Writing Contests

Read the Halloween Edition of SHALLA Magazine?

(click on HALLO.pdf and Open)

Listen to the spooky paranormal tale by Margaret L. Carter, Residual Fumes

***

Hello Writers, Shalla here--Hola! Shalla aqui (Estudiando espanol para Cancun! :)

Anyway, 'hope you're doing perfectly well.

Here's a list of writing competitions that may interest you. Winning one of these can add some dazzle to your bio when you query a literary agent or editor...

Soul-Making Literary Competition - 11 categories: poetry, prose poem, short story, flash fiction, essay, memoir, novel excerpt, humor, creative nonfiction and young adult poetry, and young adult prose. Most categories accept previously published works. Awards: $100, $50, $25 in each category. Entry fee: $5. Deadline: November 30, 2008. Info: NLAPW, Nob Hill Branch, The Webhallow House, 1544 Sweetwood Drive, Broadmoor Village CA 94015; PenNobHill@aol.com; www.soulmakingcontest.us/

Colonial Players Promising Playwright Contest. Playwrights residing in 14 states and the District of Columbia along the Eastern Seaboard from New Hampshire to South Carolina are eligible to submit scripts. One act and two act plays, but no musicals, may be entered. Award: $1000 plus a weekend workshop of the playwith a rehearsal. Deadline: Postmark of December 1, 2008. info: Colonial Players, 108 East St., Annapolis MD 21401; http://www.cplayers.com/.

Write2Help.Org Fall 2008 Short Fiction Contest. Proceeds benefit World Relief, a worldwide humanitarian effort based out of Baltimore, MD. Write a short story (1500 words or less) about an exciting or awakening experience in childhood. Awards: $1,000, $250, $100. Entry Fee: $10. Deadline: December 20, 2008. Info: http://www.write2help.org/.

The 2008 Northern Woods Literary Awards for Short Stories and Poetry. Awards: "Prizes are determined by total number of entrants but right now it looks like first place in each category will be around $250." Top three entries will receive cash awards. Entry fee: $10. Deadline: December 31, 2008. Info: www.northernwoodsliteraryawards.blogspot.com/.

Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest - Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject and/or Write a short story, 5 pages maximum on any theme. Awards: Poetry Contest: $250, $125, $50; Writing Contest: $500, $250, $100. Entry fees: $5 per poem, $10 per story. Postmark Deadline: December 31, 2008. Mail entries/fees to: Dream Quest One, PO Box 3141, Chicago IL 60654. Info: http://www.dreamquestone.com/.

Suspense Magazine First Annual Writing Contest. All entries must be in the suspense/mystery/thriller genre. Writers retain all rights. Awards: Winner will receive 12 Bestselling Books (many or all of them autographed by the authors). Second and Third places will receive Amazon.com gift cards. No entry fee. Deadline: December 31, 2008. Info: www.suspensemagazine.com/contest.html.

Creative Quills Writing Contests: Humorous story or essay; Inspirational essay; Poetry. Awards: $150 and online publication ($50 for poetry), online publication and editing/promotional consultation, promotional consultation and literary advice. Entry fee: $15. Deadline: December 31, 2008. Info: http://www.creativequills.com/; booklady@creativequills.com; Andrea Foster, Creative Quills, PO Box 942, Kingfisher OK 73750.

Annual Neurobiological Learning Society Choice and Top Choice Awards for (1) published or unpublished books; (2) published or unpublished articles; and (3) published or unpublished enduring public education media concerning any aspect of the neurobiology of learning, especially transformative learning. Awards: (1) Top Choice Award: $100, review and press release; (2) Up to 30 choice awards, 10 each for books, articles and enduring public education media: review and press release. Entry fee: $25. Deadline: December 31, 2008. Info: Daniel S. Janik MD PhD, 2630 Kapiolani Blvd #1601, Honolulu HI 96826; phone/fax (808) 941-3927; drjanik@gmail.com; Intercultural Communications College, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd #1000, Honolulu HI 96814; (808) 946-2445, fax (808) 946-2231.
Buffalo Carp's Flash Fiction Contest for up to 600 words. Awards: $250 plus five copies Buffalo Carp, Volume 6. All entries will be considered for publication. Entry fee: $10 for each submission of up to three stories. Deadline: January 16, 2009. Info: Flash Fiction Contest, Buffalo Carp, Quad City Arts, 1715 Second Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201;

buffalocarp@gmail.com.

2009 Longleaf Press Chapbook Contest. Open to residents of Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. Submit 20 to 24 pages including table of contents and acknowledgments. No name on the manuscript. Include a separate cover page with name, address, e-mail, and contact information. Award: Publication, 50 copies and $100 prize. Authors retain all rights. Entry fee: $15. Postmark deadline: January 30, 2009. Send to: Longleaf Press c/o English Dept., Methodist University, 4500 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville NC 28311.
Amy Writing Awards for articles that present the biblical position in a sensitive, thought-provoking manner – must be published during 2007 in a mainstream, non-religious publication, or on the pages of mainstream, non-religious newspaper, news or e-magazine Web sites as determined by the Amy Writing Awards panel. No entry fee. Deadline: January 31, 2007. Awards: $10,000–$1,000. Full information at www.amyfound.org/amy_writing_awards/amy_writing_awards.html or The Amy Foundation, PO Box 16091, Lansing MI 48901.

Christine Kringle Plot Contest -- come up with a one-page synopsis of a plot for book two in the series. Award: US$5,000 or its equivalent in your national currency. Entry fee: proof of purchase of Christine Kringle. Deadline: January 31, 2009. Info: www.christinekringle.com/win-5000.html.

James Jones First Novel Fellowship. Awards: $10,000 and two $750 runner-up prizes. Deadline: March 1, 2009. Info: jamesjonesfirstnovel@wilkes.edu; www.wilkes.edu/pages/1159.asp; Creative Writing Program, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre PA 18766.

Writers' League of Texas Manuscript Contest - Categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Children's Categories. Award: The winner in each category meets individually with an agent or editor during the annual Writers' League of Texas Agents & Editors Conference. Entry fee: $50. Deadline: March 6, 2009. Info: www.writersleague.org/contests/manuscript.html; Writers' League of Texas, 611 S. Congress Ave., Suite 130, Austin TX 78704; wlt@WritersLeague.org; (512) 499-8914.

Annual Writers-Editors International Writing Competition. Nonfiction (Previously Published and Unpublished); Fiction (Short Story and Novel Chapter); Children's Literature; Poetry. Awards: $100, $75, $50. Entry fee: $3–$20. Deadline: March 15, 2009. Click for Guidelines and Entry form or send SASE to CNW Contest, PO Box A, North Stratford NH 03590.
Mozelle Memoir Contest. Award: $500 and publication. Entry fee: $10. Deadline: March 20, 2009. Info: www.writersleague.org/contests/memoir.html; Writers' League of Texas, 611 S. Congress Ave., Suite 130, Austin TX 78704; wlt@WritersLeague.org
OnceWritten.com Annual Poetry Contest. Award: $500 & publication. Entry fee: $15. Deadline: March 31, 2009. Info: www.oncewritten.com/Contests/PoetryContest.php.

Well, good luck!

Who are we nominating for the Pushcart Prize at SHALLA Magazine?

Coming Soon...

BTW, have you seen this video of me?

Who is Shalla?

So you'd like to... Improve Writing Short Fiction: Dialogue

SHALLA BOOK LIST


for Writers.... DIALOGUE

A guide by Shalla DeGuzman "Editor of SHALLA Magazine"

Writing exercises and more! These books contain many exercises that will get you writing good dialogue.

What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers by Anne Bernays

A Writer's Workbook: Daily Exercises for the Writing Life by Caroline Sharp

All writers must have a command of the language and a great vocabulary in order to write a short story (or a novel or an article ...) and proper dialogue so, here are books to improve your skill: Better Vocabulary in 30 Minutes a Day (Better English Series)

Writing Dialogue by Tom Chiarella

Write Great Fiction - Dialogue (Write Great Fiction) by Gloria Kempton

How to Write Realistic Dialogue (Allison & Busby's Writer's Guides) by Jean Saunders

For more:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/R105Y88455V6JF/ref=cm_sylt_byauthor_title_full_2

Guess What's Featured in The Wild Rose Press

What's Featured in The Wild Rose Press?






Writers: Boost Your Web Traffic

by Shalla DeGuzman

Okay, so you’re an upcoming writer with a future best seller in the works or maybe you just pubbed, anyway, have a website and want to know how to increase traffic and start generating fans?
Well, ‘glad you asked. I just got my website and I’ve been juggling with ideas on how to market it. Luckily, I know computer consultants and analysts so I asked them—err—interviewed them on How to attract visitors to my site?

*read more

What is the Wild Rose Press?

The staff at The Wild Rose Press is committed to bringing you the best in romance today. Whether you are a writer of romance or a reader, you will find everything you need here inside the Garden Gate.

Home
Our Authors




In The Garden
The Greenhouse
The Rose Trellis
Rose Of The Month
Coming Soon
WILDER Coming Soon
Reviews
WILDER Reviews
Catalog
WILDER Catalog
Garden Garments
Garden Gizmos
Events & News
Chat

NEWS for WRITERS

Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device is a wireless, portable reading device with instant access to more than 100,000 books, blogs, newspapers and magazines.

The Kindle's revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper. It is simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing. Whether you're in bed or on the train, Kindle lets you think of a book and get it in less than a minute.

Click Here!

FREE BOOK GIVE AWAYS

Return to ReadersRead.com Return to Writerswrite.com

Fill out the entry form below to win a free book. There is no entry fee or purchase obligation of any kind to enter. Winners will be selected in a random drawing...

*read more

Hello Writers! Shalla here...

Ready for a Writers Boot Camp?


Freelance Writers Boot Camp
Saturday, August 30, 2008 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Perelandra College
8250 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa

Veteran journalists and book authors Ken Kuhlken and Steven Saint (goahead, Google us!) will lead a most-of-the-day boot camp to inspire andinvigorate your nonfiction career. Be prepared to plug into the localwriting community and pick up lots of practical tools of the trade,including:

* Query-writing
* Fiction Techniques in Nonfiction
* Article Basics
* On-the-spot feedback of queries, article outlines and other worksubmitted by interested students.

Students can bring bag lunches or go to one of the nearby restaurantsbefore the afternoon sessions. The college is on the trolley line. Costis $40 (this is a special advance discount price being offered byemail). General admission will be $45.To receive a registration form, email Steven Saint at ssaint@pcisys.net




Check out the SHALLA Listmania at Amazon:

Win the Pulitzer in Fiction (Write Award Winning Short Stories)

This list includes:• Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne

For more: http://www.amazon.com/Win-the-Pulitzer-in-Fiction-Write-Award-Winning-Short-Stories/lm/RCWU4NLQXM4Q0/ref=cm_lm_byauthor_title_full




Write Funny! A list by Shalla DeGuzman

This list includes:• Comedy Writing Step by Step by Gene Perret

For more: http://www.amazon.com/Write-Funny-A-list-by-Shalla-DeGuzman/lm/R3S34KYCRPR501/ref=cm_lm_byauthor_title_full

SHALLA: Writing Tips

HAPPY 4th of JULY

SO YOU WANT TO PUBLISH A NOVEL?

By Alastair Rosie

So you want to publish a novel? It’s a daunting prospect and not quite the glamorous undertaking you might think. Forget the media interviews and book signings, the publishing world is not for the faint hearted. Contemporary history is filled with disenchanted authors whose artistic talent was sacrificed for economic gain.

THE SUBMISSION

Let’s suppose that your novel, The Midnight Hour has been accepted by the Terrified Publishing Company. Your book goes out to readers who are paid to read and assess your work in terms of originality, concept and style. Publishers rely on professional readers. Providing they like the plot, the characters and your style of writing, your precious manuscript will now receive a publisher’s approval.

THE EDITOR

The editor is employed either in-house or on a contract basis to go over your manuscript and edit your work. You may receive a rude awakening when the editor’s corrections come back to you for approval. It’s here that a potential contract hangs in the balance. If you don’t agree with the corrections, say so now or forever hold your peace. There are often good reasons behind an editor’s corrections. They have been in contact with the publisher and are very aware of the market your book is aimed at. Editors are the workhorses of the industry, it is their job to check illustrations, liaise with authors, designers, typesetters and printers and oversee the production control to produce the best possible product within the allocated budget.

PUBLICITY AND SALES

The publicity department of a publishing house is responsible for devising a campaign for marketing your book. They are usually experts in their field and work to a previously arranged budget. It’s important to realise at this early stage that you’re entering into a business arrangement with a publishing house and, like all business agreements, it relies on cold hard cash to survive. So, the idea you had for employing a sky writer is great but probably not feasible given the fact that your book will sell for $8.95 and only has a print run of 5,000. The Publicity/Marketing department is closely tied to the warehousing network and advance orders are balanced against the projected budget.

WHAT IS PRODUCTION CONTROL?

Production Control is responsible for the overall schedules and costings. This department is in close communication with the editor, designer, accounts department and warehouse. The cold hard reality is, many books are not printed because the publishing house will not receive a return on investments, against the investment in time and money they need to make in order for your book to reach the shelves.


THE DESIGNER

The designers are in charge of the overall layout of The Midnight Hour. They work with the illustrator, paste-up artist and typesetter. A decision is made as to the final layout, number of pages, type of paper and cover. This is factored into the cost and added to the price of the book. Ever wondered why hard cover glossy books with lots of illustrations are so expensive? Now you know why.

THE TYPESETTER

Now we come to the nuts and bolts of publishing. Don’t worry, everything is running smoothly, your book is well on the way. The typesetter lays out the final proofs - called 'galleys' in the industry or 'galley proofs'. The blank is checked for errors here. A word of warning here. Your accidental typo ‘adn’ is not corrected here. If it wasn’t picked up during the extensive editing process then it stays in, so make sure your work is the best it can be. The only errors that are corrected here are design issues, colours, layout, number of pages etc.

THE PRINTER

The final stage is when your manuscript is turned into a printed book. The printer takes the final proofs, production schedule and prints it according to the instructions they have received. The printer is already familiar with your work as they printed out your first proofs. The glossy cover may not be printed in the same place as your manuscript however, it’s often cheaper to print covers elsewhere and bring them in for binding. The printer prints what is called a ‘first run.’ The first copies are sent to the publisher for checking and advance copies are sent to various departments and reviewers before the final run is printed.

For more: http://www.write101.com/publish.htm

How to End Your Novel

By Laura College

Have you ever read a book with an unsatisfying ending? Annoying, isn’t it? You’ve just read this exciting, emotionally draining and captivating novel, then arrived at the end only to be left hanging on the edge of a precipice. What happened to the characters? Were all of the problems resolved? The ending to a novel is almost as important as the beginning.

For more: http://www.fictionfactor.com/guests/end.html

**********

Where’s Shalla? SHALLA IN CANCUN, MEXICO & BORACAY, PHILIPPINES ’08

SHALLA CHATS with freelance editor Mike Sirota & Class for Writers: DEEP EDITING: The EDITS System, Rhetorical Devices,and More

SHALLA CHATS with freelance editor Mike Sirota



“Working with a Freelance Editor”

by Shalla DeGuzman

First of all, who ’s Mike?

I am a writing coach, a freelance editor, and a “spirit guide” to many successful and aspiring writers. I’ve written nineteen published novels including The 22nd Gear, Bicycling Through Space and Time, Demon Shadows and The Well, from such publishers as Bantam Books, The Berkley Publishing Group, Pocket Books and Zebra Books. Among my most recent client successes are Michele Scott's Death Reins In, due out from Berkley Prime Crime in June (her fifth published novel), and Whitney Lyles’ First Comes Love (Berkley Trade), her fourth published novel, as well as many others.

I was an editor and award-winning feature writer for a San Diego newsmagazine, I evaluate and edit manuscripts professionally, and I have taught writing classes at many educational venues, including the University of California, San Diego Extension and Palomar College. I am also a long-time faculty member for the Southern California Writers’ Conference and the La Jolla Writers ’ Conference.

For more:
http://www.geocities.com/shalladeguzman/ShallaChatsMikeSirota.html

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

*******************************

Remember Barry Eisler, the NY Times Bestselling Author Shalla interviewed?

SHALLA CHATS with Barry Eisler

“Insider’s Look at Publishing the Rain Series”

by Shalla DeGuzman



First of all, who ’s Barry?

A writer with a longstanding interest in what he thinks of as “forbidden knowledge,” Barry spent three years in a covert position with the CIA's Directorate of Operations. During his time with the Agency, he was trained in small arms, long arms, hand-to-hand combat, improvised explosive devices, small water craft, air drops to friendly forces, surveillance, counter-surveillance, counter-terrorism, agent recruitment and management, and interrogation and manipulation techniques. After leaving the CIA he went to live and work in Japan, where he earned his black belt from the Kodokan International Judo Center.

The Rain books, featuring half-Japanese, half-American freelance assassin John Rain, have won the Deadly Pleasures Barry Award and the Mystery Ink Gumshoe Award for Best Thriller of the Year; have been included in numerous “Best Of” lists, including those of Amazon.com, Deadly Pleasures, News-Press, Publisher’s Weekly, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the San Jose Mercury News; have been translated into nearly twenty languages; and have been optioned for film by Barrie Osborne, Oscar-winning producer of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Read more: http://www.shallamagazine.com/shallachats/authors/Barry_Eisler.php

Here's his latest news!

Hi everyone,

I wanted to let you know that Rain Fall: The Major Motion Picture is coming along smoothly. It looks like Gary Oldman is on the verge of being attached, and there's other news, too—check it out in Variety. Keep your fingers crossed...


I'll be promoting in Amsterdam and London later this month, so if you're in the area, check my new appearances link and come on by.


For anyone who was impressed by the way Rain shorted out a pacemaker in the opening scene of Rain Fall, I can only say: he was ahead of his time... Finishing revisions on the seventh book now. It's my first standalone thriller, so not set in John Rain's universe, though it does contain the usual compelling characters, edge-of-your seat action, realistic tradecraft, exotic locales, and steamy sex (if I do say so myself). Very happy with how it's turned out and so is my new editor, Mark Tavani of Ballantine, who will be publishing the book in early '09. I'll have more news on all that soon. For a hint of what's coming, here are a few photos from my peripatetic research expeditions... For all you politics and language addicts, swing by my blog, Heart of the Matter. For you social networkers, give me a shout on MySpace and Facebook. And if you really want to have fun, there's my website discussion board... a lot of interesting people talking about writing, the Rain books, politics, single malt whisky, and anything else that strikes people's fancy, so if you have a chance, stop by and say hello. It would be good to see you there...


Thanks for all your support! —Barry


www.barryeisler.comwww.myspace.com/barryeisler

***OKAY TO FORWARD***

Online class: May 1-30, 2008

"DEEP EDITING: The EDITS System, Rhetorical Devices,and More" by Margie Lawson

Registration $30 at www.WriterUniv.com/

DEEP EDITING is for the writer who wants topsychologically impact the unconscious of the reader. For the writer who wants to learn fresh editingtechniques. For the writer who wants to edit for power. If you were introduced to Margie's EDITS System in her Empowering Characters' Emotions course, you'll learn how to expand the EDITS System in DEEP EDITING.

***OKAY TO FORWARD***

READ: A Face by Picasso by Shalla DeGuzman

Now on MP3

Our Latest Award-Winning Short Story

A Face by Picasso

by Shalla DeGuzman

My face must look like one of those portraits by Picasso, the kind he cut and sewed together to create a movie star masterpiece.

If only I understood what he truly thought of me, how he really felt...

http://www.shallamagazine.com/features/fiction/shortstories/literary/shalla/Face_Picasso.php

***

Time Critics Pick 100 Best Novels

The Complete List In Alphabetical Order

Modern Library's Choices

On This Page

The Best Novels: #1-25
The Best Novels: #26-50
The Best Novels: #51-75
The Best Novels: #76-100

Forums

The 20th Century's 100 Best Books in English?

***

TOP 10 FAVE NOVELS of Shalla DeGuzman

Novel 1: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Novel 2: Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquival

Novel 3: The Bridges of Madison County by James Waller

Novel 4: Nine and a Half Weeks by Elizabeth McNeil

Novel 5: The Lover by Marguerite Duras

Novel 6: The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

Novel 7: A Knight In Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux

Novel 8: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Novel 9: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Novel 10: Chocolat by Joanne Harris

SHALLA Magazine: Mark Treitel's TOP PICKS

Mark Treitel's

TOP PICKS

1.
Richard Fein's

"THE REQUIRED ACCOMPANYING COVER LETTER"

Great. Very funny. Made me laugh and will stand out.

I also liked his "KIDNAPED CHILD"

- also good but may be provocative...

2.

"Soap"

by Jared Wahlgren

Great imagery
for a few words.

3.

Bruce Stirling (aka Gnomon)'s "HILLS
LIKE PINK ELEPHANTS"

Short terse sentences that move the story along and succinctly tell
the story.

Some surprises and realistic.

4.

Jenni Meredith's

"A Shadow Slides Over The Estuary,"

Interesting and juxtaposing imagery.

5.

Linda Schneider's "Tomato"

Liked

Her poems
had very similar themes, this was the best.

Liked how she broke down what flowers and sex are all about yet last
stanza made it more personal.

6.

Nikhil Parekh's

"Attaining
heaven from your corpse in hell…"

Maybe a little hitting over the head but interesting statements

7.

Isabelle Ghaneh's "Waking Up"

I liked the premise. Somewhat Kafkaesque. I did feel there could be more
done with it.

8.

Carole Hall's 'Portrait of a Young Woman'

Written well, but I think I saw the ending coming. Horror genre.

9. Gary
Beck's "Intrusion"

okay

Now
it's your turn--

Meet
Our Guest Assistant Editor

Who
is Mark Treitel?

Mark Treitel
as a writer had his original television pilot, “The
Sperm Donor”, was hand picked by NBC’s Network Entertainment
President to air on Bravo in 2005. The pilot starred Maggie Wheeler
(“Friends”, “Everybody Loves Raymond”) and
David DeLuise (“Third Rock From The Sun”, “Jesse”),
was directed by Amanda Bearse (“Married with Children”)
and co-written by Shoe Schuster.

In addition, Mark and Shoe were featured for eight episodes on the
behind-the-scenes making of a sitcom pilot, produced by Sean Hayes.
(“Will & Grace”) on Bravo’s “Situation:
Comedy.” Recently, Mike Epps (“The Honeymooners”, “All
About The Benjamins”) became attached to one of Mark’s
comedy scripts.

Mark has
been part of the Warner Bros. Comedy Writers Workshop, had an original
sitcom performed at the HBO Comedy Workspace,
his writing
group was featured in June 2005 issue of “Written By” and
has written with Jeff Marx, acclaimed co-creator of Broadway’s “Avenue
Q.” In his spare time, he is an attorney, in multi-billion dollar
litigation cases. He is also a member of the US Patent Bar. He is an
ardent supporter of the WGA writers strike.

Mark lives with his wife Mindy and his beautiful newborn daughter,
Dana Mollie, in Los Angeles, California.

Mark is proud of the fact that he has more google hits than Sean Hayes
-- over 350,000 as of now.

Read
Mark Treitel's script, Sperm Donor

How
will you rate it?

*********************************

Literary Agent
Kelly Sonnack's
TOP PICKS

Who will we nominate for the Pushcart next?
continue...

********************************************

Literary Agent
Alana Lennie's
TOP PICKS
Who are we nominating for the Pushcart Prize?

Note: For greater objectivity, these submissions were read by our guest editor without names nor any information about the author.
continue...

***************************************

WHO IS ON SHALLA CHATS?

SHALLA Magazine

has
arrived

&

we're
always

getting
better

&
better,

&
better...

SHALLA Magazine

in your iPod...

on You Tube...

--oh my!

Everyone's
a Critic!

Where
our guest assistant editors choose their top 10's or top 5's or... Read what
they say about each one!

Literary Agent

Kelly Sonnack's

TOP
PICKS

Who will we nominate for the Pushcart next?

continue...

Mark Treitel 's

TOP
PICKS

1.
THE REQUIRED ACCOMPANYING COVER LETTER by Richard Fein

2.
Soap by Jared Wahlgren

3.
HILLS LIKE PINK ELEPHANTS by Bruce Stirling

continue...

New!

Winter Blooms Issue

PICKS

Who are we nominating for the Pushcart in 2009?

continue...

EXCLUSIVES

Advice to Writers: from an Editor/Book Publisher

In summary, three vital concepts for the process: Persist; Trust; Revise!

SHALLA CHATS with Seamus Cashman of Wolfhound Press

continue...

SHALLA MINGLES with Mr. Fitness, Alex Cristo

“Writers: Get Fit!”

continue...

Q&A with Bev Katz Rosenbaum, a former fiction editor and the author of the chick lit novels

****Permission to forward is granted and requested********

FREE Online Seminar: February 11, 11 am PST to 12pm PST

"How to Critique & Edit Your Novel” with Bev Katz Rosenbaum, a former fiction editor and the author of the chick lit novels

Bev Katz Rosenbaum is a former fiction editor and the author of the chick lit novels What Friends are For and Wanted: An Interesting Life, as well as the young adult novels I Was a Teenage Popsicle and Beyond Cool, which were recently optioned for television by Toronto-based Fresh Animation. In addition to writing, Bev runs a popular manuscript critique service.

For more information, visit her website at http://www.bevkatzrosenbaum.com/.

Registration is FREE at The ShallaDeGuzman Writers Group

JOIN US: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShallaDeGuzman

Thanks!

Shalla DeGuzman

http://www.shalladeguzman.com/


****Permission to forward is granted and requested********








Press Release: Free Online Seminar:

Q&A with Kristen Bailey, editor and publisher for Bravado Publishing

****Permission to forward is granted and requested********

Online Seminar: February 7, 11 am PST to 12pm PST



"How to Self-Publish Easily” with Kristen Bailey, editor and publisher for Bravado Publishing
Kristen Bailey is an author, editor, and publisher residing in Oregon. She began publishing with a flash fiction journal and then quickly became interested in novels and collections of short stories and poetry. Recently, she expanded her book press to include a self-publishing imprint, Bravado Publishing, to assist the numerous authors who are choosing to self-publish. There's more information on her and Bravado Publishing at http://www.kristen-bailey.com/




Registration is FREE at The ShallaDeGuzman Writers Group



JOIN US: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShallaDeGuzman


Thanks!


Shalla DeGuzman
http://www.shalladeguzman.com/



****Permission to forward is granted and requested********

SHALLA Magazine: Radio Shows

SHALLA Magazine: Yeah, we have Issues...

Coming Soon!

Blank Canvas Issue, Halloween Edition

http://www.shallamagazine.com/

**************

Free Old Time Radio Shows

Kind of like the X-Files of the air waves: Coast to Coast AM With George Noory. Bigfoot, UFOs, ghosts, witchcraft, government conspiracies, etc..

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/

**************

RebeccasReads.com is accepting books for review! If you are an author or a publisher and would like your book/s reviewed please send them to our office address:



RebeccasReads
Review Request
7101 W Hwy 71 Ste 250
Austin, TX 78735

**************

Common Mechanical Pitfalls

by Vicki Hinze

When asked, a group of editors from top publishing houses, responded that the following are the most often seen mechanical errors in works submitted by authors.

By removing these errors from our works, we greatly enhance our potential for publication—and strengthen our writing skills.

Author Intrusion, Filtering, Passive Voice. Use the active voice in writing. Avoid weak verbs: "to be" and its variants: was, are, is. This puts the reader on-scene, makes what’s happening, happen now. Author intrusion reminds the reader she’s reading, hence you lose immediacy, empathy between reader/character. Show, don’t tell applies.

For more: http://www.fictionfactor.com/guests/mechanical.html

**************

Creating a Character for a Horror Story

By Sarah Todd

Lauren gasped when she rounded the corner into the alley. The object of her revulsion looked up. He was surprised by her sudden appearance. His long hair fell in loose curls past his shoulders. The hair of his bearded chin dripped red with blood. He raised an outstretched hand in front of his face. His other hand let go of the man he had been supporting. The body fell to the pavement. Her attention darted to the apparent victim and Lauren saw that a stream of blood flowed from the man’s neck. It traced a path between the cracks in the dirty pavement. Lauren looked back to the… well, the vampire. She knew it sounded crazy, but that’s what the guy seemed to be aiming for. Their eyes locked for a few brief moments. His outstretched fingers shook with a nervous energy that she did not mistake for fear.

Anne Rice places her vampires in everyday situations, and she gives each character very human emotions – so human that you might want to look at your neighbour a bit more carefully when you close the book! This article is written to give you some ideas for creating realistic characters to populate your horror story.

For more: http://horror.fictionfactor.com/articles/horrorcharacter.html

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SHALLA Magazine: Mark Treitel's TOP PICKS Coming Soon!

SHALLA Magazine: Mark Treitel's TOP PICKS

Coming Soon!

Who is Mark?

Mark Treitel as a writer had his original television pilot, “The Sperm Donor”, was hand picked by NBC’s Network Entertainment President to air on Bravo in 2005. The pilot starred Maggie Wheeler (“Friends”, “Everybody Loves Raymond”) and David DeLuise (“Third Rock From The Sun”, “Jesse”), was directed by Amanda Bearse (“Married with Children”) and co-written by Shoe Schuster.

In addition, Mark and Shoe were featured for eight episodes on the behind-the-scenes making of a sitcom pilot, produced by Sean Hayes. (“Will & Grace”) on Bravo’s “Situation: Comedy.” Recently, Mike Epps (“The Honeymooners”, “All About The Benjamins”) became attached to one of Mark’s comedy scripts.

Mark has been part of the Warner Bros. Comedy Writers Workshop, had an original sitcom performed at the HBO Comedy Workspace, his writing group was featured in June 2005 issue of “Written By” and has written with Jeff Marx, acclaimed co-creator of Broadway’s “Avenue Q.” In his spare time, he is an attorney, in multi-billion dollar litigation cases. He is also a member of the US Patent Bar. He is an ardent supporter of the WGA writers strike.

Mark lives with his wife Mindy and his beautiful newborn daughter, Dana Mollie, in Los Angeles, California.

Mark is proud of the fact that he has more google hits than Sean Hayes -- over 350,000 as of now.

For more:

http://www.shallamagazine.com/

SHALLA PODCASTS

podcasts

On SHALLA Magazine this Issue

Listen
to poetry by Bill
Brocato, Byron
D. Howell, Kenneth
Pobo; and short stories by Shalla
DeGuzman, Blake
Butler, Elizabeth
Kadetsky, etc.

Listen to us in the Internet Archive

Listen to these at:

http://www.shallamagazine.com/podcasts.php

The Fish in My Bed

by Shalla DeGuzman

Now in the MadHatters Review

The Boy Who Dug Worms at Mussel Flats

by Tom Sheehan

Listen to these at:

http://www.shallamagazine.com/podcasts.php

The Iron Mask (1929) Starring Douglas Fairbanks

The Iron Mask, rich in breathtaking swordfights, carefree merriment, and suspense, is one of Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.'s masterpieces. The story of the four musketeers, gentle Athos, jolly Porthos, brave Aramis, and fearless, outgoing D'Artagnan, goes on in this tale of twin heirs and the unscrupulous Count de Rochefort who switches them to obtain his own ends.

The movie begins as the Queen gives birth to a crown Prince of France. Everybody rejoices over the heir, and nobody suspects that there are actually two! Cardinal Richelieu (played by the aging Nigel de Brulier) tells no one of the birth of the second child and sends the twin away to the Spanish border, but Count de Rochefort (Ulrich Haupt) entangles himself in this plan and eventually switches the twins so that he may make himself the most powerful man in France.Fairbanks, who aged remarkably well over the course of his life and is as dashing and handsome as ever in this film, plays an energetic and athletic D'Artagnan who serves his King to the point of death. Marguerite de la Motte returns as Constance, D'Artagnan's lover who is tragically murdered by the criminal Milady de Winter. The movie is excellent and portrays Fairbanks's skill at fencing most accurately. One of his best!

The Black Pirate (1926) Starring Douglas Fairbanks

Coming to SHALLA Magazine!

The Black Pirate (1926) Starring Douglas Fairbanks

But you can see it here... these movies are no longer under copyright, so watch and enjoy!

Although color entered the realm of silent film around 1923, over 95% of the silent films in color are lost. This is a rare treat (even though we only see browns, reds and blues and even though the water is sometimes red, sometimes blue) and along with the original score re-recorded and 19 minutes of outtakes following the 90 minute feature, it is somewhat of an event. The content is the usual formulaic action film, a real swashbuckler in the Errol Flynn sense of the word.

On SHALLA Magazine this Issue: Nosferatu (1922)

movies

On SHALLA Magazine this Issue


Special Presentation

Nosferatu (1922)









Here's a German Expressionist film by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau. Starring Max Schreck as Count Orlok (Count Dracula)

Its original German title is Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens ("Nosferatu, a Symphony of Horror"). Shot in 1921 and released in 1922, the film is in essence an unauthorised adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, but with names and other details changed because the studio could not obtain the rights to the novel (eg, "vampire" became "Nosferatu", and Count Dracula became Count Orlok).

For more:

http://www.shallamagazine.com/movies.php

SHALLA Magazine: Blank Canvas Issue, Halloween Edition

podcasts

On SHALLA Magazine this Issue

Blank Canvas Issue, Halloween Edition

At SHALLA Magazine, everyday is Halloween!

Listen to spooky stories by Dr. Margaret L. Carter, Edgar Allan Poe, vintage radio's the Haunted Tales of the Supernatural, Paul G's SHALLA Magazine jingle, songs and music by Levi Kreis, Moose (Mooska), Music from Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com),
and more!

Coming Soon!

Listen to poetry by Bill Brocato, Byron D. Howell, Kenneth Pobo; and
short stories by Shalla DeGuzman, Blake Butler, Elizabeth Kadetsky, etc.

Listen
to us in the Internet Archive

SHALLA CHATS on YouTube.com

New Releases!

Who's on SHALLA CHATS?

Know who Shalla has interviewed?

Maybe
you'll be next?

Turn up the volume...

Hear
our musician, Moose (Mooska), with his reggae/ska, other, acoustic
blues, roots, leftfield music.

Featuring:
Dorchester author, Tess Mallory;

Artscape author, Frederick Ramsay;

Hallie Ephron; Shara Lanel;

Margaret L. Carter;

Gena Showalter; Judie Aitken;

NY Times Best Selling author, Barry Eisler;

Chick-Lit author, Sonia Singh;

Brett Battles; Michele Scott; multiple Emmy Award
winning TV news producer & author Marianne Mancusi;

Terry Spear; Andrea Wilder; Tina Gerow; Seamus Cashman;

NY Times Bestselling author, Bob Mayer; Patricia M. Terrell and more!

Produced and Directed by

Shalla DeGuzman

http://shalladeguzman.com/shallachats.php

A Smart Author's Toolkit

2008 Edition is here!

Read more interviews with Literary Agents, Authors,
and Publishers--get everything you need to publish!

*read more

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