Quotable Quote

Bestselling Author, Seth Godin

You do not equal the project. Criticism of the project is not criticism of you.
~ Seth Godin

Quotable Quotes

William Strunk Jr

Katherine Anne Porter

Erasmus

"“Every writer, by the way he uses the language, reveals something of his spirit, his habits, his capacities, his bias….Avoid the elaborate, the pretentious, the coy, and the cute. Do not be tempted by a twenty-dollar word when there is a ten-center handy, ready and able.”
~William Strunk, Jr./ E.B. White

"Writing is a craft. You have to take your apprenticeship in it like anything else."
~Katherine Anne Porter

The desire to write grows with writing.
--Erasmus

Narnia Movie boots Christian Store Sales

NARNIA BEATS OTHERS AT BOX OFFICE, BOOSTS CHRISTIAN STORE SALES.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe dominated the box office this weekend with $67.1 million domestically, the second highest December opening of all time, behind The Lord of the Rings:The Return of the King, which debuted with $72.6 million in 2003. Sales at Christian stores “have taken a dramatic increase, multiple times,” because of the movie’s release, Doug Lockhart, Zondervan president-CEO, told the Assoc. Press. EMI CMG releases Walt Disney Records’ original and special edition Narnia soundtracks tomorrow.

2006 Conferences

This is not a complete list but it will give you an idea of some good conferences available to you in the coming year.

Click on Conference Name for Conference or Contact Information.

Writing for the Soul Conference, (Christian Writers Guild), February 16-19, 2006. Colorado Springs, CO
Oregon Christian Writers One-Day Conference, February 18, 2006. Corban College, Salem OR.
Writer's Weekend at the Beach, Ocean Park Methodist Retreat Center & Camp, Ocean Park WA.. February 24-26, 2006.
Florida Christian Writers Conference, Christian Retreat Conference Center, Bradenton, FL. March 2-5, 2006
The 2006 Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, April 7-11, 2006, Mt. Hermon, CA. (near San Jose)
Susquehanna Valley Writers Workshop, April 8, 2006, Selinsgrove PA
Delaware Christian Writers Conference, April 20-22, 2006. University of Delaware, Newark DE The 2006 ASJA Writers Conference, Grand Hyatt Hotel, New York, NY. April 28-30, 2006.
Orange County Christian Writers Fellowship Spring Writers Day, Mariners Church, Irvine, CA. April 29, 2006
Evangelical Press Association Convention, May 7-10, 2006, Orlando, FL
NJCWG A Reason to Write Conference - with Special Guest Cecil Murphey, Ringwood, New Jersey -- May 13, 2006
The Colorado Christian Writers Conference, May 17-20, 2006. Estes Park, CO.
Oregon Christian Writers One-day Conference, May, 20, 2006, Northwest Christian College, Eugene, OR.
2006 Blue Ridge Writer's Conference, May 21-26, 2006. Ridgecrest, NC. (near Asheville)
Write-to-Publish Conference, June 7-10, 2006, Wheaton, IL
Write! Canada, Guelph, Ontario. June 15-17, 2006
Oregon Christian Writers Summer Conference, July 31-Aug 3, 2005. Canby Cove Conference Center, Canby, OR
Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference, Date to be determined (usually August), Philadelphia. PA.
5th Annual American Christian Writers Conference, September 21-24, 2006. Dallas, TX.
Sandy Cove Christian Writers' Conference & Retreat: October 1-5, 2006, North East, MD.
The 2006 Glorieta Christian Writers Conference, October 11-15, 2006. Glorieta, NM. The NJCWG's, Louise Bergmann DuMont will be teach two classes at this conference.

New Postal Rates

Here is a heads-up for those of you sending out queries and manuscripts. On January 8, 2006, the U.S. Postal Serive is raising its key rates. The price of First Class postage will go to 39¢ for the irst ounce and to 24¢ for each addtional ounce and for postcards. Priority Mail will go to $4.05 for up to one pound. No change in Media Mail rates have been announced at this time.

Mom Authors Launch Online Radio Show

TWO MOM AUTHORS LAUNCH AN ONLINE RADIO SHOW FOR MOM WRITERS.
The popularity of online radio programs and pod casts is growing daily and two mom writers have jumped on the bandwagon. Author Alana Morales joined forces with award winning author Paula Schmitt to create Mom Writer’s Talk Radio, which launched Friday, November 4th.
The show, which will feature mom authors and tips for moms who are pursuing a writing career, will air weekly and is available for download twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. “We have had an overwhelming response to the show thus far” states Morales. “We launched on Friday and we are already booking guests into February of 2006.” Their line up of mom authors includes award winning authors Joshilyn Jackson and Lani Diane Rich.
For more information about Mom Writers Talk Radio, please visit
http://www.momwriterstalkradio.com/, email Alana@MomWritersTalkRadio.com or call their toll-f.ree number at 1-877-871-1744.

[Reprinted from Dan Poynter’s Publishing Poynters with permission. http://parapublishing.com/]

Winter Writerland - Now Available

Attention All Ye Winter Readers and Writers!

Wordsmith Shoppe and the Wordsmith Writer

Proudly Present:

"A Winter Writerland"

This is a CD compilation of Prose and Poetry dealing with the topic of "Winter"

Both Lisa Ramadan and I have stories included in this compilation. I've ordered 10 copies of this CD and can offer them to you for $9.00 each.

To get your copy, send an email to njcwg.dumont@gmail.com today.

God Bless,

Louise Bergmann DuMont

Facilitator of the NJCWG

NJCWG Postings

As you can probably tell, I've been a bit neglectful of this blog lately. The year-end closing at work, Christmas and my family have been recent priorities and my blog needed to take a backseat for a while. If NJCWG members come across writing opportunities or have information they want to post, please feel to drop me an email. I'll get those posted in short order. I simply do not have the time to research information for the blog at this time. Bear with me as I get through a few other matters. The blog will run high again in a few months.

Merry Christmas and may God bless each and every one of you.

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Facilitator of the NJCWG

Christmas Party Update

Once again the 2005 NJCWG Christmas Party was a grand success. I believe everyone had a marvelous time -- I know that my husband and I did. If you were not able to attend, you'll have an other opportunity to socialize with our group at the 2006 summer pot luck picnic.
To see more pictures of the Christmas party, go to www.louisedumont.com and click on the NJCWG tab.

NJCWG Christmas Party

REMINDER
Monday, December 12, 2005
NJCWG Christmas Party
No more meetings until 2006
6:15- ?
Il Plazo
Ringwood Ave
Wanaque, NJ

Quotable Quote

Alice Walker
Deliver me from writers who say the way they live doesn't matter. I'm not sure a bad person can write a good book, If art doesn't make us better, then what on earth is it for.
~Alice Walker

Essay Contest fromThe Dabbling Mum

No Fee Essay Writing Contest by The Dabbling Mum All materials copyrighted

Amateur and professional writers are welcome. There is NO entry fee to win these great prizes. Subscribe to our e-newsletter, enter our essay contest below ↓, and you could win these great prizes! FIRST PLACE PRIZE SECOND PLACE PRIZE THIRD PLACE PRIZE Bath Basics Basket Included in this decorative basket is a 6oz Loofah Bar, an 8oz pack of Sizzling Tub Bombs in decorative romantic shapes, an 8oz bottle of Starlight Bubble Bath and an 8oz bottle of our Pixie Oil-Free Bath Oil Retail: $23 value From: The Enchanted Spa Coffee Scented Cup & Saucer Candle Retail: $19.95 From Coffee Scented Candles 3 handmade soaps Homemade soap from the finest, natural oils. Retail: $15 From Cabin In The Woods Creations $10 Gift Certificate From Jilps Tups One Heavenly Hineys All-In-One Diaper with one Lay-In soaker in the size of your choice. Retail: $15.95 From Heavenly Hineys Flowertimes cloth menstrual pads starter kit Eco-friendly and environmentally safe. Includes 4 assorted holders and 8 assorted inserts, plus a carrier. Retail: $35.00 From Home Works Enterprises Please CLICK ON THE CONTEST SPONSOR LINKS ABOVE and recommend them to friends. They make this contest available, FREE OF CHARGE! Thanks! In 500 to 600 words write a personal essay using the sentence given below. Your essay may be true or hypothetical or a mixture of the two: based on real facts. When writing your personal essay, think anthologies: Chicken Soup For The Soul and God Allows U-Turns. Avoid telling the story and let us experience it. Step away from the how-to this time... All entries must be received by: January 1, 2005 by 8 p.m. Eastern Time Zone. If you've missed the deadline, don't worry. A new contest will be posted by the 10th of the following month! ESSAY MUST START WITH THIS BLURB: "Writing home has always made me feel..." Submit Your Winning Essay! Subject: Contest Entry Your full name: Your email address: Your complete address: (Required to send prize.) Please tell us how you found us? Paste your descriptive, story-telling essay using the following format: (1) Tell us if the essay is hypothetical, made up, or true, (2) Your 500-600 Word Essay (3) Your Byline, and (4) Your Web Address (optional) Send your email to: dm {at} thedabblingmum.com RIGHTS By submitting your essay, you agree to the following conditions: Winning entries WILL be posted on The Dabbling Mum website and in our e-zine without further compensation. You also grant us the right to archive your winning essay indefinitely on a webpage on this website. ATTENTION WINNERS AND WINNERS-TO-BE By entering this contest, you agree to the contest rules and the legal disclaimer. ONEY ENTRY PER SUBSCRIBER PER MONTH. All essays that follow our guidelines will be included in the essay contest. Three winners will be picked. KEEP EMAIL ADDRESSES CURRENT Please make sure your email address is correct and your email filters do not prevent us from sending you the newsletter. Thank you for understanding. YOUR PRIVACY IS IMPORTANT TO US We DO NOT sell or trade your email or private information—ever! Not now and definitely not in the future!!

Vista Print Holiday Sale

Here is a chance to let someone you love give you a great gift (at a bargain price) for holidays. Vista print is having a great pre-holiday sale on everything from business cards to Christmas Cards.

Premium Business Cards starting at $3.99 for 250 cards.
Return Address Labels - 140 @ $3.99
Postcards - 100 @ $12.49
Notecards - 10 @ $3.99
Invitations - 10 @ $3.99

Check it out
http://www.vistaprint.com/

Writing Op - Outreach Mag

OUTREACH MAGAZINE
Outreach, Inc.
2560 Progress St.
Vista CA 92081-8422
Phone: (760)940-0600
Fax: (760)597-2314
E-Mail: lwarren@outreach.com
Website: www.outreachmagazine.com
Editor: Lynne Marian.
Contact: Lindy Warren, managing editor.

Frequency: Bimonthly
"Outreach is designed to inspire, challenge, and equip churches and church leaders to reach out to their communities with the love of Jesus Christ."
80% freelance written
Circulation: 30,000, plus newsstand
Accepts simultaneous submissions
Accepts previously published submissions
Responds in 2 months to queries. - Mail & Email
Responds in 8 months to manuscripts.
Sample copy and writer's guidelines free.

Needs: Book excerpts, How-To, Humor,Inspirational, Interview/Profile, Personal Experience, Photo Feature, Religious
Special Issues: Vacation Bible School (January); America's Fastest-Growing Churches (July/August).
Does Not Want: Does not want fiction, poetry, non-outreach-related articles.
Buys 30 manuscripts/year.
Submission method: Query with published clips
Length: 1,200–2,000 words.
Pays $375-600 for assigned articles; $375-500 for unsolicited articles.
Columns open to freelancers: Outreach Pulse (short stories about outreach-oriented churches and ministries), 75-250 words; Questions & Perspectives (a first-person expert perspective on a question related to outreach), 300-400 words; Soulfires (an as-told-to interview with a person about the stories and people that have fueled their passion for outreach), 900 words; From the Front Line (a profile of a church that is using a transferable idea or concept for outreach), 800 words, plus sidebar; Soujourners (short interviews with everyday people about the stories and people that have informed their worldview and faith perspective), 800 words.
$100–375 for columns.

"Study our writer's guidelines. Send published clips that showcase tight, bright writing as well as your ability to interview, research, and organize numerous sources into an article, and your ability to write a 100-word piece as well as a 1,600-word piece."

THIS INO SUPPLIED BY:
Annette Dammer, homeschool mom, wife & College English instructor (FTCC)
Author READY, SET, GO! A Year of Object Lessons for Kids (Baker Books, 2003)
Publisher: TEEN LIGHT: The Teen 2 Teen Christian Magazine, Gal 5:22
Founder: Writer's Helper.Org - Writers' Workshops Online, All the Time, Matt 18:20

SNOW DAY

Hope you are all enjoying the snow today (12/9/05). I'm snuggled down in my livingroom recliner -- not going to work today (whopee). What a great day to write!! Hope you have the same opportunity today.

Louise Bergmann DuMont
www.cafemochalight.blogspot.com
www.louisedumont.com

Quotes

Here are a few quotes I wanted to share with you:

When Jesus comes, the shadows depart.
~Author unknown, inscription on a Scottish castle

What good is having someone who can walk on water if you don't follow in his footsteps? ~Author Unknown

If I might comprehend Jesus Christ, I could not believe on Him. He would be no greater than myself.
~Daniel Webster

CBA Christian Marketplace Lists

CBA’S NOVEMBER CHRISTIAN MARKETPLACE LISTS ONLINE. The new November best-seller and category top-seller lists—based on September sales—are now online at http://www.cbaonline.org/TrackingLists/BSLHome.js

Article - Becoming Your Own Editor by Moira Allen

Word Smith Writer recently reprinted an EXCELLENT article entitled -- Becoming Your Own Editor by Moira Allen. Check it out!

http://wordsmithshoppe.com/MAllen_OwnEditor.htm

Congratulations

NJCWG member, Lisa Ramadan, took advantage of one of the writing opportunities that are posted on this blog. This past week she was notified that one of her stories is being including in The WordSmith Shoppe's Winter Writerland project. Congrats Lisa!

Narnia Movie Review

NJCWG member, Karen Flores, was priveleged to participate in the pre-viewing of "Narnia" this past weekend and she's written a review of the movie. Follow the link and read for yourself what this movie is all about.

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/testimony