June Newsletter

THE JUNE CHALLENGE: QUERY CONTEST – SCREENPLAYS & TELEPLAYS

Screenwriters, it’s your turn!

In our continuing effort to help writers jump-start their careers, we are pleased to announce the 2nd Annual Write On! Query Contest, Part 2: Screenplays.

The winner in each category—Screenplay and Teleplay—will have their query letter read by Los Angeles literary agent David Boxerbaum of APA. They will also receive a copy of Blake Snyder’s SAVE THE CAT! The Last Story Structure Software You’ll Ever Need.

Second Prize: Your Screenplay Sucks!: 100 Ways to Make it Great, autographed by author William M. Akers.

Third Prize: Danny Manus’ ebook No BS For Screenwriters: Articles and Advice from the Executive Perspective.

Screenwriter Tracey Jackson (Lucky Ducks) will select the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners from the Screenplay finalists. Jeanne Veillette Bowerman (co-founder of Scriptchat) will choose the winners in the Teleplay category.

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Email your query to Debra@WriteOnOnline.com by Wednesday, June 30. There is no fee to enter this contest. For more information and complete submission guidelines, go to Write On! Online. Winners will be announced on Monday, July 14, on Write On! Online and in the Write On! July Newsletter.

Please note: I send an email confirmation within a few days of receiving a submission. If you submit and do not hear from me, please message me on Facebook or send an email to my alternate address. Thanks!

NEWS
Thanks to everyone who entered the Write On! Online May Challenge: Query Contest – “Books!” We received some excellent entries. And the winners are …

Fiction

1st Place: Dorothy Dreyer, Pretty Girls Make Graves

2nd Place: Dawn Hullender, The Trinity Saints

3rd Place: Terri Forehand, The ABC’s of Cancer According to Lilly Isabella Lane

Non-Fiction

1st Place: Cara Holman, The First 50 Years

2nd Place: Maxine Frendel, Making Them the Best Four Years

3rd Place: Monica Murphy, The Pros and Cons of Raising Mom

Special thanks to to Los Angeles-based literary agent Betsy Amster, who will be reading the 1st Place Winners, and authors Amy Friedman (Syndicated Columnist, “Tell Me A Story“) and Dennis Danziger (A Short History of a Tall Jew), who selected the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners!

Congratulations, winners! And thanks again to all who entered.

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Congratulations to Tammy, June winner of an iScript, for posting goals on Write On! Online. Post your July goals and be entered in the monthly drawing to win an iScript. (An iScript is a professionally recorded audio version of a screenplay or novel read by professional readers, similar to an audiobook.) Post your July Goals here.

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The latest issue of East on Central will be available June 16. Write On! spoke with editor Judith MK Tepfer during National Poetry month in April. Those in the Chicago area are welcome to attend the Publication Party on Wednesday, June 16, at 7 pm, at The Art Center, 1957 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, IL. RSVP to eastoncentral@comcast.net or 847-757-1184. Or just show up spur-of-the-moment. There is no charge for this event. All are welcome.

Sullivan Street Press has launched a contest for readers to decide what happens between the first book – Scags at 7 – and the soon-to-be-released second book in the series: Scags at 18. Download the Scags at 7 ebook for free. The winning entry and two finalists will be included in the published volume of Scags at 18. Contest details here.

Congratulations, Mark Niu. His short film Juche Rules has been selected to play at the Burbank International Film Festival in late July/early August!

From producer John Paul Rice: No Restrictions Entertainment’s One Hour Fantasy Girl (2009) will be screening at the Film Courage Interactive in Los Angeles at the Downtown Independent on July 26, 2010 – 50% of the Box Office goes to @DWCweb (Downtown Women’s Center ) to help end homelessness for women. Read the Write On! Q&A with screenwriter Edward Michael Bravo’s Q&A here.

Btw, if you are an LA-based filmmaker, have a short film under 10 minutes, and are interested in setting up a Los Angeles screening at the Film Courage Interactive, please email filmcourage@gmail.com for details.

EVENTS
Danny Moynahan will be performing with Richard Fultineer and Austin Nicholsen at The Talking Stick, 1411 Lincoln Blvd. Venice, 90291, on Tuesday, June 8, from 7pm to 10pm.

The Dream It, Then Do It “Power Lunch” with Debra Eckerling and Marla Martenson on Blog Talk Radio is every other Wednesday from 11 am – 11:30 am. Listen. Call in. Learn. The next Power Lunch is June 16. Here’s the link!. Missed a show? Listen anytime on Blog Talk Radio.

The Shaman and Ayahuasca, a new film by Michael Wiese, will be screening at The Landmark Theater – Westside Pavilion, 10850 West Pico, in West Los Angeles, Thursday, June 17, at 7 pm and 9:15 pm. There will be a Q&A after each showing with filmmaker Michael Wiese. For details and more information, go here.

Film Independent’s 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival runs from June 17 – June 27 in downtown Los Angeles. The 2010 LA Film Festival will screen over 200 feature films, shorts, and music videos, representing more than 40 countries. For more information, go to www.lafilmfest.com.

The Great American PitchFest 7 is Saturday and Sunday, June 26 and 27 at the Marriott Burbank. Plus, check out StoryLink All-Stars at The Great American PitchFest – FREE classes for StoryLink Members on Saturday, June 26.

Film Courage – The Radio Show hosts its monthly Film Courage Interactive on Monday, June 28, from 7 pm to 11 pm at The Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main St., Los Angeles. The night will feature the premiere of writer/director Archie Gips‘ Chloe & Keith’s Wedding. Directors Q & A and filmmaker-discussion (“support group”) caps off the event. For more info, please visit www.downtownindependent.com or filmcourage@gmail.com.

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 (@DreamsGrafter) 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.

WRITE ON!
Our July Meeting will be on Wednesday, July 14, 2010. Please have newsletter items – news and events – to Debra@WriteOnOnline.com by July 12.

Write On! Online Author Q&As are posted every Tuesday and Friday. Read the interviews posted since the last newsletter:

Marvin Acuna, The Business of Show Institute
P.I. Barrington, Miraculous Deception
LA Talk Radio’s Film Courage with David Branin and Karen Worden
Helen Benedict, The Edge of Eden
David Spaltro, … Around
Michael Wolffe, Love Song Journey
Mayra Calvani, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing
Musicians Proverbial Cool Aid

Published Authors: Share your knowledge by participating in a Write On! Q&A. Email Debra@WriteOnOnline.com for more information.

Also, watch my video interview with screenwriter/ documentary filmmaker/blogger/author Tracey Jackson.

Check Write On! Online for a new Expert Column every Thursday:

10 Simple Steps to Market Your Book BEFORE It’s Published by Debra Gendel and Elle Saling, d+e media
Jen’s Gems … For the Healthy Writer: Hula by movement and fitness coach Jennifer Waak
Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Writing a TV Spec by Ross Brown
Writing A Biography Book Proposal by Jeffrey Spivak

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Authors of all ages, go to Purple Pencil Adventures for “Why Write? Mondays” and Friday writing adventures! Plus, interview and special features:

17-year-old Writer Katie Charles
How Being Idle Can Improve Your Writing by Rochelle Melander
Teen Freelancer Allie Sakowicz
Chelsey Shannon, author of teen memoir, Chelsey

Keep an eye out for info on Purple Pencil Adventures on the Facebook Page.

FRIENDS OF WRITE ON!

Dream It, Then Do It!: Communications specialist/ writing motivator Debra Eckerling and life coach/ matchmaker/author Marla Martenson have teamed up to bring you workshops, 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!

Read the StoryLink eZine for interviews, expert columns. contests, and events.

Visit the June Virtual Book Tour – Writers on the Move for interviews, articles, reviews, and more! My Article –Making Room for your Dreams – was posted on Elysabeth Elderling’s site on Sunday.

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.