Writers on the Rise

Okay folks, I’m sorry to say that I canceled the WOTR contest.

Perhaps not ironically, I tried something similar last summer and then canceled it as well.

Suffice it to say that summer is not a good time for our audience to produce. Let’s see if I can remember this next Spring when I’m trying to motivate everyone (including myself).
HOWEVER, and it is a big however, we are having a Writer Mama 2007 Fall Giveaway instead. So you will probably want to head on over there and check it out now so you can mark your calendar.

You can win just by posting a comment. No article-writing involved. And all the prizes are great tools for your writing career.

All the details about how to spread the word are over at The Writer Mama Riffs (my blog).

Thanks for your understanding. I hope you enjoy the giveaway. Bring your writer buddies and win some great stuff!

Subscribers and contributors may post their announcements here. Announcements must be of interest to writers. If you are not already a Writers on the Rise subscriber, we invite you to please, subscribe, before you post.

Want to see your name in lights? Want to boost your bio with a writing award? The Writers on the Rise Summer Writing Contest gives you a chance to strut your nonfiction writing stuff-and enter to win great prizes. Plus, your submission fee of $12 helps us continue to deliver the valuable writing guidance that has been taking your career forward since 2003!

PRIZES

Grand Prize
The Grand Prize winner will be chosen from the entire pool of submissions.

• Published in Writers on the Rise
• Signed copies of all writing books published by Writers on the Rise contributors past and present. Go to our aStore to view them as a collection.
• One-hour writing career consult with Christina Katz, Publisher of Writers on the Rise and author of Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (Writer’s Digest Books, 2007)

First Prize

• For each of the four categories listed below, we will choose a First Prize winner whose work will be published in Writers on the Rise on October 1, 2007.
  
• First prize winners will receive a signed copy of Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (Writer’s Digest Books, 2007)

Entries will be evaluated for clarity, originality and quality of writing. We are looking for technically strong writing, as well as fresh voices that offer new twists on evergreen ideas. You may submit your articles to print publications simultaneously.

Submission Categories

• How-to article
• List article
• Personal essay
• Profile or interview

If you’re not sure how to approach these forms, Writer Mama by Christina Katz will tell you everything you need to know.

Submission Guidelines

• Word count: Entries must be 500 words or less.
• Format: Please provide entry as a Microsoft Word document, double-spaced.
• Please include the following information at the top of the first page: name, email address, phone number, submission category, word count.
• Please include a brief (50-75 words) bio about your writing and publishing experience at the end of your entry.
• Deadline: Submit your entry to wotrcontest@earthlink.net by August 31, 2007
• Entry Fee: $12 (You can mail a check, or submit payment by Paypal, but please submit all writing via e-mail: more info below…)
  
• Publication rights: Both new and previously published work welcome!
• Unlimited submissions: Submit as many times as you like. Each entry must be accompanied by a $12 reading fee.
• Judging: Christina Katz, publisher and Sage Cohen, managing editor of Writers on the Rise will judge the WOTR Summer Writing Contest.
• Contest results will be announced October 1, 2007

Enter Now!

Go to contest entry page >>>

Make a $12 donation (Does not require entry in contest!) >>>

Good luck! We look forward to reading and considering your work!

By Author/Editor Wendy Burt

Q: I’ve heard a lot about marketing plans. What do you put in the marketing plan section of your book proposal?

A: There’s so much that goes into this one section of a book proposal that I couldn’t mention it all here. I will suggest that you start by reading Michael Larsen’s book, How to Write a Book Proposal.

You can also find fabulous information on his Web site, www.larsen-pomada.com. As a general rule, you’ll list (in descending order of importance) what you plan to do to promote your book for the first one to three months after its launch. It might be “Author commits to contact 10 local radio stations and 300 national radio stations,” or “Author will create a media package and send to 30 national magazines.”

You’ll want to look for ways to promote your Web site, get speaking engagements, set up book signings, teach classes so you can sell books, and write articles/columns that will promote your book.

DO NOT expect your agent or publisher to do all the marketing. In fact, nowadays, you’re better off expecting that they won’t do ANYTHING to promote your book when it comes out. The big-budget national book tours are usually reserved for big-name authors, so expect to spend your own money.

Q: Can you really win money entering writing contests? If so, how do I know which contests are legit and where do I find them?

Although there are a lot of scams out there, you can win money – and other prizes – in legit writing contests. From poetry and short stories to personal essays and screenplays, there are plenty of contests to fit your interest, mood and budget.

First, the scams. Here are some of the most common:

• HUGE entry fees for very little prize money. While I expect most contests to charge fees to cover their costs (some pay semi-famous writers/authors/editors to be judges) or to raise money (some nonprofits do this), be wary of ones that charge, say, $15 to enter, when first prize is only $50.
• A promise that “winners” will be published in an anthology, when in reality, EVERYONE’s piece, no matter how horrible, will be published. The catch is that entrants are then pressured to buy the (expensive) anthology. Many newbies are so eager to get published that they buy one, thinking it’s a real honor to be included. These are generally called “vanity anthologies” and will mean nothing on your resume.
• Some contests calling for book manuscripts list the top prizes as agent representation. In the fake contests, most or all of the entrants may be offered this bogus representation – all for a hefty fee.
• The worst I’ve seen so far? The fine print of two contests that said, “All entries become the property of our company.” Seriously?

Although I can’t guarantee the legitimacy of every contest, here are a few Web sites where you can generally find some good ones:

www.writersdigest.com/contests/

www.writers-editors.com/Writers/Contests/contests.htm

www.freelancewriting.com/content/browse-contests-7-1.html

www.writerswrite.com/classads/writingcontests/

www.placesforwriters.com/archives/contests/

www.proofpositive.com/contests/writecontests.htm

www.winningwriters.com/

www.pw.org/mag/classifieds.htm#cont

www.nlapw.com/contests.html

Articles, books, greeting cards, oh my! Wendy Burt is a successful full-time freelance writer and editor who has more than doubled her income since leaving her job as a newspaper editor just three years ago. With two women’s humor books for McGraw-Hill and more than 1,000 published pieces, Wendy’s typical day might including writing ad copy, greeting cards, health articles, personal profiles or her marketing column for Her Business magazine. Her work has appeared in such varied publications as Family Circle, The Writer, MSNBC.com, NewYorkTimes.com, Home Cooking Magazine and American Fitness. Wendy teaches “Breaking Into Freelance Writing” and still finds ample time to spend with her beautiful baby, Gracie. Visit www.BurtCreations.com to see books by Wendy and her award-winning dad. More info at www.WendyBurt-Thomas.com.