DENTON WRITERS LEAGUE

FIRST EDITION

MARCH 2002 VOL. 13 NUMBER 3

DWL Home Page:  http://byjoni.com/dwl/

If you would like the copy of the newsletter e-mailed to you instead of in the US Post,
please contact George Avera or Joni Latham

BOOK SIGNING

FRANCIS HENK WILL BE SIGNING

AT HASTINGS, COLORADO STREET ACROSS FROM GOLDEN TRIANGLE MALL

NEXT MEETING SATURDAY MARCH 9, 2002

WHERE WE MEET, AND WHEN

City Hall In The Mall next to the Old Country Buffet at the Golden Triangle Mall.
Business meeting 10:00 a.m., General meeting at 10:30 a.m. Lunch at the Old Country Buffet at noon.

The February meeting hosted Melinda Rice, author of Lone Star Heroines, a children's series (Ages 9-12) of historical novels:
Messenger on the Battlefield, Fire on the Hillside,Secrets in the Sky,  Marooned on the Pirate Coast (Lone Star Heroines 4, due late summer 2002) and a non-fiction: Lone Star Ladies: A Travel Guide to Women's History in Texas.
Melinda suggested that any historical event can be fodder for a fiction story. All of her children's novel are fictional accounts of real events in Texas history. She also made a major point of the importance of networking with members of the writing and publishing industry and treating writing like a business.   She recommends attending conferences and workshops dedicated to the genre one writes in.  Among the those she favors are:

You must join SCBWI, if you want to sell children's and young adult's manuscripts.
 

Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators
http://www.scbwi.org/

She recommends these publications, conferences, and groups:

She believes the best book on writing is Bird By Bird, by Anne Lamott.  (Many successful authors do. -Ed.)

She recommends the writer have a private office with a private phone line, and treat writing like a regular job -- not to be disturbed or interrupted while in the office.  Meet your deadlines, keep your promises and treat everybody you meet with courtesy and respect.  You want their cooperation and for them to think well of you in the future.
 

A TIME TO TRUST, by Frances Henk writing as Mary S. McGuire

As you know it is dedicated to the Denton Writer's League in thanks for all
the help the group has given to her  (me). A TIME TO TRUST weaves a tale of
two people finding a satisfying relationship together despite various
obstacles because they reach within themselves for the courage and strength
to accomplish this goal.

Viviane Crystal, a reviewer for The Write Lifestyle has said: "Lovely, that's
the word for this writer's latest novel! Don't miss any of her works!"

TRUST  is supposed to retail for 14.95 (sticker price) but it will be on sale
for 14.00 on the day of the signing.  RACHEL'S JOURNEY, which recently
received a Highly Recommend from the Midwest Review will also be available at
15.00.

Frances Henk writing as Mary S. McGuire
Coming in Feb,  A TIME TO TRUST
RACHEL'S JOURNEY, Nov. 2001
WingsPress  http://wings-press.com
 

Writer's Digest  http://www.writersdigest.com/

WRITERSPACE.COM

Writerspace.com is a primary hub for Romance and Women's Fiction online, hosting webistes for over 300 bestselling romance authors.  In a time when the outlook for many 'dot com' companies has been grim, Wrtierspace has nearly tripled in size during the past year.  The site is home to more than 5,500 unique visitors a day and distributes a weekly "authors news" newsletter to a mailing list of over 30,000 opt-in romance readers.  Writerspace delivers approximately 850,000 page views each month, while its entire network of hosted author sites delivers over 2 million page views a month.

One of the things that makes Writerspae stand out from other websites is our attention to readers of romance fiction.  We create communicties of interest for readers to come back daily to visit our bulletin boards, discussion lists, check reviews, reader calendar, and author chats.  We host communities of interest fro readers such as paranormal romace and sensual romance, The Best Reviews with over 3,000 reviews, 1,000 books, and informatio on more than 1,000 authors.  We also host publishing groups including Berkley Jove Authors, Silhouette Intimate Moments Authors, Harlequin BLAZE Authors, Harlequin Superromance Authors, Ballatine~Ivy Authors, Red Sage Publishing, and TARA (Tampa Area Romance Authors).

Writerspace - Websites for Writers < Communities for Readers  http://www.writerspace.com

For more information, contact Sara Reyes at sjreyes@writerspace.com

WRITER'S GRANTS

Literary funding has been dwindling over the past decade, yet the need for it continues to build. Writers and artists of all varieties can face shortages of money due to emergencies of health and home, unemployment, and accidents. The following list of helpful organizations is a stopgap of sorts, providing emergency money, savings accounts, and loans for writers, editors, and artists.

American Poets Fund
(The Academy of American Poets, 584 Broadway, Suite 1208, New York, NY 10012)
Established by Peter I. B. Lavan, the fund assists poets of demonstrated ability who are in a state of urgent financial need. Grants cannot be used to promote or otherwise enhance literary talent or reputation, and applications are not accepted. Academy Chancellors, Fellows, and prize winners may bring the circumstances of qualifying poets to the attention of the American Poets Fund committee by sending a letter of nomination, including specifics about the nominee's current financial situation, to the Executive Director of the Academy.

Artists Community Federal Credit Union
(155 Avenue of the Americas, 14th floor, New York, NY 10013-1507, 212-366-5669, Fax: 212-366-1778)
This membership credit union offers savings accounts, investment programs, and loans for artists in all disciplines. To become a member, you need to open an investment account (Share/Money Market, Certficates of Deposit, or IRA), complete an application, and pay an inexpensive one-time membership fee.

Authors League Fund
(330 West 42 St, New York, NY 10036)
Offers interest-free loans to members of the writing community who have sudden financial emergencies; also provides information on other resources.

PEN Writer's Fund and PEN Fund for Writers and Editors with AIDS
(PEN, 568 Broadway, 4th floor, New York, NY 10012)
The Writer's Fund offers grants and loans not to exceed $1,000 to established writers with financial emergencies. The Fund for Writers and Editors with AIDS gives grants ranging from $500 to $1,000. There are no fixed deadlines.

Of course, there are times when writers need funding for their work or for themselves, for the enhancement of their reputation, or for time to write. Many grants and awards still exist in the literary world for all genres, despite dwindling government funds. Foundations and universities, arts councils, centers, and societies all contribute to the support of literary arts. The following publications list these organizations and the grants and/or awards available from them. Pay strict attention to all guidelines for application.

Grants & Awards Available to American Writers
(PEN, 568 Broadway, 4th floor, New York, NY 10012, 212-334-1660)
This biennial directory lists nearly 1,000 grants, awards, and fellowships open to poets, fiction writers, nonfiction writers, journalists, historians, playwrights, and screenwriters. Indexed by award, organization, and genre.

Poets & Writers Magazine
Our top-selling bimonthly magazine lists upcoming grants and awards deadlines and recent winners of prizes, including state grants. Also includes news for writers, interviews with writers and publishing pros, calls for manuscripts, essays on the changing state of contemporary literature, and practical articles on getting your work published. $19.95, one year. $38.00, two years. Subscribe now.

AWP Chronicle
(Associated Writing Programs, Tallwood House, Mail Stop 1E3, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, 703-993-4301)
A publication for creative writers and teachers of creative writing with grants and awards listings, interviews, and essays on the teaching of writing. A one-year membership includes a subscription.

Dreamin' in Dallas - The 2nd annual joint writers conference from the Dallas Area and North Texas Chapters of Romance Writers of America. April 5-6, 2002. Workshops, panels, editor and agent appointments available (first come, first serve $10 by appt only), and more

DARA/NT Members Other Guests*

Early Registration (received before 2/28/02) $65.00 $75.00
Late Registration (received 03/01/02 or after) $75.00 $85.00
At the Door $80.00 $90.00

For more information go to: http://dara.romance-central.com/conference/ (on-line registration form on website)or write to:
NTRWA
PO Box 1921
Burleson, TX 76097

The Oklahoma Writers Federation Conference in Oklahoma City. - The first weekend in May. The registration fee is $100 if paid before April 15th, or $125 after April 15th and at the door. This includes tickets for the Friday dinner and Saturday awards banquet. The one day conference rate is $50. The rate for each conference meal is $30.   Registration form can be found on line. Mail to:
Lou Mansfield
2302 Brandeis Court
Hall Park, OK 73071-7305

For more information, go to - http://owfi.tripod.com/conference.html

Writer's Market http://www.writersmarket.com/index_ns.asp
New Writer's Market http://hge.members.atlantic.net/
eBook Writer's Market Directory http://www.ebookwritersmarket.com/
Ebook Connections http://www.ebookconnections.com/
Preditors and Editors-a resources to check out agents and publishers http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/
The Novelist Workshop http://www.monash.com/writers.html
Writer's Exchange http://www.writers-exchange.com/
WritersNet http://www.writers.net/
There are multitudes of writing resources available on the Internet. Go to any search engine and ask for writer's resources, writer's markets, writer's contests, writer's conferences, etc

DWL OFFICERS:

President - Joni Latham (joni@verizon.net) - 940/243-5200
1st VP - June Powell - 940/565-1013
2nd VP and Program Chairman - Oleta North - 940/458-3960
Treasurer - Florence McClain - 940/497-3433
Secretary - Rae Nell Causseaux - 940/321-2739
Newsletter - George Avera (gavera@chatter.com) - 940/382-4130