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Classes, Competitions and Writing Opportunities Round Up #34

Posted in Classes, Competitions and Writing Opportunities, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 10, 2012| 2 Comments »

This weeks competitions that have caught my eye:

FICTION: Via First Writer

Playingbingo Short Story Competition
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   28th February 2013
Fees:   £0 for one entry.
Prizes:   £300 for first place. Second prize £100, and two runner’s up prizes of £50.
Details:   A short story competition on the theme of bingo, 1,500-3,000 words.
Country:   United Kingdom
Website:   http://playingbingo.co.uk/competitions-prizes/short-story/index.php

Winchester Writers’ Conf. Short Story
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   25th May 2012
Fees:   £9 for one entry. £7 if attending conference.
Prizes:   £100 for first place. Also £150 fiction workshop voucher.
Details:   For short stories on any theme or subject, between 1,500 and 3,000 words. No children’s stories.
Contact:   Writing Competitions, c/o Barbara Large, Winchester Writers’ Conference, The University of Winchester, Winchester, Hants SO22 4NR
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   Sara.Gangai@winchester.ac.uk
Website:   http://www.writersconference.co.uk/competition.htm

Two Ways Contest
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   31st May 2012
Fees:   $0 for one entry.
Prizes:   $50 for first place. $25 for second place.
Details:   To enter, write a piece of prose and poetry on any theme. The pieces can be integrated or separate, but must present the same essential story. Entries must be 2500 words or fewer. Contest deadline May 31, 2012. E-mail entries will not be accepted. For full rules, see attached URL.
Country:   United States
Website:   http://www.scribophile.com/contests/two-ways-contest/

Wordstock Ten Short Fiction Competition
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   1st July 2012
Fees:   $30 for one entry.
Prizes:   $1,000 for first place.
Details:   For short stories and comics of any genre, between 1,500 and 3,000 words. Enter online.
Country:   United States
Website:   http://www.wordstockfestival.com/get-involved/short-fiction-competition/

Reflection
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   30th May 2012
Fees:   €0 for one entry. No fees
Prizes:   €0 for first place. All successful applicants will receive a free copy of the printed magazine.
Details:   Submit your work to be featured on the blog with a chance to be published in our monthly magazine. We are looking for creative people with a vision and voice to share their opinions, work and stories not for a pay check but for the love of creating. This months issue theme is REFLECTION – PEILIKUVA Deadline is Midnight Finnish Time, May 30th 2012.
Contact:   submission@hesainprint.com
Country:   Finland
Email:   info@hesainprint.com
Website:   http://www.hesainprint.com

Katherine Paterson Prize
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   30th June 2012
Fees:   $20 for one entry.
Prizes:   $1,000 for first place. $100 x 3. Also publication.
Details:   For Young Adult and Children’s Literature up to 10,000 words. May be a novel excerpt, but if so should stand alone.
Contact:  KPP, Hunger Mountain, Vermont College of Fine Arts, 36 College Street, Montpelier, VT 05602
Country:   United States
Email:   hungermtn@vcfa.edu
Website:   http://www.hungermtn.org/katherine-paterson-prize-for-young-adult-and-childrens-writing/

Short Story of the Month Competition
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   25th May 2012
Fees:   £0 for one entry.
Prizes:   £0 for first place. Publication in The New Short Story Annual 2013
Details:   Submissions are welcome on any subject (up to 2,000 words). The winning entry will be displayed on the website. The winning entry and strongest contenders will be published in The New Short Story Annual 2013 at the end of the year.
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   hayleysherman.editor@gmail.com
Website:   http://www.hayley-sherman.co.uk

The Flaneur short story contest
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   31st May 2012
Fees:   $20 for one entry.
Prizes:   Ł0 for first place. Half of the entry fees will be given as a prize.
Details:   Short stories of up to 6000 words on the theme of Urban Shorts. Selected stories will be published in our ebook anthology and the winner will receive a cash prize.
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   contest@flaneur.me.uk
Website:   http://flaneur.me.uk/04/call-for-urban-short-stories-for-flaneur-ebook/

Howard Frank Mosher Short Fiction Prize
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   30th June 2012
Fees:   $20 for one entry.
Prizes:   $1,000 for first place. $100 x 2. Also publication.
Details:   For original, unpublished stories under 10,000 words.
Contact:   HFMSFP, Hunger Mountain, Vermont College of Fine Arts, 36 College Street, Montpelier, VT 05602
Country:   United States
Website:   http://www.hungermtn.org/short-fiction-prize/

Multi-Story Short Story Competition
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   30th June 2012
Fees:   £5 for one entry. £8 for two entries.
Prizes:   £500 for first place. 2nd prize £100 3rd prize £50.
Details:   Open-themed story of no more than 2500 words.
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   info@multi-story.co.uk
Website:   http://www.multi-story.co.uk

SCRIPTS Via First Writer

Screenwriting Goldmine
Category:   Scripts
Closes:   12th July 2012
Fees:   Ł24 for one entry. Deadlines: 7th June, 5th Jul, 12th Jul.
Prizes:   Ł500 for first place. Many prizes, including meetings with industry judges.
Details:   This is a major new British screenwriting contest, with a serious ambition to find good new writers. Highly influential judging panel of industry leaders. The entry fees have been kept as low as possible, and there is an excellent selection of prizes, including script meetings with some of those judges. Early bird submission date: Thurs 7th June, final submissions by Thurs 12th July.
Contact:   Screenwriting Goldmine Competition, Tradejammer Ltd, 63 Lansdowne Place, Hove, BN3 1FL
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   info@screenwritinggoldmine.com
Website:   http://awards.screenwritinggoldmine.com

ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA Via RWA

 *Open to published authors
**Open to published and unpublished authors

**2012 Molly and Unsinkable Heroine Contest
Sponsor: Heart of Denver Romance Writers
Fee: HODRW member $25, RWA member $30, others $40.
Deadline: Early bird deadline May 1, 2012; final deadline May 25, 2012
Eligibility: Participation is open to all unpublished authors of novel-length romance fiction and those who have not published within three years prior to contest deadline. Non-winning entries are eligible for reentry.
Entry: Electronic entries only; see website for instructions.
Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary, Single Title, Historical, Romantic Suspense, Paranormal/Time-Travel/Futuristic
Judges: First round judges are romance writers. Second round judges are published authors.
Final Judges: See website for final judge editors and agents.
Top Prize: The first place winner in each category will receive the Molly Award. All other finalists will receive suitable recognition. Results will be published in the RWR.
FMI: email Mollycoordinator@hodrw.com with questions or see the website at http://www.hodrw.com/contests.

2012 Emerald City Opener
Sponsor: Greater Seattle Romance Writers of America
Fee: $12 for members, $20 for nonmembers
Deadline: May 31, 2012
Eligibility: Unpublished writers.
Entry: Your novel’s opening hook – The Opener – is what attracts an editor or agent. Polish the first seven pages of your manuscript and enter the Emerald City Opener Contest, sponsored by the Greater Seattle Chapter of RWA. Electronic submittal.
Categories and Final Judges: Category (Series) Romance – Kelli Martin, Amazon/Montlake; Contemporary – Liz Pelletier, Entangled Publishing; Historical – Amanda Bergeron, Avon Books; Paranormal – Carrie Jackson, Ellora’s Cave; Romantic Elements – Holly Root, Waxman Agency; Romantic Suspense – Alexandra Machinist, Janklow & Nesbit Associates; Young Adult – Nicole Resciniti, The Seymour Agency.
First Round Judges: PROs, Published Authors.
Top Prize: Finalists receive a private pitch with their editor or agent of choice if attending Emerald City Writer’s Conference on October 26–28. Top prize in each category is $25.
FMI, www.gsrwa.org.

SCRIPT WRITING OPPORTUNITIES Via ISA:
(N.B. Only contact the companies listed below between 10th May– 25th May 2012)

LOOKING FOR STORY-ORIENTED SHORT SCRIPTS
We are looking for good, story-oriented short film scripts that we can make into actual film(s). Please note: we are not capable yet of making any lavish fantasy or historical/period productions, our resources are privately funded and limited, therefore we are only interested in scripts that are set in more-less modern times and don’t call for much of CGI use (preferably no CGIs at all.) Please submit your actual scripts instead of pitches and loglines and use any common text-searchable format. Send to scripts@888productions.org Thank you.

SEEKING WRITER(S) FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS
Films4Net is an independent production company based in London. We are currently looking for writers, or even a writer, for the following: 1.) A completed short film script, to be filmed in June, willing to consider any genre. 2.) A science fiction short film competition in July, this will be a collaborative work between the writer, director and producer over a 48 hour period of pretty frantic filming. 3.) Submissions for music video ideas for various rock, hip hop and club acts. We are ideally looking for someone London-based, or someone who has the means and will to travel to London for production meetings and shoot days. Apply to: Johnny Michaels at info@films4net.co.uk

SEEKING COMEDY WRITERS TO WORK ON SERIES
Production company looking for comedy writers to work on a series. The series, House of Blue, is in production. It is about a family that love each other, but have many issues still to resolve. Please submit spec scripts or any other writing. Include resume detailing previous work. You will be contacted for further information after your scripts are reviewed. Email: wrcproductions@gmail.com Miguel Cedillo, Weras Entertainment.

SEEKING WRITER FOR DOC/NON-FICTION TELEVISION PROGRAMMING
Local production company responsible for nationally televised network documentary/non-fiction programming looking for talented, passionate writers. Experience working in television industry (television, not “video production”) a plus; experience writing long format segments even better. Most important is a desire to tell a great story, understanding of how to put one together, and the willingness to learn our style. General work habits must include attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines, easy to work with in a team setting, and passionate about the craft of writing film/television. Please email, including short cover letter (in the body of the email) and resume (as attached DOC/PDF). Emails not submitted correctly or with grammatical errors will not be considered. Examples of work are encouraged, just not too many please! PLEASE NOTE: You MUST be local to the greater Seattle area. Apply to: Hiring Manager, schuyler@psgfilms.com

WINE SAVVY COMIC SHORT SCRIPT WRITER NEEDED
Looking for three or four 7-10min scripts for a webisode. Must be wine savvy and/or be a wine trivia geek. Shooting will begin asap. Please email me for details if you are interested. This is an eposodic comedy mainly for entertainment with a flair of wine knowledge. Please email me at gibsonnyc@gmail.com for more details if you are interested. This is a no pay gig for now. We welcome you to join us and see where we can pitch it later.

SCREENWRITER/SCRIPT WANTED
An upcoming director looking for screenwriters who have great no budget scripts which they intend to see on screen produced. Please submit resumes, synopsis and sample scenes of the script to Sam at worleex@gmail.com

ANIMATION STUDIO SEEKS WRITER FOR KIDS TV SHOW
We are producing 4 short episodes (est. 11-minutes) for Spanish television; it’s a kids TV show. We already have the characters. We do great CG work, we’d just like someone who has a knack for writing children’s television, and preferably who has some experience writing for a Spanish audience. Bilingual is a huge plus. These few will be done on spec but once the show goes to series there are huge opportunities for growth with the show. Apply to: Stephen Steelman. Salary: DOE.

SEEKING LIMITED-LOCATIONS COMEDY OR DRAMA SHORT
Seeking a script, preferably comedic, that is 3-6 minutes long and won’t require a bunch of expensive locations. This is technically for film school, but can also be used for festival submissions as well as shown online on sites like vimeo, Funny or Die, etc. Comedy or drama only. No horror, no action. I want great dialogue, and funny would be best. You will get a copy of the film (which will be shot on a Canon 5D) and credited but NO PAY. I’m opening this up to writers who want their content produced as I am still learning screenwriting and would prefer to polish my scripts vs rush shooting them. So if you have a short sketch you want produced, great! The film must stand alone and again be 3-6 minutes in length. Obviously the less actors needed the better as far as keeping my craft services budget low. To submit, please send your script to Joanna deMoyer at joannademoyer@gmail.com It MUST be properly formatted as a screenplay. I have Celtx but not final draft on my computer so please send as a PDF or Celtx file. If you don’t hear from me, you may assume I am NOT using your script. I will contact the top 3 submissions to meet for coffee and discuss your vision as a writer as well as send you a link to my previous film so you can see the production values already established with this creative team. If you wish to do more on this project besides the script (such as crew, editing, acting, etc) please say so in your submission. This will be produced as a SAG new media short film. Casting Producer: Joanna de Moyer. Directed by: Deborah Rombaut. DP: Ira Edelman

Please remember to check out legitimacy of all contests, classes, and conferences before you enter, and to copyright all your work before you submit.

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

If you want more of me, you can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Linkedin

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30 Second Interview with…..Brad Keene

Posted in 30 Second Interview With...., tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 22, 2012| 9 Comments »

 James Lipton and the Actors Studio did it for fun with the actors…..Now, I’m doing it for fun with the writers.
  
 
Are you ready for a scary ride?
 
Let me introduce you to horror screenwriter, Brad Keene. Or better still, watch the following trailer to Brad’s 2008 movie, From Within.
 
 
Okay, so how do you feel? Calmed down yet? What’s that? You were too nervous to watch it?
 
I must just tell you this quick story. The first time I met Brad was at our managers offices in L.A. Brad entered and was asked to take a seat only to find Natalie and I already occupied both of them. Poor Brad had to stand. I nearly offered my chair’s arm….I don’t think I’ve told him that 🙂
 
So, let’s find out a little more about  the man who is an expert at scaring people.
 
In 2006, Brad wrote a screenplay with co-writer Chris Skinner, called ‘The Gravedancers’, a story about three friends who, after the death of their friend, drown their sorrows in beer and return to the cemetary…..only to find the following morning the ghost of a child pyromaniac, an axe murdered, and a rapist are terrorising them.
 
 
Then, in 2008 Brad wrote From Within , which boasts the talent of Rumer Willis   and Thomas Dekker. Brad also co-produced this movie which revolves around the residents of a small American town who begin to die one-by-one, apparently by suicide…
 
Then we come to a film we’ve all heard and seen called ‘The Grudge’. Well, in 2009, Brad wrote the third installment, aptly names ‘The Grudge 3′.
 
 
 
But screenwriting isn’t the only talent Brad has. With vetran writer and illustrator Shannon Eric Denton, Brad wrote Fleshdigger , a comic strictly for the older audience and one that premiered to a hail of praise from fans and comic readers alike.
 
And if that wasn’t enough to prove this writer has what it takes to prove his worth, his debut novel ‘Hat Trick’, is released by ZOVA Books in May 2012 and has a TV series ready for production later this year.
 
So, what could the man, who admits to being raised watching The Incredible Hulk, make of our ten questions?
 
 1.  What is your favorite word?  Persistence
 
2. What is your least favorite word? Resistance
 
3. What turns you on?   Energy
 
4. What turns you off?    Fatigue
 
5. What sound do you love?   Laughter
 
6. What sound do you hate? Chewing
 
7. What is your favorite curse word?   Dayum
 
8. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?   Comedian
 
9.  What profession would you not like to do?  Mortician
 
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? “Well, well, well. Look who it is! That wasn’t so bad. What’s with the concerned expresion? Relaz. I’m letting you in. I wouldn’t allow people to loiter at the gates unless entry was imminent. There’s enough anziety on Earth. So, come on in. By the way, I can’t wait to hear your clever stance on religion now. This  shifts the discussion a bit, doesn’t it? Oh. There’s that expression again. Don’t worry. All is forgiven…..and yes, we have a casino. People always ask about a casino as if being in Heaven isn’t enough. I’m not offended. It’s the best casino around. You’ll love it!”
 
    
 
 Contact Information

For more information regarding Brad Keene, please check out his IMDb, Facebook, twitter

If you want more of me, I can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Linkedin

 

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30 Second Interview with…..R.L.Stine

Posted in 30 Second Interview With...., tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 20, 2012| 9 Comments »

James Lipton and the Actors Studio did it for fun with the actors…..Now, I’m doing it for fun with the writers.
 
 
On 8th October, 1943, in Columbus, Ohio, the first of three Stine siblings was born; Robert Lawrence Stine, known to friends and family as Bob, would go on to become the worlds teenage literary answer to Stephen King.
 
Bob was nine years old when he unearthed an old typewriter in the attic; a discovery which, unbeknown then, would change his life for ever. Never one to play outside, Bob took the typewriter to his bedroom and began to type the first of many stories and joke books.

School did not see Bob as a great student. He hated math, he hated gym (the only sport he was ever good at was ping pong!), and he hated studying. Instead, he spent most of his time writing stories and joke magazines. 

After graduating from Ohio State University in 1965, Bob headed to New York City to become a writer. He wrote dozens of joke books and humor books for kids, and created Bananas, a zany humor magazine. If you look for that work now, you’ll have to look under the name, Jovial Bob Stine.

In 1962, Bob married Jane Waldhorn. Jane became an editor and writer, and together they worked on several children’s books. Later, Jane and her partner formed their own publishing company, Parachute Press, and helped create all of husband’s most popular book series.

In 1986, Bob became R.L.Stine and turned scary!

He wrote his first teen horror novel, Blind Date, which became an instant best-seller. Many scary novels followed, including Beach House, Hit And Run, The Babysitter, and The Girlfriend.

In 1989,  Fear Street, the best-selling, young adult series in history was created. Fear Street boasts approximately100  books about teens facing all kinds of terror.

Then, in 1992, the Goosebumps  series hit the bookshelves and instantly became a hit around the world. To date, it’s been translated into 32 different languages and made R.L. Stine a worldwide publishing celebrity. To follow this success, The Goosebumps TV show was created and became America’s number-one kids’ show three years in a row. The episodes are still shown at Halloween time and many of the shows are now on DVD.

Other R.L. Stine book creations include: Ghosts of Fear Street, Give Yourself Goosebumps, The Nightmare Room (also a TV series), Mostly Ghostly, and Beware!, a collection of all his favorite stories, poems, comics and illustrations. Rotten School was a series of funny books about the rottenest school on earth. He has also published two creepy short story collections– The Nightmare Hour and The Haunting Hour. Also, two teen vampire novels– Dangerous Girls and Dangerous Girls II: The Taste of Night.

R.L.’s books are read all over the world. So far, he has sold over 350 million books, making him one of the best-selling children’s authors in history.

These days, R.L. is busier than ever. He’s working on many books, including the Goosebumps HorrorLand series. R.L. lives in New York City with his wife Jane and his dog Minnie. His son Matthew is a composer, musician, and sound designer. 

So, did we scare Bob with these questions?……of course not! This is a man who happily announces: “My job is to give kids the CREEPS!”

1.  What is your favorite word?  Bomboloni (Italian doughnuts)
 
2. What is your least favorite word? decrepit
 
3. What turns you on?   Bomboloni
 
4. What turns you off?   Worms in my salad
 
5. What sound do you love?   MMmmmmmmmm
 
6. What sound do you hate? Ackackackackack
 
7. What is your favorite curse word?   None. They’re all fine with me.
 
8. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?   Ballerina
 
9.  What profession would you not like to do?  Deodorant company armpit tester
 
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?   “Guess what – no more deadlines.”
 
     
        
  
Contact Information

If you need other info about R.L. Stine, check out his autobiography– It Came From Ohio— published by Scholastic.

If you would like to see R.L. Stine, he will be signing books on March 10th, 2012, at Tuscon Festival of Books.

For more information regarding R.L. Stine, please check out his Website, Facebook, twitter

If you want more of me, I can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Linkedin

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Competitions and Writing Opportunities Round Up #10

Posted in Classes, Competitions and Writing Opportunities, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 31, 2011| Leave a Comment »

This weeks competitions that have caught my eye:

FICTION:

The British Writers Awards (BWA) 2012
Entering the Brit Writers’ Awards is easy! To give you the best BWA experience possible, we’ve created a simple process for submitting your story, poem, script or song for consideration by our judges.
Closes:   30th March 2012
Fee:   £10.95
Prize:   £10,000
Website:  http://www.britwriters.com/how-to-enter-your-story-poem-song-or-script-into-the-brit-writers-awards-unpublished-2012/

Brighton COW Autumn Short Story 2011
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   30th November 2011
Fees:   £4 for one entry.
Prizes:   £100 for first place. Second prize £50 and third prize £25.
Details:   Send us your best stories. Open theme. 3000 word limit. Top ten stories will be published on site and recorded for broadcast on local hospital radio network. This competition is open to writers all over the world. Past competitions have featured entries from writers in over thirty countries. Payment by cheque or through paypal.
Contact:   Flat #10 Montpelier Lodge Montpelier Terrace Brighton East Sussex England BN1 3DF
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   comps@brightoncow.co.uk
Website:   http://www.brightoncow.co.uk

The FFW Flash Fiction Contest
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   9th December 2011
Fees:   £0 for one entry.
Prizes:   £25 for first place. 2nd – £15.00, 3rd – £10.00.
Details:   For flash fiction stories of between 400 and 1000 words. Any theme in any genre.
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   comp@flash-fiction-world.com
Website:   http://www.flash-fiction-world.com/flash-fiction-contest.html

A. E. Coppard Prize for Fiction
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   15th December 2011
Fees:   $15 for one entry. Additional entries $10 each.
Prizes:   $1,000 for first place. Also publication and 25 copies.
Details:   For longer short fiction 8,000 to 14,000 words.
Contact:   Long Story Contest, International, White Eagle Coffee Store Press, P.O. Box 383, Fox River Grove IL 60021
Country:   United States
Website:   http://whiteeaglecoffeestorepress.com/page4.html

New Bridge House Short Story Competition
Category:F   iction
Closes:   1st November 2011
Fees:   £5 for one entry.
Prizes:   £0 for first place. Anthology publication; mentoring; critiques.
Details:   For short stories up to 5,000 words. Enter online.
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   submissions@bridgehousepublishing.co.uk
Website:   http://bridgehousepublishing.co.uk/ShortStoryCompetition2011.aspx

Santa Fe Writers Project (SFWP) Comp
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   15th December 2011
Fees:   $25 for one entry.
Prizes:   $1,500 for first place. $1,000 x 2.
Details:   For short fiction, essays, and unpublished book excerpts.
Contact:   Santa Fe Writers Project, 369 Montezuma Ave, #350, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Country:   United States
Website:   http://www.sfwp.com/awardsguidelines

pixelhose.com Writing Competition
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   7th December 2011
Fees:   $0 for one entry. Fiction and Non-Fiction Categories.
Prizes:   $300 for first place. $300/$150/$50 – in Each Category.
Details:   We are looking for works of up to 5000 words in each category. Previously published work are accepted so long as we can legally obtain free, one time, one site, permanent web publication rights. EMAIL SUBMISSIONS ONLY. Full info on site.
Contact:   POB 1476, San Mateo, CA 94402
Country:   United States
Email:   pixelhose@live.com
Website:   http://www.pixelhose.com

Momaya Short Story Competition
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   30th April 2012
Fees:   £8 for one entry. Payment can be made as US $12.
Prizes:   £155 for first place. 2nd place £55. 3rd place £30.
Details:   Heat is the theme. Submit your short story (3,000 word limit) by 30 April 2012 in order to compete for prize money and publication in the Annual Review 2012. The judging panel includes members from Random House, Penguin, Reuters and a novelist who has published six books.
Contact:   Momaya Press, 189a Balham High Road (Rear Building), London SW12 9BE
Country:   United Kingdom
Website:   http://www.momayapress.com

Southport Writers’ Circle Fiction Comp
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   31st October 2011
Fees:   £3 for one entry. £10 for four.
Prizes:   £200 for first place. £100; £50.
Details:   For unpublished short stories up to 2,000 words. Online entries accepted.
Contact:   Short Story Competition, Southport Writers’ Circle, Flat 3, 35 Saunders Street, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 0JH
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   southportwriterscircle@yahoo.co.uk
Website:   http://www.swconline.co.uk

Speakeasy Open Fiction Competition
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   31st October 2011
Fees:   £4 for one entry. £10 for three.
Prizes:   £100 for first place. £50; £25.
Details:   For short stories up to 2,100 words. Entry form available on website.
Contact:   SPEAKEASY COMPETITION 2011, 46 Wealdstone Place, Springfield, Milton Keynes, MK6 3JG
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   speakeasy@writerbrock.co.uk
Website:   http://www.mkweb.co.uk/speakeasy/displayarticle.asp?ID=78828

Phoebe Winter Fiction Contest
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   15th December 2011
Fees:   $15 for one entry.
Prizes:   $1,000 for first place. Also magazine publication.
Details:   For fiction up to 7,500 words. No novel excerpts.
Country:   United States
Website:   http://www.phoebejournal.com/?p=1522

ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA:

2012 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence
Sponsor: Southern Magic Romance Writers
Fee: $30 first book; $25 subsequent books
Deadline: January 15, 2012
Eligibility: All published authors of novel-length or novella-length romance fiction.
Entry: Books must have a copyright of 2011. Ebook-only publishers accepted (non-subsidy/non-vanity/no self-pub).
Categories: Historical; Romantic Suspense; FF&P; Contemporary; YA; Inspirational; and Novella (20,000 – 40,000 Words).
Judges: Avid readers of romance, booksellers, and/or librarians.
FMI, http://www.southernmagic.org; Contest Coordinator Callie James, GWContest@southernmagic.org.

2012 Marlene Awards
Sponsor: Washington Romance Writers
Fee: $20–30.00
Deadline: January 15, 2012
Entry: all electronic submissions, 35 pages maximum (story opening and synopsis).
Judges: trained, published and unpublished.
Final Judges: editors and/or agents.
FMI, www.wrwdc.com.

2012 Winter Rose Contest for Unpublished Authors
Sponsor: Yellow Rose RWA
Fee: $25.00
Deadline: January 16, 2012
Eligibility: RWA members in good standing, unpublished in the previous 5 years.
Entry: First 25 pages of your romance manuscript (projected 50K and up).
Categories and Final Judges: Contemporary Single Title, Alicia Condon / Kensington Publishing; Historical (Includes Regency), Amanda Bergeron / Avon; Mainstream with Romantic Elements, Paranormal, Heather Osborne / Samhain Publishing; Romantic Suspense, Deb Nemeth / Carina Press; Series Contemporary, Young Adult, Kari Sutherland / HarperCollins Children’s Books; Erotic.
Top Prize is a partial read by agent Maura Kye-Casella of Don Congdon Associates.
FMI, www.yellowroserwa.com.

SCRIPTS: Via International Screenwriters Association (I.S.A.)

Submit Your Original Sitcom Screenplay!
Submit your half-hour comedic format screenplay@comedywritercontest.com
Grand Prize: $5000 plus direct input and creative guidance on the winning script from acclaimed writer/producer/director John Wells.

The Writer’s Place Screenwriting Contest
 The Writers Place co-founders have raised over $50 million for film and entertainment projects. Winners receive cash awards and PR worth $3,000. Honored scripts presented to 6,500+ managers, agents and producers. Features, shorts and teleplays OK.
 
Please put (I.S.A.) after your last name to obtain the $5 discount.
http://thewritersplace.org/screenplay_contest.shtml

$50,000 KAIROS PRIZE FINAL DEADLINE APPROACHES
Supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation, the KAIROS PRIZE was established in 2005 for first-time and beginning screenwriters. In addition to $50,000 in prize money, winning scripts are read by top execs. One film has been released with several in the production pipeline. 
http://www.kairosprize.com

Accepting Feature and Short scripts!
Over $20,000 in cash and prizes were awarded to the winners of the 2011 OFF! During the festival you can attend our conference, which always features great speakers/writers creating a great resource for learning and networking!http://www.omahafilmfestival.com

Wanna Go to the SUNDANCE Film Festival?
You get to participate in the SUNDANCE experience where you can see great indie films, you can network with producers and filmmakers from all around the world, you can party with celebrities, you can go skiing, see more films, it’s up to you. The town will be yours for a few glorious days!
(Value = PRICELESS)
SAVE $10 on FEATURES/TV PILOTS: CLICK HERE    Use this code: ISA99A           
http://www.tablereadmyscreenplay.com/#/submit-now-discounted-fp/4549545247

Win an Agent for Your Screenplay!
Top Hollywood Literary Agents will read, consider and meet the winning writers & discuss representing their screenplays.  This type of access to agents is the most difficult to accomplish in the industry, until now! 
http://www.sunscreenfilmfestival.com/content/sunscreen-opens-screenplay-category

Videotaped, Live Readings-Marketing Bootcamp
Enter the 10th Annual Script-2-Screen Competition and WIN an opportunity to Direct Actors performing key screenplay scenes during the Bare Bones International FilmAnd Music Festival. Top 20 finalists receive 2-FREE Festival passes and Marketing Bootcamp. 
http://www.barebonesfilmfestivals.org

WRITING OPPORTUNITIES Via ISA

Seeking Crime/Thriller scrips with limited locations
Brooklyn Reptyle Films is looking for completed feature-length, crime/thriller scripts with limited-locations and characters. We are NOT interested in procedural stories or any police or law enforcement and legal characters.  We prefer up to four principal characters and six or less locations.  Examples of films we like are “The Disappearance of Alice Creed,” “Funny Games,” and “Blood Simple.”  However, the characters should have life and death stakes, which is to say, we’re looking for stories that deal with crime, but not about criminal justice or crooked cops. Budget will not exceed $250K.  Only non-WGA writers should submit at this point in time. Our credits include “Junkie Nurse” and “Audie & the Wolf.”
TO SUBMIT:
1. Please go to www.InkTippro.com/leads
2. Enter your email address (you will be signing up for InkTip’s newsletter – FREE!)
3. Copy/Paste this code: vb9pfgs5rq
4. You will be submitting a logline and synopsis only.
IMPORTANT:  Please ONLY submit your work if it fits what the lead is looking for EXACTLY.

Seeking collaborator for short
I’m looking for someone to collaborate on the script for a short which I will soon be shooting. My initial idea was that I wanted to write a script which would take place in a really limited space- just one or two rooms, the idea being to keep the shooting really simple. In short, it’s about a woman who realises one day that she’s never had a close black friend. Ultimately I think the situation is an interesting one. There are lots of people who probably live lives with a very narrow circle of friends, like Margaret, and realise that they are the worse off for it.
I am really looking for someone with screenwriting experience, who is not scared to try something quite experimental. This is supposed to be funny, so someone with a sense of humour! Any collaboration welcome. Willing to work by skype/email. Although if there was someone london based who would be able to meet-up to workshop it a bit, that could be great. You will get full accreditation for any participation. I have assembled a fantastic cast and crew, I just need to get the script right! Email Stella Ramsden for additional information: stellaramsden@gmail.com

Screenwriters Wanted
Production Company seeks new and emerging screenwriters to tackle a number of projects in its development slate.  We are looking for talented writers who wish to learn from an experienced production team with over 1000 hours of produced television and 20 major feature films between them.  Great foot in the door opportunity for someone wishing to get read by agencies, get notes from seasoned producers, and ultimately work towards writing a project that our company has the resources and full intention to produce.
Please respond with “Screenwriter Inquiry” in the subject line. 
Tell us 1:  What genre you feel you excell at.  2: What film made in the last 3 years do you wish you had written.  3:  What are your three favorite films of the last 5 years. Or which films do you admire most of the last five years and why.  4:  A SHORT screen writing sample (15 pages or less please).
PLEASE NO CV’S we’re interested in your taste and writing talent, not in your professional history.
Please send all Inquiries to TriangleProducer@gmail.com
Paid Upon Commencement of Principal Photography + Back-End ParticipationPlease remember to check out legitimacy of all contests before you enter and to copyright all work.

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Linkedin

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The Absent Author

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 28, 2011| 16 Comments »


There are different types of writers, and I would hazard a guess that you are one, too.

Am I right?

So, what do I mean when I say ‘absent author’?

Well, clearly I mean an author who is not present during the writing of their book.

What? How can you write a book if you are not present? It’s damn right impossible. Trust me, I’ve tried. One night, I told my computer to finish chapter four and when I checked it in the morning, nothing had been done. I know. It’s unforgivable. I spend hours sitting at my computer and it couldn’t even manage a measly few paragraphs for me. I promptly sent it to the naughty step and left it there to stew for a full sixty minutes.

As writers, whether you write fiction or non-fiction, we spend hours and hours researching, plotting, crafting, devising arc’s, editing, character backgrounds, re-writes……well, you get the idea. We work damn hard.

But, what is the absent author?

Hold on, I’m getting to it.

Let me throw a few names at you. Actually I think it’s easier to show and not tell 🙂

Left to right - Kardashian, Snooki, Loren Conrad

Okay, are we on the same page? For those of you still scratching your heads, I’m talking about ghostwriters – and not the supernatural kind.

Jordan (aka Katie Price), Hilary Duff, Nicole Richie, Lauren Conrad, and Snooki have all produced novels with the aid of ghostwriters.

They market the book via press and television, leading their young fans to believe they have in fact either picked up a pen, or tapped endlessly at their keyboard and written every word themselves. And, guess what? They get angry if questioned about it.

According to website ‘Jezebel’:

“Ms. (Nicole) Richie promoted her second novel, “Priceless,” in an interview last year with USA Today, describing her writing routine: write early in the morning, before the rest of her family wakes up. “I write all my own stories,” she said.

But Ms. Richie’s publisher, Judith Curr of Atria Books, indicated otherwise, saying that a ghostwriter did most of the writing of Ms. Richie’s book. (Ms. Richie did not respond to a request for comment.)”

Hilary Duff, who when quizzed as to why she didn’t credit her co-writer, basically replied with a ‘why should I? It’s my idea.’ (That is my edited version)

But is this right?

Agents and publishers know there is money to be earned off the back of the celebrity’s name. They also know if they market the product correctly, they can often secure the sale to the movie/TV rights as well. The publishers earn a stack of cash, and the substantially wealthy celebrity extends their ‘brand’….everyone’s happy. Or are they?

What about the writers who ACTUALLY wrote these books.

It is almost non-existent they are ever mentioned on the cover. Doesn’t the publishing industry owe the ghostwriter a little more credit?

Doesn’t the publisher have an obligation to let the reader know their beloved celebrity had (a lot of) help with writing the book they are about to read?

Shouldn’t the publisher have a conscious and clear their desks of celebrity endorsed stories? Maybe make a little room for the talent of up and coming novelists?

Then again, publishers and agents are in this game to make money. It’s probably the main reason they get up in the morning. They’d be nuts if, for instance, they were to choose first time and unknown novelist Sissy Smith from Ramsbottom, Kent over, say, Cameron Diaz.

If you read Kristen Lamb’s blog, you’ll see that social media plays a massive part in a novelist’s road to sales. However, you’d have to be dancing with the fairies and sprinkling magic dust to think you’ll ever create a name bigger than an A-list celebrity. Not even marketing 25 hours day will get you that kind of notoriety.

So, as always, I would like your comments.

Do you think publishers have a moral right to print the co-writer or ghost writers name on the cover of a novel? Should readers know whose writing they are reading? Or is it just a business and they are right to earn their money anyway they choose? Are you a ghostwriter? Would you want to be one?

You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Linkedin

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Things That Go Bump In The Night

Posted in Other Stuff, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 31, 2011| 11 Comments »

This week has not been a good week. My writing has been slow, I’ve had a character stuck in her kitchen for more than five days, and I’ve been on the brink of loosing my mind. So this weekend, instead of doing some gardening like I intended, I locked myself in my office and declared all out war on Chapter Four.

It paid off. My character left her kitchen, I finished chapter four, and my sanity (or what’s left of it) remains intact. 

On Saturday, I was furiously typing away on my keyboard when there was a knock at the window. Nothing wrong with that, I hear you say. Well you’d be right, if my office wasn’t on the second floor. 

I peered over my desk and looked down into the garden. There was my husband, giggling his little tush off and holding a long stick with a gardening glove hooked on top of it. The saying ‘small things amuse small minds’ really does have a place in our household, and as I remarked on Facebook later….I married it. 

But as I watch my hubby waving the stick around, I thought of something which happened a few years back.

My husband hates anything paranormal. He screamed like a girl when he watched ‘White Noise’ and ‘The Grudge’, and when I pull my hair over my face and imitate the woman from ‘The Ring’, he hides under the duvet, refuses to look at me, and won’t come out until I promise to stop doing it……which, of course, I don’t 🙂 

Well, with this in mind, I thought it would be funny to spend the night in a haunted hotel. I found a small guest house in Kent and for a laugh, invited my parents along too.

Hubby wasn’t so keen, but with the promise of hitting the local pub when we arrived, he agreed, and off we set. Three hours later, and staying true to family tradition, we were totally lost and didn’t arrive at the guest house until late.

The receptionist swiftly led us across the grounds to the old, and supposedly haunted, Oast house. Now there are times in a marriage when your partner gives you joy – and, as I looked at the fear in my husband’s eyes while he contemplated spending the night in a place so desolate, I knew this was one of those times.

Having missed dinner, and knowing we wouldn’t make last orders at the pub, we decided to turn in for the night. My parents were quick to apprehend the bedroom across the landing, leaving my hubby and I with the room at the top of the stairs.

With every creak that sounded, my husband gasped and shook me awake. He was convinced there was a ghost in the room. An hour later, there was a scratching at the door. My husband was on the verge of a heart attack and I was sure, if I’d switched on the light, I’d have seen that his hair had turned white.

“There’s something outside the door,” he whispered.
“Well go and let it in then.”
He was quiet for a while. Then the scratching sounded again.
“You go,” he begged.
I declined.

This went on for twenty minutes. Eventually, he got out of bed and tiptoed to the door. His trembling fingers twisted the doorknob. He opened the door no more than an inch, and peered out. There was nothing there. He closed the door and immediately something scratched against the door again. He shot towards the bed faster than a bullet from the barrel of a gun.

The scratching continued. He couldn’t sleep and, with tears in his eyes, he went back to the door. Again, he opened it a couple of inches and peered out. And as before, he found nothing outside. Slowly he closed the door. The scratching sounded and he yanked the door open. There was nothing there. He bravely popped his head out. To the right, an empty stairwell led down to the small hallway and lounge. To the left was a window, and in front of him was the vacant landing which led to my parent’s room.

He quickly shut the door and ran back to the bed. “There’s something out there,” he said. “You can get out next time.”

The scratching noise went on for the next half hour. My husband lay rigid in bed all night, too frightened to move.

I waited a few weeks before I admitted the scratching noise was my dad. He’d found a broom, lay it on the stairs, and hid downstairs just inside the lounge. All he had to do was reach out and wiggle the broom to scratch our door.

So, do you have any tricks, ghostly or not, that you’ve played on people, or that have bee played on you? Do you even believe in ghosts or stayed in a haunted house? Did anything happen? Let me know in the comments box.

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The Urban Legend: Fact or Fiction?

Posted in Other Stuff, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 24, 2011| 17 Comments »

I always like to add a little piece of truth to my fiction.

This weekend I was writing a scene where I needed to research the Cornish fishing village my novel was set in. This led me to discovering many myths, including that of a smuggler who was shot in the neck and whose ghost is now reported to walk the narrow and cobbled streets of Polperro.

For a chapter in my book, this information was brilliant, but it got me to thinking. Urban legends; just how much fact is in the fiction?

When I was a teenager, my friends and I used to venture out near Epping Forest – High Beach to be exact. Some of you may know the place. There was a road called Hangman Hill; supposedly named because a man hung himself from the large oak tree at the top of it. The myth was if you stopped your car at the bottom of the hill, kept your hand brake off and waited, eventually your car would roll up the hill. How? Because the ghost of the hanged man pulled you up by his noose.

Did it work? Heck, yes. There were a lot of freaked out seventeen year olds that night, I can tell you! Unfortunately, and years later, you realise the hill is not going up, but actually going down and is nothing more than an optical illusion.

Urban legends have intrigued us for years. Many believe they stem from fairytales told by the Brothers Grimm. Others will swear to their story being true. But whichever way you look at it, you have to agree that people love an urban legend.

Over the years, urban legends have made their way onto television with shows like ‘Supernatural’ writing many episodes around a different myth. In 2003, the Discovery Channel devoted an entire programme called ‘MythBusters’ to test out the truth of urban legends. It’s still aired today, some nine years later. And, what about the 1998 Hollywood horror movie based entirely on Urban Legends, aptly named ‘Urban Legend’? That film earned itself a sequel.

My mum once repeated a story, told to her by a neighbour, that a ‘friend’ had her ear drum eaten by an ear wig. I still don’t know if that one is true or false.

But, my all time favourite has to be the young woman driving home along a deserted road at night, when she sees the road is blocked by fallen tree branches. She stops the car, gets out and moves them. As she is getting back into the driving seat, a car appears behind her, frantically flashing its headlights. Naturally, the young woman is unnerved and drives off. The car follows her, his high beam now on full. The young woman makes it home, pulls into her driveway and hurries inside her house. She runs to the window to see the car, high beam still on, parked behind her. The woman telephones the police and when they arrive, she watches while the officers question the driver. Then the police open the back door to her car. She is shocked when they pull a man from the back seat, carrying an axe. Supposedly, he had climbed into her car while she was busy moving the tree from the road. The approaching car had seen and tried to warn her.

I must admit, even though I don’t really believe there is any truth to this story, there was a time when one night I was driving on a deserted road in Scotland. In the middle of nowhere, I came to the red light of a portable traffic light. I stopped, well aware I was surrounded by nothing but forest. I began thinking of the axe man myth while I waited for what seemed an age. I scared myself so much I almost reached the point where I was going to jump the lights. Thankfully, they changed to green and I high tailed it out of there.

The urban legend is happening in a different kind of way at the moment. Two days ago, I received an email from a friend advising me of what I should do if someone forces me to withdraw money from a cash machine. And, I ashamedly admit I was intrigued enough to waste ten minutes and delve further into it. Okay, so the situation is this. You are at a cash machine. Someone orders you at knife point to withdraw some money. If you enter your pin number backwards, you notify the police as to what is happening. Sort of like an SOS. You will still be given your money, but in the comfort (if there is any while someone has a knife to your throat), that the police are on their way.

The truth is actually this, and it is so obvious I feel a wally for not realising in the first place. What if your pin number is 1221? 5885? 0330? Or one of the billion other combinations where the number is mirrored? How would the machine know you were typing it in backwards? DOH! I feel very stupid. So no, that one is false.

Just like when alcohol intoxicated people suck on 2p coins in the hope it will fool the police breathalyser. I asked a police officer friend if it was true. In return he smiled the ‘Oh Donna, you do make me laugh’ smile. Needless to say, that one is also false.

So, urban legends. Are they fact or are they fiction? Is there any truth to them? Let’s break it down.

The fiction:

  1. The story seems to change over time.
  2. It is extremely rare that an urban legend can be traced back to a reliable source.
  3. It always happened to a friend of a friend.
  4. The lack of specific information such as a date or location.

The fact:

  1. There’s no smoke without fire.

Well, that is 4-1. The odds seem to be that the urban legend is in fact fiction. However, we all like to believe there is some truth in them. And if nothing else, they’re good for scaring your younger siblings.

Now it’s your turn. Tell me what your favourite urban legend is, and convince us it is indeed FACT.

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What Is The Write Path?

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 2, 2011| 17 Comments »


I used to wonder if there was a correct path I had to follow to become a successful writer.

I’m sure that isn’t unusual. After all, haven’t you all wondered the same at some point or another? And, wouldn’t you also admit to having listened to many writers tell their story in the hope of finding the answer?

Let’s take J K Rowling. Every writer knows that story; the woman who invented ‘Harry Potter’ on a delayed train from Manchester to London. In 1993 she was a single parent living on benefits. In March 2010 she was listed in Forbes as the 12th richest woman in Britain with a fortune of £560 million ($798 million).

Okay, so I have taken the most extravagant of examples, but was her path an easy one? ‘Hell no!’ (I bet she’d use those exact words if you asked her :D).

She was turned down by nearly every major publishing house until finally being accepted by an editor who worked for a then not-so-well-known Bloomsbury.

Or, what about Stephanie Meyer? She apparently had a dream and wrote a book called ‘Twilight’, solely for her own entertainment. On her sister’s insistance, and ignoring every submission guideline known to man, she sent her manuscript to fifteen agents. Bagged one, and sat back to let the publishing auction commence. In 2010, Forbes ranked her as the 59th most powerful celebrity with annual earnings of $40 million. No wonder her husband has quit his job.

For any writer whose just starting out, it seems there are certain rules one must follow. Those rules are:

1)      Write a book. This is self-explanatory, and if I have to explain it further then you really should think of a career change.
2)      Find an agent. Some argue this. I personally think (if you find the right one) they are worth their weight in gold.
3)      Send your agent a query, synopsis, or even a chapter or two.
4)      Your super agent will have your book published within months.
5)      Count your millions as they roll in.

Okay, so there are a few holes in 5 and 6 but, in essence, these are the rules we, as writers, are told to follow.

So what is the reality?

Honestly? I think it’s a lot to do with luck. Of course you have to be able to write, although I’ve read a few books and asked myself the question ‘how the @%$*?’

But how many of you out there have found an agent via a chance meeting, word of mouth, being in the right place at the right time, or just by holding your breath and taking that brave leap of faith?

The pathway to success is a maze. There are twists and turns and lots of dead ends. We get scratched by overgrown hedges, worn out from all the walking and if we fall we get totally mud splattered. However, if you perceivere and you’re carrying with you a good idea that’s even 75% well written, I really believe you will conquer that maze and exit into publishing madness.

My current story? The novel I’m working on at the moment is an adaptation of a script I wrote with fellow writer Natalie Duggan. We were asked over to LA where I was told ‘get it written as a novel’. Two days later I was at the DFW writers convention pitching it to an agent. I was nervous, unprepared, had no chapters, no synopsis….nothing. But, he liked it and requested I send him the first few chapters once I’d drafted them. Was this down to talent? Maybe a little. After all,the LA trip was based on a pilot we’d written. Was this down to luck? Again, probably. The script had been sent to our lawyer who read it just as our manager telephoned regarding an unrelated matter, and just happened to mention she was looking for new writers. Hell, maybe it was just good old fashioned Fate stepping in.

It certainly helped that this agent had worked with our manager before. It certainly helped that I had the ‘TV pilot’ angle to ‘glitter and dazzle’ the pitch. Hell, it helped that the agent didn’t seem to mind the complete unprofessionalism of pitching a book I hadn’t even started to write!

I was told by author, Linda Regan, that a big part of being accepted by an agent is YOU. If you are interesting, then you are half way there.

Now – This is my favorite part of blogging. I love reading your comments and stories….. So, I want to hear your stories – good, bad or just downright cringeworthy. You tell me the things you have done to try and win the heart of an agent or publisher – no matter how embarrassing – and the success stories involving luck, fate and a sprinkle of bravery.

(Like my Facebook page and join myself and other writers for a natter – to my American friends, that means ‘chat’.)

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Facebook Vs Twitter

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 29, 2011| 25 Comments »

Months ago, probably some time before Christmas, I recorded a programme on Sky called Facebook vs Twitter. Not the usual thing I tape on Sky, I’ll admit, but something about the title intrigued me. However, being the busy bee I am, and this has nothing to do with my lack of organisational skills or my need to watch The Mentalist, Supernatural, Rookie Blue or Hawaii Five-O first, I never got around to watching it. Then, this past weekend, something strange happened. I had an hour to spare. I know, me having a whole uninterrupted hour. It’s unheard of. Anyway, I decided to watch it, mainly so I could delete it and increase my 3% remaining recording time. 

With a cup of tea hot in my hand, I settled myself on the sofa and pushed play on the controller. I was met with a curt message stating I had to subscribe to watch the chosen channel. (This was a channel I’d found totally by accident while rummaging the listings, and which had some obscure name I can’t even remember). So, after clicking ‘select’ a few more times just to be sure, I deleted it…..regaining one measly percent in the process.

Now I was bothered. I wanted to know which was the more popular. Twitter or Facebook? And as a member of the female population, what we want we usually get, right?

The only way I would satisfy my curiosity and find out for sure was to look at my own use of the two internet phenomenons.

Facebook:

A few years ago I succumbed internet pressure and joined Facebook. Up until that moment in time I’d been frequenting Friends Reunited, which I thought was the crème da la crème of the social networking world. I’m not embarrassed to admit that when it comes to computers, I’m the least nerdy person I know. I fumble my way through the cyber world on a daily basis and Facebook was no different. I err…, *cough cough* struggled.

BUT, and oh yes this is a big BUT…. once I’d got to grips with the site I absolutely loved it. Friends Reunited, I’m sad to say – oh okay, I’m not sad because now I find it utter rubbish – was cast aside like an ex-boyfriend. By joining Facebook, I found so many more friends and some of whom I’d long since forgotten. It was like reliving my youth all over again.

Twitter:

Then along came twitter. I’d just got to grips with Facebook and to take on another computer based task was daunting and stupid and one I first resisted. But everyone was talking about it and the name ‘twitter’ was thrown at me from every angle. Everywhere I looked I saw its name, luring and daring me to join so, and not one to back out from a challenge, I did. No one was safe from my @-ing and I followed everyone famous I could think of. I ended my fourteen day campaign with; go on guess how many followers? None. I know, I gasped too. It’s a surprise, right? I couldn’t fathom why Ricky Gervais or Eliza Dushku didn’t follow me back. I mean, me? Come on! Distraught, I blamed my laptop, called twitter a ‘loser’ and, on bended knee, grovelled my way back into the arms of Facebook where I felt happy and secure.

But I wasn’t happy. I am and not one who likes to be beaten, and especially by a website, so I revisited twitter a few weeks later. I tweeted about my running the 2010 London Marathon, I tweeted about TV’s Supernatural (don’t ask), and I tweeted about writing. Suddenly I was conversing with other tweeps.

I managed to get a few followers (no they were not all family members or offers of Viagra), these were actually legit followers, and what’s more, I was having fun. I was tweeting over the moon!

Twitter is where I first met author and social media guru Kristen Lamb and was invited to become a Warrior Writer. Then I read her book ‘We Are Not Alone – A Guide To Social Media’ and my life was transformed. Suddenly, ‘Donna Newton’ was a brand with a Facebook Fan Page and somewhere I could chat with other writers and update what I was up to.

I also met my co-writer Natalie Duggan on twitter, which led us to L.A, a TV pilot, and a manager.

Plus, twitter is fun, fast, and quick. I like to talk and I like to ramble, so twitter is perfect for me. I still get a buzz every time I see one of my tweets RT’d (retweeted).

On the other hand, Facebook allows me to talk more – something I really do like doing. 😀 I love conversing with other writers and I like being able to find links and other information easily on one page.

So, Facebook vs Twitter?

That is the million dollar question and one I don’t know the answer to. I do know that both should come with a health warning: “These sites are addictive and bad for time managing your writing.”

So, now tell me which you prefer. Give each a mark out of 10 and we will tally the ratios and see which one fairs.

My verdict is        Facebook 7/10   :     Twitter 8/10

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What Is A Log Line?

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 18, 2011| 33 Comments »

A log line is one short, sweet, grab you by the seat of your pants, sentence that explains your whole story. Simple 😀

“What?” I hear you gasp. “I can’t do that! It’s taken me over 70 thousand words to tell my story.”

Well, suck it up. You now have to tell it in less than 30. :p

“But why?”

Oh, stop whining :p  One very good reason is this: Agents and editors are extremely busy people. If you’re lucky enough to get ten seconds of their time to ‘pitch’ your idea, trust me when I say you’ll wish you had a log line. The last thing agents want to hear are ‘..and then this happened’ or ‘..oh, I forgot to tell you about so-in-so at the beginning’. You need to hook them and quick. A good log line will do that.

Don’t’ worry, though. Like every professional, and I’m going to use a chef as an example because I’m very hungry and cannot stop thinking about food – crumpets topped with cheese and tomato to be precise… DONNA! Back away from the crumpets! *cough, cough* where was I? Ah yes, log lines….your finished product will only be as good as the ingredients you use.

Here is what you’ll need (courtesy of author and social media expert, Kristen Lamb).

1 drop of protagonist
1 cup full of antagonist
1 spoonful of active goal

Mix well and leave to settle.

See, simple.

But, beware. If you fail to use the ingredients as instructed, your log line just won’t rise to the occasion. Oh, alright, I’ll tell you my first log line. No laughing.

An American socialite witnesses a murder and goes on the run from the MOB and FBI, but an attempt on her life leaves her with selected memory loss and it is up to a London police officer to uncover her past before they’re both assassinated.

And breathe. No choking. Excellent, lungs refilled? Then let’s continue.

There are so many things wrong with this log line, it would be easier to tell you what’s right with it….absolutely nothing. It’s too long, has too way too much back story, and blah, blah, blah.

So what went wrong? I followed the recipe. Well, yes that’s true, but then I just plonked everything on the plate and hoped no one would notice. Let me explain – Writing the words is only part of the processes. The order in which we place them is a whole different ball game.

The format for a log line should be something close to this:

An ADJECTIVE NOUN (protagonist) must ACTIVE VERB the ANTAGONIST before  SOME REALLY HORRIBLE THING HAPPENS (stopping the protagonist from reaching her goal).

Now, if I’d presented my log line correctly the finished product may have looked something like this instead:

‘A quiet museum curator suffering from amnesia must uncover her secret past to unlock the real reason the mob has put out a contract for her life.‘

Ok, I’ve embarrassed myself enough (something I seem to do a lot on this site), and now it is your turn. Be brave and mirror in the comment box your first/final log lines. Alternatively, if you have a log line you need help with, add that too. Everyone will be kind, I promise 😀

Now, I’m off to make some crumpets….

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