WRITERS' LEAGUE OF TEXAS
formerly the Austin Writers' League
Footnotes
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Sample Issue of Footnotes
(a new and current issue appears periodically)
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Issue 220 06/01/04 - 06/07/04
f o o t n o t e s*
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**** Visit the League Website at http://www.writersleague.org/ ****
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Welcome to the electronic bulletin of the Writers' League of Texas!
IN THIS ISSUE:
--- AGENTS CONFERENCE REGISTRATION & UPDATES (06/11 - 06/13/04)
--- ONE SPACE LEFT FOR SIBLEY SALADO RETREAT (06/04 - 06/06/04)
--- HOW TO GET YOUR WORK PUBLISHED BY UNIVERSITY PRESSES (06/17/04)
--- UPCOMING CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS (July - September, 2004)
--- JEFFERSON, TEXAS RETREAT FOCUSES ON CRIME (09/03 - 09/05/04)
--- WRITERS' LEAGUE OF TEXAS NAMES SUBGRANT AWARDS FOR 2004-2005
--- WRITERS' SUCCESS STORIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
--- WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
--- WRITING ON THE AIR (06/05/04)
--- TEXAS WRITERS' MONTH POSTERS FOR FREE
--- SEARCH STILL ON FOR 2004 VIOLET CROWN BOOK AWARDS VOLUNTEER
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FOOTNOTES is a FREE email newsletter and does not take advertisements.
The League uses Topica as its listserv to distribute the newsletter. In
return for doing this at no charge, Topica may add an advertisement at
the beginning and/or end of an issue. The League or FOOTNOTES neither
endorse these ads nor are they available to screen ahead of time. Please
feel free to scroll past them.
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PLACE AN AD ABOUT YOUR BOOK, BUSINESS, EVENT, OR YOU - ANYTHING
CONNECTED TO WRITING - IN THE LEAGUE'S QUARTERLY PRINT NEWSLETTER
AND REACH 2,000 READERS! NEXT ISSUE'S DEADLINE IS MAY 28, 2004. FOR MORE
INFORMATION, CONTACT TERRI EDSON, 512.499.8914.
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AGENTS CONFERENCE REGISTRATION & UPDATES (06/11 - 06/13/04)
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The 11th Annual Agents Conference is just around the corner. There is
still time to register for the conference. A limited number of 10-minute
private consults with an agent or editor are also available. Please
complete and fax your registration form, which can be found at
http://www.writersleague.org/agentsregistration2004.html
to the League office at 512.499.0441.
Also, please make a note of these updates:
Three of the four $50 pre-conference workshops on Friday, June 11, 3:30
- 5:30 p.m. are still open. For a complete description of these
informative workshops, go to
www.writersleague.org/agentsagenda2004.html.
The Omni Austin Hotel Downtown, 700 San Jacinto at 8th Street, has a few
rooms available for $129. Contact them directly at 1.800.843.6664 to
make your reservations. Also, go to www.austintexas.org for other
hotel/motel accommodations in the Austin area.
The Agents Conference registration fee includes parking at the Omni, two
receptions, two continental breakfasts, Saturday lunch, and all the
breakout sessions on Saturday, June 12, and Sunday, June 13.
Descriptions of the sessions can now be found on the League Website.
The Writers' League of Texas would like to thank our 2004 Agents
Conference sponsors and underwriters:
Underwriters
Michael E. Glasscock III. M.D.
Minton, Burton, Foster & Collins, P.C.
Shelter Mortgage, Inc.
Kay Wilkinson
Sponsors
The Authors' Assistant
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Candles in the Darkness
Cathy's Soaps
1st World Library
Thompson & Knight, LLP
Timberwolf Press, Inc.
TLC Graphics, Inc.
WordWright, Inc.
If you're interested in sponsoring or hosting a booth, contact Helen
Ginger at 512.499.8914 or helen@writersleague.org.
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ONE SPACE LEFT FOR SIBLEY SALADO RETREAT (06/04 - 06/06/04)
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One space is still available for the "He Said, She Said - Say What?"
retreat in historic Salado, this weekend, Friday - Sunday, June 4 - 6,
2004. Instructor William (Bill) Jack Sibley, playwright, screenwriter
and novelist, will guide attendees through the nuts and bolts of making
your characters sound alive, actualized and authentic. All attendees
will also have the opportunity to not only create great dialogue, but
collaborate with The Salado Living Room Theatre actors, who will make
the dialogue come alive during the weekend's evening performances.
Contact the League today at www.writersleague.org or call 512.499.8914
to sign up. Overnight lodging not included and must be made separately
by all attendees. $199 members / $244 nonmembers.
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HOW TO GET YOUR WORK PUBLISHED BY UNIVERSITY PRESSES (06/17/04)
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Representatives from UT Press, Texas Tech Press, Texas Christian
University Press, Texas Review Press and University of North Texas
Press, joined by their published clients, will discuss the "how-to's" of
the University press business. The social kicks off at 7 p.m., with free
coffee and pastries, courtesy of Barnes & Noble Westlake, followed by
the monthly meeting and program at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 17, at
Barnes & Noble Westlake, Village of Westlake Shopping Center, 701
Capital of Texas Highway South, Austin.
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UPCOMING CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS (July - September, 2004)
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Please note that all classes and workshops are held at the League
office, 1501 West 5th Street, Suite E-2, Austin. For more information,
class and workshop times, and to register, go to www.writersleague.org,
or call 512.499.8914.
WORKSHOP: ANYWHERE FROM HERE: SCENE STRUCTURE with SANDRA SCOFIELD
Saturday, July 17, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday, July 18, 10 a.m. - 1
p.m. This is a nuts-and-bolts workshop focused on constructing the scene
as the basic unit of fiction. You will practice easy formulas that
demonstrate important principles about the way scenes work; examine
numerous models from published writers; write exercises based on those
models, and take away more to do on your own; learn how the scene is
incorporated in sustained stories. Come ready to do a lot of quick-paced
writing. Exercises are perfect for beginners, but are also adaptable for
the more experienced writer and for writers of creative nonfiction.
Sandra Scofield is the author of seven novels (1989-1996), including
BEYOND DESERVING, a 1991 Finalist for the National Book Award and a
winner of the American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation; A
CHANCE TO SEE EGYPT, winner of the Texas Institute of Letters 1997 Jesse
Jones Fiction Award; and three finalists for the Oregon Book Awards. Her
latest book, OCCASIONS OF SIN, is a memoir of a Texas childhood. $135
members/$180 nonmembers. CLASS LIMIT 20
WORKSHOP: GETTING YOUR FIRST NOVEL PUBLISHED with MARCIA PRESTON
Saturday, July 31, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m
Tips and motivation for aspiring novelists. Session One includes
information on common problems of first novels, understanding market
niches, The Agent Wars, persevering beyond all common sense---and why
it's all worth it. Session Two goes deeper, centering on novel
structure, with a discussion of how to use a story arc and plot points
to plan your novel, improve pacing, weave subplots, and bring the plot
to a satisfying conclusion. Includes a discussion of the Hero's Journey.
Students should bring a sample query letter and a one-page summary of
their novel. There will be interactive exercises on writing a
two-sentence pitch and a query letter.
SONG OF THE BONES, the second title in Marcia Preston's mystery series,
won the 2004 Mary Higgins Clark Award and the Oklahoma Book Award in
fiction. The first book in the series, PERHAPS SHE'LL DIE, was nominated
for the Mary Higgins Clark Award, and for Macavity and Barry awards in
the Best First Mystery division. Marcia's first mainstream novel is set
for release in January 2005 and titled THE BUTTERFLY HOUSE. Preston is
also editor and publisher of BYLINE, a trade magazine for writers
(www.bylinemag.com). $90 members / $135 nonmembers. CLASS LIMIT 25
WORKSHOP: TO MARKET, TO MARKET: PUBLISHING POETRY with SCOTT WIGGERMAN
Saturday, August 7, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Now that you've written and accumulated poems, what do you do with them?
Why not try publishing? This course will walk you step by step through
the best ways to get your poems to market, whether print or online.
Emphasis will be on choosing the right markets, on writing good cover
letters, and on keeping track of your submissions. The workshop will
cover the hows and whys of publishing; how to prepare poems for
submission; how to write a cover letter; how to find and choose
appropriate markets, both print and online; and how to tell the
difference between legitimate and questionable markets.
Scott Wiggerman, the author of VEGETABLES AND OTHER RELATIONSHIPS, is
the 2003 winner of the D.H. Lawrence Scholarship in Poetry sponsored by
the Taos Summer Writers Conference. He has published in numerous
journals, most recently this year in MODERN WORDS, PEBBLE LAKE REVIEW,
HOMESTEAD REVIEW, WINDHOVER, and NEW TEXAS; and the 2004 anthologies
THIS NEW BREED: GENTS, BARBARIANS, AND BAD BOYS 2 and DI-VERSE-CITY.
$45 members / $90 nonmembers. CLASS LIMIT 15
WORKSHOP: MOONLIGHTING: MAKING A LIVING AS A WRITER with MIKE COX
Saturday, August 21, 2004, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Mike Cox got his first freelance check ($35) for a magazine article when
he was in the ninth grade. He's been getting checks ever since. Never
enough, but he says he'd probably be a lot poorer than he is if he
hadn't been moonlighting all these years. He'll share some of what he's
learned as a writer over the last 40 years, including the importance of
having a broad definition for the term "freelance writer."
Cox, an elected member of the Texas Institute of Letters, is the author
of 11 Texas-related, non-fiction books with two others currently under
contract, including a one-volume history of the Texas Rangers from
Spanish times to date. A former award-winning journalist for the AUSTIN
AMERICAN-STATESMAN and other Texas newspapers, Cox spent more than 15
years as spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, handling
media interviews at the scene of some of the biggest news events in
recent Texas history. $90 members / $135 nonmembers. CLASS LIMIT 25
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JEFFERSON, TEXAS RETREAT FOCUSES ON CRIME (09/03 - 09/05/04)
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True crime author Diane Fanning has been featured on Crimetime and has
generated much media interest from her novel, THROUGH THE WINDOW: THE
TERRIFYING TRUE STORY OF CROSS-COUNTRY KILLER TOMMY LYNN SELLS. Her
second book, INTO THE WATER, is due out this summer, and she'll follow
that with WRITTEN IN BLOOD. In between these fast-paced and compelling
true crime books, Fanning is working with her agent on the development
and marketing of a fictional mystery series.
Fanning's three-day retreat will cause your work to really perk and
bubble. Just stir suspense into the plot. Learn how to create suspense
throughout your book, from title to characters to plot, place, and time
restriction, word choice, sentence length and more. Story without
suspense is like coffee without caffeine -- no kick and not very
addicting. Brew up an overflowing cup of good writing sweetened with
suspense as Diane Fanning leads this Labor Day weekend workshop.
Retreat will be held at McKay House (http://www.mckayhouse.com/). Class
Limit 12. $199 members / $244 nonmembers.
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WRITERS' LEAGUE OF TEXAS NAMES SUBGRANT AWARDS FOR 2004-2005
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The Writers' League of Texas has awarded $33,000 in grants for
operational support to literature-based organizations in Texas. The
Grants in Literature Program for Texas is administered by the Writers'
League and funded by the Texas Commission on the Arts.
Twenty applications were received from individuals and organizations
requesting operational support. Requests totaled $78,800 and came from
nine Texas cities and towns.
Fifteen applicants were successful in getting support from this program.
Central Texas organizations that received an award included The Texas
Democracy Foundation dba THE TEXAS OBSERVER ($2,296), Texas Nafas
($2,132), The Living Room Theatre of Salado ($2,132), Austin Script
Works ($2,058) and Austin Poets International ($2,018). The Writer's
Garret ($2,390), Dallas Museum of Art/Arts & Letters Live ($2,226), and
WordSpace ($2,217) all received support in the Dallas community. In the
Houston area, INPRINT ($2,450), Writers in the Schools ($2,316), GULF
COAST: A JOURNAL OF LITERATURE ($2,112), Young Audiences of Southeast
Texas ($2,132), and Voices Breaking Boundaries ($2,078) were the
winners. In the San Antonio market, there were two grant recipients,
Gemini Ink ($2,350) and Stone Metal Press/Wings Press ($2,093).
Peer panelists for 2004-2005 included Jerry Bradley, Dean of Graduate
Studies and Associate Vice President for Research at Lamar University
and author of four books; Robert Darden, Assistant Professor of English
at Baylor University and author of more than two dozen fiction and
non-fiction books; Dr. Mercedes Lynn de Uriate, Hispanic Communicator of
the Year and Associate Professor in Journalism, Latin American Studies
and Women's Studies at the University of Texas, Austin; Monica Gomez,
performing songwriter, writer, teaching artist, and poet whose work has
appeared on National Public Radio's "Themes and Variations;" and Jose
Skinner, Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of
Texas-Pan American and author of numerous works of fiction in literary
magazines.
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WRITERS' SUCCESS STORIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
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SUSAN WITTIG ALBERT (Bertram) and her husband, Bill, are highlighted in
the June issue of TEXAS CO-OP POWER MAGAZINE. The article, "Murder, They
Write," shares their life as writers and gardeners.
SUESIE KELLY FLATAU (Austin) has re-released her book, COUNTER CULTURE
TEXAS, which chronicles counter tops in restaurants, diners, and soda
shops across the state. AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN writer Janet Wilson
calls it "a road map to nostalgia."
VIP member, JOHN GRAVES (Glen Rose), was featured in the AUSTIN
AMERICAN-STATESMAN on Sunday, May 30. Columnist Jeff Guin writes that
readers of Graves' MYSELF AND STRANGERS: A MEMOIR OF APPRENTICESHIP,
just published by Knopf, will be enriched by this novel.
WILLIAM (BILL) HARPER (Bryan) announces the July release of his new
novel, ELEVEN DAYS IN HELL: THE 1974 CARRASCO PRISON SIEGE AT
HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS, from The University of North Texas Press. For more
information, go to www.unt.edu/untpress.
TRACY NOVINGER (Austin) invites everyone to come celebrate Brazil,
during her book signing, Thursday, June 10, 7 p.m. at Book People, 6th &
Lamar in Austin. Her book, COMMUNICATING WITH BRAZILIANS: WHEN "YES"
MEANS "NO," was published by UT Press. For table of contents and
excerpts, go to http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/books/novcom.html .
CHARLES RUSH'S (Colorado Springs, CO) historical novel of Hood's Texas
Brigade, THE DEVIL'S CHESSBOARD, was published in May and is available
on-line from PublishAmerica, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. For more
information, go to http://www.charlesrush.com/.
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
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Pamela A. Filip, Austin
Grey Gannaway, Dripping Springs
Brian Jones, Houston
Chris Kay, Austin
Pam Nedermayer, Austin
Dallas Norvell, Austin
Jennifer Pollock, Austin
Ron Starkey, Klein
Bradley R. Strahan, Austin
Billy Taylor, San Antonio
Beatriz Terrazas, Roanoke
Melanie Typaldos, Buda
Janet L. Whitehead, Austin
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WRITING ON THE AIR (06/05/04)
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Every Saturday, 4 - 4:30 p.m., WRITING ON THE AIR features the best in
interviews and readings with award-winning authors. Tune in to KOOP
Austin, 91.7 FM.
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TEXAS WRITERS MONTH POSTERS FOR FREE
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The Writers' League has some Texas Writers' Month posters, featuring
author James Michener, at the Resource Center, 1501 West 5th Street,
Suite E-2. Libraries or other groups are welcome to pick them up. First
come, first-served. Contact the League office at 512.499.8914 to make
arrangements.
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SEARCH STILL ON FOR 2004 VIOLET CROWN BOOK AWARDS VOLUNTEER
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The League is searching for a volunteer to head up the 2004 Violet Crown
Book Awards judging. Duties will include lining up, scheduling and
working with authors to judge, as well as logging in the books. This
volunteer position will cover the time period from May through September
18. If you are interested, please call Terri Edson or Helen Ginger at
the League, 512.499.8914.
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The League is a non-profit corporation, funded in part by the City of
Austin, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for
the Arts, and is open to all who have an interest in writing.
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