Query Letters

Jody Rein of Author Planet is writing a series about writing effective query letters for nonfiction books. She shares excellent information, and another post in the series is coming tomorrow. Be sure to check her blog at:
http://authorplanet.org/

Query letters.  Yet again.

Holy smokes there’s a lot of query letter advice out here on the World Wide Web.   

And like everything in information-overload-land, that’s good and bad–it’s terrific for writers to have easy access to models and thoughtful counsel, but at the same time I’m a little concerned about the stressing out I see–the agony over each detail in each query; and the stridency of the dogma.  As in, “All query letters must start with x, end with y, and never, never include Popsicles.” 

Query letters are crucial, don’t get me wrong.  And yes, each book pitch does haveto include some standard elements, like, well, the title of the book. 

But ultimately each letter is as individual as the book that is being pitched and the author who is writing it.  So rather than trying to fit your query into someone else’s mold, I suggest you sit back, take a deep breath, scribble out a quick rough draft, andthen ask yourself if you’ve achieved the following goals.  I’ll elaborate on each in future posts.

To read the rest of the post including Jody's Seven Goals for Query Letters, click here: http://bit.ly/rvTr05

Next Meeting - Saturday, Nov. 5

Next meeting: Saturday, November 5, from 2-4:00 pm

We will continue to discuss blogging with these focus points:

• Defining your goal
• Narrowing your focus
• Writing to be read
• Connecting to other bloggers

Our exercise will be to write a Thanksgiving blog post appropriate for our real or imagined blog. A children's blog is a viable option.
We will critique our writing and consider its adherance to the parameters defined in our discussion.

You do not need a blog to benefit from this meeting. You only need to be a writer!


Meeting at:
High Mountain Church
681 High Mountain Rd.
North Haledon, NJ 07508

Hands-On Blogging Workshop

Saturday Oct. 22 at 9 a.m 

Here are the particulars:

BRING:

-your laptop (make sure it's fully charged) 

-your questions (start thinking of them now & if you can - email them to me ahead of time so we can be sure to discuss them) 

WHERE:

Starbucks - in back of Market Basket shopping center

816 High Mountain Rd.

Franklin Lakes ,  NJ   07417  

201-848-5045

click on the link here for directions: http://www.starbucks.com/store/16961/  

WHAT: This will be a VERY informal, VERY hands-on blogging session. We will go over the basic mechanics of blogging using your own blog. We'll set up Feedburner subscriptions, go over any questions you have, provide resources, and talk about how to promote your blog (not in the cheesy sense of marketing, but in the sense that God has gifted you with words to share and bless others and to NOT promote your blog is to bury the gift He has given His servant - you). 

And to get us started: Here's "65 ways to drive traffic to your blog":

http://www.problogger.net/archives/2011/10/16/65-ways-to-drive-traffic-to-your-blog/ 

(many of these tips apply to business bloggers - don't let it worry or overwhelm you) 

I am by no means an expert in blogging. I'm just a little ahead of you and (as Paul said) I'm passing along to you what was passed on to me. But as iron sharpens iron, we will all learn from each other. 

Looking forward to gathering together on Saturday!

Blessings,

Susan

A Reading List for Writers

For some reason known only to the mysteries of the internet, I received a year-old email from agent Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary. That message contained his suggested reading list for writers which I am passing along to you. Enjoy! Don't try to read it all at once ;D. This list does not contain books about the craft of writing or books about the publishing industry. I will compile and post those in the near future.

The archives of Chip's blog (which is no longer posting) are still online and contain a treasure trove of helpful writer advice. http://chipmacgregor.typepad.com/main/ 
Susan
---

I've had a bunch of people ask me, "What would be on your list of great books for writers to read?", so I decided to share my list of suggested books to make yourself well read…


Ancients: Homer’s ILIAD and ODYSSEY; Sophocles’ OEDIPUS REX; Euripides’ THE TROJAN WOMEN and ELECTRA; Herodotus’ THE HISTORIES; Thucydides’ HISTORY OF THE PELOPPENESIAN WAR; Sun Tsu’s THE ART OF WAR; Aristophanes’ LYSISTRATA; Plato’s SELECTED WORKS; Virgil’s THE AENEID


Classics: Augustine’s CONFESSIONS; Dante’s DIVINE COMEDY; Chaucer’s CANTERBURY TALES; Shahrazad’s THE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS; Machiavelli’s THE PRINCE; Miguel de Servants’ DON QUIXOTE; Shakespeare’s COMPLETE WORKS; John Donne’s SELECTED WORKS; Galileo’s DIALOGUE CONCERNING THE TWO CHIEF WORLD SYSTEMS; Hobbe’s LEVIATHAN; Descarte’s DISCOURSE ON METHOD; Milton’s PARADISE LOST; Moliere’s PLAYS; Blaise Pascal’s PENSEES; Bunyan’s PILGRIM’S PROGRESS; John Locke’s SECOND TREATISE ON GOVERNMENT; Daniel Defoe’s ROBINSON CRUSOE; Jonathan Swift’s GULLIVER’S TRAVELS; Voltaire’s CANDIDE; Henry Fielding’s TOM JONES; Laurence Sterne’s TRISTRAM SHANDY; James Boswell’s LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON; Thomas Jefferson’s BASIC DOCUMENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY; Hamilton, Madison, and Jay’s THE FEDERALIST PAPERS.


Moderns: Jane Austen’s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE; Stendahl’s THE RED AND THE BLACK; Hawthorne’s THE SCARLET LETTER; Thackeray’s VANITY FAIR; Dicken’s THE PICKWICK PAPERS, DAVID COPPERFIELD, HARD TIMES, THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP; Charlotte Bronte’s JANE EYRE; Emily Bronte’s WUTHERING HEIGHTS; Anthony Trollope’s THE WAY WE LIVE NOW and THE WARDEN; Herman Melville’s MOBY DICK; George Elliott’s THE MILL ON THE FLOSS; Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s FAUST; Gustave Flaubert’s MADAME BOVARY; Selected poems of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman;  Alexis de Tocqueville’s DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA; the short stories of Edgar Allen Poe; Thoreau’s WALDEN.


Moving Toward Contemporaries: Dostoyevsky’s CRIME AND PUNISHMENT and THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV; Tolstoy’s WAR AND PEACE; Mark Twain’s HUCKLEBERRY FINN; Lewis Carroll’s ALICE’S ADVENTURE IN WONDERLAND; Henry Adams’ THE EDUCATION OF HENRY ADAMS; Thomas Hardy’s THE MAYOR OF CASTORBRIDGE; Henry James’ THE AMBASSADORS; Joseph Conrad’s NOSTROMO; Anton Chekhov’s THREE SISTERS and THE CHERRY ORCHARD; George Bernard Shaw’s MAJOR BARBARA; Edith Wharton’s THAT HOUSE OF MIRTH; Marcel Proust’s SWANN’S WAY; Thomas Mann’s THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN; the poetry of Yeats.


Contemporary: The poetry of Robert Frost and T.S. Eliot, and W.H. Auden; E.M. Forster’s A PASSAGE TO INDIA; James Joyce’s ULYSSES; Virginia Woolf’s TO THE LIGHTHOUSE;  D.H. Lawrence’s SONS AND LOVERS; Eugene O’Neill’s LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT and THE ICEMAN COMETH; Aldous Huxley’s BRAVE NEW WORLD; William Faulkner’s AS I LAY DYING; Ernest Hemingway’s THE SUN ALSO RISES; George Orwell’s 1984; Albert Camus’ THE PLAGUE; Saul Bellow’s THE ADVENTURES OF AUGIE MARSH; Aleksander Solzhenitsy’s CANCER WARD; Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s 100 YEARS OF SOLITUDE; Thomas Pynchon’s GRAVITY’S RAINBOW; Samuel Becket’s WAITING FOR GODOT. 

Writing Opportunity

Do you have an angel story? Cec and I have a contract for a compilation book. Check out www.heavenlycompanybook.com for guidelines and submission details.

Do you have an angel story to tell but can't write it yourself? Email the details to heavenlycompany@gmail.com. If we believe the story has potential for the book, we will contact you for more information and will write it for you.

Deadline for story submissions is November 12.


Thanks to Cecil Murphy & Twila Belk - http://tinyurl.com/3uwwtz7

Meeting October 1st - Note special time 3 p.m.

Next meeting of the NJCWG will be on:
October 1st
3:00 - 5:00 pm 


High Mountain Church
681 High Mountain Rd.
North Haledon, NJ


Stay tuned! 
More details to come! 

Meeting - Saturday Sept. 10

Our meeting this Saturday will discuss:


Stepping stones to publication: 
social media and periodical/anthology opportunities
These are basic opportunities to "get our names out there". We are not setting our sights too high when we aim at publishing a book, but there are steps we can accomplish that will help us along the way. 


As usual, our second hour will be critiquing each other's work. Please email your piece ahead of time to allow us to review your work before the meeting.


And bring us an update on your goals discussed last time. 





Looking forward to seeing you on the 10th at 2:00 pm.

High Mountain Church

681 High Mountain Road

North Haledon, NJ 07508

September Meeting

Meeting of NJCWG:

Saturday, September 10, 2011

2:00 - 4:00 pm

High Mountain Church

681 High Mountain Rd.

No. Haledon, NJ 07508

Barbara Higby and Susan Panzica will share their experiences from the Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference. 

We will all share updates on our long-term and short-term goals. 

Meeting - Saturday August 6th

The next meeting of the NJCWG is Saturday, August 6th from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. 


We will continue our discussion on pitches. 
And bring your mitts - we'll practice pitching! 
[Sorry - just a little baseball humor there] 


See you at:
High Mountain Church
681 High Mountain Rd.
North Haledon, NJ 07508

Meeting Sat. July 16

Our next meeting is scheduled for Saturday July 16th from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. 

Our speaker will be Clare Cartagena who will share a presentation on perfecting your pitch. Whether you're going to a writers' conference or just working on honing your writing to crystallize the main idea, this is sure to be a valuable lesson. Commonly called an "elevator pitch," this short summary quickly, simply, and clearly defines your concept. 

Come join us at:

High Mountain Church

681 High Mountain Road

North Haledon, NJ 07508

Fear in Writing

Tosca Lee, award winning and critically acclaimed author, shares her thoughts on fear in writing. Grab yourself a cup of coffee for a very worthwhile 10 minutes:

This Saturday meeting - CHANGE OF TIME + LOCATION!

Hello dear sisters,
There will be a funeral repast at our church on Saturday, so our meeting will be at 3:00 pm in our gym's conference room on the lower level at the back of the church.
You can enter through the rear doors OR if you enter the usual side door, make a LEFT and head down the stairs to the gym. 
We won't have the ability to make coffee, so if you're a coffee-drinker, please bring it with you. 
Looking forward to meeting with you all.


Saturday, June 4th
3:00 pm
Gym Conference Room
High Mountain Church of Nazarene
681 High Mountain Road
North Haledon, NJ 07508


Any questions? 
Call Barbara at 551-804-1014 
OR 
Susan at 201-755-5730

Next Meeting - Saturday, June 4

What is the only way to be a writer?


To write!!


That's the focus of our next meeting, Saturday June 4th from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. 


After a writing exercise, we will critique submitted work. As usual, pieces will be critiqued in the order they were submitted to the group prior to June 4th. Critique guidelines can be found at the bottom of the NJCWG blog. 

Congratulations Sr. Jane!





Kudos to NJCWG member Sr. Jane Ablen on being published in Today's Catholic Teacher magazine! Her Audio Drama article (highlighted on the cover) was published in the Apr/May 2011 edition on pp. 73-82. 


Sr. Jane expressed her appreciation to members of the NJCWG who provided both encouragement and critique, which she incorporated into her article. 


Such a blessing for all of us to be a part of this group that rejoices with each other's triumphs and offers honest critique as "iron sharpens iron." 


Next meeting - June 4th at 2:00 pm. 

Re: May 7 meeting

Fellow Writers,
In January, we shared specific personal writing goals (submit a magazine article, complete a devotional, edit poems for submission, etc.). We also identified the next three steps it would take to reach those goals. For some, those steps included finding a market, writing a queery, or writing x number of pages.

It's time for a check up. If you were not present for our previous goal setting discussions, I invite you to join in now.

Bring the following to our May meeting:
o       A progress report on the goal you shared in January (or a new one) - be specific
o       The steps you have taken toward that goal and one to three specific next steps, no matter how small they may be.

We will only review goal focused critiques at the May meeting. That is, a “next step” piece, not random writing. Please bring something that is part of your goal. Remember the critique guidelines (posted at the bottom of our blog). You may email the group with an attatchment of your work, but please select only those names that attend meetings. Critiques are handled in the order received.
This should keep you busy this week. Come prepared & expectant!
Writing for Him,
Barbara

Next Meeting - Saturday, May 7

The next meeting of the NJCWG is this Saturday, May 7, 2:00-4:00, at High Mountain Church of the Nazarene, 681 High Mountain Road, North Haledon.

We will have a writing exercise for the first hour and do critiques the second hour. If you have any work to submit for critique, please email to the group ahead of time. Thanks! 

Copies of the 2011 Christian Writers Market Guide are available for purchase at a reduced rate. Also available is a lending library of helpful writers books. 

 

Though not anticipated, please check here at this blog regarding any unexpected  cancellation.

Writing Opportunity - MOPS Devotional

Here's a writing opportunity; all material must be unpublished/never published. Please contact the editor with questions.
-------
2012 MOPS Devotional Seeks Submissions

Never Alone is a devotional for mothers underscoring God's promise of His presence in her life - all the time. Scheduled for publication by Revell for a Summer release in 2012, Never Alone will be a companion to the 2012 theme book for Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) International.

You are invited to audition devotionals for this special book by sharing your own moments and memories of how God's presence -- or your yearning for it -- impacted or is impacting your days of parenting preschoolers. As we know, motherhood can be an isolating exercise. But God is there in the loneliness and most clueless moments, as well as those joyful instances we want to freeze for all eternity. Please consider sharing a part of your faith journey with today's 100,000 MOPS moms and others who can be encouraged by your experiences. Feel free to share this call for submissions with others who might have a heart for this project and a compelling story to impart.

Categories for submissions are:
Dawn: God is with us… in the firsts.
Nourishment: God is with us… and provides.
Monkey Bars and Cardboard Cars: God is with us… in laughter and play.
Holding Hands: God is with us… in our marriages.
Time Out: God is with us…when we feel overwhelmed.
In the Dark: God is with us… and in control.
Matching Socks: God is with us… in the mundane.
Duty Calls: God is with us… in our sacrifice.
Girl Power: God is with us…in our friendships.
On The Move: God is with us… in our work.

Guidelines are as follows:
· Submissions should be approximately 600 words, and if possible include a scripture reference pertinent to what you are sharing. We reserve the right to use a different verse if necessary.
· Devotionals are essentially stories: vivid, conversational, focused pieces that inspire, not preach. We want to help moms reframe their view of motherhood to include God where they might not have. Your honest voice is very important, as is your ability to be clear and purposeful. And where warranted, humorous!
· Your name, address, email address, phone number and devotional category and word count should appear at the top of your submission.
· Email submissions to swallace@mops.org. Deadline is June 1.
· Writers will be paid $50 for each accepted submission. Writers may submit in several categories.
· Please include a 50-word biography at the end of each submission that includes information on your own season of motherhood.
May God bless you and reveal himself to you in your mothering always.
Happy writing,
Susan Besze Wallace, editor

10 Ways To Start Your Story Better

In Writers Digest of March 29, 2011, Jacob M. Appel shared a powerful article on opening lines:

 

A good opening line is a powerful thing: It can grab an editor’s attention, set the tone for the rest of the piece, and make sure readers stay through The End. Here are 10 ways to steer your story toward success.

http://writersdigest.com/article/10-ways-to-start-your-story-better/?et_mid=245443&rid=22318893

April 2 meeting

Our next meeting is Saturday, April 2, 2:00-4:00 at the High Mountain Church of the Nazarene, North Haledon, NJ.

Are you a poet and don't know it?

Our resident poet, Maude Carolan, has agreed to speak to us about writing poetry. I've given Maude most of our meeting time for teaching & encouraging our poetic inclinations. If time allows we will critique the submitted poems that have been on hold. Part of Maude's tutorial will include time for us to write a poem relevant to the season so you may want to start thinking about that beforehand.

If you have not yet done so, please email Christine your immediate writing goal with up to three specific next steps.

Remember, we write for Him!
Barbara

March Meeting - The 5 W's of Blogging

Our next meeting is this Saturday, March 5, 2:00-4:00, at High Mountain Church of the Nazarene, 681 High Mountain Road, North Haledon.

Agenda:
Susan Panzica will present "The 5 W's of Blogging."

Active members who maintain a blog will be permitted to have a link on the NJCWG site. If you have a lap top, feel free to bring it.

We will do critiques during the second hour.

Copies of the 2011 Christian Writers Market Guide will be available for purchase at a reduced rate.

 

Though not expected, please check here at this blog regarding cancellation due to weather.

February Meeting CANCELLED!

Hi all!
Due to the weather, today's meeting of the NJCWG is cancelled.

Next meeting is Saturday, March 5th from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.

The tutorial on blogging will be presented. Looking forward to seeing you all then. Let's all pray for favorable weather!

Copies of the 2011 Christian Writers Market Guide will be available for purchase at a reduced rate.

February Meeting

Our next meeting is this Saturday, February 5, 2:00-4:00, at High Mountain Church of the Nazarene, 681 High Mountain Road, N. Haledon. Please check here at this blog regarding cancellation due to weather.


Agenda:
Susan Panzica will present a tutorial on blogging. Active members who maintain a blog will be permitted to have a link on the NJCWG site. If you have a lap top please bring it.


We will do critiques during the second hour.

Copies of the 2011 Christian Writers Market Guide will be available for purchase at a reduced rate.

Here's the Latest!

The North Jersey Christian Writers Group currently meets on the first Saturday of each month from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at:

High Mountain Church of Nazarene
681 High Mountain Road
North Haledon, NJ 07508

The first hour is a short devotion followed by a writing exercise.
The second hour is spent critiquing each other's work.

Any questions?
Email:
Barbara Higby at bhighby5(at)optonline(dot)net     
or
Susan Panzica at susanallenpanzica(at)gmail(dot)com.

REMINDER

REMINDER
There is NO meeting of the NJCWG on 4/3 due to the Easter holiday. Many of you requested that the last meeting be postponed so that you could attend and I will gladly accommodate you in that regard.

Our last meeting WILL be on Saturday, May 1, 2010 - 2:30 at the Ringwood Baptist Church. Please pass the word to anyone you know who would like to attend this last meeting. Everyone who attends will receive a FREE copy of Sally Stuart's Christian Market Guide as a gift.

Hope you've all been thinking and praying about what God wants you to do with your writing and whether or not God is calling you to raise the writing torch in northern New Jersey. If you are interested in taking over the NJCWG group, email me. BTW, being the facilitator of a writers group adds a lot to your writers resume . louisedumont@gmail.com

Blessings to you all,
Louise Bergmann DuMont

Good News / Bad News

Good News - I'm back from my trip to visit my granddaughter (and son & d-i-l --- grin) and we had a wonderful time!
Bad News - I got an awful cold while I was there, then I shared it with my lovely d-i-l. Yuk.
Good News - More of you will be able to attend the last meeting of the NJCWG because I have to change the date again.
Bad News - I have to change the date of our last meeting --- again. There will be NO meeting of the NJCWG on April 3,
Good News - Easter is coming up fast (April 4) and our meeting was supposed to be the day before. That would have been rather inconvenient for many of you and I would have hated not being able to say good-bye. The NEW date for the last meeting of the NJCWG is Saturday May 1, 2010.
Bad News - That is a month and a half away.

But there IS more Good News! More people will be able to come to the meeting. I have two people who called about wanting to join (yes that IS still good news) and IF any of you would like to continue a writers group, all you have to do is drop me an email and I'll be happy to walk you through the process so you can have your own meetings where ever you feel comfortable. It would also mean you would have two new members right from the start! I ask that you all seriously consider and pray about this. There really are no prerequisites to running this group. I started it when I only had one article published, had not attended any conferences, and read only two writing books. Again, please seriously consider and pray about this.

Hope to see you all of you on May 1, 2010 - 2:30 at the Ringwood Baptist Church. Please pass the word on to anyone you may know who would like to attend this last meeting.

Blessings,
Louise

Friends of Israel Conference

A Day in the Prophetic Word with the Friends of Israel

For anyone who is interested. The Friends of Israel will be hosting a conference at the Ringwood Baptist Church, 30 Carletondale Road, Ringwood, NJ 07456 on Saturady, March 6, 2010 - 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Cost $25.00 per person (includes registration, sessions, continental breakfast & lunch).

You MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND (register by Feburary 26)
You can register by picking up and mailing a registration form from the Ringwood Baptist Church or you can call 1-800-257-7843.

NOTE: because of the conference, there will be no NJCWG.

NO February Meeting

The deacons have asked me to cancel the February meeting of the NJCWG due to the predicted snow storm (our King's Kitchen program is also canceled). Again, no meeting in March - but we WILL meet in April.

See you all in the spring.

Louise

February Meeting - IMPORTANT

Two things...

1) Please check this blog before the meeting this Saturday. The weather is supposed to take a turn for the worst on Fri/Sat and I'd hate for someone to come all the way out to Ringwood only to find that we canceled the meeting. If need by - call me 551-427-3794.

2) Anyone who regularly attended the NJCWG meetings in 2009 will receive a FREE copy of Sally Stuart's Christian Market Guide from me. Just show up to either our February or April meetings (remember - March meeting has been canceled) and you will get your copy. First come, first served. This is my going away gift to you all for many happy years of friendship and fellowship.

Blessings,
Louise

February Meeting

February Meeting of the NJCWG will take place on the first Saturday of February - 2/6/10 at the Ringwood Baptist Church, 30 Carletondale Road, Ringwood, NJ 07456. 2:30 - 5:00 p.m.

NOTE: There will be NO March Meeting because the Ringwood Baptist Church will be hosting The Friends of Israel Prophecy Seminar that weekend. I will post more information on this blog about this event later. Everyone is welcome to attend. There will be a $25.00 fee but that includes a continental breakfast and a lunch.

Announcement
I need to find homes for ten copies of Sally Stuart's 2010 Market Guide. The cost is $20.00 which includes shipping (selling retail for $24.99). I would REALLY like to be able to sell 9 copies. Please let me know ASAP if you want a copy - email me @ louisedumont@gmail.com. I will have the copies at the February meeting.

April Meeting - 4/3/10

One More Important Announcement
After a great deal of prayer and much serious consideration, I am announcing that the NJCWG (North Jersey Christian Writer's Group) will hold its last meeting on April 3, 2010. Its been wonderful facilitating this group, but I believe God is leading me in an other direction. I am no longer giving the appropriate amount of time to this group and believe you would be better served elsewhere. Our last two meetings (February 6 & April 3) will be spent talking about alternative places to find critique help, online vs in-person writers groups, and writing organizations that help new writers. I will also try to provide other resources that will help you in the months to come. Please pass the word that this group is disbanding.

I would not trade a moment of the last 10 years with the NJCWG, but I do believe it is time for me to do other things. Thank you all for your friendship and support. I hope each and every one of you will keep in touch and you certainly can call on me for individual help when you need it.

Sincerely,
Louise Bergmann DuMont
Jehovah-Tsidkenu
(The Lord is my Righteousness)

Dec & Jan Meetings Canceled

Hi everyone

The November meeting of the NJCWG was a blessing - as always - but because of the upcoming holidays, we will not meet again until February 6, 2010.

There will be NO meetings in December (12/5) or January (1/2).

I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving and a most blessed Christmas.

See you in February!

NJCWG Facilitator
Louise Bergmann DuMont

November Meeting

***Please also read the post listed previous to this one for important notes regarding upcoming meetings.***

NOVEMBER MEETING DETAILS
At our November meeting we will be working on story structure. The lesson portion of our meeting will be run as an interactive workshop. Please bring paper and writing implements.

Nov Meeting of the NJCWG

Dear NJCWG Members

The next meeting of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group will be...

Saturday November 7, 2009
2:30-5:00
Ringwood Baptist Church
Ringwood, NJ 07456

For our December Meeting...

On Saturday December 5, 2009
We will hold a Christmas Social. More information will be posted about this shortly.
You will need to bring a "Christmas" piece written by you (one page please).
You will need to bring some Christmas "goodies" to share with the group (sweet or savory - but keep it on the lighter side)

Regarding January....
There will be no January meeting (1/2/10) of the NJCWG.

Next Meeting

NO meeting in September due to Labor Day Weekend

Next meeting of the NJCWG:
Saturday, 2:30, October 3, 2009

Ringwood Baptist Church
30 Carletondale Road
Ringwood, NJ 07456

Praying you all had a great summer. I may have a special treat for you this fall. I've been in contact with a writing husband and wife team who want to come speak to our group. It will be something you won't soon forget. Keep your eyes on the blog to find out the date.

Also note that if there is an interest, we will be having a Christmas party this December. Right now I'd like to schedule it for the first week in December - possibly Dec 5. Please email me if you are available and if you want to attend. I will need a commitment of 20 people within the next few weeks in order to book the room. The cost will likely be around $30.00 per person. Spouses are not only welcome but are encouraged to join us.

See you again soon!

Louise

Next Meeting

Please check previous posts for some interesting writing ops and other writing information...

Next meeting of the NJCWG: Saturday, 2:30, August 1, 2009

Ringwood Baptist Church
30 Carletondale Road
Ringwood, NJ 07456

Looking forward to seeing you all again after our brief summer hiatus.

Comedy!

Those of you who are interested in comedy might enjoy The American Bridget Jones's Diary blog published by an up and coming comic - Chris Falcon:

http://andtheplotthickenz.blogspot.com/

AuthorizeMe Seminar

Dear Writers:

The AuthorizeMe Seminar is ready to launch you into your publishing future for the fourth year in a row at Sandy Cove Christian Conference Center. Immediately following the new Arts & Communicators Spiritual Retreat, you’ll have 9 hours of coaching instruction helping you get your book idea out of your head, down onto paper, completely outlined, and into a professional book proposal format.

Please e-mail Sharon Elliott, AuthorizeMe founder and CEO, with your intention to attend at AuthorizeMe@sbcglobal.net. We need a minimum number of attendees, so I need to hear from you right away. Please let me know you’re coming by August 6th.
(Send your intention to attend. Registration for the seminar is handled directly through http://www.authorizeme.net/ and will begin in late August.)

Here are the AuthorizeMe particulars:
Price includes an overnight stay, 3 meals, and seminar tuition.
Dates: October 1 – 2, 2010
¨ Single occupancy = $375 per person
¨ Double occupancy = $325 per person (must have your own roommate)
¨ Triple occupancy = $295 per person ( “ “ “ “ roommates)
¨ Quad occupancy = $275 per person ( “ “ “ “ “ )

****************************

And don’t forget the new Arts & Communicators Spiritual Retreat - Ignite the Passion of your heart September 28-30, 2009 - A Unique Writer’s Retreat
http://www.sandycove.org/arts/
New affordable two day format
with the option of adding a third day for additional content.

Retreat rates begin at $258 per person (quad occupancy) and include 2 nights lodging, all meals, sessions, specialty tracks and activities. ($269 triple, $289 double, $299 single)
Three night package: Single $449 / Double $434 / Triple $404 / Quad $387
Register for the retreat directly with Sandy Cove.

Contracts & Writing Ops

Hi everyone. Hope you are having a great summer. I sure am.

1) Please check out the last few posts on this blog if you are looking for some interesting writing opportunities.
2) I would like to extend my sincerest congratuations to Susan Panzica who has won a full scholarship to the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference - August 6-8, 2009. (http://www.writehisanswer.com/Philadelphia/)

The next meeting of NJCWG is on Saturday, August 1, 2008, 2:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!

Ringwood Baptist Church
30 Carletondale Road
Ringwood, NJ 07456

Facilitator, NJCWG
Louise Bergmann DuMont

Writers Digest Fiction Contest

Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards
http://www.writersdigest.com/popularfictionawards
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Short Story Competition from Writer's Digest

Compete and Win in All 5 Categories!

* Romance
* Mystery/Crime Fiction
* Science Fiction/Fantasy
* Thriller/Suspense
* Horror

The Grand Prize-Winner will receive $2,500 cash, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and the 2010 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.

Entry Deadline: Monday, November 02, 2009.

For entrants paying with a credit card, we will accept manuscripts submitted online.

Entry Fee: All entries are $15.00 each

Writing Op

Writing Op From Guideposts
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seeking Manuscripts

Dear Valued Writer,
We are now in phase two of the Incredible Power of Prayer series and I welcome you to join us. Guideposts is launching a series of 12 books on various aspects of prayer and how people from every walk of life have been transformed through God's response to their prayers. These books will be available by mail only, sent monthly as part of a book series promotion.

You may have contributed to the first three titles in this series (Praying from the Heart, The Healing Touch, and Expecting Miracles) or perhaps to my Cup of Comfort, Life Savors, or Love Is a Verb brands. Or perhaps I'm contacting you for the first time. Whatever the case, I eagerly seek your participation in this next phase of prayer volumes.

Book four, From Tragedy to Triumph, deals with the pervasive issues related to our trials, hardships, and suffering in life, whether physical, emotional, relational, financial, etc. The focus should not be so much on the trials or the stress they cause, but on how the power of prayer eliminated or helped you deal with these trials. What lessons did prayer teach you through these ordeals and how did God use them for good for your life or others?

Book five, Refreshed by the Spirit, focuses on prayers we send to God when we are spiritually dry; when situations might be okay but we don't feel His presence; or during a dark night of the soul when life is difficult. The fault may be our own because we're not walking with the Lord, or He may seem distant because of struggles in our lives. As we continually pray for His presence, suddenly things change and we are refreshed and filled with his reassurance, peace, and joy. How did God visit you in a new way that caused praise and thanksgiving and may have even changed your life?

Book six, Love and Forgiveness, deals with relationships that have been strained or broken due to offenses against us, or our own faults. When we pray for love for those who mistreat us and pray for the willingness to seek restitution and restoration we regain our families and friends and change the hearts of our enemies. How was prayer the determining factor in a renewed love, forgiveness, and eventual restoration of relationships?

We would be pleased to consider as many stories for these three volumes as you wish to submit. We'll look at stories of up to 2,000 words and prefer that they be at least 1,000 words. The stories should have a creative title, an attention-grabbing introduction, main body with a conflict or challenge, and a clear, satisfying resolution. They need to be descriptive, rooted in time and place, compelling personal experience stories with a realistic portrayal of the people involved. They need to be stories rather than testimonies, Christian living articles, and shouldn't focus on mere feelings or mental states.

Most important, they need to revolve around prayer itself and not the circumstances of the story. These are themed books but the purpose is to convince the reader of the power of prayer in these situations.

We prefer original stories but you may also submit previously published stories that you have full rights for and are not currently in print with a major publisher. We pay $25 fo stories under 1200 words, and $50 for stories over 1200 words. You may retain the right to publish the stories in magazines and in books with less than national distribution and not carried in nationwide bookstores.

We are accepting manuscripts for all three volumes until December 15, but the sooner you submit the better your chance of acceptance. We will notify you by February and send you a permission form if your story is a finalist for any of these volumes.

Please send your manuscript attached to the e-mail rather than pasting text in the email
Window. Feel free to send your manuscript in normal manuscript formatting, with your full contact information—name, address, phone number, email address—and whether you're offering First Rights or Reprint Rights at the top of each manuscript. Please include a biography of 30 words or less at the end of each manuscript.

Please direct all inquiries and manuscript submissions to my colleague, Jeanette Littleton, at incredibleprayers@earthlink.net. If this email has been forwarded to you and you can't submit to this call, but would like to hear about other editorial needs as they arise, please send us your email address and we'll add you to our notification list. Also please pass this along to any writing or praying friends who might be interested.

Blessing to you and yours,

Jim

James Stuart Bell
Compiler, Guideposts Incredible Prayer series

Incredible Prayers
A Guideposts Series
with James Stuart Bell

NJCWG PICNIC

NOTE: This picnic is on RAIN OR SHINE... Inside or Out. Don't miss it! Hope to see you there.

The June (6/6/09) meeting of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group will take place at Marilyn Gardullo's home. Instead of the usual agenda we will be hosting our Annual NJCWG Picnic. A special thanks to Marilyn for offering her beautiful home for this event.

Where: Due to limited parking around Marilyn's house, meet in the Ringwood Baptist Church parking lot cnd car pool over (only minutes away).

When: June 4, 2009 - Rain or Shine -- 2:30 at the church - we'll head over no later than 2:45. If you find you'll be late, call me for directions - Louise DuMont, Cell: 551-427-3794.

What to Bring: Bring a covered dish to share with the group.

ALSO Bring: A short story to be read out loud to the group.

Story Topic: The Best Summer Vacation -- EVER!!! I know you may be tempted to write about something else (or use an old piece you've already written) - but please don't. Take this opportunity to write something fresh and creative. Your story can be fiction, nonfiction, or anything in between. BUT, keep the story to ONE side, ONE page. It isn't that we don't enjoy longer pieces, but time is limited and everyone should to get a chance to read.

Hope that all of you can make it. I know I'm looking forward to some great fun and fellowship.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

SPECIAL NOTE: There will be NO July Meeting (7/5/09) of the NJCWG due to the Independance Day Holiday.

May Meeting of the NJCWG

Yes, the NJCWG is meeting this Saturday
May 2, 2009
2:30
Ringwood Baptist Church
30 Carletondale Rd
Ringwood, NJ 07456

... and YES, I am a grandmother

Jocelyn Grace DuMont
Born 3/8/09, 5:17 p.m.
7 lbs 4 oz
20 inches long

Writing Opportunity

James Scott Bell

James Scott Bell is looking for freelance contributions for his new books. Wouldn't it be great if a number of our members were selected for publication in these books? Why don't YOU give it a try? See below

Louise DuMont
Facilitator, NJCWG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Writer,

I’d like to invite you to be part of an exciting new series that Guideposts is sponsoring: The Incredible Power of Prayer.

You may have contributed to one or more of my story volumes in A Cup of Comfort, Life Savors, or Love is a Verb. Great! I’d love to hear from you whether you’re a previous associate or have not yet submitted anything to my projects.

Prayer is the heartbeat of the Christian life and is an amazing gift from God to us. A prayer in faith can spur God’s heart to “move mountains” on our behalf. The incredible power of prayer can accomplish miracles that go far beyond anything we humans can accomplish on our own.

Guideposts reaches millions of Americans with their upbeat message of God empowering us. And now, Guideposts is launching a series of 12 books on various aspects of prayer and how people from every walk of life have been transformed through God’s responses. These books will be mailed monthly as part of a book club promotion, and will be exclusive to this readership.

I am now collecting submissions for the first three books in the series and would welcome as many stories as you wish to submit. The first volume is Praying from the Heart and covers God answering our deeply felt prayers of great passion, sincerity, and trust. These prayers may be repentant, express deep gratitude, or describe desperate cries that lay bare a person’s deepest needs.

The second volume, The Healing Touch, deals with stories about prayers that lead to physical, spiritual, relational, or emotional healing. They may involve relationships that don’t resolve perfectly, but bring a closer relationship with God and a new sense of purpose and greater ability.

The third volume, Expecting Miracles, includes personal experience stories about audacious prayers with powerful answers. This is where the need is great and God responds extraordinarily. The answers don’t need to be purely supernatural; God can work in mysterious ways using all kinds of means.

Submissions can be up to 2000 words. Each story should have a creative title, an attention-grabbing lead, main body explaining a conflict or challenge, and a resolution. These need to be descriptive and compelling personal experience stories—not simply testimonies. We prefer original stories but you may also submit previously published stories. The payment is $25 for stories under 1000 words, and $50 for longer stories. You may retain the rights to publish the stories in magazines and books with smaller distribution sources.

We are accepting manuscripts from now until at least June 15 for the first three volumes. We’ll announce the finalists for the first volume around October 15.
Please include on each manuscript—not in headers or simply in the e-mail—your name, contact information (address, phone, e-mail, rights offered) and a bio of up to 30 words. Please attach to the e-mail rather than pasting text in the body.

Please direct all inquiries and manuscript submissions to my colleague, Jeanette Littleton at IncrediblePrayers@earthlink.net. And please feel free to let others know about this project. If this e-mail has been forwarded to you, and you can’t submit to this call, but would like to be notified about other editorial needs as they arise, please send us your e-mail address and we’ll add you to our notification list (we do not sell or distribute these e-mail addresses).

Blessings to you and yours,

Jim

James Stuart Bell
Compiler, Guideposts Prayer series

JSB/jgl

Guest Speaker - Chris Sagona

Hi everyone. I have GREAT treat for you. Our own Chris Sagona will teach a class on writing news at our next meeting. You will NOT want to miss this.

~~~~~~~~~~

Bio - Chris Sagona

Chris Sagona is an American journalist and the winner of the 2005 Society of Professional Journalists' Award for Best Feature Writing. She also won the 2004 Awbery Award for Excellence in Journalism for Distinguished Public Service and the New Jersey Press Association Awards for First Amendment Writing. She also won the 2006 Deadline Reporting Award from the NJ Press Association.
Author of the book, Park Ridge, by Arcadia Publishing Sagona is also a Board Member of the Pascack History Project.
She was Managing Editor of Community Life for two years, crime beat reporter and Religion Editor at The Montclair Times, and a journalist for North Jersey Media Group, with her work appearing in the Herald News and The Record. She also did photography for publications including the Herald News.
Sagona moved to television in 2006, as Associate Producer, then Assignment Editor, for News 12. She is currently Foreign News Assignment Editor for Fox News Channel and does online reporting for FoxNews.com out of New York City.
~~~~~~~~~

The next meeting of NJCWG is on Saturday, March 7, 2008, 2:30 p.m.
Ringwood Baptist Church
30 Carletondale Road
Ringwood, NJ 07456

Note: I have a few copies of Sally Stuart's 2009 Christian Market Guide left. This year they retail for $34.99 per copy. Your copy, if purchased through me, will cost $21.00. If you want one, bring your money to the meeting. They will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.

Blessings,

Louise DuMont

Gifted Hands 2/8/09

Ben Carson

A Message From Cecil Murphey


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Greetings friends,

Don't forget to watch GIFTED HANDS tomorrow night at 8 p.m (Eastern time) on TNT

Here's a blurb from the movie Web site ---

A frustrated young boy with problems in school overcomes the obstacles in his life to become a world-renowned neurosurgeon in the new TNT Original movie GIFTED HANDS: THE BEN CARSON STORY. This uplifting and inspirational JOHNSON & JOHNSON SPOTLIGHT PRESENTATION® stars Oscar® winner Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire) and two-time NAACP Image Award winner Kimberly Elise (The Great Debaters, The Manchurian Candidate). It is based on the true story of Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, whose lifelong journey led him to become director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, a best-selling author and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The movie premieres Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT), exclusively on TNT.

More information about the movie can be found at this link: http://www.tnt.tv/movies/movietitle/?oid=44656

Books are available for purchase through your local bookstores, online, or by contacting Twila Belk at twilabelk@mchsi.com.

Sincerely,

Twila Belk (for Cec Murphey)

Next Meeting & Market Guide

Hi everyone. The next meeting of NJCWG is on Saturday, February 7, 2008, 2:30 p.m.
Ringwood Baptist Church
30 Carletondale Road
Ringwood, NJ 07456

AND my ten copies of the Sally Stuart's 2009 Christian Market Guide have arrived. This year they retail for $34.99. Your copy, if purchased through me, will cost $21.00. I have only ten copies, so bring your money to the meeting if you want one. They will be given out on a first come, first serve basis. I'll do a quick run down on how to use the guide at the meeting.

Questions? Call Louise 551-427-3794 or 973-926-9267.

Blessings,

Louise

2009 - Jan Meeting of the NJCWG

1) Have you made the commitment to follow Christ's plan for your life?
2) Does this include His call to write?
3) If you feel the call to write, do you write every day?
4) Do you write what, when and how He instructs you to write?
5) Are you only flirting with writing, or are you ready for a serious commitment?

We will discuss these topics and more at the first meeting of the NJCWG in 2009 on Saturday, January 3. Don't forget to bring your critques.

NJCWG
Saturday, January 3, 2008
2:30 p.m.
Ringwood Baptist Church
30 Carletondale Road
Ringwood, NJ 07456

Questions? Call Louise 551-427-3794 or 973-926-9267.

Thanksgiving Note

Here are a few writing prompts for the Holiday weekend:
1) Write a letter to God thanking Him for one specific blessing you received this past year.
2) Write a letter to one person who influenced you for the better - tell them what they did for you and why you are a better person for it.
3) Write a letter to one person forgiving them for a past grievance.
4) Write a letter to one person asking for forgiveness - for something you've done or said that may have offended them.
5) Write out five blessings in you life - expand each to include who God used to bring that blessing about.

• Please note that there will be NO December meeting of the NJCWG. I apologize for this, but it could not be helped (read previous blog-note).
• FYI - the Ringwood Library is sponsoring a new critique group - the second session begins Thursday evening, Dec 6 at 7:00 p.m.
  

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Louise Bergmann DuMont

Dec Cancelation... and more

I'm sorry to say that I have to cancel the December meeting of the NJCWG. Tim, my son, is hosting a Sr. High youth retreat that weekend. The mother of one of his primary speakers has been very ill (a tumor on her heart). This speaker now won't be able to make the retreat and Tim needs me to step in on the afternoon of Sat, Dec 6 to help him.

I know you all look forward to our meeting but we will meet again on Saturday January 3, 2009.

On a happier note, if you want to see some of Tim & Amanda's wedding photos (and a whole bunch of others), you can go to the DuMont family blog at: http://www.dumontfamily.blogspot.com/

Blessings,
Louise

November Meeting

The next meeting of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group is here!

Where: Ringwood Baptist Church, 30 Caroletondale Rd, Ringwood, NJ 07456

When: November 1, 2008 -- 2:30

Bring the items you critiqued and bring a piece you've written (one page, double spaced, with your name & address at the top).

See you Saturday!

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Facilitator, NJCWG

Yes - NJCWG Meets in October

Yes, the NJCWG IS meeting in October - finally...

Saturday, October 4, 2008
2:30 p.m.
Ringwood Baptist Church
Ringwood, NJ 07456

Our topic of discussion:
Finding Your Writing Voice

Hope to see you there!

NJCWG SEPT MEETING CANCELED

SEPTEMBER NJCWG MEETING CANCELED
So sorry, but I think we are going to cancel our NJCWG meeting for tomorrow 9/6/08. With Hurricane Hanna coming in (the worst to hit late tomorrow afternoon) I think it would be best to just wait one more month before we meet.

Hope to see you in October!

Louise Bergmann DuMont

September Meeting of the NJCWG

Timothy & Amanda DuMont
July 11, 2008


We ARE having a NJCWG meeting this September

Next Meeting of the NJCWG
September 6, 2008
Ringwood Baptist Church
Ringwood, NJ
2:30 p.m.

... and YES, I am bringing wedding pictures (grin).
See you there.

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Facilitator of the NJCWG