A Writer's Web Corner
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A Writer's Web Corner |
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What's NEW in the wonderful world of publishing |
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June 2008
I've been reasonably busy for the past months. I sold a dozen articles to Computer Pilot magazine, a niche publication catering to computer flight simulator aficionados in the past year.
I spent the first week of this month at the annual week-long writers' retreat at the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Learning Center. This was the fifth time I made it to Piggott, Arkansas and enjoyed this one as much as the first. I managed a new slant on the first two chapters of my mystery, One-Two, Kill A Few, which I'll post on the excerpts page.
November 2007
The On The Edge chapter of Missouri State Poetry Society included my creative non fiction short short story (Saying Goodbye) in their 2007 anthology. The title of this hardcover edition is Diamonds in the Rough.
I may have set a world's record for the fastest novel rejection -- under twelve hours. See my blog site for more details.
September 2007
I was the emcee for Criminal Pursuits, a mystery/crime conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Nancy Martin was the featured speaker at this event sponsored by BreakThrough Promotions and the Southwest Chapter of Mystery Writers of America.
August 2007
I've been sending queries and making contacts looking for representation for my initial Casey Fremont mystery (1st chapter is available on the "Excerpts" page). I have also been working on magazine articles for Computer Pilot magazine (Australian magazine distributed worldwide). Two appeared this summer and two more will run a a two-part serial in September and October -- a fifth article in sitting on the computer and will be submitted in October. Sometime this fall, a creative non fiction short short story of mine will be included in a hard cover anthology published in Missouri.
June 2007
I hosted the opening session at the Arkansas Writers' Conference in Little Rock.
January 2007
Two speaking engagements this month. The first was with the Drew County Writers where I spoke about, "You have an idea, what's next?" For a return engagement with the Village Writers, I plan to talk about "Speedbumps in the Prose."
October 2006
I participated in panel discussion about mystery writing at the quarterly meeting of the Ozarks Writers League (OWL) near Branson Missouri.
The Arkansas Writers' Conference was held in Little Rock, AR the first week of the month. I was on a panel, which discussed How To Win Contests. I also picked up some cash for contest entries I submitted. Those were, “Murder in D Major and D Minor (Two Sharps and a Flat) a mystery short story and “Super Bowl Something” a humor short story.
Beginning June 12th, I spent that week in Piggott, AR attending a week long writers' retreat. This was the third time I've attended this event and it was an outstanding week again.
On the 22nd, I spoke to the Kiwanis Club of Hot Springs Village. The subject of my presentation was: Be Your Family’s Storyteller.
May 2006
I did a radio interview on KVRE promoting the L'Audible Art program to be presented by the Village Writers of Hot Springs Village. This is the second time I've handled this chore.
"Murder In Spa City," a one day conference in Hot Springs, AR was a rousing success. I was on the committee that organized to event and acted as emcee for the day. This event was sponsored by BreakThrough Promotions and the Southwest Chapter of Mystery Writers of America.
January 2006
The Arkansas Pioneer Chapter, National League of American Pen Women (Little Rock), invited me to speak at their January meeting. The subject of my talk was Winning Writing Contests, and was a preview of my portion of a panel discussion planned for June 2006 at the Arkansas Writers' Convention.
As a member of Mystery Writers of America (MWA), I am working on a committee to present a one-day seminar in Hot Springs, Arkansas - Murder in Spa City. We are in the planning stages, but an all-Arkansas team of speakers has signed on including Charlaine Harris as the featured speaker.
Two of my items (one short prose and one poem) are now making an appearance
on another web site. This one is run by Robert Hall and you can see his site
(the web site has been deleted)
Robert is developing this web site with an eye to a Southern oriented magazine.
My thanks to him for giving me this additional exposure.
December 2005
Each December, the Fiction Writers of Central Arkansas has an on the spot writing contest. This year a title of "What Happened to Santa Claus?" was announced and we all had 15 minutes to complete our task. When time was up, everyone read their work aloud and members voted on the top three places. I'm happy to say I took 1st Place -- thanks for the votes guys and gals. I couldn't help myself and a bit of political commentary crept into my piece, so I won't reproduce it here.
November 2005
I attended my first OWL (Ozark Writers' League) this month. This fine group of folks get together one Saturday each quarter in Branson, Missouri.
I sold a non fiction article to The WRITERS' Journal magazine. It's about using Microsoft Word (word processor) to lower the frustration level of writers. Don't know when it will appear in the magazine.
August & October 2005
In August I presented a program I call, Developing Characters - How to Populate Your Stories to the Fiction Writers of Central Arkansas. I presented the same program to the Village Writers (Hot Springs Village) in October.
June 2005
Again, June of this year I attended the writers' retreat at the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Learning Center. Prior to that, the Arkansas Writers' Conference was held in Little Rock. Several of my works were recognized there; the essay "A Tribute to Trous, Grace Period Two," my mystery novel "One, Two - No Buckle Shoe" and "Hill House" a rather dark ghost short story.
May 2005
I did a radio interview on KVRE promoting the L'Audible Art program to be presented by the Village Writers of Hot Springs Village.
I spoke to the Optimist Club of Hot Springs Village. The subject of my presentation was: Be Your Family’s Storyteller.
June was heavy with writing activities. The Arkansas Writers' Conference was held at the first of the month. At mid-month I attended a week-long writers' retreat at the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Learning Center. This is an annual event in Piggott, Arkansas is sponsored by Arkansas State University.
My wife and I spent the last few days of the month in Scottsdale, Arizona. Barbara Peters, owner of the Poisoned Pen Mystery Book Store, sponsored the event at the Arizona Biltmore. Editor Keith Kahla (St. Martin's Press), plus writers Lee Child (The Enemy), Clive Cussler (Trojan Odyssey), Vince Flynn (Memorial Day), Steve Hamilton (Ice Run), Gayle Lynds (The Coil), David Morrell (Nightscape) and Kathy Reichs (Monday Mourning) were all presenters at this "Thriller Conference."
| I am now a member of the Mystery Writers of America (MWA), the organization that makes the Edgar (from Edgar Allen Poe) award to mystery writers. |  |
Another round of queries sent and most returned -- thanks, but no thanks. Erato says, "Disappointed, but not discouraged."
September 2003
I presented a short seminar, Learn the Craft and Avoid Writing Traps to the Hot Springs Village - Village Writers group.
August 2003
Another turn down. This time an email from a small press in the southwest. If I'm not getting rejections I'm not working at my writing.
June 22, 2003
No news is good news ... at least I can hope :-)
© Copyright 2003-2008 John Achor
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