THE APRIL CHALLENGE: WRITE A LIMERICK
April is National Poetry Month. To mix things up a bit, the April Challenge is to write a Limerick!
A limerick (paraphrased from Wikipedia) is a five-line poem, with a strict rhyming scheme (aabba), which intends to be witty or funny.
For example:
There was a young man named Dwight
Who always wanted to write
He joined Write On! Online
Took it as a good sign
Now he pens from dawn til night
PRIZES
1st Place: A medium-length (or 21,000 word) one-reader iScript (you can even get a voice recording of a collection of stories or poems); plus, have your limerick published on Write On! Online
2nd Place: Writing Poetry From the Inside Out: Finding Your Voice Through the Craft of Writing Poetry by Sandford Lyne, compliments of The Writers Store
3rd Place: Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers: The Ultimate Frugal Booklet for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper-Perfect Copy by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the acclaimed HowToDoItFrugally series and member of VBT-Writers on the Move
Submit your limerick in the body of an email to debra@writeononline.com by Friday, April 30. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, May 11, 2010, in the May Write On! Newsletter.
NEWS
Congratulations to the winners of the Write On! Online March Challenge – Green!:
1st Place: Linda Lichtman – “Birthday Bogeyman” – Posted on Write On! Online
2nd Place: Belinda McDonald-Paez – “Greenville, Louisianna – A Childhood Memory”
3rd Place: Michelle Dennis Evans – “Shadows of Death “
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Congratulations to Jocelyn Hughes, April winner for posting goals. Post your May goals on Write On! Online and be entered in the monthly drawing to win a FREE iScript. (An iScript is a professionally recorded audio version of a screenplay or novel read by professional readers, similar to an audiobook.)
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Paul Kampf, Breadline Productions, who participated in an Author Q&A on Write On! Online earlier this year, completed his feature film – From Grace – which is seeking distribution. He also has two short films in post-production.
Congratulations to humor columnist Rose A. Valenta. Her book – Sitting on Cold Porcelain – was just released.
Film/pop-culture writer Susan Doll is a contributor to Armchair Reader Goes Hollywood. Check out her regular Monday blog on the Turner Classic Movies blogsite .
Congratulations, Marcia French. Marcia will be appearing as a guest star on CBS’ The Ghost Whisperer on April 30th.
Linda Frothingham, ChicagoHollywood, is holding an event this weekend … live in Chicago with Julie Gray, Founder of The Script Department.
The Mystic Pete Chronicles seeks “Tales of Love and Madness” for the radio program. Details here.
Pitch your screenplay ideas to industry professionals with a chance to win Final Draft and Save the Cat screenwriting software, a free script consultation, or a first-look deal with a known producer! For more info join the Facebook Group, The Hollywood VPYPE Pitch Contest. Deadline is April 15.
Read any good books lately? Post your recommendations—and see what others suggest—on Writing=Reading on Write On! Online.
Looking for a fun, new writing challenge? Check out 6 Sentences Blog. Just write 6 sentences, and send along with the title, your name (or pseudonym), bio, and any links you’d like to include to sixsentences@yahoo.com. All submissions will receive a response within 6 days. Check out the site, sign up for the newsletter, and join the Facebook group. This has been 6 Sentences about 6 Sentences!
EVENTS
April is Script Frenzy (write a screenplay in a month) and National Poetry Month. Sending cheers and encouragement to all participating in Script Frenzy and in Poetry Month’s Poem a Day (PAD) Challenges. Here are some PAD links: Read Write Poem, Writers Digest’s Poetic Asides POD Challenge . If you’d like to receive a Poem a Day, sign up at Poets.org.
Poet Ellyn Maybe and her band join Danny Moynahan and his trio on Tuesday, April 13, at 7 pm at the Talking Stick, 1141 Lincoln Ave. Venice, CA. No cover.
The next Los Angeles Mediabistro Party, hosted by Debra Eckerling and Michelle Thatcher, will be at Elevate Lounge, 811 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 20, from 7 pm to 9 pm. Thanks to Jennifer Laskey, RedLight Special Events & Promotions, for booking the event. RSVP here.
ONGOING
Scriptchat was created for the purpose of bringing new and seasoned screenwriters together to learn and grow. Since screenwriters are global, Scriptchat has two chats each Sunday: 8pm GMT is EURO #scriptchat, moderated by Mina Zaher (@DreamsGrafters) and 8pm EST, moderated by Jeanne Veillette Bowerman (@jeannevb). The same topic is discussed at both chats., and the topic changes every week. Remember, Script Chat is a community, not competitors. Everyone has something to learn . All transcripts are posted on the blog, as well as tons of screenwriting resources: http://www.scriptchat.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 pm; and readings begin in the order in which 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.
The Los Angeles Public Library now has a Screenwriters Workshop four Saturdays a month at different branches, from 10:30 am – 12 pm, and every Sunday in the Farmers Market community room from 3 – 5 pm, 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-through. Open reading is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please RSVP to WritersUnblock@aol.com.
Meditation Friday Nights at The Learning Garden the 2nd Friday of the month. Meditation begins promptly at 8:00 pm. Please dress in layers and bring a blanket and cushion to sit on. Meditation lasts about 40 minutes around a fire in the peaceful surroundings of the Garden. Donations go to The Learning Garden. For more information contact Camille at (310) 382-4323.
Check out Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore Avenue, Pacific Palisades, CA, for book clubs, author events, and more. You can also become a Fan on Facebook.
WRITE ON!
Our May Meeting will be on Wednesday, May 12, 2010. Please have newsletter items to Debra@WriteOnOnline.com by May 10.
Write On! Online Author Q&As are posted every Tuesday and Friday. Check out the columns posted since the last newsletter:
Dr James D’Adamo, Just an Ounce of Prevention
Alison Woo, How to Say It: Marketing with New Media
Sascha Rothchild, How to Get Divorced by 30
Poet Judith MK Tepfer, East on Central
Robert Earle Howells, Write Where the Money Is
Children’s Author Martha Swirzinski
Carolyn Cohagan, The Lost Children
Bobbie O’Steen, The Invisible Cut
Published Authors: Share your knowledge by participating in a Write On! Q&A. Email debra@writeononline.com for more information.
Check Write On! Online for a new Expert Column every Thursday:
Moving Write Along: Advice from the Experts – Writing Exercises by Bob Yehling, The Write Time: 366 Exercises to Fulfill Your Writing Life
Jen’s Gems … For the Healthy Writer: Hips, Hips, Hooray by movement and fitness coach Jennifer Waak.
Write On! Getting Personal: The Basics of Writing Personal Essays by Tina Haapala, Excuses Editor
Moving Write Along: Advice from the Experts – Increasing Your Blog’s Readership by Linda Fulkerson, The Ultimate Guide to Blogging Well.
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Authors of all ages, go to Purple Pencil Adventures for “Why Write? Mondays” and Friday writing adventures! Plus, a new tween or teen author interview every Wednesday.
Dallas Woodburn, First Published in 5th Grade
Marni Bates, Author of Teen Memoir Marni
Teen Author Heather Paye, A Gift from Above
Actor Zachary Gordon, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Movie
14-year-old Author Aliana K. Deveza
Keep an eye out for info on Purple Pencil Adventures’ Kids Writing Camp. Please check out the website and Facebook Page.
FRIENDS OF WRITE ON!
iScript.com has added a new audiobook component to their offerings. Now, you can get high-quality audiobooks made of your writing!
The 2010 Non-Fiction Writers Conference runs from April 28 – April 30. Location: ONLINE. Receive 30% off when you register using the code: “writeononline.” For details, agenda, and registration, go to the website.
Read the StoryLink eZine for interviews, expert columns. contests, and events. The April eZine, which includes an interview with Crazy Heart writer/director/producer Scott Cooper, will be posted on Tuesday, April 20th.
Visit the April Virtual Book Tour – Writers on the Move for interviews, articles, reviews, and more! My Article – “Ready Set Blog” – was posted on Vivian Zabel’s Brain Cells & Bubble Wrap site earlier this month.
Speechless? Need a helping hand? Let Word’s Worth Editing Services help you find the “write” way to say it, every time. From literary projects to academic and business services, Word’s Worth provides high quality editing and proofreading, with a personal touch.
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If you’d like to support Write On! Online and promote your business or service, email Debra@WriteOnOnline.com.
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