Conferences and Contests!

One of my GOALS for this blog was to keep you updated on conferences and contests you might want to be aware of. Most of what I share with you will come from personal experience or at least knowing the people involved.

CONFERENCE:

There is a great 1-day FREE conference coming up March 10th in Fayetteville AR. Here are the details:

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS WRITERS WORKSHOP FREE CONFERENCE

MARCH 10, 2012

OZARKS ELECTRIC ON WEDINGTON ROAD - 1 MILE WEST OF I 540 EXIT ON THE LEFT

9 a.m. Greetings from Dusty Richards

9:15 a.m. *Marilyn Collins*

*Get More for Your Money at Writers’ Conference *

Maximize your time and money when selecting regional or national writers’ conferences. Learn ways to save money, get more visibility for yourself and your books (or to-be books), and make more face time with speakers.

Learn to be “pitch perfect” during 10-minute sessions with publishers, editors, and agents. Consider 12 conference “Do’s,” smart ways to handle the spouse or friends who come with you, and much more. Great workshop for new conference attendees and experienced folks may learn new tricks as well.

Marilyn H. Collins is an award-winning author of nonfiction books and over 100 magazine/newspaper features.

Website: Marilyn Collins

10:30 a.m. *Doug Kelley *

*Adventures in Writing *

A career as a corporate pilot allowed Doug to visit many museums in researching his book, The Captain's Wife. He will speak about the adventures of his researches, and the adventures of writing in general.

As Jack London said, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club."

Website (goodreads) : Doug Kelley

11:30 a.m.

*The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pens: A Panel discussion *

*Linda Apple* Writing from the Soul, Speaking from the Heart. Author of Inspire: Writing from the Soul, Connect

Website: Linda Apple

*Ruth Weeks* writes it all from ghosts, cowgirls, rooks and ravens. Author of Soldiers From the Mist; The Rook and the Raven

Website: Ruth Weeks

*Claire Croxton* will rip your heart out and tickle your funny bone. Author of The Redneck Ex

Website: Claire Croxton

*Pamela Foster* catapults the reader into the heart of her quirky, funny characters.

Author of Redneck Goddess

Website: Pamela Foster

Don't tell anyone, but Jan Morrill learns the secrets of her characters, then shares them with her readers. Author of Broken Dolls

Website: Jan Morrill

12:15 - 1:30 Lunch $7.00

1:30 - 2:30 *Velda Brotherton*

Building Your Platform-Before and After Publication

Velda is an award winning author of numerous historical fiction and

nonfiction books, articles and short stories. Her latest releases are Wolf

Song and Stone Heart's Woman.

Website: Velda Brotherton

2:30 - 2:45 Break

2:45 - 3:45 *Dusty Richards* Writing 101

Dusty is an award winning author of more than 110 western fiction novels and numerous short stories and anthologies. His latest releases are:

Between Hell and Texas; Outlaw Queen

Website: Dusty Richards

For further information email Dusty at dustyrichards@cox.net or Velda at

vebrotherton@gmail.com

CONTEST:

Although I've not had the opportunity to attend the conference, one of the contests I enter every year is associated with the Arkansas Writers' Conference in Little Rock AR. The conference takes place the first weekend in June each year with some great literary speakers and a wide variety of contest categories to challenge you.

The contest categories are broken down into three divisions:

1) May enter categories 1-4 if you plan on attending at least one day of the conference

2) Open to all writers

3) Open to Arkansas residents only

#2 consists of 16 categories ranging from rhymed/ metered poetry to short stories and everything in between. Each carries it's own theme and requirements that must be met.

Here's the BEST part. You may enter AS MANY of the categories you are eligible to enter for ONE $10 bill! And all the categories offer a CA$H PRIZE for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

If you attend the conference, you'll receive your award during presentations. If not, they'll mail any certificates/ checks you have won usually within about two weeks after the conference.

Some people ask me why I bother with these types of contests if they aren't going to garner the attention of an editor or an agent. I have two reasons.

1) These give me the opportunity to flex my writing muscles with things I might not normally play with. To try out new ideas to see if they'll fly before I work on a full-blow project

2) Cash. Padding the writer resume with contest wins doesn't hurt, but padding the bank account has it's own rewards.

I'm working on getting better about posting here. I've just been busy .... writing :-)

Creative Blessings!

Angela