Writer's Resources
Plot Workshops
Writing and Literary Contests
Links
Recommended Reading & Viewing





Upcoming Plot Events
All plot events take place in California unless specified



Next Plot Workshop is AUGUST 2008

2-Day PLOT WRITING WORKSHOP by Martha Alderson hosted by WRITERS STORE in LA

August 23rd & 24th, 2008
Saturday and Sunday
11AM to 4PM Saturday
11AM to 1PM Sunday
Los Angeles
Martha Alderson brings us a workshop not to be missed, bringing her expertise to Southern California. This plot workshop will benefit writers of all kinds: Screenwriters, Novelists, and Memoirists.

-Develop a multi-layered plot for the overall story level
-Deepen character development and dramatic action at the scene level

11AM to 4PM Saturday
Plot springs from character in conflict. Develop an action, character, and thematic plot, and apply the universal structure of story for your own individual story. No project started? You'll be given everything you need.

11AM to 1PM Sunday
Fully integrate all aspects of plot to create unity in your project. Writers are invited to bring their scenes to be used as example.

For complete details on how to register on-line, visit,
WRITERS STORE

OR
STORY LINK



WRITING AND LITERARY CONTESTS and SUBMISSIONS

JUNE 2008

WRITING CONTEST

THE WRITER'S JOURNAL
Contests: They sponsor a Short Story Contest, a Fiction Contest, a Romance Contest, a Horror/Ghost Contest, two Photo Contests and three Poetry Contests each year. WRITERS' Journal pays cash for First, Second and Third places; and selected Honorable Mentions are published. Check website for more details.
CONTESTS

WRITING SUBMISSIONS

HEALING LIFESTYLES & SPAS
Email Queries: Yes
This bimonthly magazine features articles devoted to health and healing -- as well as living a more natural life. Topics include reviews and photo features on spas and retreats, lifestyle issues, physical health and maintaining a healthy mind. Length averages up to 1200 words. Query via standard mail or email.
Buys: First Rights
Pays: On publication -- up to $500
HEALING LIFESTYLES & SPAS

CHILDREN'S WRITERS
A prominent quarterly in-school kids magazine is looking for telecommute interns for upcoming issues. Writers should be familiar with the 8-12 age demographic and well-versed in issues of interest to young readers in addition to having top-notch research, writing, and editing skills and a professional manner. The internship is three months long and required approx. 10 hours of work per week.
Pays: $200
CHILDREN'S WRITERS

RUNNING TIMES MAGAZINES
Running Times, The Runner's Best Resource, is the national magazine for the experienced running participant and fan. Our audience is knowledgeable about the sport and actively participates in running and racing. All editorial relates specifically to running: improving performance, enhancing enjoyment, or exploring events, places, and people in the sport. Please read recent issues to learn the type of material we seek.
We assign approximately 40% of our editorial material to freelance writers. We are willing to work with unpublished writers. Although we consider unsolicited manuscripts, we prefer to see a written query which describes in two or three paragraphs your idea, the article's proposed length and scope, why Running Times' readers would find the material interesting, and what qualifies you to write about it.
RUNNING TIMES MAGAZINE

MIRACLE STORIES
Ever had a Miracle happen to you?
We are preparing info on 'miracles that have happened to people' for possible TV show subject and publication.
If you or someone you know have an event which you believe was a miracle and wish for others to learn about it, please provide a written description 2-5 pages. Double spaced. two page minimum. Please include the story title and all writer contact info on the first page of the submitted story.
Pays: $300 + book copy
MIRACLE STORIES

BOOK REVIEWERS
Publishers Weekly, the international news magazine of book publishing and bookselling, seeks freelance book reviewers with expertise in the following categories:
Fiction
Nonfiction
Audio Books
Religion
Children's/Young Adult
Please send a short e-mail query that states expertise and specific interests. Paste your resume and major clips into the body of the email.The subject line should consist only of one or more of the above categories.
BOOK REVIEWERS

PARENTS' PRESS
Pays: $100 - 500
Parents' Press is a monthly newspaper for parents and expectant parents in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our circulation is 75,000. Our readers have children ranging from infancy through high school. The majority of our readers are well-educated and expect their children to attend college eventually.
PARENTS' PRESS



Links
WRITING
Writing Support Editorial Support Book Promotion Writing Clubs Writing Conferences Publishing

READING
Habitual Reader Book Club Expo
Reading Conferences



WRITING SUPPORT


http://www.lovemadeofheart.com

As a career coach for writers, Teresa LeYung Ryan, the author of Love Made of Heart, helps her clients identify their themes, polish their manuscripts, market themselves to agents and publishers, and map out their careers.


http://www.alivehypnosis.com/angie-choi.htm

Angie Choi, author of My Dreams, A Simple Guide to Dream Interpretation, helps writers tap the creative mind through hypnosis, explore dreams for ideas, and remove writer's block.


www.leonibus.com

Christopher Gortner, author of the critically acclaimed historical novel -- The Secret Lion, speaks to writers on research and writing.


http://www.holly-payne.com/

Holly Payne, the author of The Virgin's Knot and The Sound of Blue, teaches creative writing in San Francisco, California and Crested Butte, Colorado.


http://www.LoriHope.com

Lori can talk about how organizational and critical thinking skills apply to writing nonfiction as well as producing documentaries.


http://www.ellenbass.com

Ellen Bass, an award-winning poet and non-fiction writer, teaches creative writing.


http://www.Write4Kids.com, the Children's Writing Superstore

The children's writing supersite.


http://www.writeradvice.com/

Writer Advice is filled with interviews with writers, stories, writers resources, book recommendations and much more.


http://www.writersdigest.com

Magazine, bookstore, online wrokshop, conferences, book club all devoted to writers.


http://www.deborahgrossman.com/services.htm

Got book ideas? Deborah Grossman, a San Francisco Bay Area developmental editor and writer, will shape your nonfiction book idea into an irresistible, marketable project.She is a magazine dining columnist and contributor to publications such as Chef, Santˆ© and the San Francisco Chronicle. Deborah is a member of ASJA, the American Society of Journalists and Authors.




EDITORIAL SUPPORT


http://www.editorforyou.com/

Melanie Rigney, an editor with more than 25 years of experience, will help your manuscript sing. Her credentials include nearly five years as editor of Writer's Digest, the leading magazine for writers.


http://www.beckylevine.com

Becky Levine has been editing fiction and nonfiction for over ten years. She knows how to support and encourage a writer, and help make a manuscript the best it can be.


http://www.levineditorial.com/index.htm

With our experienced and professional staff we can help you with almost every type of project at every stage of your career, from evaluating the viability of your idea, to submitting to agents, and the ins and outs (and advisability) of self-publishing.


http://marthaengber.com

Martha Engber is the author of "Growing Great Characters from the Ground Up. She's available for consultations regarding character development and for editing books.



BOOK PROMOTION


http://www.prsecrets.com

Susan Harrow gives tips, techniques and ideas to help you become a media sensation today, along with helpful products and articles for writers.Is your dream to be on Oprah? Susan knows how.


http://www.breakthroughthenoise.com/home.asp

Elisa Southard, APR teaches writers how to turn personal skills into marketing talent. She helps writers create a succinct statement about what your stories are about while creating interest and intrigue for others to ask for more.




WRITING CONFERENCES/Northern California

FOR ROMANCE WRITERS

SILICON VALLEY ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA -- Prepare to Pitch! Milpitas, California
http://www.svrwa.com/conference.php




FOR CHILDREN'S WRITERS

THE PACIFIC COAST CHILDREN's WRITERS WORKSHOP August / coastal Santa Cruz, California www.childrenswritersworkshop.com



FOR ADULT FICTION AND NONFICTION WRITERS

EAST OF EDEN WRITERS CONFERENCE Salinas, California. http://www.southbaywriters.com/conference2006/index.html

SAN FRANCISCO WRITERS CONFERENCE San Francisco, California. http://www.sanfranciscowritersconference.com/Register.cfm



PUBLISHING


http://www.shrevestockton.com/


http://www.eating-gluten-free.com/

Shreve, a writer and professional photographer, created the design of my website and my book cover. She also shot the cover of her own book -- Eating Gluten Free. She can do the same for you.


http://www.chromisphere.com

Lance Ong, a mentor-tutor at the University of California, Berkeley, has turned his energies toward helping other writers turn their dreams of publishing into a reality.


http://www.MemoriesAndMemoirs.com

Dr. Linda Joy Myers helps people become whole by writing their healing story and she supports others who are interested in becoming their own publisher


http://www.baipa.net/

Bay Area Independent Publishers Association is an educational institution dedicated to elevating the art of the independent author-publisher.



WRITING CLUBS and GROUPS


http://www.calwriters.org/

Fourteen branches of The California Writers Club located throughout the state of California hold monthly meetings, and conferences, and offer writing contests and a community of support to writers.


http://www.wnba-books.org/

The Women's National Book Association is a national organization of women and men who work with and value books. Chapters in nine cities promote reading and support the role of women in the community of the book.


http://www.iwwg.com/

The International Women's Writing Guild is a network for the personal and professional empowerment of women through writing.


http://www.fwomp.com/

Group founder, Byron Merritt, says that Fiction Writers of the Monterey Peninsula hope to encourage one another and other writers to improve their writing skills and abilities.






READING CLUBS, GROUPS, READING CONFERENCES


http://www.habitualreader.com/

Soon to be World's biggest fiction book club. This website is designed to build a community of fiction-lovers, and features reader profiles, book reviews, favorite community bookstores, and promotional opportunities for authors. Shelf Awareness featured an article about KOMENAR and The Habitual Reader.


http://www.bookgroupexpo.com/

Book groups and book clubs’, reading groups and reading circles’, these are more than just lively discussions about character and plot and sense of place. Friendship and food, wit and wisdom, smart conversation and heated debate are all a part of this special time that's set aside just for you. And at book group expo we celebrate all these things and more.
book group expo is a place where serious readers have serious fun. End of story.



READING CONFERENCES

CALIFORNIA READING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
http://www.californiareads.org/


CALIFORNIA LIBRARY ASSOCATION CONFERENCE
http://www.schoolibrary.org/


ASILOMAR REGIONAL READING CONFERENCE
http://www.asilomarreadingconf.org/





Recommended Reading & Viewing
How To on Writing ]   [ Publishing ]   [ Inspirational Books ]  [ For Pleasure ]


HOW TO ON WRITING

Writing Plot ]   [ General ]   [ Theme ]   [ Writing Children's and Young Adult fiction ]   [ Writing Romance ]  [ Writing Mystery ]  [ Suspense ]  [ Writing Literary Fiction ]  [ Writing Screenplays ]  [ Writing Memoirs ]


WRITING PLOT


"BLOCKBUSTER PLOTS Pure & Simple"
A complete plot guide for writers. Covers Character, Action, and Theme by Martha Alderson M.A.,
Illusion Press, 2004.
ISBN 1877809195



GENERAL

"WRITING FICTION"
A guide to narrative craft by Janet Burroway,
Scott, Foresman and Company Glenview, Illinois 1987.
ISBN 0-673-39246-5.
"THE WRITER'S JOURNEY"
Mythic Structure for Storytellers & Screenwriters by Christopher Vogler,
Michael Wiese Productions, Studio City, CA 1992.
ISBN 0-941188-13-2.


THEME

"WRITING A BOOK THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE"
by Philip Gerard,
Story Press, Ohio, 2000.
ISBN 1-884910-44-0.




PUBLISHING

"THE DOG WALKED DOWN THE STREET An Outspoken Guide for Writers Who Want to Publish"
Sal brings levity as only an insider with a sense of humor can to the heart-attack seriousness with which most of us writers approach the business of getting published. A must-have for writers serious about seeing their words in print, by Sal Glynn,
Cypress House, Fort Bragg, CA 2006.
ISBN 978-1-879384668.



INSPIRATIONAL WRITING

"DANCING NAKED IN FUZZY READ SLIPPERS"
by Carmen Richardson Rutlen,
ISBN 1879384531.



FOR PLEASURE

"LOVE MADE OF HEART"
by Teresa LeYung Ryan,
"The Virgin's Knot"
by Holly Payne
"My Half of the Sky"
by Jana McBurney-Lin





Blockbuster Plots Tools are available through the wholesalers Baker & Taylor and Partners West, and at www.blockbusterplots.com as well as www.writersstore.com and www.amazon.com (listed by title and by author)



©2008 Martha Alderson. All Rights Reserved.
This document and all documents on this website are copyrighted material. Any use of content requires prior written permission.