April 2016 Newsletter

WRITE ON!

LA writers/creatives/entrepreneurs, stop by our April Write On/Guided Goals Hangout on Wednesday, April 6, from 1 – 3pm at Peet’s, 1854 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles. RSVP on Facebook.

Post your April Goals on Write On Online or Facebook and be entered in a drawing to win a book from Michael Wiese Productions. Congratulations to this month’s goal-posting winner Manda Rydberg, who won a copy The Coffee Break Screenwriter –  Second Edition by Pilar Alessandra. Write On Online has regular, ongoing content, including Q&As; Write On! Wednesdays; Guest Columns; and more. Also, check out my article on 5 Tips for Your Bio.

The Guided Goals Podcast is on Write On’s companion site GuidedGoals.com. The podcast is a series of expert interviews, designed to help people pursue their passion projects. Each episode wraps with action items (recommended goals), so listeners can take what they heard, and move forward right away.

Recent guests and topics include Filmmaking, Story & Senses with Simone Bartesaghi , Media Coverage with Julia Drake , Comedy with Steve Kaplan, The Creative Process with Patsy Moore and Starting a Tutoring Business with Alexis Avila. Watch on YouTube, listen, and subscribe on iTunes, or listen on Stitcher.

NEWS

Introducing Goal Club: For those who want to stay on track on their path toward achieving their goals, I just launched Goal Club, a monthly goal-setting and accountability call. It’s attached to a private Facebook group, where you can also ask questions, network, and post weekly goals. For more info, check out Goal Club.

* * *

Congrats to Shannon Luders-Manuel on the release of her chapbook: “(not) Mixed (up) Messages: on Dads, Death and Mixed Race Daughterhood.” Learn more on her website.

TV writing and book news from Jen Klein. An episode of Grey’s Anatomy she wrote airs on Thursday, April 14th at 8pm. Plus, her next book – Shuffle Repeat – is coming out May 3. Enter for a chance to win her book on Goodreads.

Tien Starling has a feature, called “Meditations for the Signs,” in the July 2016 issue of Dell Horoscope.

The 13th Continuum by Jennifer Brody publishes on April 19. There will be a virtual launch party on Facebook on the 19th from 7 – 9pm eastern and a book signing/launch party at Meltdown Comics in Los Angeles on the 20th at 7pm. Congrats!

Listen to the premiere episode of the GetPublished! Radio with host Gerald Everett Jones and featuring Mark Coker of Smashwords and author guests Gary Young, William Anthony, and Ruth Frechman.

No longer just the stuff of science fiction, virtual reality headsets like Oculus Rift are finally available for sale. Find out how this tech is going to rewrite the DNA of your life by watching the Geek Vs Geek crew (Dave Johnson, Rick Broida, and Helen Hong) try the still-secret Martian VR Experience at 20th Century Fox.

Each week, Techwalla is giving away smartphone cases to people who write cool user reviews on the site. Read the rules.

Subscribe to Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s How to Do it Frugally Newsletter for great tips, how-to articles, bonuses and more!

Lots of upcoming Writing Workshops from Los Angeles Writers Group.

Bloggers, please take two minutes and fill out my Blogging Survey when you have a chance. I am doing research for a new project. Thanks, Deb

* * *

Screenwriters, have you written a script or two but have no idea what to do next? If you’re writing to sell, you have to understand the fundamentals and how the entertainment business works. Steve Kaire has sold 8 projects to the major studios without representation and has been helping writers since 2002. This is your opportunity to benefit from his 30 years of knowledge and experience as a successful screenwriter. For more information, go to SteveKairePitchman.

Check out the new Email Marketing Video Workshop by the Article Writing Doctor. It shows how to build your subscriber list, build relationships, and boost sales.

* * *

Do your kids love to write? Want to encourage them to hone and expand their writing skills? Check out Purple Pencil Adventures: Writing Prompts for Kids of All Ages. Although it’s geared towards kids, there are plenty of prompts adults can use to exercise those writing muscles! Write on! To learn more listen to my interview on the She Wrote a Book Podcast with Lena Anani.

POPULOVE.net is looking for writers to contribute posts about Pop Music, Community Awareness, and more.  Interested? Contact amanda@populove.net,

The Tahoma Literary Review is accepting narrative nonfiction submissions on any subject. Full guidelines are here. Also accepting fiction and poetry submissions. They currently pay between $30 and $100.

Nowster.com is accepting submissions for content around technology, startups, and pop culture. Contact Steven for more information.

* * *

I will be launching the Guided Goals‘ newsletter soon. Sign up for the email list, and receive “5 Ways to Improve Your Productivity. Guided Goals offers coaching and project management services, as well as tools and advice to put you on the path to success. Like Guided Goals on Facebook and Follow on Twitter. Check out the Guided Goals Podcast.

EVENTS

April: Camp NaNoWriMo. Complete a writing project in a month!

April: National Poetry Month. Learn more about events and ways to celebrate.

April 6: April LA Hangout from 1 – 3pm at Peet’s in Westwood. RSVP on Facebook.

April 6: Reading Between the Lines of a Publishing Agreement program with Paul Levine, Atty & Lit Agent, from 7 – 8:30pm at the Ken Edwards Center, 1527 4th St., Santa Monica. $10 in adv, $15 at door.

April 7: Business Wire Breakfast “Why 2016 is the Year of News Content Visibility” with Serena Ehrlich at The Olympic Collection in Los Angeles. Details and RSVP here.

April 9 & 10: LA Times Festival of Books at USC. Get details and the schedule.

April 12, 19 & 26: 7th Annual Palisades Playwrights Festival in Pacific Palisades. Staged readings three Tuesdays in April. Learn more.

April 13: Writers, Artists: What to Look for When Signing a Contract. This talk, by attorneys in Culver City, is from 7 – 8:30pm at the United States Veterans’ Artists Alliance 10858 Culver Blvd. Culver City, CA 90230. $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

April 17 – 19: Social Media Marketing World in San Diego, CA.

April 18: IWOSC’s (the Independent Writers of Southern California) annual Agents Panel at 7:30pm at the Veterans Memorial Building, 4117 Culver (at Overland) with plenty of free parking. IWOSC members free; others $15. RSVP required to info@iwosc.org.

April 18: The City of Lights, City of Angeles Film Festival begins. There are plenty of free screenings and talks in addition to tickets.

April 19: A 90-minute telephone seminar on How to Publish with Amazon at with Neal Thompson, the Director of Author and Publishing Relations at Amazon, at 7pm. This event is sponsored by PALA (Publishers Assocation of Los Angeles), so reservations must be made through their webiste, www.PA-LA.org. Cost is $15 unless you are a PALA member.

April 27: Spring Poetry Slam at St. Elizabeths Hospital, 1100 Alabama Avenue SE, Washington DC 20032, at 7pm. FREE. To register to speak or to RSVP, contact:
Emily Monahan by Friday, April 22, 2016 at (202) 299-5525 or emily.monahan@dc.gov.

April 28: Book’d: The Ultimate Bibliophiles’ Night Out returns to The Group Repertory/Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood with mystery, romance, fantasy and YA author readings, bookish giveaways and a catered mingling reception. Get event details.

May 4: May LA Hangout from 1 – 3pm at Peet’s in Westwood. RSVP on Facebook.

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. Also, check out the Write On Online Facebook Page for regular opportunities to share your books and blogs: Tuesdays: Boast your Blog, Thursdays: Share your Twitter, and Fridays: Flaunt your Fan Page.

FRIENDS OF WRITE ON!

Write On Online’s Facebook page has again been included in The Write Life’s Top Facebook Groups for Writers. Thanks, The Write Life! Check out the entire list.

For even more writing support, check out BookPod, an online social platform for authors and aspiring authors centered around the world of books and publishing. Interested in joining BookPod? Email Jennifer Brody.

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.

Are you a startup, nonprofit or personality in need of digital strategy like social, email, content? Email Tara of Poodle Mafia – Elegantly Aggressive Digital Marketing & Branding (packleader@poodlemafia.com).

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

Orange County Writers, check out Lit Central OC, an online magazine for news, reviews, craft articles and more for writers in the Orange County area.

Like Michael Wiese Productions on Facebook to learn about contests, workshops, special events, and new releases from the number one publisher of film books in the world. Download the new 2016 MWP catalog.

Need quality printing at affordable prices? Check out PRINT-Xpress. From banners and posters to brochures and business cards and everything in between, they’ve got you covered. Contact Sam or Carolyn for more information.

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

Want info about the latest in tech? Visit Techwalla for feature articles, curated tech reviews, polls and more. Like Techwalla on Facebook and follow @Techwallahq on Twitter.

Need tech expertise for your website or business? Todd Zebert Consulting excels with integrative IT services, from WordPress … to beyond! Email Todd.

Guided Goals: Define, Plan & Achieve Your Goals. Like Guided Goals on Facebook and follow on Twitter. Email Deckerling@gmail.com or call 310.908.8980 for more information!