TH E
THE NEWSlETTEr Of PENNWrITErS INC.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015 • VOl. XXIII NO. 5
Pennwriters Online Writing Course: Intro to the Interview
Instructor Steven M. Nesbit describes the course
This six week class will focus on two of the seven forms
of communication—intrapersonal (communicating with
yourself) and interpersonal communication (communicating with one other person). Beginning in week one,
we will address one of the top three fears in America—
speaking in public. Many writers are excellent at developing multiple characters when working on a piece of
writing; however, it is my personal belief that many
writers are more introverted than extroverted when
surrounded by “real people.” One of the goals of this
workshop is to increase the awareness of your intrapersonal self. The excellent interviewer is not only skilled
in interpersonal communications but also aware of the
importance of your intrapersonal self.
We will review the six different types of interviews,
the appropriate sequencing of the interview, how to
set-up general interviews and specific interviews,
discuss different types of questions to use and general
knowledge regarding how to prepare for an interview.
As the class progresses, you will be asked to do a few
simple exercises. I will provide many tips of advice
along the way so that you will appear experienced and
competent. It’s the little things about conducting an
interview which enable you to come across as a pro
instead of a rookie. Like anything else in our world, we
improve with practice. You will be asked to interview a
relative. One of your exercises will be to analyze contents
from my website’s portfolio page and write a “Read and
React” review about a few of my feature stories.
As the class winds down, you will be asked to send
me via email your third assignment, which is a critique
of this class. When you complete this final task, I will
reward you with lists of appropriate interview questions
that I’ve accumulated during the years.
This course is run in the PennwritersClassOne
Yahoo group/listserv/ (an online classroom), which
allows you maximum convenience and schedule flexibility.
Attend class anytime. Virtually all communications
between instructor and attendees can be done by simply
emailing the online classroom listed above. Though
not mandatory, you can allow classmates to see and
comment on your assignments by uploading them to
the FILES section of the online classroom at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PennClassOne/files.
You are encouraged to chat with fellow classmates
and participate often. Use courtesy when posting
messages to this site and replying to classmates.
The instructor can be connected through the site or
emailed. The course content will be emailed to you
and posted in the FILES section of the online classroom.
There are only three assignments as noted on page 1.
A bonus assignment can be submitted to me after the
classes are over. You don’t have to submit any assignments.
It’s your choice.
• Sept. 16: Greetings, Nerves, Types, Interview Set-up,
the Sequence, Assignment 1
• Sept. 23: Types of Questions, Structuring the Interview,
Tools for the Interviewer
• Sept. 29: Guidelines for Structuring an Interview,
Assignment 2
• Oct. 7: Planning the Interview, Tips about interviewing
• Oct. 14: Analyzing the Interview, Do’s and Don’ts of
the Interview, Assignment 3
• Oct. 21: “Wrapping it up,” Q&A, Open Classroom,
a time to discuss, ask questions
Tuition for this class is $40. You do not have to be a member
of Pennwriters to participate. For more details and Steve’s
bio, visit www.pennwriters.org.
IN THIS ISSUE
PW Online Course.................................1
President’s Column ............................. 2
PW Officers and Online Groups..........3
Pennwriters Areas Map........................3
Member News ......................................4
Hook ‘Em ...............................................5
Area listings .........................throughout
Market News ..................................10-11
Newsletter Submission info ...........back
President’s Column
I hope all of you enjoyed a restful, relaxing summer and had the opportunity
to read lots of books and pen thousands of words.
Carol Silvis, Area 3
PRESIDENT
2015 CONFERENCE COORDINATOR
I have been reading all the wonderful Facebook posts of member accomplishments. Many of our members are publishing, being nominated for and winning
awards, and speaking at conferences. Don’t forget to send your accomplishments
to The Penn Writer, so all of your fellow Pennwriters can share in your success.
Email Heather Desuta, newsletter editor, at Newsletter@Pennwriters.org
with “Penn Writer Submission” in the subject line. Please include your
Pennwriters Area number in the message. The submission deadline for
the next issue is October 1, 2015.
With back to school upon us and the busy days of summer behind us, it’s a good
time to consider ways to educate ourselves in the art of writing. One of the best?
Read. Read. Read. In keeping with the Pennwriters mission of helping writers of
all levels improve and succeed in their craft, Pauline Drozeski, our online
courses coordinator, has been bringing members a variety of successful,
informative online courses and wonderful, knowledgeable Penns Presents
guests. If you have an idea for a course or would like to offer to teach a course,
contact Pauline at OnlineCoursesCoordinator@pennwriters.org or let your
area rep know. Pauline is also seeking speakers for Penns Presents. If you are
interested or know of someone who would be an informative guest speaker,
please let Pauline or your area rep know. (Check the Pennwriters website for
more information on these courses and programs.)
Any time you change your mailing
address or email address, please
no t i f y Ja cki e S ha f f m a ster a t
Treasurer@Pennwriters.org. We
thank you in advance for helping
to keep our member roster current.
NOTICE: Publication herein of articles,
interviews, and news concerning markets,
contests, seminars, classes, etc., does not
imply an endorsement, recommendation or
any warranty given by Pennwriters. Readers
are urged to determine for themselves the
reliability, integrity, and financial responsibility
of those with whom they deal. The contents of
this issue of The Penn Writer are copyrighted
© 2015 by Pennwriters, Inc. All rights are
reserved. Permission to photocopy is expressly
denied. All rights revert to individual authors
immediately upon publication.
On Saturday, October 17, Area 1 will hold their third annual one-day miniconference in Erie. If you’re looking for a chance to take your writing to the next
level, then set your GPS for “A Writer’s Road Trip 3.” Buckle-up and join with
like-minded peers for this fast-paced ride. Learn how to enhance your fan base,
explore marketing strategies, navigate the potholes, and finally cross the finish
line. Registration begins at 8 a.m.; sessions run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a
mid-day luncheon buffet included. The conference wrap up is from 4 to 5 p.m. For
more information, contact Todd Main at Area1Rep@Pennwriters.org or find the
Facebook group “A Writer’s Road Trip.”
For details about specific meetings and happenings near you, please check the
website or contact your Area Rep.
If you are a serious writer, why not take advantage of what Pennwriters has to
offer? These wonderful programs will succeed only if members support them.
Join your local writing and critique groups. Sign on to the updated Pennwriters
website to keep up with the latest news and to join in on the member forum
discussions. Take an online class and/or come to a mini-conference or the
next page
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THE PENN WRITER • September/October 2015 • www.pennwriters.org
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President
Carol Silvis
724-327-2725
President@Pennwriters.org
annual conference. The 2016 Pennwriters Conference will be held in Lancaster
and will feature Jonathan Maberry as the Friday keynote and Kathryn Craft as
the Saturday keynote. It is not too early to make plans to attend.
Board News—The next board meeting will be Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the Clarion Hotel in Dubois. Members are welcome to attend (at their own
expense) or to reach out to their area reps concerning questions and comments
they would like to see brought before the board.
The 2016 Conference Coordinator is Ayleen Stellhorn. She can be reached at
ConferenceCoordinator@Pennwriters.org.
Don’t forget to keep up with the latest Pennwriters news via the website,
Facebook, and Twitter. Contact Charli Mac at Webmaster@pennwriters.org
concerning website questions and issues.
–Carol
Vice President
Annette Dashofy
724-255-7955
VicePresident@Pennwriters.org
Secretary
Susan Gourley
Secretary@Pennwriters.org
Treasurer
Jackie Shaffmaster
570-878-7056
Treasurer@Pennwriters.org
Author Advocate
2016 Conference Coordinator
Ayleen Stellhorn
717-359-9279
AuthorAdvocate@Pennwriters.org
Webmaster
Charli Mac
Webmaster@Pennwriters.org
Newsletter Editor
Heather Desuta, 412-337-6966
Newsletter@Pennwriters.org
Public relations Chair
Christiana Reuling
PublicRelations@Pennwriters.org
Pennwriters Online: Your Internet Connection
Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.pennwriters.org
Yahoo Group . . . . . . . . . . . http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pennwriters/join
Facebook Groups . . . . . . . . . . .Pennwriters; Pennwriters Annual Conference
You can also join the Pennwriters linkedIn group and follow us on Twitter.
Bylaws Chair
Jean Jenkins
814-774-0557
BylawsChair@Pennwriters.org
Internet Activities Coordinator
and Online Courses Coordinator
Pauline Drozeski
OnlineCoordinator@Pennwriters.org
Election Chair
Terry Friedman, 610-692-8668
ElectionChair@Pennwriters.org
Pennwriters Areas Map
Annual Writing Contest Coordinator
Sandy Nork
Writingcontestcoordinator@
Pennwriters.org
ArEA 1: Todd Main
Area1Rep@Pennwriters.org
ArEA 2: Mark Boerma
Area2Rep@Pennwriters.org
ArEA 3: Candace Banks
Area3Rep@Pennwriters.org
ArEA 4: Hilary Hauck
Area4Rep@Pennwriters.org
ArEA 5: Tina Crone
Area5Rep@Pennwriters.org
ArEA 6: Charli Mac
Area6Rep@Pennwriters.org
ArEA 7: Bobbi Carducci
Area7Rep@Pennwriters.org
THE PENN WRITER • September/October 2015 • www.pennwriters.org
3
Member News & Accomplishments
Area 3 Doris
Dumrauf
published her
debut novel
OKTOBER HEAT
on amazon.com
and all major
ebook platforms.
GIs, girls, and rock
‘n’ roll are a recipe
for trouble for a
young police officer in a 1958 West German village.
She also published an article in
the March/April 2015 issue of
Pennsylvania Magazine and an article
in the June 2015 issue of Toastmaster
magazine. To learn more, visit
www.dorisdumraufauthor.com.
Following a career in law, Area 1
Donald W. Grieshober, reports that at
the end of 2012, at age 81, he decided
to start writing fiction and nonfiction
stories and books. He self-published
seven books over the next couple of
years. In 2015, he began publishing
through Amazon Create Space. Mr.
Grieshober composes his books on a
portable Smith-Corona electronic
typewriter and has a woman named
Doreen do his computer work. The
following is a list of his works and
publishing dates:
• (July 2013) TWENTY CASES This book explores 20 Supreme Court
cases and a few local cases, all in his
legal career. It includes King, which
established in Pa. legal history that
pensions are divisible marital assets.
• (October 2013) 97 SHORTS a collection of 101 short fiction stories
• (December 2013) JOHN A. BLACKMORE,
ESQ. A PARTIAL LEGAL RESUME About the 1946 first-degree murder
of Erie resident Robert Fisher. Mike
Bubna (death sentence) and his sister,
Mildred Thomas (life imprisonment),
were convicted of the crime.
• (March 2014) OPINIONS OF A NON-POLITICIAN - This book includes Letters to the Editor of the
Erie Times News (published and
unpublished), plus numerous
opinions and essays.
• (June 2014)
AMANDA &
RUTH ADVENTURES About the
adventures of
five-year-old
first cousins
Amanda and
Ruth and their
values.
• (September 2014) 97 SHORTS Another volume of short fiction.
• (December 2014) WHY ME? - memoir
• (May 2015) DICHOTOMY VOLUME 1 Creative fiction of actual civil cases he
handled, contrasting the fault-divorce
era (until June 1980) and the nofault-divorce era (thereafter). Real
cases have been fictionalized.
• (June 2015) AMANDA & RUTH
LEGAL HANDBOOK - Includes Lady
Atty and classmates; six adventures;
and 13 legal documents for children.
• (August 2015) OPINIONS OF A
NON-POLITICIAN, VOLUME II
Area 3 Lorraine Henderson continues to sell to the confession market.
The September issue of True Story
magazine will include “The Earth
Moved”—a play on the song lyrics,
“the earth moved under my feet.”
It’s a bit of an earthquake romance.
The August issue of True Story had
one of Henderson’s favorites in it.
“Lost in Time” is a “ghost” story and
totally true—except for the ending.
She wrote the ending she hoped was
true. Lorraine also had stories in the
April through July issues of True Story
or True Confessions.
TO SHARE YOuR NEWS, email Newsletter@Pennwriters.org with “Penn Writer Submission”
in the subject line. Please include your Pennwriters Area # in the message.
4
THE PENN WRITER • September/October 2015 • www.pennwriters.org
Area 5 Norma
Huss’s short story,
“Herbs To You”
was included in
the Sisters in Crime
Guppy Chapter
anthology, FISH
OR CUT BAIT,
published April
2015 by Wildside
Press. She also was
one of about 60 Sisters in Crime authors
who contributed to WRITES OF PASSAGE, published in 2014. It won the
Agatha for nonfiction, presented in
May at Malice Domestic.
Area 3 Colleen Laughlin, writing as
Colleen S. Myers, will release her
debut novel, MUST REMEMBER, in
November with Champagne Books.
The sequel, CAN'T FORGET, recently
won RWA’s fantasy division of the
New England Readers Award and is
in the second round of the Molly.
Visit www.csmyersmusings.com.
Jim Lee, Area 4, had a supernatural
horror story in the July 2015 issue of
Beyond Imagination, a digital literacy
magazine. It’s available at Jim’s Amazon
Page: amazon.com/author/leejim.
Area 1 Lisa Lepovetsky has two short
stories coming out in October. “Contagion” will be in an anthology from
Burning Willow Press with a working
title of CROSSROADS IN THE DARK.
“Vermin” will appear in Bete Noire
magazine’s October edition.
Nancy Martin, Area 3, will celebrate
the relese of her standalone mystery,
MISS RUFFLES INHERITS EVERYTHING,
to be released from Minotaur in
November.
Area 7 George G. Moore’s short story,
“Unintended Lesson,” appears in the
anthology FORGING FREEDOM
VOLUME II, edited by Val Muller.
Visit www.GeorgeGMoore.com.
Hook ’Em
by Catherine E. McLean, Area 1
It's said that a writer only has eight seconds to catch the
reader's attention. That’s why writers are told to begin
stories with a hook. That hook can be the first word, the
first sentence, the first paragraph. However, before any
hook opening can be crafted, a writer needs to know where
the story begins. After all, a hook opening isn’t much good
unless it’s at the beginning of a tale.
It’s often difficult to know the true beginning of a story,
because the writer can’t see the forest for the trees. So, grab
your best tree-cutting ax (your red pen), and let’s fell a few
crab trees of description, exposition, the mundane, prologues,
and gimmicks.
1.) Is the opening describing settings or scenery?
Here’s an example of a descriptive opening that fails: On the
horizon, swiftly barreling down the valley between the high
peaks, came black thunder clouds. Pitchforks of lightning
flashed from sky to ground but were replaced by a deluge of
rain. The creeks and gullies soon filled with water...
Such descriptions lack drama and urgency as well as
people. Readers are far more interested in people than
descriptions. You see, when a reader eyes that first page,
he or she expects to find an interesting character (who is
usually the protagonist). The interesting character must be
in an interesting setting—but not an overly detailed one.
That character also should be confronting an interesting
problem or facing a dilemma with dramatic qualities or
undertones. It’s necessary to anchor the reader in the story
world from the get-go, but that’s best done by integrating
specific details and using an economy of words.
2) Is exposition used to start the story?
Here’s an example that fails: Roger the Bold was actually
Roger the bald. For breakfast every morning, he ate oatmeal
with white raisins, twelve almonds, and six teaspoons of
organic sugar.
Like descriptive openings, exposition is telling, not
showing, and little is actually happening that is compelling.
Now if Roger were eating his enemy’s liver, that’s dramatic
and a hook.
3) Is a character performing an ordinary activity by
himself or herself?
Is your character alone, taking a bath or shower, washing
dishes, walking the dog, making a cup of tea or coffee?
Mundane routines bore readers and slow the story’s
forward movement to a crawl. Included in the mundane is
thinking or the character talking to himself or herself. Such
one-sided conversations are the snaring grapevines that
cling to trees and which readers avoid by skipping down to
dialogue or to a more interesting paragraph.
4) Does the story begin with a prologue or first chapter
that contains a family or character history, back story,
or flashback?
The author may need to know this information in order
to write the story, but the reader doesn’t need it until it’s
absolutely necessary for clarity. A good rule to adopt is that
if anything in the prologue appears in the story itself, ax the
prologue. Now, someone might say, “Impossible! No way
am I cutting my prologue. It contains things that the reader
has to know.”
What that writer has revealed is his or her lack of
storytelling skills. Good storytelling enables writers to
blend background details into the narrative. Talent takes
a writer only so far. It’s craft that enhances and liberates
talent—and best of all, craft can be learned.
5) Is there an attention-getting gimmick for an
opening line?
For example: John killed two people and didn’t think twice
about pulling the trigger.
Great opening line, right? But should this be followed
by: With four brothers and a sister, he grew up in the little
city of Meadville, Pennsylvania. He had a normal Catholic
upbringing...
No way! It's best to chop off what follows and continue
with a scene.
6) Has the gimmick of dialogue without speech tags
been used to start the story? Like—
“It won’t fit.” or “It certainly will.”
Who is talking? A man? A woman? Two men? Two
women? Children squabbling? Aliens?
By the syntax and diction of dialogue, a reader should
hear the voice of a male or a female. Unfortunately, the
above dialogue lines are only three-words long. That’s too
short to reveal the speaker’s voice or the force, urgency, or
lackadaisicalness of how the words are uttered.
Novice writers think leaving off the speech tags of
opening dialogue is a terrific hook, that it'll make the
reader curious enough to read on. In reality, it usually does
the opposite.
So, sharpen your ax, keep chopping away at your drafts
until you find the starting point of your story. Then set the
ax aside and chisel those opening words into a hook that
makes a reader interested in reading all the way to “The End.”
Catherine is a longtime Pennwriter and the author of three novels—
most recently, HEARTS AKILTER, published by Wild Rose Press. Her
short stories have appeared in hard-copy and online anthologies and
magazines. In November, she’ll instruct the Pennwriters Online Course
“The Short Story: A Quick Course to Success.” The sessions will showcase
how to write a marketable short story, which can also lay the foundation
for a novel. Catherine’s hub website is www.CatherineEmclean.com.
Her website for writers is www.WritersCheatSheet.com.
THE PENN WRITER • September/October 2015 • www.pennwriters.org
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Area 1
Todd Main • Area 1 Representative
814-459-8752 • Area1Rep@Pennwriters.org
Meadville Vicinity Pennwriters (MVP)
WHEN:
1st Saturday, 1-4 p.m.
WHERE: Tim Horton’s on Conneaut Lake Road
CONTACT: Babs Mountjoy,
bmountjoy@zoominternet.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHEN:
2nd Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
WHERE: McCord Memorial Library, North East
CONTACT: Diane Wickles
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHEN:
2nd Saturday, 1-4 p.m.
WHERE: Tom Ridge Environmental Center,
301 Peninsula Drive, Presque Isle
CONTACT: Todd Main, todd_main@steris.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shenango Valley Pennwriters (SVP)
WHEN:
3rd Saturday, 1-4 p.m.
WHERE: Community Library of
Shenango Valley, Sharon
CONTACT: Catherine McLean,
catherinemclean@windstream.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHEN:
4th Saturday, 1-4 p.m.
WHERE: Barnes & Noble, near the
Millcreek Mall, Erie
CONTACT: Dave Szymanowski,
daveszy@adelphia.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fellowship of the Quill (FOTQ)
WHEN:
Every Thursday, 7-10 p.m.
WHERE: Tim Horton’s, 2565 West 12th, Erie
CONTACT: Todd Main, todd_main@steris.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHEN:
Third Tuesdays, 7-10 p.m.
WHERE: Barnes and Noble, 5909 Peach St.
CONTACT: Jean Jenkins, jean.jenkins10@gmail.com
(Group geared for more experienced writers)
“
Get motivated and supported.
Travel the write road.
Buckle-up and join with like-minded peers for this fast-paced ride.
If you’re looking for a chance to take your writing to the next level,
then set your GPS for “A Writer’s Road Trip 3” Mini-Conference.
During our third annual event, learn how to:
•
•
•
•
There’s no need to pack a picnic lunch or look for a roadside rest—
a luncheon buffet is included. Registration begins at 8 a.m.; sessions
run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and the conference wrap up is from
4 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact Todd Main at
Area1Rep@Pennwriters.org or find us at “A Writer’s Road Trip”
on Facebook.
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.
Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel
that you, too, can become great.
- Mark Twain
6
Enhance Your Fan Base
Explore Marketing Strategies
Navigate the Potholes
Finally Cross the Finish Line!
THE PENN WRITER • September/October 2015 • www.pennwriters.org
”
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Area 2
Mark Boerma • Area 2 Representative
Area2Rep@Pennwriters.org
Deadline: September 15, 2015
If you write short stories, don’t miss your chance to compete in the Writer’s
Digest Popular Fiction Awards. There’s sure to be a category created just for
you, Romance, Thriller, Crime, Horror, Science-Fiction, and Young Adult.
Choose your favorite genre(s) and enter your best in 4,000 words or less.
Crime: Crime fiction is a genre of fiction that focuses on the dramatization of crimes,
the detective work and procedures in solving said crimes, and the criminal motivations behind them. Mystery and detective fiction may also fit into this genre.
Horror: Horror fiction is a genre which intends, and/or has the capacity, to frighten,
scare or startle readers. This genre may induce feelings of creepiness, horror and terror, and is generally unsettling for the audience. Horror can be supernatural or nonsupernatural.
romance: Romance fiction can encompass and draw themes, ideas and premises
from other genres and can vary widely in setting, dialogue, characters, etc. Generally, however, romance fiction should include a love story involving two individuals
struggling to make their relationship work and an emotionally satisfying ending.
Science fiction: Science Fiction (and Fantasy) are genres that explore imaginative
content, primarily related to science. This can include a variety of elements, often involving futuristic settings, science and technology, as well as space travel, time
travel, extraterrestrial life, and parallel universes. Fantasy fiction often crosses over
with this category, touching on similar elements such as world building and magical
creatures, but it generally does not include the scientific themes.
Thriller: Thriller fiction is a genre of fiction that uses suspense and tension to dramatically affect the reader. A thriller can provide surprise, anxiety, terror, anticipation,
etc., in order to provide a rush of emotions and excitement that progress a story. It
should generally be based around the strength of the villain and the protagonist, as
well as their struggle against each other. This category might encompass several
other genres, including horror, science fiction, and crime.
Young Adult: Young Adult fiction is generally fiction meant for readers age 12-18.
Visit http://www.writersdigest.com
WrITEr’S
TOOlBOx:
Danville Group
1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Episcopal Church, Market St.
CONTACT: Dave Freas,
quillracer@pa.metrocast.net
WHEN:
MArKETING
Finding and Using Collaborators
How do you get collaborators? Sell the collaborators on their customers’
needs. To reiterate an ongoing point, it’s not about you, it’s about their
needs that you satisfy. When you plan to approach a Collaborator,
identify the following sales points:
1. What are the three most important needs of their organization
AND their customers?
2. What has held them back from addressing these needs?
3. How much is it costing them?
-from Strategic Marketing Made Easy For Writers: Optimize Your Promotions
For Bestseller Results by Nate Hardy, Area 6. www.PlusSignProductions.org
Non-PW meetings that may be of interest:
Tunkhannock Group #1
WHEN:
2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Methodist Education Building,
corner of Warren & Marion
Tunkhannock Group #2
every Thursday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga St.
WHEN:
••••••••••••••••••••
Area 7
Bobbi Carducci • Area 7 Representative
540-338-5064
Area7Rep@Pennwriters.org
Blue Ridge Group
Meetings include critique on request,
sharing resources, writing exercises
and discussion. Beginning to multipublished writers welcome.
WHEN:
2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m.
WHERE: Purcellville Library,
Purcellville, Va.
CONTACT: Bobbi Carducci,
Area7Rep@Pennwriters.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Northern Delaware Group
Meetings will be held monthly to discuss all sorts of writing stuff. All levels
of experience are welcome. Email
Cindy Callaghan for more information:
callaghancindy@gmail.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anyone interested in forming a group,
please contact me. If you have a place
to meet and a desire to spend time with
fellow writers, it is possible to host a
group.
Groups of Interest in Blue Ridge Area:
• Loudoun County Writers Association
THE PENN WRITER • September/October 2015 • www.pennwriters.org
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Area 3
Candace Banks • Area 3 Representative
Area3Rep@Pennwriters.org
Second Tuesday of the Month Group
Second Tuesday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Panera Bread, Settlers Ridge
CONTACT: Carol: pcmoes@verizon.net; Cheryl: cherylewilliams205@yahoo.com
WHEN:
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The Mindful Writers Group
Our goal is to complete a book-length manuscript in 9 months using
Writing Meditation Method. Group is currently at its 20-member limit.
WHEN:
every Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
WHERE: Eat ’n Park, at Wexford exit of I-79
CONTACT: To join, contact Madhu Wangu, madhu.wangu@me.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pittsburgh East Writers Group
Small, friendly critique group focusing on fiction. All genres welcome.
WHEN:
3rd Saturday, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
WHERE: Monroeville Public Library’s upstairs conference room
CONTACT: Chuck Rakiecz, crakiecz@verizon.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
South Hills Writers Group
Group limited to four members. Any genre is welcome, but members must
have similar writing and critiquing skills and be willing to critique large
submissions or entire manuscripts on a timely basis. Email for details.
WHEN:
every Thursday, 10 a.m. (meetings last about four hours w/writing)
WHERE: Market District Express on Washington Road in Peter’s Township
CONTACT: Stephanie Claypool, stephanieclaypool@outlook.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Springdale Library Writers
Open to all levels and types of writers, for all genres. Includes critiques,
writing exercises, discussion.
WHEN:
every Thursday, 6-7:45 p.m.
WHERE: Springdale Library, 331 School St.
CONTACT: Debra Sanchez, dbrsanchez@gmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Critique Group North
Eight members writing shorts, flashes and novels. Currently, membership
is full, but interested writers may submit their names and email addresses
for the waiting list.
WHEN:
2nd Thursday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (includes time for lunch)
WHERE: King’s Restaurant, Rt. 910, at Wexford exit of I-79
CONTACT: MaryAlice Meli, maryalicemeli@yahoo.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robinson Evening Critique Group
Contact Kristin for details.
WHERE: Panera Bread, Settlers Ridge
CONTACT: Kristin Humphreys, k.m.humphreys@hotmail.com
Beaver County Bookfest will take
place Sept. 12, 2015, from 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m., in the charming and
historic town of Beaver, Pa.
The Main Event on Saturday will
feature our Authors’ Tent (with
usually around 50 authors), our
popular Children’s Tent with plenty
of activities for the little ones, music
on the street, and of course, a
variety of food and retail vendors.
Applications are now being taken
for authors wishing to participate.
Visit beavercountybookfest.com
for information. We can’t wait to
see you in September!
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Cooper-Siegel Community library,
403 Fox Chapel Rd., Pittsburgh, PA
Morning Book End Author:
William (Bill) Strickland
Afternoon Book End Author:
Bob Cranmer
Featured Author: Darieth Chisolm
Plus Western Pa. authors Chip Bell,
Ann Howley, Kathy Parry, leah
Pileggi, Heather Terrell and others.
Event hosts:
Beth Caldwell and lillie leonardi
For more information, visit
www.passagesandprose.com.
8
THE PENN WRITER • September/October 2015 • www.pennwriters.org
­• ••••••••••••••••••••••
Area 5
Tina Crone • Area 5 Representative
Area5Rep@Pennwriters.org
The first annual York Book Expo will be held Saturday, Oct.17,
at the York Fairgrounds. This is a free event for all ages and will
feature more than 100 local authors, along with activities for
children and families. For information or to make a reservation
for booths/tables, email Demi Stevens, CEO, Year of the Book
Press, at demi@yotbpress.com or call (717) 781-4972.
•••••••••••••••••••••••
Area 4
Hilary Hauck • Area 4 Representative
Area4Rep@Pennwriters.org
The Southern Alleghenies Writers Guild
3rd Saturday, noon-3 p.m.
CONTACT: Jim Lee, 814-442-1241,
jimlee.author@gmail.com
WHEN:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Non-PW meetings that may be of interest:
State College, PA—
Please note that due to new library hours,
the meeting time has changed.
Nittany Valley Writers Network
WHEN:
2nd Tuesday, 6-7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Schlow Library, 211 S. Allen St.
Nittany Valley Writers: The Early Risers
WHEN:
3rd Wednesday, 7-8 a.m.
WHERE: The Waffle Shop, W. College Ave.
Nittany Valley Writers Network: Social
4th Tuesday, 5:30-7 p.m.
WHERE: The Autoport, 1405 S. Atherton
WHEN:
Altoona, PA—
The Inkwell
3rd Thursday, 7-8:30 p.m.
(optional 6:15-7 p.m. dinner/social BYOB)
WHERE: Jethro’s, 417 Parkview Lane, Altoona
CONTACT: hilary@hilaryhauck.com
York Area Group
Critique structure: bring 6 copies of up to
5 pgs. of manuscript, double spaced.
WHEN:
2nd Thursdays, 7-9 p.m.
WHERE: Books-a-Million,
3000 Whiteford Rd, York, Pa.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harrisburg Area Group
Critique structure: bring 10 copies of up to
5 pgs. of manuscript, double spaced.
All genres welcome.
WHEN:
4th Wednesday, 6-9 p.m.
WHERE: New Cumberland Library (back annex),
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
CONTACT: Don Helin, dhelin@copper.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lancaster Area Group
WHEN:
2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m.
WHERE: music section, Lancaster Barnes & Noble
CONTACT: Walt Honsinger,
walthonsinger@hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Guthrie Memorial Library Group
Critique structure: double spaced, no more
than 1500 words. For the poets out there,
bring no more than 5 poems per meeting.
WHEN:
every 3rd Monday, 6:30-8 p.m.
WHERE: Guthrie Memorial Library,
2 Library Place, Hanover, Pa.
CONTACT: Melanie Thomas,
melaniethewriter@gmail.com
­• ••••••••••••••••••••••
Area 6
Charli Mac • Area 6 Representative
Area6Rep@Pennwriters.org
There are currently no Pennwriters Area 6
groups meeting, but if you are interested
in forming a group, please contact
charli-mac@comcast.net.
WHEN:
THE PENN WRITER • September/October 2015 • www.pennwriters.org
9
Market News
Column #109
by Jim Lee, Area 4, Associate Editor, Market Reports
Again we begin with several short-deadline
anthologies (better hustle if you want in on any of these):
Girls on Campus will be a book of erotic lesbian fiction
with a college/university setting. Explicit sexuality is
expected to be the focus, but a more romantic tone
isn’t excluded. likewise, Co-Editors Sandy lowe and
Stacia Seaman prefer unpublished stories for this title, but
may go for an exceptional reprint or two—if the author
has the rights and it otherwise fits with the theme and
format. length: 2,000-5,000 wds. They want manuscripts
attached to an email cover letter, works written in
MS Word, Arial, 12-point font. Subject line should read:
Girls on Campus_Your Byline_Your Story’s Title. Send to
sandy@boldstrokesbooks.com. In the body of the email
include: Story title, your legal name, your pseudonym (if
you’re using one), address and phone number, email
address, word count and whether this is a reprint or not.
Pay per story will be $50 plus 2 contributor copies.
Deadline: September 15!
Untethered: a Magic iPhone anthology wants fantasy
fiction where the titular devices have actual magical
properties. Editor Janine A. Southard has written/published
a novel on the subject and wants to see how many
different variations on this theme people can come up
with. She’s buying First Print and First E-Book Rights, so
no reprints. Max length is 10,000 wds (preferred range is
3,000-7,000). Pay for all will be $100 plus a POD copy.
Acceptable formats: .doc, .docx and .rtf. Guidelines:
www.cantinapublishing.com/submissions/untethered/.
Send to untethered.subs@cantinapublishing.com.
Deadline: October 1.
guidelines at www.jellingtonaston.com/submissions.html
before sending. And while they claim they offer competitive
contracts, certainly make sure of the specifics before
signing anything.
Elsewhere…
Nuts & Volts is a nonfiction magazine for anyone with a
serious interest in electronics (hands-on hobbyists, design
engineers, technicians & experimenters alike). They pay
$100 per printed page, up to $450 max for articles,
1,500-2,500 wds. For guides, email editor@nutsvolts.com
and ask for a copy.
Alpinist Magazine is for people interested in climbing
Alpine mountains (makes sense). They like first-person
accounts that investigate range of topics relevant to
climbing aficionados. Mostly short (250-500 wds, with
separate pay for photos). Text is paid at 25 cents/wd.
Guides: www.alpinist.com/p/magazine/contribute.
Subs go to Submissions@alpinist.com.
Wild Junket Magazine is for the outdoor adventure
traveler. Target audience is ages 25-44 and they like
first-person narratives of epic adventures and cultural
experiences. Reprints are ok, as long as they’re notified
when/where previous publication occurred (and that
you retain reprint rights). Pay is up to $150. Check guides
at www.wildjunketmagazine.com/editorial-guidelines/.
Send queries/pitches to the editor: elica@wildjunket.com.
Sorry to report that the poetry magazine Paper Crow
is out of business.
Nicole Gestalt is editing A Dose of Murder for House of
Erotica (a British publishing outfit). Stories should be a
blend of erotic romance and crime fiction. Emphasis
should be on the sexual/romantic aspects, so keep gore
to a minimum—but the criminal activity is nonetheless
required. All sorts of settings (SF, historical and modern day
all are okay). Also, note that Happy-Ever-After or at least
Happy-For-Now endings are far more likely to win approval.
uK spellings and grammar appreciated (most word
processing programs can switch over to that easily these
days). Send work as a .doc attachment, in Times New
Roman, 5,000-15,000 wds, but no reprints. They put out
their titles as both print and e-books. Be aware that, as
per their contracts, there’s no money upfront. Pay is only
in pro-rated royalties, beginning when the author’s share
reaches 50 English Pounds (which can take quite a bit of
time, hence the 6-year duration of each contract). This
one has a sub deadline of October 31.
American Bee Journal is the oldest English-language
bee-keeping journal in the world. They buy First North
American and Worldwide Electronic Rights for articles
of interest to bee-keepers. They’re a paying market, but
rates are not quoted in their guides. Send proposals to
Editor Joe Graham at editor@americanbeejournal.com
or by mail at 51 South Second St., Hamilton, Il 62341.
In contrast to the above, you can’t submit work to
J. Ellington Aston Press until October (but relevant query
letters can be sent now). This publishing company will
then be looking for horror novels of 50,000-100,000 wds
(or 150,000-plus epics that can naturally break up into
trilogies). Their special interest is work with a B-movie,
monster movie feel. Definitely read their highly detailed
There’s also a brand-new SF/F/H quarterly e-zine paying
pro-level rates. Mothership Zeta. Editor Mur lafferty wants
“fun” genre fiction to 6,000 wds maximum. lafferty
explains that humor is not required, though welcome.
This publication simply thinks too much modern fiction is
gloom and doom; they want material that is enjoyable to
read (bittersweet is ok; hopeless tragedy not). Stories over
10
THE PENN WRITER • September/October 2015 • www.pennwriters.org
It’s widely reported that Analog (one of the oldest and
best print SF mags) is now quite slow responding to subs
(I’m told that 6 months is not uncommon). They’re still
around, still publishing and paying—just be aware.
www.analogsf.com/information/submissions.shtml.
A much newer, though respected and good-paying
SF/F/H market, Clarkesworld has changed its length
limits. They’ll now take fiction up to 16,000 wds.
www.clarkesworldmagazine.com/submissions/.
“
Don’t go through life. Grow through life.
- Eric Butterworth
1,000 wds earn 6 cents/wd (fewer gets a flat fee payment of $30). They want unpublished fiction (any reprints
they use will be solicited by them). They have 4 open
submission periods/year—next one is the last 2 weeks of
October. www.mothershipzeta.org/submission-guidelines.
American Snowmobiler wants nonfiction articles (1,200
wds max). They need travel stories, articles on new places
to snowmobile, sled modification/customization, how-to
pieces and personality profiles of noted snowmobilers.
Pay starts at $100, plus extra for photos. Exact amount will
be agreed upon with the editor prior to final acceptance.
Guides: www.amsnow.com/magazine/contributor-guidelines/2005/06/contributor-guidelines. Query with proposal
by email: editor@amsnow.com.
rock & Gem is a magazine for prospectors. They like
nonfiction articles about field trips and step-by-step
pieces on lapidary projects. Pieces on specimen collecting,
gold prospecting, club activities, how-tos on basic-toadvanced lapidary skills and profiles of lapidary artists
are also welcome. They pay $100-200 for feature articles
(2,000-3,000 wds). Pay amout for short how-to pieces
(800-1,000 wds) was not listed. They accept electronic
and snail mail subs, but check their guidelines:
www.rockngem.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/2014writer-guidelines1.pdf) before sending anything.
Despite the title, Washington Independent review of Books
does use freelance book reviews. They want articles
about books, authors and the reading/writing experience.
They’ve recently begun paying for these, though modestly
(a flat fee of $25), and you need to look over their guides:
www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/page/
contact-us/ then query the editor, as instructed.
Story/Houston pays $200 for unpublished fiction and
creative nonfiction, 5,000 wds max. They say their goal
is promoting good writing from “the Houston area and
beyond,” so you don’t have to be from there to submit.
Guidelines: www.storyhouston.com/?page_id=8.
Glittership is a website that does audio podcasts and
posts the text versions of SF/F stories about people in the
lGBTQ spectrum. They put out 24 of these per year, and
reprints are fine, as long as you have the rights to sell.
They need work 100-6,000 wds long. Pay for originals is
3 cents/wd ($30 minimum); reprints earn 1 cent/wd ($10
minimum). www.glittership.com/submission-guidelines/
”
A “dog lifestyle magazine,” Sniff & Barkens pays $100 for
pieces (essays, fiction, interviews) to 1,000 wds about
sharing one’s life with dogs. Also open to first-person
narration from the dog’s point of view. Basic guides and
a link to their online submission form are to be found at
https://sniffbarkens-submittable.com/submit.
How to Help needs creative nonfiction, especially from
cancer survivors/patients telling “how people have
meaningfully aided you as a cancer patient, and what
you have found most valuable in terms of support.” They
also use essays from caregivers in a similar vein. They pay
$150 and a contributor copy. For further info, visit
www.howtohelp.com/submissions.
Anybody out there into homemade beer? Brew Your
Own uses factual, straightforward articles (1,500-2,500
wds) about aspects of this hobby. Pay is “up to $200,”
and they need pieces for readers from beginners
to those with advanced experience. Good writing
and a sense of humor are especially sought.
http://byo.com/about-us/writer-s-guidelines.
We’re smack in the middle of the territory AMC Outdoors
covers (Virginia-Maine). This magazine uses feature articles
(2,000-2,500 wds) and shorter nonfiction for various
columns on camping, hiking and other outdoor activities.
Pay for features is $500-700; columns get $150-400.
Queries are recommended. www.outdoors.org.
last but not least: Anyone searching for an agent might
do well to check the Ralan.com website. They focus on
markets in the SF/F/H areas, but among their helpful
“writing links” is one with an EXTENSIVE list of agents with
contact information. Many (if not most) handle a range
of genres/areas of writing.
Info this time came courtesy Facebook’s Open Calls: Horror
Markets and Open Calls: Science Fiction, Fantasy & Pulp Markets,
FreelanceWriting.com, Ralan.com, freedomwith writing.com,
Duotrope.com, The Erotica Readers & Writers Association
and ErickaDrefus.com. Market tips can be sent to me at
jimlee.author@gmail.com or call 814-442-1241. You can be
anonymous or get credited for assisting.
THE PENN WRITER • September/October 2015 • www.pennwriters.org
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About Pennwriters
Pennwriters, a not-for-profit organization of more
than 390 members from Pennsylvania and beyond, was
established in 1988 as a networking organization for
published and aspiring writers of all genres. The group
offers an annual three-day writers conference and area
events and has a strong internet presence, with email
groups, online classes and social networks. Authors who
meet set criteria are granted Published Author status.
For more information about Pennwriters and its members,
visit www.pennwriters.org or contact President Carol
Silvis at President@pennwriters.org.
Submissions
The Penn Writer is published bimonthly. Contact Heather
Desuta, newsletter editor, at Newsletter@pennwriters.org.
DeADLINe foR THe NoveMbeR/DeCeMbeR ISSue
IS oCTobeR 1. Please share your accomplishments, tips,
great quotes, book recommendations, etc. Include relevant
artwork, photos and book cover images. Word counts—
articles: 800 words (1-pg), 1,600 (2-pg). For articles
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Blurb submissions of any length are welcome. Type
“PENN WRITER SUBMISSION” in the subject line of your
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