Write On! February Newsletter

NEWS

Write On! Online is pleased to announce our partnership with iScript, a revolutionary new service that puts screenplays, novels, or any text into an audio file (an “iScript”) for iPods, MP3 players, and CD players. Join the Write On! Online Yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/writeononline/) or Facebook group, post your monthly goals, and be entered in a drawing to win a FREE iScript. Drawings will be held every month. For more information on iScript, go to www.iScript.com.

Be on the lookout for new Write On! Online features and columns. Starting February 26: Jen’s Gems … for the Healthy Writer by Seattle-based movement and fitness coach Jennifer Waak (http://movefitfun.com/)

Chicago Write On! Member Matt Barton, along with other members of the Waiting 4 The Bus Poetry Collective, was featured at The Mercury Cafe on Friday, January 30th. The ensemble performed “Pentecost,” an innovative poem written by four poets in five voices. Congratulations, Matt, and the Waiting 4 The Bus Poetry Collective.

EVENTS

On Thursday, February 19, 7 – 9 pm, check out The Writers Store’s Pre-Oscar¬Æ Bash and Discussion in Westwood. Join Screenwriters, Directors, Writers, and Indie Filmmakers for a lively discussion about the picks and pans for 2008! Panelists Include John Badham (director, Saturday Night Fever, War Games), Christopher Vogler (author, The Writers Journey), Ken Rotcop (author, The Perfect Pitch), Michael Hauge (author, Writing Screenplays that Sell), Judith Weston (author, Directing Actors), Pamela Jaye Smith (author, Inner Drives). For more information, go to: http://www.storylink.com/event/PreOscarBash

Also, check out StoryLink’s FREE online Oscar¬Æ Contest. The winner will receive a copy of Final Draft software and full bragging rights! Deadline is February 22 at 4:59 pm PST. To enter, go to: http://www.storylink.com/oscarcontest

Upcoming Events at The Learning Garden:

– February 14th – 2 to 5 pm: The Learning Garden’s annual *Valentine Workshop* comes round on the VERY day. Nothing says “love” more sweetly than a valentine you made yourself! We know how to help you say what you want to say with flowers and herbs from the Garden. We’ll be serving Killer Hot Chocolate and Peanut Butter cookies – on the patio.

– March 7th, 9 am to 12 pm: Get your Summer Garden off to a Great Start! Want mouthwatering tomatoes and fresh-picked sweet corn this summer? Learn how to start a successful garden now, so that you can enjoy a bounty of fresh tasty vegetables and fruits this summer. Participants will get a basil or tomato plant to start their garden off. This is the first of a new workshop series, *Southern California Gardening: What to Do And When To Do It*, held on the first Saturday of each month. $25 per workshop, or $100 for five workshops if you prepay. Advance registration requested.

The Learning Garden is located at Venice High School (on the corner of Walgrove Ave and Venice Blvd.) For details on these events, contact David King, the Learning Garden’s Gardenmaster, at 310.722.3656 or email learninggardenmaster@yahoo.com.

Want to hear your work read? AltScreenPlay meets on Thursdays 7:30 – 10 pm, at Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice, CA, and is moderated by Matt Byrnes, mbbyrnes@gmail.com. First reading starts at 8; and reading begins in the order that the author arrived. Bring 1-10 pages of your screenplay, and make enough copies for each role. No RSVP necessary. Feel free to sit in without bringing any material of your own. For more information: www.geocities.com/altscreenwriting/faq.html

The Los Angeles Public Library now has a Screenwriters Workshop the 1st Saturday of the month, from 10:30 am — 11:45 am, hosted by Sasha Karova. Learn format and workshop original material (screenplays, 1/2 hour sitcom, and 1/2 hour and 1 hour episodic) with an open reading or read-throughs. Open reading is on a first-come first-served basis. Please RSVP to WritersUnblock@aol.com.

MEMBER PROJECTS

Ask Al A Carte is accepting submissions for her upcoming anthology of Food Memories. Email your essays (up to 500 words) with a recipe if you have one to askalacarte@cs.com. By submitting, you are giving permission for your essay to be published.

Ladies, how have you met the men in your life? Any good stories to tell? Liz is writing a book about how to meet men and needs lots of good stories! Be sure to include both first names, how he asked you out, how your first date went, and what ended up happening to the relationship–even if it did end in tears! Email your story, 500 words or less, to liztunnell@hotmail.com with your contact information. Permission to print is implied in the sending!

Sheryl Sacchitelli (www.now-later-never.com) is still looking for volunteers (women, aged 40 and up) to complete a 15-minute survey to help with her work on women’s issues. Those interested in being interviewed, go to: http://www.now-later-never.com/Interviews.html

CLASSIFIEDS

Cozy Comfort Home Massage: Imagine not having to drive after a relaxing massage. All you have to do is open the front door! Both 1 hour and 1.5 hour massage available. Services include: Swedish, Deep Tissue and Lymphatic Drainage. Rates vary from $75 – $95. Lymphatic Drainage is $125 for an hour session. It’s a fantastic gift for yourself or someone else. Don’t forget Valentine’s Day is approaching. Gift Certificates are available. Men by referral only. Rasool Jahan 323-371-2841.

It’s A Trip! Rebecca Ebner has decided to expand her resume by becoming a travel agent. Check her web page: www.Itsatrip.worldventures.com.

Make someone’s day with a Custom Gift Basket from Totally Gifted! If you can dream it, we can make it! Totally Gifted can ship anywhere in the world. Contact Nicole Abramson, 818-679-5552, totallygifted1@aol.com.

Soign√®e: it’s Personal Shopping for the Runway of Life. The mission of Soign√®e is to provide clients with personal shopping services so that they can have a stylish wardrobe for daily life, special events, and travel. For more information, go to www.soignee-la.com. Or contact Sarah Schroeder at 818-415-8969 or email Sarah.Schroeder@gmail.com

Need a photographer for your wedding or blessed event? Check out April Rocha‘s work at www.aprilrocha.com/blog. April has been shooting weddings since 2002, and has been published in The Knot and Grace Ormonde’s Wedding Style; her work has also been seen on WE Channel’s Platinum Weddings. Contact April at April@AprilRocha.com or call 310.319.0465.

Check out Green Brooms Music Academy, 1513 6th Street, Suite 203, Santa Monica. For a schedule of classes and more information, call 310.310.2623, email info@musicbygyllian.com or go to http://www.musicbygyllian.com.

Live piano music and fine art portraits created at your party or event. Exceptionally high quality work. Contact Scott Hiltzik 310.463.2812.

WRITE ON!

There’s still time to complete your February Goals, AND your February Extra Credit: Writing Recess. Spend some time with a “dream” project.

March Extra Credit: Will be assigned at the March Meeting.

Our March Meeting will be on Wednesday, March 11. Please have newsletter items to me by March 9.

FINAL NOTE

Check out the Write On! Online Author Q&As, posted since the last newsletter, on www.writeononline.com:

https://writeononline.com/2009/02/10/author-qa-mark-ebner-six-degrees-of-paris-hilton/

https://writeononline.com/2009/02/03/author-qa-jill-badonsky-the-awe-manac-a-daily-dose-of-wonder/

https://writeononline.com/2009/01/27/author-qa-jane-boursaw-reel-life-with-jane/

Published authors: Share your knowledge by participating in a Write On! Q&A. Email writeononline@yahoo.com for more information.

Watch for new Write On! Online Content Coming Soon:

– Interviews from the 2009 Writers Guild Awards

– Jen’s Gems … for The Healthy Writer (last Thursday of the month, starting February 26)

– And More!