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SFWC Newsletter for FEBRUARY 2012
(If you are having difficulty reading this email version of the newsletter, please go to http://archive.aweber.com/sfwcnewsletter)
In this issue:
Free and Open to the Public: LISA SEE TALKS ABOUT DREAMS OF JOY!
YOU MUST RSVP so we can set the room properly. Call Elizabeth Pomada at 415-673-0939 or email her at sfwriterscon@aol.com.
THE 2012 SCHEDULE IS NOW ONLINE
We know you've been waiting patiently. Go to https://www.sfwriters.org/sfwcImages/SCHEDULE.pdf to see the 2012 San Francisco Writers Conference Schedule. However, be aware minor changes may happen between now and February 16th! If you are going to the conference, this schedule will help you plan your strategy for seeing all the sessions that are important to you. We encourage you to print it out and mark it up in advance...then bring it with you.
THE 2012 SFWC IS SOLD OUT! Thank you for reminding us what a wonderful conference the San Francisco Writers Conference truly is. This year it sold out earlier than ever. A waiting list is forming at registrations@sfwriters.org. Send your name, preferred email and a phone number. We will contact you if a slot opens up.
LEARN TO MASTER YOUR CRAFT AT SFWU/SFWC MASTER CLASSES! Don't let the 'sold out' main conference keep you from benefitting from the Master Classes taught by some of our favorite presenters on Thursday and Monday! Robert Dugoni, Linda Lee, Catherine Friend, Brian Felsen and literary agents Katharine Sands, Michael Larsen, Laurie McLean and Jody Rein will all give full ($249) or half day ($129) sessions. So, you get expert instruction at a low cost with smaller in-depth classes. Better GO FOR IT before these sell out, too. Check it out: http://www.sfwriters.org/pages.cfm?ID=206
2012 SFWC SILENT AUCTION IS LIVE:
Start the bidding today... SATURDAY! The SFWC Silent Auction starts Saturday, February 4th and ends Saturday, February 11th. This gives us plenty of time to notify the winners before the SFWC begins. We have a great variety of writer-friendly items this year. These are quick descriptions...so use the links to see the details of these fabulous items and bid on them. Good luck!
5. Creation of an author website from Alexis Masters at The Author Shop ($500) TO BID CLICK HERE
6. Half-hour consultation with non-fiction agent Michael Larsen onsite at the Mark Hopkins during SFWC ($100) TO BID CLICK HERE7. Half-hour consultation with YA/MG/Genre fiction agent Laurie McLean onsite at the Mark Hopkins during SFWC ($100) TO BID CLICK HERE
8. Half-hour consultation with literary/commercial fiction agent Verna Dreisbach onsite at the Mark Hopkins during SFWC ($100) TO BID CLICK HERE
9.
Half-hour consultation with independent editor Gabrielle Harbowy onsite at SFWC ($100) TO BID CLICK HERE
10. One-hour Irresistible Plot phone consultation with Martha Alderson, the Plot Whisperer ($140) TO BID CLICK HERE
11. A 25-page critique (fiction or non-fiction) by award-winning author Bharti Kirchner ($200) TO BID CLICK HERE
12. A 1-year membership in the IBPA-Independent Book Publishers Association ($129) TO BID CLICK HERE
13. Dramatica Pro software PC or Mac (not compatible with Mac Lion) ($269) TO BID CLICK HERE
14. eBook Creation with Folium Book Studio (top two bidders!) TO BID CLICK HERE
If you have questions about the auction, contact Laurie McLean at laurie@agentsavant.com
THE PROSE PROS: HOW TO PITCH YOUR BOOK
Short and sweet--and, oh, so timely--Nina Amir helps you understand what it takes to craft an 'elevator pitch' for your book...and how to be prepared when you get that golden opportunity to share it with an agent or editor. While Nina's blog is geared toward nonfiction, her advice is invaluable for any writer. http://writenonfictionnow.com/
You will also want to consider attending Katharine Sands Pitchcraft Workshop on Thursday, February 16th at 6 p.m. in the Mark Hopkins California Room. Only $99 to craft your pitch with the woman who wrote the book on pitching! For details go to http://www.sfwriters.org/pages.cfm?ID=206
MORE 2012 SFWC SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST WINNERS!
KEVIN SMOKLER SCHOLARSHIPS--We are delighted to have TWO winners this year. Steven Browne, of La Canada, California and Karin O'Mahoney of Hawaii. As you may already know, Kevin Smokler offers his best advice to attendees in private 15-minute sessions during the SFWC each year. The money raised is used to fund this scholarship. Elizabeth Pomada tells us, "Twenty eight people wrote essays on Why Writing is Important and the winners were not only well-written but intriguing and imaginative. We look forward to meeting the winners at the conference."
CAPITOL CITY YOUNG WRITERS SCHOLARSHIP--Laura Cummings is the student winner of this Sacramento area based scholarship. Literary agent Verna Dreisbach is the founder of the program. Verna said of Laura, "She's on the youth advisory board for Capitol City Young Writers and has been a reader for me for at least 6 months. She has it together!" The Capitol City Young Writers website is: www.capitolcityyoungwriters.org and the blog is www.capitolcityyoungwriters.wordpress.org.
SFWC STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP--Aimee Renee Lowenstern is an 8th grader at Mountain View Montessori School in Reno, NV. She writes every day. She has been writing since she could dictate to her father (about age 3). Last year, 2011, Aimee self-published a poetry book on lulu.com called "Paper Carnival". She is in the midst of editing her first novella. She likes acting, does some horseback riding and loves to read.
THE WILEY/SFWC SOTA STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS Alex Pollak is a poet and actor. He is
co-editor of the Ruth Asawa School
of the Arts Creative Writing Department literary journal, umlaut, and works with Dave Eggers as an editor for
McSweeney's Best American Non-Required Reading
2012.
Vanessa Cabrera is writing her first book of poetry and is
co-editor of the school's Creative Writing Department literary journal, umlautand is an ardent environmentalist and advocate of social justice.
Mollie Cueva is a junior in the Creative Writing Department. A
fiction writer and poet, Mollie is also an intern at the California Academy of
Sciences and has been dancing in Carnaval for years.
Rebecca Straznickas is working on her first full-length feature
screenplay. A senior in Creative Writing Department, she started the
department's new blogsite, www.sotacw.org, where she is the principal
writer and photographer
DR. Reuven Jaffe Scholarship The winner is April Chelsea Mosley of San Francisco. April is writing a book that will reflect Jewish history and will be of interest to the general public. We're very pleased and we're sure that Dr.Jaffe would approve!
Alexis Masters Spiritual Writing Scholarship Alexis had a difficult time selecting the winner for this scholarship because they were all so good. In the end she awarded the scholarship to J. Dylan Yates from San Diego. His novel, The Belief in Angels, is a family saga that begins in the 1920s. From the death camps of WWII Europe, to a dysfunctional family that escapes to America, and a granddaughter who survives an excruciatingly abusive childhood in the tumultuous 1960s...Dylan wrote about difficult subjects. Alexis says she simply could not stop reading the entry. Just what a writer wants to hear!
The Joyce Turley Scholarship program brings some of the most talented adult writers to the SFWC each year. This year she has given scholarships to FOUR adult writers to attend the SFWC. Thank you, Joyce!
VOLUNTEERS AT THE 2012 SFWC
We have another wonderful group of volunteers ready to make the SFWC run like it always does--perfectly! Linda Lee has been working her logistical magic to be sure every volunteer is where we need them during the event. She accomplishes most of the work using her unmatched skills on the Internet. Want to see how she does it...and get to know the volunteers before the event? Go to: http://askmepc.com/sfwc-volunteers/volunteer-bios/
Literary Walking Tour of San Francisco
The San Francisco Writers Conference announces its inaugural Literary Walking Tour on Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 3 p.m. This two-hour, two mile, easy-walking excursion will introduce you to the city, local history, and the actual places that inspired generations of writers from the Bohemians to the Beats (and still inspires present day artists, too!) Tours will be led by professional authors and tour guides Elisa Sasa Southard and Liz Vasile. The tour is $25 for San Francisco Writers Conference registrants and guests, and $30 for general public. Reservations are strongly recommended. To reserve, call 510-710-6079 or email Liz@geniuslocitravel.com
NEED A HEADSHOT FOR YOUR BOOK OR WEBSITE?
Whether you are an attendee or not, you can have 'Celebrated Portrait Photographer' MARK BENNINGTON (as featured in Christina Katz's "Get Known Before The Book Deal"), take your perfect headshot at the SFWC!! He will be offering a special conference session that includes: One look in a 20 minute shoot with all natural light- indoor or outdoor and an edited CD of the images at the end of the shoot, for only $125! Be sure not to miss out on THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY!!! Call now to make an appointment.. 818.635.5840 www.benningtonheadshots.com
YOUR SFWC QUESTIONS... ANSWERED! WHAT ABOUT THE BRIDGE???
As of right now, here is the latest news on the Bay Bridge closure during the San Francisco Writers Conference: The westbound deck of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge will be closed during Presidents' Day weekend 2012. Construction of a slight detour near the toll plaza will require the upper deck heading into San Francisco to be closed from 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21. Eastbound traffic will have full access to the bridge during the closure. http://baybridgeinfo.org But we are hearing that BART will run on an expanded schedule that will actually work better for getting attendees to the event on time. www.bart.gov
If you're a
self-published author, thinking about publishing your own book or want to work
more effectively with your existing publisher, then membership in the nonprofit
Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) is for you. Navigating the world
of publishing can be intimidating, but with the power of IBPA's resources you
can get publishing advice and personal service, sell more
books directly to the trade through marketing programs and staffed trade
shows, ask publishing experts directly and get the answers you need,save money and time through discounts in shipping and more, stay ahead
of the curve with publishing education from IBPA's publications and
seminars, network with real people in your industry and invest in
your future. And all that for just over 10 dollars a month! Find out what
2700 members already know--join IBPA today.
INSPIRATION IN 3 MINUTES
David Marshall, Editorial and Digital VP at Berrett-Koehler sent out this wonderful short movie based on the new bookStepping Up by John Ozzo. Not only is the photography and music inspiring...after you watch the movie you can download a chapter of the book. We highly recommend it, too. http://www.bkconnection.com/stepping-up/
YOUR WRITER'S CALENDAR: UPCOMING WRITING EVENTS, CONTESTS & DEADLINES
February 4 from 10:00-3:00PM Santa Cruz Integrative Medicine & Chi Center, Santa Cruz, Plot Whisperer/ SFWC presenter Martha Alderson "TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE THROUGH THE UNIVERSAL STORY Manifest your Deepest Desires in 2012" Martha is the author of The Plot Whisperer and Blockbuster Plots Pure & Simple
February 11 BAIPA meeting: Why Libraries are Good Friends to Writers. 8:30 a.m. - 12:50 p.m., Saturday at the First Congregational Church, 8 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael. For details: http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102598692699-83/bookbeat_Feb_2012.pdf
February 12 from 3-5 p.m. Tanya Egan Gibson's workshop "Building a Vibrant Fictional World". Flamingo Hotel, 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. Admission: Members $5; nonmembers $8. Sponsored by Redwood Writers. For more information, go to www.redwoodwriters.org.
February 16 at 5 to 6 p.m. Lisa See reading group session for Dreams of Joy at the San Francisco Writers Conference. Open to the public, no charge. RSVP to Elizabeth at sfwriterscon@aol.com or 415-673-0939. (If you can't make this reading, Lisa will also be appearing at BookShop West Portal at 7 p.m. that evening.
February 16 at 6 p.m. Katharine Sands will offer her ever-popular session--Pitchcraft! This workshop is open to all for just $99. Get individualized attention at this class sponsored by San Francisco Writers University. This in-depth session starts the day before the San Francisco Writers Conference at the Mark Hopkins Hotel. For details or to register: http://www.sfwriters.org/pages.cfm?ID=206
February 16-19 San Francisco Writers Conference at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel. Keynotes by Lisa See, Lolly Winston, Alan Rinzler. Once again...SOLD OUT!
February 18 at 6:15 to 7 p.m. Mass Book Signing at the San Francisco Writers Conference. Many of the SFWC presenters will be autographing their books in the Room of the Dons in the Mark Hopkins Hotel. Books will be for sale at the onsite bookstore run by BookShop West Portal. Open to the public.
February 19, 2012 at 3 p.m. Literary Walking Tour (following the San Francisco Writers Conference). See blurb in this issue. Open to everyone. $25 for SFWC registrants and guests, and $30 for general public. Reservations are strongly recommended. To reserve, call 510-710-6079 or email Liz@geniuslocitravel.com
February 20 WRITING INTENSIVE IN-DEPTH classes sponsored by San Francisco Writers University. In-depth sessions follow the San Francisco Writers Conference... with some of the most popular SFWC presenters including Bob Dugoni, Michael Larsen, Linda Lee, Carla King and more. Open to non-conference attendees, too. Details and registration information: http://www.sfwriters.org/pages.cfm?ID=206
March 1, 2012, 6:15-7:30pm Your-Writing-Mentor/SFWC presenter Mary E. Knippel will present "Ready Your Pitch" for WNBA-SF Chapter members and prospective members, at San Francisco Main Library, Stong Conference Room. Promptly at 6:15pm. FREE but you must RSVP 24 hours before meeting by emailing: MaryEKnippel (use @ sign) gmail.com Bring your business cards or postcards. Mentor Mary is the author of The Secret Artist - Give Yourself Permission to Let Your Creativity Shine!
March 11 from 3-5 p.m. Peter Beren: Getting Past the Gatekeeper. Flamingo Hotel, 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. Admission: Members $5; nonmembers $8. Sponsored by Redwood Writers. For more information, go to www.redwoodwriters.org.
March 30 Deadline for 2012 BAIPA Book Awards for books published in 2010 and 2011. Entry fee: $25 + you must be (or become) a member of BAIPA. For details, go to http://www.baipa.org/2012/01/02/2012-baipa-book-awards-contest/
March 21 The 2012 Notes & Words Essay Contest Deadline Notes & Words is looking for the next great memoirist. Enter your short personal essays about the challenges of caring for a child (age 18 or younger), including medical issues (e.g., accident, illness or diagnosis) or emotional crises (e.g., a death, divorce, breakdown) or common parenting dramas (e.g., academic, social, athletic, epicurean). We welcome both humorous and serious essays of up to 800 words. See www.notesandwords.org for rules and deadlines.
March 24 (Saturday) 2012 Women's National Book Association--SF Chapter presents "Meet the Agents/Speed Dating with Agents" Lynn Henriksen chairs; Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Mary E. Knippel and Tanya Egan Gibson will coach registrants on how to pitch. http://wnba-sfchapter.org/
June 1-8 or June 9-15 Patricia V. Davis will be hosting 2 one-week long writing workshops on the glorious island of Samos in Greece. Hotel, some meals and all workshops included. 780.00 USD per person. For details go to: www.patriciavdavis.com
June 9 & 10 Call for Entries! 3rd Annual New Media Film Festival in Los Angeles California. Judges Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic, and The Caucus. Over $25k in prizes. Choose from 17 Categories... All Ages, All Cultures, All Media, and Affordable. Go to www.NewMediaFilmFestival.com and click on submit.
NEWS, Postings, Tweets, Blogs and Websites!
Pssst...Want to read a good hand out? Michael Larsen's latest blog post is actually a hand out Elfrieda Abbe (publisher of The Writer magazine) will use in her presentation at the SFWC. See here first: http://sfwriters.info/blog/ .Follow SFWC on TWITTER at: @SFWC (or http://twitter.com/SFWC)
Attendees and Presenters will share what is going on onsite: #SFWC2012
SFWC Facebook: www.facebook.com/SanFranciscoWritersConference
SFWC YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/SFWritersConference or SFWritersConference
San Francisco Writers Conference WEBSITE: www.SFWriters.org
San Francisco Writers University: www.SFWritersU.com (yes, .com not .org!) Take some free classes.
SEND US YOUR WRITING NEWS for the March 2012 SFWC NEWSLETTER by February 27th!
If you have a success story or writing-related news to share with us and/or our readers, please send it to us at Barbara@SFWriters.org. Event items should be of interest to writers, free or low-cost, and include contact information.
Please note--We email our newsletters and updates to you, so if you change your email address, please re-opt in with the corrected email address. The easiest way to do this is to use the link at the end of this newsletter.If you enjoy getting these emails let us know and please feel free to pass them along to your writer friends. Anyone can sign up for this free newsletter at www.sfwriters.org.
Here's to continued writing success...from all of us!
Michael and Elizabeth, SFWC Co-Directors 415 673-0939/ SFwriterscon@aol.com
Barbara Santos, Director of Marketing Barbara@sfwriters.org
Laurie McLean, Director of Finances & Contests; Dean of SFWU Laurie@agentsavant.com
Rich Santos, Director of Registrations & Website Registrations@SFWriters.org
Linda Lee, Director of Volunteers lindalee-sfwc@comcast.net
2012 SFWC SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
Author Solutions, Writers Digest, The Writer, John Wiley & Sons, BookBaby.com, Author Learning Center, Smashwords, Book Expo America, Bookshop West Portal, Red Wheel/Weiser/Turning Stone Press, Joyce Turley, Harvey Pawl, The Review Review, ExpertClick, Open Exchange, Stephanie Chandler, Antrim Group, IBPA, www.SFWritersU.com, Alan Rinzler, Victoria Hudson, Kevin Smokler, Peter Wiley, Melody Lynd, ZYZZYVA, Left Coast Crime, Notes & Words, Folium Book Studio, The Write Brothers/Dramatica Pro and VWTapes.com.
Contact Barbara at Barbara@SFWriters.org or Elizabeth at sfwriterscon@aol.com if you would like to be a sponsor or supporter of SFWC, too.
WEBSITE: www.SFWriters.org Telephone: 415-673-0939