Rev Up Your Writing

Cameo Publications: Transforming Potential Into Success One Word At a Time

I recently participated in a Cameo Publications Teleconference that was advertised through a publicity newsletter put out by The Publicity Hound, Joan Stewart (http://www.publicityhound.com/). It was one of the best investments I've ever made in my book.

Do you wonder why you are not published or why so few of your manuscripts are being accepted? Maybe you just haven't give writing your all. Get serious about being an author. Begin by participating in these FREE writing teleseminars.

This past weekend I received some literature from Cameo Publications, a leading writing-related information source. Cameo also provides editorial services and is a Full-Rights Publishing firm (ie a reputable self-publishing company) for authors and speakers. This is what they had to say.

If your writing projects have sputtered to a halt, then Cameo publications can help. We will kick off our Rev Up Your Writing Monthly Teleseminar Events on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 1:00 pm EST with a FREE CALL on how to tune up your writing skills.

By calling 1-800-416-4956 and using passcode 54006989# you can get advice from Master Writing Coach Dawn Josephson on how to polish your written pieces. This is a TOLL FREE CALL anywhere in the US.

If you need some help understanding how these teleconferences work, drop me an email or give me a call. I'll walk you through it.

Mark your calendars, there are MORE information-packed Teleseminar Events coming up! Note: The Call is TOLL FREE when you register for the conference call fee.

May 25, 2005, 1:00 pm EST
Self-Editing Techniques that Professional Writers Use to Overcome Their Grammar and Spelling Challenges ($49, includes a CD of the call)

June 8, 2005, 1:00 pm EST
How to Distinguish Reliable from Unreliable Web Sources (FREE)

June 22, 2005, 1:00 pm EST
Elevate Your Message and Your Expertise with Quality Research ($49, includes a CD of the call)

July 13, 2005, 1:00 pm EST
Three Ways to Jumpstart Your Creativity (FREE)

July 27, 2005, 1:00 pm EST
Beat Writer's Block, Once and For All ($49, includes a CD of the call)

Did You Borrow Any of My Books?

This message is specifically for members of the NJCWG.

I love to loan my writing books to members of our group -- the problem is that I have an awful memory when it comes to things like this. If you borrowed my books please drop me an email and tell me which books you have. I am especially looking for the small book entitled Writers Book of Wisdom: 101 of the Best Rules You'll Ever Want to Follow!.

The easiest way to get in touch with me is to drop me an email --

Writing Op - The Word Smith Writer

If you do not already receive the free e-letter put out by The Word Smith Writer (formerly WordSmith Shoppe), you should. If you DO receive it, be sure to check out Peg's sticky notes section. She is now accepting submissions for the newsletter.

To sbscribe to The Word Smith Writer go to: http://www.wordsmithshoppe.com/

Peg Writes:

There are two new features I'd like to call to your attention. Read (them and) then please consider submitting something yourself.

Reflections. .... Each issue will have a small devotional, thoughts, or some other quiet moments for your comfort, pleasure or enjoyment.

Special Delivery: This will probably be an occasional feature depending on what comes in, but I will post email messages from you that would benefit others. Keep them short and to the point.

PUBLISHING INDUSTRY NEWS

JENKINS SIGNS EXCLUSIVE TYNDALE CONTRACT. Best-selling Left Behind co-author Jerry Jenkins has signed an exclusive 15-book contract with Tyndale House Publishers. Jenkins will write two books a year for the first two years, then three a year. Subject matter and whether the books will be stand-alone or series titles are still to be determined.

JENKINS SIGNS WITH WRITER’S DIGEST BOOKS. Jerry Jenkins signed a one-book deal with Writer’s Digest Books to pen his reflections on writing. Titled Writing for the Soul, the book will be a combination of autobiography, inspiration, and instruction. An aggressive publicity and marketing campaign will accompany the book’s September 2006 release.

REVELL SIGNS LEISHA KELLY. Revell has signed best-selling fiction author Leisha Kelly to a three-book series, “Country Road Chronicles.” The first title, Rorey’s Secret, releases in August.

MEYER TITLE DEBUTS AT NO. 10 ON NY TIMES LIST. Warner Faith’s Approval Addiction by Joyce Meyer landed at No. 10 on the New York Times best-seller list after its first week of sales. Stores in the South and Midwest reported selling more than 500 copies and running out of inventory.

MORE ON MONSTER. An Apr. 18 issue of Entertainment Weekly called Frank Peretti a “Christian publishing phenom.” His Monster debuted at No. 127 on USA Today’s Top 150 list Apr. 21.

WESTBOW WINS BID FOR LAWHEAD. Westbow Press won a three-publisher bid for best-selling ABA author Stephen Lawhead. His first project for WestBow will be a Robin Hood recreation. The first installment, Lord of the Forest, releases Sept. 2006.

FORMER RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHER NOW LITERARY AGENT: Don Pape the former publisher of WaterBrook Press (a division of Random House) recently announced he is leaving his post in publishing to become a literary Agent with Alive Communications. www.alivecom.com. Alive Communications is considered a premier literary agency representing several New York Times best selling authors and series - including the multi-million seller: The Left Behind series. In a recent interview Mr. Pape was quoted as saying "What I liked best about publishing was being the author's advocate - now I can concentrate on the author, full time". Mr. Pape welcomes submissions of quality. --Don Pape, dpape@alivecom.com [Reprinted from Dan Poynter’s Publishing Poynters with permission. http://ParaPublishing.com]

AMAZON'S FIRST-QUARTER SALES JUMP TO $699 MILLION; 700,000 pre-orders for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince are received. See http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA527870.html [Reprinted from Dan Poynter’s Publishing Poynters with permission. http://ParaPublishing.com]

Writing Op - Diamond Dust Mag

Diamond Dust is a monthly online magazine and e-newsletter for teens and adults, empowering them in their Christian walk.

E-mail: DiamondEditor@yahoo.com.

Website: http://www.freewebs.com/diamonddustmagazine/

Editors: Laura & Stephanie Rutlind.

Diamond Dust seeks articles, short fiction, poetry, book reviews, music reviews, devotionals/inspirational pieces, and fillers.

Please read our Writer's Guidelines before submitting.

Complete ms/cover letter or query by email (copied into message). No payment, but includes an author bio with a link to your website and contact information.

Responds within 3 weeks. Submit seasonal 4 months ahead. Guidelines available on website or by email.

NJCWG Conference - Help Needed

You are the piece of the puzzle that is missing.

NJCWG - A Reason to Write Conference (October 8, 2005)

I've got good news! Members of the NJCWG are being asked to get involved in our conference preparation and become a part of the NJCWG Conference Staff. NOW is the time for YOU to bless others AND receive a double portion of blessing yourself.

If you want to hob-nob with the some of the best in the writing business, if you
want to learn from experienced authors and publicists, if you are serious about publication -- it is time to join the NJCWG Conference Staff.

No experience is required -- I'll let you know what needs to be done. We need willing hands, a tenacious spirit and some serious sweat equity. Are you ready to take the next step in your writing career? Are you ready to spend time with those who are seriously committed to writing? Writing is more than putting words on paper. You must know the industry and spend time working with the experts. Email me today.

Conference Staff will participate in a special dinner hosted for staff memebers only.
Conference Staff will NOT pay to participate in the classes.
Conference Staff will be noted as such in our brouchure.
Conference Staff will add to their writing resume.
Conference Staff will receive blessings untold...

NEEDED

Person to handle the literature table.
Person to handle registration.
Person to handle "give-aways".
Person to handle attendee, information folders.

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Facilitator, NJCWG
Director, NJCWG - A REASON TO WRITE CONFERENCE

Writing Op - inspiredauthor.com

Below I've listed a message from the owner of inspiredauthor.com, a website for writers. It recently went through a renovation because hackers got in and did some serious damage. There is no monetary compensation but it is great exposure. The site receives a large number of hits. To see the website, go to: http://www.inspiredauthor.com/
________________________________________________

"Okay (you can post the request), as long as they know this is not paying, but I will trade advertising, a $50.00 value for an article. Short stories are okay, if they are family oriented.

I am in the process of developing a children's communication (English) program. I would be willing to look at stories for that, of course, impecable Chicago Style of Grammar. We are also building an internet Christian Fiction Writer's Radio Station, and there will be an opportunity for authors to read stories and promote themselves on air (well, on bandwidth.)

Everyone will receive a link back to their website, and we appreaciate one to ours - but this is not necessary. We will upload a picture of their current book.

Thanks for the help.
suz
____________________________________________

Writing Op - Chocolate & Coffee Stories

Just a reminder to check out the NJCWG pages on my website, www.louisedumont.com. Send your friends and family there to check out the fun coffee/chocolate materail as well.


A CALL FOR WEB CONTENT
I am still looking for chocolate & coffee related stories for my Mocha Latte Friends page.

AND I will shortly be adding a Book Review page. If you recently reviewed a good book, please send the review along with a jpg photo of the cover. Clare already sent me a review of my book "Faith-Dipped Chocolate" (THANKS CLARE) and that will be the first review to go up.

WRITERS GUIDELINES

QUERY FIRST
NO ATTACHMENTS
All submissions must have something to do with either chocolate or coffee
Accepting: fiction, nonfiction, essays, 'shorts' & some poetry

WORD COUNT
Fiction, Essays, Nonfiction - 400-800 wds
Shorts - 60-90 wds
Poetry - 4-20 lines

Book Reviews should be in standard review format. For an example of a book review you can go to my review of Raising Dragons on the crosshome website. http://www.crosshome.com/books31.shtml

I am also considering a Children's Page, IF I get some good chocolate childrens stories and/or fun things for kids to do.

Email queries to: word.worker@verizon.net

Louise Bergmann DuMont

Sharpening the Word Conference

Sharpening the Word
May 21, 2005
8:00 am - 3:00 pm
1 Day Conference
Sponsored by the Indian Valley Christian Writers Fellowship
Cost: $40.00
10% Discount for Teens (Ages 12-18)
Rgistration includes Boxed Lunch

Harleysville Activity Center
312 Alumni Avenue
Harleysville, PA 19438

To Register or for more information call or email:
215-453-0415
or
610-222-9363
or
pgardock@usadatanet.net

Main Speaker, Joan Esherick
Author of twenty non-fiction books, part-time freelance writer and the Chief Writer for Lighthouse Network, a non-profit organization specializing in biblical approaches to mental health, substance abuse and life skills issues.

A REASON TO WRITE CONFERENCE

A REASON TO WRITE
NJCWG 2005 Conference
October 8, 2005
8:00 - 5:00
Ringwood Baptist Church
30 Carletondale Rd
Ringwood, NJ 07456

FOR MEMBERS OF THE NJCWG

Our 2005 conference is fast becoming a reality. I am in the process of putting together the brouchure, the registration form and press releases.

NEED SOME MORE HELP NOW...

A number of people steped forward when I requested guest rooms for our teachers. The first two individuals (Maude Carolan and Valerie Schermerhorn) who offered will have that priveldge.

Now I need two people who are willing to handle the registration and the literature tables. The individuals in charge of these two tasks will receive free registration (yes you can still to attend the classes) and "staffer" notation at the conference. Both jobs will require a number of hours of work prior to the conference but it is nothing that can't be done over the course of a few weekends.

I will also need one person who is craft oriented. The theme of this year's A REASON TO WRITE conference will have to do with matching an individuals gifts and personality to their their writing genre, style and voice. I have a small gift idea that will cost almost nothing but will take time to make. If you have bent toward "crafts" please let me know and you can own this task.

Please email me if you are interested in joining the NJCWG Conference Staff. BTW, this is not a bad thing to have on your writing resume.

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Author, Speaker & Writing Mentor
word.worker@verizon.net

Memoir Workshop

Saturday
June 4, 2005
10:30 a.m.
Telling Our Stories: The Art and Craft of Memoir

Nancy Gerber, the author of Losing a Life: A Daughter's Memoir of Caregiving, will host a Writers' Memoir Workshop at the Ringwood Public Library on June 4. Gerber holds a doctorate in Literature and current teaches Englisha nd Women's Studies at Rutgers University. She will be available to discuss and sign her book after the workshop.

Ringwood Library - Poetry Reading

Valerie Schermerhorn will participate in a Poetry Reading as a member of the Poetry From the Heart group at the Ringwood Public Library this Thursday, April 28 at 7:30 pm. This is a great opportunity to hear and support a fellow NJCWG member. I'm looking forward to it!

NJCWG MEETING 4/25/05

REMINDER
NJCWG Meeting
Monday, April 25, 2005
6:15-7:00 Chat Time
7:00-8:00 Instruction
8:00-9:00 Critiques

Ringwood Baptist Church
30 Carletondale Road
Ringwood, NJ 07456

More Poetry News

Photo: Walt Whitman

MORE POETRY NEWS:
Here's another day to save:
September 24, 2005
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
OCEAN GROVE'S THIRD ANNUAL
WALT WHITMAN POETRY FESTIVAL
Gloria Healey, Monmouth County poet and member of the Writer's Ink poetry group and Kevin Chambers, president of the Ocean Grove Historical Society are chairing the event. Workshops and readings will be held at Thornley Chapel and readings will be scheduled on the lawn next to the Great Auditorium. An art exhibition relating to Whitman and his poetry is being planned, as well as a walking tour of the Grove.

For information, contact Gloria Healey at: Wordancer1@aol.com

Contemporary Christian Inspirational Poetry

POETRY NEWS...
Have you marked your calendar yet to save the date?
Saturday, May 21, 2005
1 to 3 p.m.

A reading of:
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN INSPIRATIONAL POETRY
at Christian Publications Bookstore (Cornerstone Chapel)
620 Route 46 North, Pompton Plains, NJ

Participating Poets:
NANCY BAKER
MAUDE CAROLAN
GLORIA HEALEY
BARBARA WILLIAMS HUBBARD
ANN LEFEVRE
ELIZABETH MARCHITTI
VALERIE SCHERMERHORN
NANCY STOPPELKAMP

Website - Writing Op

I spent this morning updating my website. It contains new information, additional pages and a number of recent NJCWG member photographs on the NJCWG page. Now you have two great places to send your friends who are also aspiring writers. You can send them to our blog and to the NJCWG page on my website - www.louisedumont.com

A CALL FOR WEB CONTENT
I am still looking for chocolate/coffee related stories AND I've added a book review page. I you recently reviewed a good book, please send the review along with a jpg photo of the cover.

Please check out my website and let me know if anything doesn't work with your browser.

Louise Bergmann DuMont
word.worker@verizon.net

For NJCWG Members Only

I NEED THE HELP OF MY NJCWG MEMBERS

Our October 8, A Reason to Write Conference will be honored to have on staff fiction author, Colleen Coble.

This can ony happen IF one of our members is willing to offer their guest room for her two night stay. If you have a nice home that can accommodate our guest, please notify me as soon as possible. Once her housing is covered I can finalize the deal.

If you would like to know a little about Colleen Coble you can go to her website:
http://www.colleencoble.com/

Essay Vs Article

A number of people have asked me what the difference is between an essay and an article.

Essays usually inject more of the author's opinions and emotions. Articles are more fact based and offer only generic or "public" opinions. Here's a website that shows essay writing step-by-step. It has printouts and lots of good essay-related resources:

http://members.tripod.com/~lklivingston/essay/

Writers Digest 100 Top Markets

Photo: Charles Dickens

When you go to the website below, you will find the top 100 writers' markets as listed by Writer's Digest magazine.

http://www.writersdigest.com/topics/wdtop100_listing.asp

Upcoming Christian Writers Conferences for 2005

Dear NJCWG and others who may be reading this blog...

Here is a 'short-list' of Christian Writer's Conferences that are available in 2005. I've listed even those that are not local to the North Jersey area because NJCWG members may have friends or relatives in other parts of the country. The NJCWG Blog is also receiving traffic from writers outside our local group.

Central Ohio Writers of Literature for Children, April 23, 2005.
Columbus, OH
http://www.sjms.net/conf/

Orange County Christian Writers Fellowship 20th Annual Spring Writers Day Saturday, April 30, 2005.
Santa Ana, CA
http://www.occwf.org/

Colorado Christian Writer's Conference, May 11-14, 2005.
Denver Colorado
http://writehisanswer.com/Colorado/index.html

Oregon Christian Writers. One-day conference. May 14, 2005
http://www.oregonchristianwriters.org/

Lighthouse Christian Writers, Oconto, WI. May 21, 2005
http://www.mychristiansite.com/ministries/lhchristianwriters/ancv.html

Kentucky Christian Writers Seminar, June 3-4, 2005.
http://www.kychristianwriters.com/Seminar2005.dsphttp://www.kychristianwriters.com/Seminar2005.dsp

Southern California Writers' Conference, Palm Springs. June 10-12, 2005.
http://www.writersconference.com/ps/psmain.html

Chenango Valley Writers Conference, June 19-25, 2005.
http://people.colgate.edu/cvwritersconference/

Sewanee Writers' Conference, July 12-24, 2005.
http://www.sewaneewriters.org/

Oregon Christian Writer's Summer Coaching Conference, August 1-4, 2005.

Texas Christian Writers Forum, August 6, 2005
http://writehisanswer.com/

Greater Philadelphia Christian Writer's Conference, August 18-20, 2005.
http://writehisanswer.com/

2nd Annual North Texas Christian Writers Conference, September 9-10, 2005.
http://www.ntchristianwriters.com/

4th Annual American Christian Fiction Writer's Conference, September 15-18, 2005
http://www.americanchristianfictionwriters.com/conference/

Sandy Cove Christian Writers Conference, October 2-5, 2005
http://watkins.gospelcom.net/sandycove.htm

NJCWG 2nd Annual, One-Day, A Reason To Write Conference, October 8, 2005
Email: word.worker@verizon.net
Web Information will be available shortly

Ohio Christian Writers' Conference 2005. October 12 - 15, 2005
http://www.christianwritersgroup.org/answer/index.php

Bev Caruso's Writers' Weekend, October 14-16, 2005
http://www.across2u.com/writersweekend.html

Glorieta Christian Writers Conference, October 26-30, 2005
http://www.classervices.com/CS_Glorieta_Conf.html