February Newsletter

New Time: The February Write On! Meeting on Blog Talk Radio is tomorrow, February 9 at 12pm Pacific/3pm Eastern with special guest Annie Lower. Call in (646-381-4910) or listen online.

CONTEST
It’s Award Season: Congratulations to the winners of the Writers Guild Awards. The Film Independent Spirit Awards will be back at the beach on Saturday, February 26, and the  Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 27.

Read the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science Best Original and Adapted Screenplay nominees here. What was your Favorite Screenplay from last year? Why? Write it up, 200 to 400 words, and enter the February Challenge!

Thanks to Michael Wiese Productions, we will have 4 winners. Each will choose one of the following books from MWP as their prize:

Submit your 200- to 400-word essay about your Favorite Screenplay in the body of an email to Debra@WriteOnOnline.com by Monday, February 28. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, March 8, on Write On! Online, and in the March Write On! Newsletter.

NEWS
Congratulations to the winners of the Write On! January Challenge – Excuses. Thanks to everyone who entered. And, thanks, Tina Haapala, Excuse Editor, for choosing the winners!

1st Place: Roberta Annicks – Read Roberta’s winning story – The Chocolate Cake Excuse – on Write On! Online
2nd Place: Cristofer Gross
3rd Place: Monica Newton

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Congratulations to Alex Willging, February winner of an iScript, for posting goals on Write On! Online. Post your March 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 March Goals here.

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I recently started freelancing for Brentwood Patch and Mar Vista Patch. If you live in the area and are interested in freelancing, email me and I will put you in touch with the editor.

Whole Life Times is always interested in submissions and queries about sustainable living, alternative healing, healthy lifestyle, and new thought spirituality, particularly in and around Southern California. Please see guidelines at their website.

EVENTS
Screenwriter Karaoke is on Thursday, February 24, at Sardos in Burbank. The singing starts at 8:30pm. Details will be posted on Meetup.

ONGOING
Sundays: Scriptchat is a twitter chat for new and seasoned screenwriters. 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). All transcripts are posted on the blog, as well as tons of screenwriting resources. Josh Heald, writer of Hot Tub Time Machine is guesting on USA scriptchat Sunday, February 13 at 5pm PST.

The Los Angeles Public Library 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!
New Time: The February Write On! Meeting on Blog Talk Radio is on February 9 at 12pm Pacific/3pm Eastern with special guest Annie Lower. Call in (646-381-4910) or listen online.

The March Write On! Meeting on Blog Talk Radio will be March 9 at 12 pm Pacific/3 pm Eastern. Please send 2-3 line newsletter items to Debra@WriteOnOnline.com by March 7. Post your March Goals on Write On! Online.

Write On! Online has new content Monday through Friday.

Mondays – Write On! Reviews:
This feature rotates between TV with Phillip Ramati; Film – Maria Fotopoulos; and Writing Resources with Jeanne Veillette Bowerman. Watch for Book and Tech Reviews coming soon!

Tuesdays – Author Q&As:
Jennifer Gladen, Teresa’s Shadow
Screenwriter & Playwright Nicholas Kazan, “Mlle. God”
Charmaine Hammond, On Toby’s Terms

Write On! Wednesdays – Send 2-3 line upcoming events to Debra@WriteOnOnline.com

Thursday Expert Columns:
Steve On Screenwriting: Myths Holding Back Your Career by Steve Kaire
Procrastination Solutions by Debra Eckerling

Friday – Video Interviews
Dan Gould, Co-Founder, Namesake
Jennifer Karlson, University of Wisconsin – Madison

Published Authors: Share your knowledge by participating in a Write On! Q&A, Video Interview, or Expert Column. Email Debra@WriteOnOnline.com for more information.
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Purple Pencil Adventures: Teen and Tween writers, a new Purple Pencil Adventure is posted every Friday! Learn more on the Facebook Page.

FRIENDS OF WRITE ON!
Create Write Now, home of the Journaling for the Health of It ™ community, shows writers how to use Journal Writing Therapy to cure writing problems like Writer’s Block, Page Fright, and the Inner Critic. Free Writer’s Block Cure eBook.

Dream It, Then Do It!: Communications specialist and writing coach 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!

Chambers of Commerce, connect with your community. Check out MyChamberApp.com.

The New Media Film Festival returns to Los Angeles this spring! Stay tuned for details.

Screenwriters and filmmakers, read the StoryLink eZine for interviews, expert columns. contests, and events.

Screenwriter Karaoke meets monthly at Sardos in Burbank. Watch the Write On! video interview with Screenwriter Karaoke creator Merrel Davis and read Jeanne Veillette Bowerman’s review here.

You can write a short story! Let best-selling authors Geoff Hoff and Steve Mancini guide through the short-story writing process with their simple, practical, effective, and fun creative writing system. Learn more here.

Write On! Track LA Personal Training for Writers! Writing coach Debra Eckerling trains individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses, so they can organize, articulate, and complete their writing projects. Email Debra@WriteOnOnline.com or call 310.908.8980 for more information!

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