Tropical Writers Festival

Tropical Writers Festival Link

Take a look at the Festival line up. It is never too late to learn something at the workshops, enjoy lively conversation with writers, and listen to interesting forums.

guest authors

Mathew Riley

Tim Ferguson

Katherine Battersby.....and more.

Our member Hettie Ashwin will be launching her book "The Mask of Deceit" at the festival on Saturday 

Get yourself up to Carins for a festival that is close to home.

Womagwrites blog has advertised the following message:

My Weekly are actively seeking manuscripts for pocket novels. You don't have to have sold anything to them before. They've recently changed their guidelines and added categories Murder and Thriller. Perhaps you've got an unpublished MS around 50,000 words you could edit and send in?

Check out the link and see if you have anything that may suit their needs.

womagwriter blogspot

Narrator Australia

This is a good Australian site for submission. They took one of our writers monologues and after a time they make all the stories into an anthology print on demand. Check it out for yourself and for the blog.


narratoraustralia

100 Years from Gallipoli Poetry Project

The one hundred year anniversary for the start of World War 1 is just around the corner and ozzy writers are hosting a very unique opportunity for modern Australian poets. I have no poetic ability but there are hundreds of you out there that have amazing talent and I encourage you to take part in this exciting chance to be a part of history.

Visit the site and follow the links to take part.

ozzywriters



Lest we Forget.

Getting famous in 800 words or less.

 Flash fiction madness Check out this link to be transported to the Flash Fiction Competition of your dreams.

From the link.
We are excited to be teaming up with Eclectica co-founder and fiction editor Tom Dooley to give one of our writers the opportunity to be published in this notable ezine. All you have to do is write a story of 800 words or less on any theme of your choosing. The winner will be published in the Eclectica October/November issue.



Perhaps not quite what they mean ;)

Taking your writing career off the ground

Cosmos short Sci Fi story competition. Click on Cosmos for the link to this competition. Winners get their story published and the runners up get theirs published on the Cosmos online.

Remember, a good sci-fi story doesn't necessarily need to involve intergalactic space travel and laser battles with aliens, Cosmos are looking for interesting and innovative stories that make you think about the future in a different way. (I'm quoting here, not my words damn it)

But stuff like this just looks awesome. Oh, to be able to draw... and write... and make lots of money doing both. (sigh)

Literary Week begins Tomorrow

And so it does, though I don't have the down-low on what's actually happening throughout the week at this time I do have the most important event on the whole calendar right here for you now.

Performance Readings by WiTs members at the Perc Tucker Gallery on Saturday the 9th of June. The event kicks off at 1100hrs (that's 11:00am) and concludes at 1300hrs (1:00pm). We will be performing against the backdrop of paintings by some of Australia's most talented artists on display for the prestigious Xstrata Percival Portrait Award.

Carla Hutchinson-Reade will MC the event that will take you through the writers memories of the tree that has influenced or inconvenienced their life the most.

Mark it off in your calenders and don't be late.  

A is for Asking

Previously I've mentioned author Wendy Neilson and her book 'A is for Asking'. Here is the lowdown on everyone associated with the book and some great images from the illustrator.

Wendy Neilsen - author of "A is For Asking"

Wendy has lived all of her life in sunny North Queensland, Australia.  A prolific playground of sun, sea, sand, reefs, rainforests, majestic mountains and an abundance of all things that make your heart sing.  

She loves working with words and sharing her thoughts as a poet.

While training to be a lifecoach, Wendy realised there were many key words associated with gaining a positive enlightened mindset. 

This realisation has developed into a spiritual alphabet book that she hopes will help people, young and old, to evaluate their lives and make the changes within themselves to create a life that makes their heart sing, every day in every way.

For more information about the author and artist or to share your thoughts about the book, visit www.aisforasking.com

Christopher Brunton - illustrator of "A is for Asking"

Chris is a Townsville based graphic artist with more than 23 years newspaper and advertising print media experience and has many local and national advertising awards to his credit. 

He has taught Illustration, Cartooning and Core Drawing at all levels, from children with special needs through to university.

Having always pursued freelance illustration work, Chris is now making it a full time occupation.  ‘A is for Asking’ is his first children’s book. 

Other recent commissions include covers for Perth author Bridgette Powell's murder mystery novel 'Reflection of Evil', Irish author Tina Brescanu's 'Warriors of Change', and Esther Over-Kershaw's science-fiction novel 'Bystander'.  Chris has just finished a series of fully painted posters for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, that will be in schools soon.

An avid fitness fanatic, Chris offsets long hours slaving over the drawing board with time in the gym and is a keen scuba diver.

Chris can also be contacted via email at cjbrunton@bigpond.com

From the publisher

For over 10 years now I’ve been involved in reviewing and publishing children’s ‘mind body spirit books’ also known as ‘spiritual books’ through Pick-a-WooWoo Publishers. 

This book ‘ A is for Asking’ certainly jumped out from the masses I critique each year.  The books simplistic rhyme carefully imparts a profound message - all the while being entertained with some of the best digital artwork I’ve seen in a book for some time. 

I’ve heard many a Parent and Retailer say that they would love a more unique and loving way to deliver the A-Z alphabet...well look no further.  It’s 3 main characters, Angel (Love), Fairy (Light) & Pixie (Laughter) bring the alphabet to life in a truly unique way using visualisation techniques (and loving words) – whilst using the Australian bush and a variety of quirky Aussie animals to make it a truly unique experience.  The story ends with some interactive questions and activities which allows the relations between child and parent to continue long after the story is read.  

As an Author, Wendy’s passionate endeavours to create a strong personal platform in which to promote her new book will ensure that many parents are likely to hear the books message that “Your thoughts, and the words you choose to use every minute of every hour of every day, create your attitude and actions which creates your reality.”

How can we not want this for our children?

Julie-Ann Harper 

Director – Pick-a-WooWoo Publishers

Publishers of Mind-Body-Spirit books.

Heritage Day 2012

As usual WiTs attended the annual Heritage Day held in West End Park/Cemetery. By all accounts the day was a great success for all involved with some really interesting stuff on display and for sale.
I believe WiTs made a killing with their sales...so I believe.
I've put up a photo of the organisers posing with local author Wendy Neilson who was displaying and selling her children's book 'A is for Asking'.

They all look so serious... it was a fun day, I swear.

The Sense Five Short Story Competition

This looks a great short story comp with a high word limit amount so you can let your imagination run free and it has connections to a publishing house..Awesome!!

Visit the website for the guidelines and all the information.

http://www.chuffedbuffbooks.com/ and look under submissions.

Happy writing and good luck!!

The Growing World of Ebooks

Everything you need to know here about epublishing.

I gotta read this stuff myself, I feel like I'm being left behind as technology moves a lot faster than me.


http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/32232/11-Essential-Elements-of-a-Well-Designed-Marketing-Ebook.aspx?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+HubSpot+(HubSpot)

Ipswich Poetry Fest Competition

In the latter part of the nineteenth century two young children, Bridget and Mary Broderick, drowned at a waterhole that lies within the boundaries of the area now known as Henry Lawson Bicentennial Park at Walloon. This tragic event was the subject of a poem penned by Henry Lawson in 1891 titled "The Babies of Walloon"


The Ipswich Poetry Feast is a citywide initiative aimed at commemorating this significant event through the introduction of an annual international poetry competition and events that:

•Encourage young and aspiring poets

•Provide an opportunity for poets to showcase their work

•Raise community awareness of the creativity and skills in poetry writing

•Promote Ipswich as a vibrant, culturally rich region


Check out the site for details. Sounds like a great comp inspired by a terrible tragedy.

http://www.ipswichpoetryfeast.com.au/.

Adventures in Epublishing

Certainly looks like some interesting reading in this post and the blog in general. A great guide for those getting started in, or looking at getting started in, the epublishing world

http://derekjcanyon.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/keys-to-epublishing-success-2012.html

Gender Bias in literature podcast

This link will take you to a podcast by  ABC Radio National

When you open the book review pages in the newspapers, take a closer look at the names of the authors and the names of the reviewers. How many are men and how many are women? A feminist arts organization in the US called VIDA has tallied the numbers in prestigious literary review pages including the New York Times, the Times Literary Supplementand The New Yorker and found that men dominate. This is no one-off anomaly. VIDA tallied the numbers last year and the results were much the same. Why is this so? And what's the situation in Australia?

Bush Poets Competition.

Below is a link to The Bryan Kelleher Literary Award  bush poetry competition. First prize is a cool $1000, nothing to be sneezed at for sure, so well worth the effort. So get in there and have a go and then let us all know if you win and we'll celebrate together.

 Good Luck! and if you want to know who Bryan Kelleher was

Bryan Kelleher was a long standing member of the ANA who was passionate about acknowledging and honouring Australian achievements. The Australian Unity Bryan Kelleher Literary Award is our way of celebrating and preserving the substantial contribution Bryan made during his long association with the ANA and the Henry Lawson Society.

http://www.australianunitycorporate.com.au/community/bklaward/Pages/home.aspx 

Qld premiers literary awards scrapped.

Read it here from the SMH.

UPDATED

Campbell Newman has scrapped the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, arguing the $244,000 saving was part of the Liberal National Party's promised cost-cutting drive.

The move was not specifically flagged before the state election and has prompted criticism on Twitter this afternoon, with people raising concern it was an ominous sign about the approach the LNP government would take on supporting the arts.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/books/new-premier-tears-up-literary-awards-20120403-1wad1.html#ixzz1qytJNRV8

There will be a backlash, a cry from the arts, and more than a few annoyed writers.

Member Hettie Ashwin's Kindle edition for FREE

Hettie Ashwin is offering her novel on Amazon for FREE from
3rd April to the 5th April. If you have a kindle or e reader then this is the opportunity for you

Here is the link  So Go Go Go for the green light

and laugh your socks off

Time management by Hettie Ashwin

When your brain is bursting with ideas it seems hard to get anything done. You may plot, think, take notes, make sketches, busy yourself with all manner of 'work' but nothing gets completed, nothing gets a result. So how do you manage your time to write "THE END"  when it is all done and dusted.

1. Set a goal.
 Whether it be 100 words a night or a page a day edit. Set a realistic target for your lifestyle and STICK TO IT. If it is realistic then you still have time to dabble in other things ie. competitions, postings, twitter, facebook etc. Don't make it to the exclusion of everything else unless you know you have that stickability to carry it out.

2. Motivate yourself.
 This can be with a treat at the end of the week/month/word count or what ever.
Tell yourself that if you finish the set task you will allow yourself a two day stint of nothing but reading. Make the treat something you yearn to do, but never find the time. One hour to plot out that short story, surf the net for competitions, scan twitter for fun or just eat that chocolate. If you know you have something waiting at the end of your writing stint then finishing will be even more delicious.

3. Schedule your time.

 This is a vital tool and one you should learn and put in practice. If you have little in the way of self control and get distracted easily then schedule every 10 minutes. Write the increments down and fill every box on what you plan to do. Then as the minutes tick off just think how good you will feel. They soon add up. If you have willpower in baskets then your schedule might be for a few days or even a week. The idea is that if you see it all written down and then don't complete it the guilt will make you try harder to get your procrastination under control.

4. Value your work
This may sound like self affirmation rubbish, but if you don't believe in what you are doing and treat it with the respect it deserves then how do you expect anyone else will. You are carrying on the business of writing. It is a job, albeit a very enjoyable past-time. Don't say 'it is just a short story, a bit of writing, a dumb manuscript. It is your work. It took time, dedication and skill. These attributes will shine through your writing. I liken it to smiling on the radio. When I was reading the news on radio I used to smile. The tone changes and the listener can feel it too. If you value your work it will show. All your effort won't be for nought. The buzz you get from seeing your words take shape will spur you on to complete your writing.

5. Don't sweat it
Don't try and flog yourself if it isn't working. Go and write something else, do a crossword or take a walk. The laboured effort involved in trying to write when it won't work will show in your work. Write a bit of poetry, flash fiction, a tweet, a facebook post or a short monologue a vignette. Those creative urges will return. There will be times... don't beat yourself up about it but realise the hiatus for what it is and get on with something else using the tips above. I often have two or three projects on the go and then if I become stale I can flit to something else.

6. Just do it
It is the incurable itch, so go scratch.

the publishing industry stats.

Follow the link to an interesting article backed up with statistics.

this is the link

As the publishing industry has to evolve rapidly to adapt to the numerous changes brought forth by digital publishing, updated statistics are a boon worth sharing. Aptara is mainly concerned by non-fiction publication, rather than fiction books, yet, both fiction and non-fiction books belong to the publishing industry.

Trade and non-trade publishers are aggressively producing ebooks, despite the current low revenues derived from digital publishing. The majority of publisher producing digital book (57%) derive between 0% and 3% of their revenue from ebook sales. A still confidential 18% of these publishers generates more than 10% of their revenues from ebooks.

Read more: http://www.epublishabook.com/2011/10/10/new-statistics-about-the-publishing-industry/#ixzz1pkSmArKy 
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives

Source: ePublish a Book (http://s.tt/15vAc)

Read more: http://www.epublishabook.com/2011/10/10/new-statistics-about-the-publishing-industry/#ixzz1pkSFGyI1 
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives

Source: ePublish a Book (http://s.tt/15vAc)

Call out for horror and fantasy

Do you write with a scream on the cusp of your lips,your eyes unblinking and a numbing sensation running down your spine? Then this call out is for you...if you dare!

link hereFrom the Point of View of The Observer

Fiction through the eyes of the Observer. What do you see when you don't get involved? What do you see when you can't get involved? What do you see when you won't get involved?
SUBMISSION DEADLINE - April 1, 2012 - Accepting Short Stories, Flash Fiction, Artwork & Photography

---

Submission guidelines:Sirens Call Publications is currently taking submissions for our second e-zine to be released in April 2012, focusing primarily on the horror and fantasy genres. All contributors will receive a free PDF copy of the issue that their work is featured in.
We welcome short stories (2000-5000 words), flash fiction (300 - 500 words), artwork, photography and literary reviews. Interviews with both up and coming or established horror and fantasy authors will also be featured. Take advantage of this superb opportunity to gain exposure for your work and email submissions@sirenscallpublications.com with your submissions, or contacting mail@sirenscallpublications.com with any queries.
We ask for one time publication rights only and stories that are previously published elsewhere are accepted provided that you hold the rights to them.

PayPal Reverses Proposed Censorship

March 13, 2012


Smashwords author/publisher update: PayPal Reverses Proposed Censorship

Effective last night, we rolled back the Smashwords Terms of Service to its pre-February 24 state.

It's been a tumultuous, nerve-wracking few weeks as we worked to protect the right of writers to write and publish legal fiction.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to Smashwords authors, publishers and customers. You stood up and made your voice known. Thank you to every Smashwords author and publisher who wrote me to express opinions, even if we disagreed, and even if you were angry with me. You inspired me to carry your cause forward.
Smashwords authors, publishers and customers mobilized. You made telephone calls, wrote emails and letters, started and signed petitions, blogged, tweeted, Facebooked and drove the conversation. You made the difference. Without you, no one would have paid attention. I would also like to thank the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC). These three advocacy groups were the first to stand up for our authors, publishers and customers. Their contribution cannot be overstated. We collaborated with them to build a coalition of like-minded organizations to support our mutual cause. Special kudos to Rainey Reitman of EFF for her energy, enthusiasm and leadership.

I would like to thank our friends at PayPal. They worked with us in good faith as they promised, engaged us in dialogue, made the effort to understand Smashwords and our mission, went to bat for our authors with the credit card companies and banks, and showed the courage to revise their policies.

This is a big move by PayPal. It represents a watershed decision that protects the rights of writers to write, publish and distribute legal fiction. It also protects the rights of readers to purchase and enjoy all fiction in the privacy of their own imagination. It clarifies and rationalizes the role of financial services providers and pulls them out of the business of censoring legal fiction.

Following implementation of their new policies, PayPal will have the most liberal, pro-First-Amendment policies of the major payment processors. Will Google Checkout and Checkout by Amazon be next now that the credit card companies have clarified their positions, and have essentially given payment providers the permission to adopt more enlightened policies?

This is a bright day for indie publishing. In the old world, traditional publishers were the arbiters of literary merit. Today, thanks to the rise of indie ebooks, the world is moving toward a broader, more inclusive definition of literary merit. Smashwords gives writers the power and freedom to publish. Merit is decided by your readers. Just as it should be.

Mark Coker
Founder, Smashwords

Finally a report card that I can be proud of!!

Wits member Shaun Allen did a reading for his son's year 6/7 class on Monday the 5th of March. It came about after disappointing results after the class read a school book that they thought was a little dull. The teacher wanted to show the children that reading and writing stories can be a fun experience. In response to Shaun's reading the teacher wrote in the school's Weekly Wrap Up report this about the event.

"I would like to thank Shaun publicly for his assistance this week in the classroom. Shaun is a parent of one of our students and he is also a professional writer. He was welcomed into our classroom and read to the class a story he wrote called ‘Alone’ The students found this a valuable resource and his visit has improved the students understanding of why we write and the importance of adding selected verbs, adjectives and emotions to really strengthen a piece of writing. Also, the students asked some very intense questions, Shaun was delighted that certain questions were asked. After an intense discussion, the students believed that Shaun’s main message was that writing is fun and enjoyable. Students believe that Shaun should sell his ‘Alone’ story to Hollywood so they can make it a movie. If you wish to read ‘Alone’ or any of Shaun’s other work, Google Shaun Allen, War of the Words and enjoy the talent."   

Shaun acknowledges that the readings he has done for WiT's members and events has given him more confidence than he thought he could ever get for appearing in public. It has also taught him methods on how to try and engage an audience by putting emotion into his reading.

Granta Magazine is having a grand competition.

read all about it here and take a stab at entering. Remember it is only one sentence but it must tell a story. A beginning a middle and an end. The Judge is Jon McGregor.

Fleeing Complexity

Irby in the Marsh

The fire spread quicker than the little bastard was expecting. ■

Inspired by this story Granta is launching a short story competition today: Tweet @GrantaMag or send a single tweetable sentence (140 characters) to web@granta.com by 2 May to enter. The competition will be judged by Jon McGregor and the winner will receive a signed and stamped copy of his latest novel, This Isn’t The Sort Of Thing That Happens To Someone Like You.

Taken from This Isn’t The Sort Of Thing That Happens To Someone Like Youby Jon McGregor, published by Bloomsbury on 2nd February 2012 at £14.99. © Jon McGregor 2012. A further story ‘In Winter The Sky’, which is a reworking of ‘What The Sky Sees’ will be published here in the coming weeks.

send that manuscript out there!

this is crackling good information if you have a completed manuscript. Get it polished and hit the ground running

.Pan Macmillan Australia. Manuscript Monday

MANUSCRIPT MONDAY

Welcome to Manuscript Monday, a new initiative which is part of Pan Macmillan Australia's manuscript submission process. If you’ve ever dreamed of getting published, and have a story you’d like to pitch, here’s your chance to have it read by a publisher. No more navigating the slush pile! Every Monday we will accept submissions between 10am and 4pm that are sent electronically and comply with the guidelines set out below.

www.panmacmillan.com.au/manuscript_monday.asp

First chapter (double spaced) and synopsis separate word documents labelled

with title of mss, fill out form with genre of mss and send through the website.

Please note there is an underscore in the gap between manuscript and

Monday.

Send on Monday between the hours of 10 a.m – 4 p.m.

Penguin Books Australia. The Monthly Catch

monthly.catch@penguingroup.com

First week of every month. Mss and synopsis max 300 words.

The General Publishing team at Penguin Group (Australia) is keen and excited to read new work from Australian authors, and as such we’ve developed the Monthly Catch. For the first week of every month, we throw our doors open to unsolicited manuscripts. In this time period (the 1^st to the 7^th of every month), please send through submissions based on the guidelines below.

We are only accepting submissions electronically – all hardcopy submissions will be recycled. And we are only accepting submissions in the first week of every month; anything that comes through outside of this time will not be considered.

When you send through your submission, you’ll receive an automatic email acknowledging receipt. All manuscripts are carefully read and assessed, but we can only respond to those who are successful. If we do not contact you within three months of submission, please assume that we have decided not to pursue your manuscript. No further correspondence will be entered into.

We are not currently considering poetry, educational textbooks or plays/scripts. For books for children and young adults, please see the separate submissions instructions below.

Attach your manuscript and a short synopsis (of no more than 300 words) as separate Word documents and send via email tomonthly.catch@au.penguingroup.com.

In the subject line of your email, please state the title of your book, whether your book is fiction or non-fiction, and then genre (eg Heiress in Love: Fiction/Romance or The Address Book: Non-Fiction/Memoir).

Please include in the body of your email the following information:

• Title.
• Brief summary (two or three sentences).
• Brief author bio (two or three sentences).

• Any previous publishing history and/or any writing awards you’ve received.
• Where would your book sit in the marketplace – i.e. what books would you see as comparison titles to yours, what authors are similar to you, who is the intended audience for your book, etc.
• Has this proposal been sent to other publishers?
• Have you previously submitted this, or a similar, proposal to Penguin? If so, please give details.

Allen and Unwin. The Friday Pitch (children & teenagers, fiction, non fiction.)

fridaypitch@allenandunwin.com

Attachment first chapter, short synopsis. Title information sheet in body of

email.

Allen & Unwin know how difficult it can be for writers to get their work in front of publishers, which is why we’ve been running our innovative and pioneering Friday Pitch service for the last 5 years. Through Friday Pitch we have given new and emerging writers a chance to have their work read by our publishers within a reasonable time.

ALL adult submissions – both fiction, non-fiction, children's and young adult – to Allen & Unwin should now come via Friday Pitch. To do this, email us a short synopsis and the first chapter of your work. If we like what we read, and want to read more, we will get back to you within a fortnight.