Brenda Warneka to speak to SSWW
Brenda Warneka
Anthologies can be appealing to both readers and writers. For writers, contributing to an anthology is a way to be published without all the work an author normally does. For the writer/editor who puts an anthology together, there are more things to consider than simply writing a compelling work. In addition to getting contributions, you must obtain rights and decide on any author payments or royalties, among other things.
APWs Brenda Warneka will be speaking about the process of assembling anthologies—from the original idea to the completed product at the monthly meeting of the Scottsdale Society of Women Writers on September 26. Most recently, Warneka was the project leader, overseeing the work of 18 members of Arizona Press Women, for the award-winning APW anthology, Skirting Traditions: Arizona Women Writers and Journalists 1912-2012. She is also a co-editor and co-writer of two other anthologies.
APW Anthology
Brenda will be the speaker for the September 26 monthly dinner/speaker meeting of SSWW, which will be held from 5:3-0 to 7:30 p.m. at the Chaparral Suites Resort in Scottsdale. Interested writers are invited to attend. Cost for non-SSWW members is $25, payable in cash or check. PLEASE – RSVP now to Patricia L. Brooks, president/founder, Cell 480-250-5556 or patricia@plbrooks.com.
The Scottsdale Society of Women Writers gives members access to events of interest, a format for exchanging ideas, an opportunity to network with other women writers and authors, an alliance with businesses relating to writing, publishing, camaraderie and support.
WHERE: Chaparral Suites Resort, 5001 N, Scottsdale Rd. NE corner – Enter off Chaparral Rd – 4th Floor Grill entrance, then left to the Cactus Room
WHEN: Thursday SEPT 26th, 2013 5:30-7:30 – special meeting date
PLEASE – RSVP now to Patricia L. Brooks, president/founder, Cell 480-250-5556 or patricia@plbrooks.com
MENU: A light dinner – salad or sandwich and soup, dessert, beverage and roll with tax and gratuity included – make your choice the night of the meeting.
COST: $22 for members – $25 for guests
CHECKS or cash: Please make check payable to (SSWW) Scottsdale Society of Women Writers prior to coming to the meeting to save time at check-in.
CHECK-IN: Please check-in between 5:00 and 5:45. The meeting starts promptly at 6:00. All those attending the meeting must pay for the dinner/room/speaker – cost noted above. Pick up your name badge at the front table and ENJOY a wonderful night.
Amazon new “MatchBook” program
Amazon is going to start bundling books with their ebooks, including some books they’ve had available for years. You’ll be able to get the ebook version of books you buy or have bought between no additional cost to $2.00. Authors will receive royalties on bundled ebooks in the MatchBook program based on the ebook bundled price. Amazon expects it to boost overall sales. The program will launch in October. Read more at Publishers Weekly.
Inspiring quote
EzineArticles.com sent out a list of quotes to tweet. I rather liked this one:
“When’s the best time to write? ‘Write” now!’ If you wait for inspiration to write you’re not a writer, you’re a waiter.” – Dan Poynter
Rim Country Writer’s Retreat a success!
Sixteen overnight APW members, spouses, and and including four non-member writers, plus three others who came during the day, attended the writer’s retreat at the Merritt Center just north of Payson, under the Mogollon Rim.
Tucked away in tall ponderosa pines, the secluded mountain lodge provided time to relax, a choice of activities and good food. A number of activities such as creating a vision board, journaling, taking creative photos, and writing exercises were offered. Many did their own thing. Hammocks invited relaxation, nearby woods begged to be explored. Several walked the native stone labyrinth. One spouse painted, another explored nearby attractions.
Betty Merritt, owner and founder, gave us a history of the lodge and shared her mission of helping veterans. We also gathered at mealtimes and got to know each other better. The food was delicious with plenty of snacks in between.
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Saturday night we were fortunate to have entertainment. Gail Hearne gave a presentation on Leo the MGM Lion when he spent unexpected time in the wilderness in Rim Country. After that Kathleen Kelly & Jim West entertained us in the patio with a variety of music.
Sunday morning Betty Merritt led those who wanted to go on a short hike up to a sacred Native American site and invited us to participate in a ceremony.
After the hike and breakfast, some participated in writing exercises.
We wrapped up with a delicious lunch and group photo. Pam Stevenson presented Betty with a copy of Skirting Traditions, signed by the authors who were there. It was a relaxing but refreshing experience. Everyone came away with something valuable.
Photos by Carol Osman Brown, Bill Stevenson, Jaimie Bruzenak, Barbara Lacy and Gail Hearne.
Have tools will travel – AP Stylebook on your smartphone
AP Stylebook available in print, for computers and smartphones
If you are on the go and need to look up something in the AP Stylebook, here are three options to save you time:
- AP Stylebook 2012 for iOS (iPhone & iPad) $24.99.
- AP Stylebook Mobile for Blackberry 2012. $19.00
- Online subscription for website or optimized for mobile site on your smartphone. $26
If you have any questions, go to theAP Stylebook Facebook page. If the answer isn’t there, you can post a question and someone will get back to you.
100 Words Every Expert Author Should Know
As I looked at this list of words in this EzineArticles.com blog post, I was taken aback. I doubt I have used a fraction of the words on this list in my writing, words like amalgamate, obfuscate, ostentatious or supercilious. The audience I typically write for could not relate. I’d lose them. As a former junior high school teacher, we were conscious of the grade level of the writing of texts and articles we gave to our students. For general audiences, the reading level is pretty low, even for high school graduates. My readers would not get beyond paragraph one.
Take a look at this list. Do you use many of these words in your writing? This blog got a lot of comments. So many, in fact, that it spurred a part 2, explaining that they did not mean you should use all of these in your writing. You do need to know your audience, but knowledge of these words and their meaning could improve your writing. See Part II here.
Any comments? Do you have to “dumb down” your writing? From teaching, I think I have dumb-downed my vocabulary overall! Jaimie
