Save the Date – Writers Project Runway II

Writers Project Runway – Taking Your Writing to New Heights is scheduled for Saturday, April 2, 2016, at Ida Lee Park in Leesburg, VA.  Registration will open at 8:00 AM and the conference will run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM with an author signing from 4:00-5:00 PM. A catered lunch is included in the conference fee.

Fees: $75.00 for Pennwriter members. $80.00 for college students. $100.00 for nonmembers.

Registration online and via mail will open in February 2016.

Stop by this blog and look in your upcoming PennWriter newsletter for details and bios on the wonderful speakers who will be presenting this year.

Fiction, Nonfiction, Mystery, Children’s Book, Newspaper Writing, YA,  all will be addressed in the available workshops. Two publishers will be there to take pitches. 

Save the Date and Register Early.

Area 7s First Mini Conference A Success

On March 28, 2015 Area 7 hosted its first mini conference at Ida Lee Park in Leesburg, Virginia. Titled Writers Project Runway – Fashioning Your Story. The full day conference was offered to serve Pennwriters in the Metropolitan Washington D.C. area and to increase awareness of Pennwriters within the community. I’m happy to say it seemed to have done both and we have a few new Pennwriters as a result. Credit for that goes to the speakers and the workshops they presented. My wonderful planning team (indicated by a *) and I are already thinking about next year’s event.

: Dixiane Hallaj *                  Don Helin                     Hana Haatainen-Caye,      Kathy Jo Shea      Linda Sittig *

Ramona Long                               Marc Leepson            Pat DiCesare                            Val Muller

Click on the link to view the conference schedule and workshop descriptions. Schedule -writers project runway

I also want to thank Mike Carducci** who worked tirelessly throughout the planning and the event itself in support of Writers Project Runway – Fashioning Your Story. He carried books, made coffee, worked with the event location staff to overcome a lot of IT problems and so much more.

Bobbi Carducci, Area 7 Representative

Interested in Writing a Children’s Book?

PERMISSION TO FORWARD GRANTED

Writing a Children’s Book

This interactive workshop will cover:
* 6 Common myths about writing children’s books.
* Does my book include all the elements of good story telling?
* Who is my customer?
* Writing for children while appealing to parents.
Upon completion of the workshop participants will receive a copy of Bobbi’s PowerPoint presentation on writing for children and a signed copy of her multi-award winning book, Storee Wryter Gets a Dog.
Course Schedule: Feb 3, 2014 –Mar. 7, 2014

AUTHOR BIO
Bobbi Carducci’s book for young readers, Storee Wryter Gets a Dog, received a Gold Mom’s Choice Award, a Bronze Living Now Award, and was named A Best Dog Book for Young Readers by Cesar Milan, TV’s The Dog Whisperer. http://www.storeewryter.com
She is a multi-award winning short story writer and a former senior staff writer for a small Washington, D.C. area newspaper.
Bobbi was honored to be the luncheon keynote speaker at the 26th annual Pennwriters Conference in May 2013. She serves on the Pennwriters board of directors as the Area 7 Representative.
Bobbi is also known as The Imperfect Caregiver on her blog of the same name, written to support women and men caring for loves ones at home. http://www.pennwriters.org/prod/

Contact info:
bcarducci@comcast.net

Register at http://www.pennwriters.org, Courses \ Online Courses, http://www.pennwriters.org/prod/

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Don’t be left out!

Register for Pennwriters Silver Anniversary Celebration, May 17-20 at the Eden Resort and Suites, Lancaster, PA

From the Conference Coordinator, Danielle Ray
Did you ever wonder about who is in your Pennwriter Area? Now is the chance to meet people from your Area at the Area Meetings at the Conference this year!
We are also having some surprises and giveaways for all the attendees!
Time is running out, register now!
Don’t be left out of the silver anniversary celebration.
Check out all of the information on the website:
www.pennwriters.org

Thursday Pre-Conference Seminars

Madhu B. Wangu’s Mindful Writing Meditation
Sue Kreke Rumbaugh’s I Want to Be a Writer
Deborah Riley-Magus’ Creating an Effective Business Plan
Annette Dashofy’s Crime Fiction Story Structure and Finding Your Characters Voice
Maria Snyder’s Do Not Enter!

Friday Keynote Speaker
Hank Phillippi Ryan
New York Times #1 Best Selling Author and Agatha Award Winner

Saturday Lunch Keynote Speaker
Maria V. Snyder

Agents and Editors
Stacia Decker of the Donald Maass Literary Agency
Miriam Kriss of Irene Goodman Literary Agency
Katharine Sands of Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency
Brooks Sherman of FinePrint Literary Management
L. Sue Durkin-Eggerton of Weaving Dreams Publishing
Tim O’Connell, associate editor with Vintage and Anchor Books
Kristin Sevick, associate editor with Tor/Forge Books.

Want to Sell Your Books at the Conference?
If you have a traditionally published book and would like the conference bookseller, Aaron’s
Books, to see if they can get it for the conference, please forward
your information to Conference Coordinator Danielle at
DRAY@BOOKREMARKS.NET.
If you have a book that is not traditionally published, you may
bring copies of your book to place on the Pennwriters’ merchandise table for sale.

Interested in Book Signing on Saturday?
Please advise Danielle Ray if you are interested in participating in the
book signing on Saturday. Anyone who has books for sale through
Aaron’s Books or on the Pennwriters’ merchandise table may sign
books during the author’s signing.

Area 7 Celebrate Independent Book Stores
Please don’t forget to bring to the conference the items that you would like to donate to the Area 7 “Celebrating Independent Book Stores Basket.” Thanks!

Call for Volunteers!
The 26th annual Pennwriters conference is on its way and planning has already started! With YOUR help we can make this conference great. Interested in volunteering? Contact Jessica Williams, 2013 Conference Coordinator at JessWilliams06@Verizon.net.

Important Notice About Annual Dues and Proposed Bylaws Change

This just in from Annette Dashofy, PW Vice President

Hello!

You should have received a letter recently from Pennwriters outlining a proposed change to the bylaws, which will result in all of our memberships being due on the same date. However, I’m aware that this has created some confusion, and some renewing members want to take advantage of the prorated fee now. I apologize for any misunderstandings.

This change is currently JUST a proposal. It cannot go into effect until after the membership votes to approve the change to the bylaws. We plan to have this in order by the first of July, which is when we’ll start prorating membership renewals until we get everyone on the same page by July of 2013. Until then, if your membership renewal is due, it’s still $45.

Thanks so much for your patience as we work this out.

Hope to see you at the conference!

Annette

Area 7 Basket for Raffle at the Conference

This year the theme for the Area 7 basket will be, Celebrate the Independent Book Store. I have contacted Around the Block Books in my neighborhood for a donation to the basket. The owners were happy to participate. Please visit the Independent Book Store(s) near you and ask them to include information about their store, their programs for authors, and a gift for the basket. Around the Block Books is contributing a book light and a journal.

You can bring these items with you if you are attending the conference if you can’t make or you prefer not to have to pack any more stuff you can send them to me at the following address:
Bobbi Carducci, 17141 Magic Mountain Drive, Round Hill, VA 20141

Please let me know if you plan to bring something so we can meet and get your contribution in the basket before the drawing.

Register Now For the Conference Message From Danielle Ray

If you have not yet had a chance to register for the conference, check out the website and register today. Starting tomorrow, there is a $20 late registration fee.

We have several exciting things planned this year and really want everyone to join us for our silver anniversary. I am available all day for any questions, issues, or concerns.

Please feel free to contact me.
Danielle Ray
dray[at]bookremarks[dot]net
215-290-1996

WRITING A NONFICTION BOOK PROPOSAL – By Carol Silvis

If you are thinking about writing a nonfiction book, you need to consider more than the manuscript. Unlike fiction works, which should be complete before submission, nonfiction books are generally sold through proposals. The proposal presents a strong case for your book idea and will have a publisher take you seriously. In addition, developing a proposal will help you stay focused on the book’s topic and the market for which it is intended. How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen is one of the best books I have read on this subject.
Book proposals contain specific information arranged in an easy-to-read format. Some publishers have their own standard company proposal templates, which they send to the author. A typical nonfiction book proposal consists of four main parts: Overview of the Book, Sales and Marketing Strategies, About the Author, and an Outline and Overview of the chapters. These main sections contain subsections, resulting in a proposal that is several pages in length. My typical proposal runs between 18-22 pages.
The main sections of a proposal include the following:

• Title Page
• Introduction/Overview
• Outstanding Features
• Market
• Competitive Books
• Complementary Books
• Author Promotion
• About the Author
• Table of Contents
• Overview of Chapters

Title Page. Center the title and the author’s name. Type the author’s contact information in the lower left corner.

Introduction/overview. Describe the book’s (1) main subject area, (2) contents, and (3) page count. State whether the book will be part of a series. Answer the following questions in the introduction/overview:
• What is the book about? (3-4 sentences)
• Why is the topic important?
• What will the book’s angle be?
• What makes you the best person to write the book?
• What outstanding features make this book different from others on the market?

Market. Describe the market and audience for this book.

Competing and Complementary Books. Make a list of books that compete with yours and those that complement it. Give a sentence or two about your reasoning.

Author Promotion. Describe what you will do to personally promote the book.

About the Author. Detail your background, including your academic and professional background as it relates to the book, your publications, and your writing-related activities (e.g., member or officer in a writing group)

Table of Contents. Type a table of contents.

Overview of Chapters. Give a page or so overview per chapter.

Writing a proposal is a lengthy but necessary procedure if you want to increase your chances for success.

Carol Silvis is the President of Pennwriters and the author of Job Hunting After 50,  available on Amazon.com

http://www.carolsilvis.com
http://www.carolsilvis.blogspot.com

Related articles

• So How Do You Write a Book Proposal Anyway? (writersradioblog.wordpress.com)
• 5 Reasons Why You Write the Book Proposal First (writersradioblog.wordpress.com)
• A Book Proposal Doesn’t Merely Sell Your Book – It Helps You Write It! (wordservewatercooler.com)

Enter Pennwriters Writing Contest Before It’s Too Late

Go to http://www.pennwriters.com for complete rules and entry form. Submissions must be postmarked by Jan. 31, 2012 to qualify. Submit your novel beginning, short story, article or poem. Area 7 has some very talented writers and I’d love to see one of us win.  Yes, I’m submitting. I’m sending in a short story and an article. Hope you do too.

Area 7 News

Good news for Baltimore, Maryland area Pennwriters. Pennwriter Secretary and Area 7 member, Jessica Williams, has stepped up to become the Area 7 Baltimore Group Leader. Jessica will be announcing the details of where and when meetings and events will be held early in 2012. I lead the Area 7 Blue Ridge Group meeting twice month in Purcellville, VA. Anyone interested in participating in these groups is encouraged to contact me for more information at bcarducci@comcast.net. I would like to see all Area 7 members benefit from regular interaction with other writers in their local area no matter where they live. Anyone interested in leading a group, please contact me directly. If you have a place to meet and a desire to spend time with fellow writers it is possible to host a group.

Coming in March – Area 7 (Baltimore Group) led by Jessica Williams will hold its first event, a workshop and new member drive. Description of Event: Self Editing with Ramona Long. Attendees can submit first three. double spaced pages, of their work for review by Ramona. Ramona is also offering to do longer critiques (20 pages) from the first ten participants, at a special rate of $30. Space will be limited. Sign up as soon as possible.
Location: Baltimore County Library. Date: March 24, 2012. Time: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM ( lunch on your own). To register and for more information contact Jessica Williams at jesswilliams06@verizon.net