Advanced Fiction Editing Boot Camp with Alice Osborn
Location: Online Webinar Series
April 9, 2013, April 16, 2013 & April 23, 2013 Time: 12pm-1:15pm EST
Three consecutive Tuesdays Cost: $149
This intensive online workshop series builds on basic fiction editing techniques and strategies-how is fiction editing different from other kinds of editing? We'll also address how to help clients navigate the publishing world so that we can be the go-to editor for novelists in our market. We will cover the art of writing and editing query letters and synopses and all students will gain more confidence with copyediting, rewriting, logic, flow, voice, point of view, characterization, setting, and more. This webinar series will be recorded so you won't miss the lesson if you cannot make the "live" class. Alice Osborn has her MA in Rhetoric and Composition from NC State, is a former English teacher and current creative writing teacher and is the author of three books of poetry. She is a sought-after fiction editor in North Carolina and beyond. In addition, she is also the editor of Tattoos, a Short Fiction Anthology from Main Street Rag.
Memoir: The Next Level with Alice Osborn
Location: Center for Excellence, 3803-B Computer Dr. Ste. 106 Raleigh NC
Thursday, April 11, 2013 to Thursday May 2, 2013 (Class meets for 4 Thursdays)
Time: 10:30am-1pm
Tuition: $199
Additional editing package is $250, Tuition includes two 30-min accountability phone chats.
Have you completed Alice's Beginning Memoir Workshop Series and wish to continue? Or have you started working on your memoir and now wonder what is the next step? Get on track with Memoir: The Next Level with Alice Osborn where you'll have in-class writing exercises and feedback to help you construct your memoir and build upon your foundation. Move forward in the direction you want to go by creating a memoir that will dazzle your readers. This class is best-suited for writers who have previous writing experience or who have been working on their memoirs. Participants bring their own lunch and there'll be a half hour lunch break. Your tuition includes two 30-min accountability phone chats and if you'd like Alice to edit your memoir pages during the class,
consider purchasing the $250 editing package (valued at $800).
FREE Poetry Workshop with Alice Osborn at the 2013 Nazim Hikmet Poetry Festival
Location: Page-Walker Arts & History Ctr., 119 Ambassador Loop, Cary, NC
Sunday, April 14 10am-12:30pm, Light lunch is provided
 The Festival's free poetry workshop will be facilitated for the third year by published poet and poetry workshop leader, Alice Osborn. All participants will leave with several poems in this creative, yet casual atmosphere. Using many classic and contemporary poems as inspiration, the in-class writing exercises, road-tested prompts and gentle feedback from Alice will help you generate memorable poetry using all of your senses. You'll also use food, colors, and music to jumpstart your creativity. We welcome writers at all levels and experiences. A light lunch will be served to all workshop participants. For more information about the 2013 Nazim Hikmet Poetry Festival, visit http://nazimhikmetpoetryfestival.orgWrite Now! 2013, The Triangle Freelancers' Non-fiction Conference
Location: Wake Technical Community College, Northern Campus on Louisburg Rd in Raleigh, Building D
Saturday, April 20, 2013 Time: 8-4pm
Fee: $69 in advance, $59 for students with ID and seniors 65 and older. Registration at the door will be $80. Due to space limitations, attendance is strictly limited to 100, so make sure you register early.
The 2013 Write Now! 2013 offers insightful workshops in non-fiction and publishing to include Alice Osborn's "Memoir 101: How to Write and Sell Your Life Story." The keynote presenter will be Zac Petit, the managing editor of Writer's Digest. Linda Formichelli of "The Renegade Writer" will also be presenting. You don't want to miss this year's conference! The registration fee includes all event activities, a continental breakfast during morning check-in, catered box lunch, beverages and door prizes.
Intro to Comedy Writing with Alice Osborn
Location: Pick A Class, 502 S White St., Wake Forest, NC 27587
Wednesday, April 24, 2013 Time: 10-11:30am Fee: $20
 Writing memorable comedy can be so rewarding and so terrifying all at the same time. Getting folks to laugh exposes the author to fear and anxiety, but usually these risks are worth the reward! In this class with experienced author, editor and humorist Alice Osborn, you'll learn basic comedy writing: the rule of 3s, timing, word play, surprise and acute observation. Alice learned that once she injected humor into her writing, more people liked her work-imagine that! We welcome anyone who wants to liven up their prose or poetry. All writers at all levels of experience are welcome.
Wonderland Book Club, Meet Wendy K. Perriman, Co-sponsored by the NC Writers Network
Location: Center for Excellence, 3803-B Computer Dr. Suite 106, Raleigh, NC
Friday, April 26, 2013 Time: 10:00-noon
This month's book is Fire on Dark Water by Wendy K. Perriman
Fire on Dark Water features a strong female character, an English gypsy called Lola Blaise. When Lola is duped into marrying the buccaneer Captain Edward Teach she becomes thirteenth wife of the infamous Blackbeard, scarcely guessing the unconscionable deeds she will have to perform to avoid the fate of her tragic predecessors. After book club, come join us for lunch to get to know Wendy better! More about Wendy and her work here: http://www.wendyperriman.com/
Book Your Blog at SavvyAuthors.com
Online Class
April 29, 2013 - May 19, 2013 Cost: $25 (basic member) and $15 (premium member)
Did you know that if you have a blog you may already have a book with built-in readers? And if your goal is to finish your book this year, why not use your blog to make it happen? Attract the attention of publishers thanks to your loyal blog readers as well as your awesome and provocative content. In this four-week course, experienced blogger Alice Osborn will help both bloggers who want to book their blog (a term coined by Joel Friedlander, by repurposing old posts into a book) and those bloggers who want to use their blogs to write their books. Blogs by their nature are reader-centered and solve problems-which is also what you want your book to do. Ultimately, you have to make your reader care and by doing so, you'll get your book out there to your raving readers. Learn tips and tricks on gathering ideas, crafting the perfect headline and properly formatting your words for an online audience. You'll also learn how to organize your blog posts so they best serve your book and how to add content for strong transitioning. So no more excuses-let's start creating your sure-bet book today! This class is best suited for students with some blogging experience.
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Want to Get Published the Right Way? Contact Alice TODAY!
919-971-9414
9660-138 Falls of Neuse #294
Raleigh, NC 27615
Alice Osborn, M.A. is the author of three books of poetry: After the Steaming Stops (Main Street Rag, 2012), Unfinished Projects (Main Street Rag, 2010) and Right Lane Ends (Catawba, 2006) and is the editor of the anthology, Tattoos (Main Street Rag, 2012); she is also a writing coach, speaker, blogger and teaching artist. Besides working with corporations and small businesses, Alice teaches creative writing in schools and in community settings where she uses sensory images and road-tested prompts to stimulate her students' best work. Her writing has appeared in Raleigh's News and Observer, Soundings Review, The Pedestal Magazine, and in numerous journals and anthologies. She serves as the Raleigh Regional Representative for the North Carolina Writers' Network, as the programming co-chair for WBON-Cary (Women Business Owners Network), the Events Chair for Femfessionals, and is active in the advanced Toastmasters Club, Born Toastmasters. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with her husband and two children. Visit her website: www.aliceosborn.com.
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Save $200 |
 Special Promotion: Dream It, Do It Women's Writing Retreat
Save $200 off the $695 Tuition
Location: Bend of Ivy Lodge, Marshall, NC outside of Asheville, NC3717 Bend of Ivy Rd. Marshall, NC 28753 www.bendofivylodge.com
Fri-Sun August 23-25, 2013
Register HERE
ACT NOW! Offer Expires Tuesday, April 30th
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