WRITE ON!
The April 18th Write On! Meeting with special guest Beth Howard, author of Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Pie, will be on Blog Talk Radio at 1 pm Pacific/4 pm Eastern. Listen online or call in: 646-381-4910. RSVP on Facebook.

Post your May Goals on Write On Online and be entered in a drawing for an iscript. Congratulations, Andrea Helaine, April  winner of an iscript for posting goals.

Write On Online has regular, ongoing content: Write On! Reviews, Author Q&As, Write On! Wednesdays, Expert Columns, Special Features, and more! You can also listen to the March meeting with The Story Coach Patrick Horton on Blog Talk Radio.

Writers, please email Debra@WriteOnOnline.com if you have a 2-3 line news item or event and/or if you are are interested in contributing a Write On! Review, writing an Expert Column, or participating in an Author Q&A. Write On!

APRIL CHALLENGE
Are you writing a screenplay this month for Script Frenzy? Doing the Poem-a-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month? Or have you come up with something spectacular and ongoing to do during the month of April? You can win just for declaring Your April Challenge!

Here’s how it works:
1. Post what you will be participating in during the month of April.
2. Go for it!
3. Keep us posted by responding to requests for progress on Write On! Online and on the Facebook page.
4. Write! And have fun!
5. Three winners will be chosen at random to receive a book thanks to Michael Wiese Productions (MWP book prizes listed on Write On Online).

Post the way in which you will Challenge Yourself in April here. Every time you post, during a call for updates, you will receive another entry in the drawing! Winners will be announced on Tuesday, May 15, on Write On! Online and in the May Write On! Newsletter.

NEWS & INFO
Last September, Colleen Wainwright set out to raise $50,000 for L.A.-based nonprofit WriteGirl, which mentors local high school girls via creative writing workshops and other activities. This March, she shared what she learned through the experience with a sold-out crowd at TEDxConcordiaUPortland.

Laurel House’s fourth book, QuickieChick’s Cheat Sheet to Life, Love, Food, Fitness, Fashion and Finance on a Less than Fabulous Budget, will be released by St. Martin’s in May. This first e-tease “QuickieChick Guide: Fit to Flirt: Get the Body You Want and the Guy You Deserve” is free to download.

Jane Hodges’ Rent Vs. Own: A Real Estate Reality Check for Navigating Booms, Busts, and Bad Advice just came out in late March from Chronicle Books, and is already in its 2nd reprint.

Screenwriter and filmmaker Michelle Shyman has published a book of senryu (haiku-style short poems) skewering everything and everyone in the political scene. Check it out here.

Joe Donatelli is writer and editor for Dame Magazine, which has quietly relaunched. The blog currently has a feature about blogger-turned-author Jenny Lawson (The Bloggess) on the front page. Definitely worth a read.

Write on Members: Let me know if you have a book being released or some awesome news, so we can include it in the next newsletter.

EVENTS
April 24: LA Mediabistro Mixer at Whiskey Blue (W Hotel), 930 Hilgard Ave in Westwood from 7 – 9pm. Media peeps, join Jason Boog, Michelle Thatcher and me for a fun night of mixing and mingling! Michelle and I will be wearing green boas!

Sundays: Scriptchat, a twitter chat for new and seasoned screenwriters, has two chats each Sunday: 8pm GMT is EURO #scriptchat, moderated by Mina Zaher (@DreamsGrafter) and 8pm EST, moderated by Jeanne Veillette Bowerman (@jeannevb). All transcripts are posted on the blog, as well as tons of screenwriting resources.

SAVE THE DATE
May 19: Looking for real success in a changing industry and changing world?
Attend Patrick Horton’s “Mastering the Power of Story” full day seminar in West LA. Details here.

June 5 – 7: Blog World & New Media Expo takes place in New York.

June 19 – 20: The 4th Annual State of NOW/#140conf, “Sharing and Finding Meaning,” is set to take place at New York City’s 92nd Street Y, and Early Bird registration ends May 4.

FRIENDS OF WRITE ON!
Campus Explorer is an online resource that helps students of all ages plan for college. “Like” Campus Explorer on Facebook and follow on Twitter. Students, enter Campus Explorer’s $1,000 Monthly Scholarship Giveaway. Students and grads, review your school, and you will be entered in a drawing for $2,500.

Need a transcriber? CLK Transcription can help! CLK employs more than 30 highly trained transcriptionists … and has great rates. Email carollee@clktranscription.com for more information.

Dream It, Then Do It!: Tools and inspiration to turn your dreams into reality. Become a Fan on Facebook.

iScript.com has added a new audiobook component to their offerings. Now, you can get high-quality audiobooks made of your writing!

Check out the New Media Film Festival for screenings, giveaways, and more!

Purple Pencil Adventures: Teen and Tween writers, a new Purple Pencil Adventure is posted every Friday!

She Takes on the World is a top blog for women entrepreneurs, career women, and young women professionals.

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If you’d like to support Write On! Online and promote your business or service, email Debra@WriteOnOnline.com.

Thanks to everyone who attended the Write On! Holiday Party on December 10. Goals from 2008 were acknowledged and celebrated.Goals for 2009 were set. Food was eaten. A good time was had by all. Happy Holidays!

Carol, Deb, Dee, and Katha

Mark and Laurie

Katha and David

Bill and Kelvin

Orchid and Carol

Cindy, Glen, and David

Mark and Arthur

Glen and David

Laurie and Orchid

Last Thursday, November 27, The Learning Garden at Venice High School was pleased to host friends, community, and the staff and clients of the Program for Torture Victims for a Thanksgiving feast. Several Write On! members were pleased to take part in the annual event, as well. We had sunny skies and an even more beautiful atmosphere and sense of community.

Thanksgiving at The Learning Garden

Orchid and others enjoy the event

Circle of Thanks

Garden Dog Casey enjoying the festivities

John, Karl & Shella

Orchid, David & Sam

Laurie, Greg, Fred & CJ

Sheryl & John

Write On! Online – November 2008

Karl, Bob & Sam

Yvette, Frances & Arlene

Greg, Shella & Dan

Sheryl & Deb

Sheryl, Greg, Shella, Dan & David

Paul, Daniel, Greg, David, and Sheryl at the September 10, 2008, Write On! meeting.

Mariah, Yvette, and Frances

Arlene and Martha

Joseph, Sheryl, and Deb

Sam and Jim

David shares a new song

Rebecca, Paul, Daniel, Greg, David, Joseph, and Sheryl

Sam, Bob, and Rasool, at the August 13, 2008, Write On! meeting.

Greg, Shella, and Laurie.

Paul, Greg, Shella, Laurie, and Tatiana.

Mark, Sara, and Mariah.

Mark gives gold stars to Bob, Rasool, and Erica.