Category Archives: Announcements

Writer’s Headlines: Kudos and MoGo7000 Totals

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By Vonda Skelton | June 6, 2013

Okay, I know it’s officially the 1st Thursday and not the 2nd, but because I’m heading to Alaska on Tuesday, I need to go ahead and get this Kudos and MoGo7000 post up. Sorry if it causes any confusion!

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There are only a few kudos to report this month. (I think the change in schedule confused everyone!)

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A Contest You Won’t Want to Miss & Who Won Dianne Neal Matthews’ Book?

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By Vonda Skelton | June 4, 2013

Here’s a fun contest, especially for writers! My friend, Donna Welch Earnhardt, is running a contest for her new picture book, Being Frank. The book has gotten great reviews. Here’s what Publishers Weekly had to say about Being Frank:

“Newcomer Earnhardt makes her point with solid pacing and lots of laughs. . . . Italian illustrator Castellani’s digital artwork is crisp, colorful, and energetic. . . . While Frank might not persuade sharp-tongued children to mend their ways, the story provides a useful array of good ways to deliver bad news.” —Publishers Weekly (September 17, 2012)

As you can see, Frank is a young boy who believes honesty is the best policy…but he knows nothing about tact and kindness. Have you ever had anyone like that in your life?

Now you have the opportunity to write about your own experience with a Frankly Frank and have a chance to win a free book in the process! Simply visit Donna’s blog post, leave a comment telling of a time you were too honest for your own good or someone was too honest with you, and you’ll be in the drawing. Share the blog and contest with others and you’ll get TWO entries! (I’m going to be in Alaska at the time of the drawing, so I’ve asked her not to include my name.)

So what are you waiting for? Think of a time when being frankly frank might not have been the best way to handle things, then head on over to Donna’s blog and leave a comment, telling the story. You could be the winner!

And remember, the Bible says “…gracious words are a honeycomb.” Proverbs 16:24.

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And Who Won Dianne Neal Matthews’ Book?

The winner is Cheryl Barker! Congratulations, Cheryl.

Now, just Contact Me with your snail mail address and the book will be right out to you!

And readers, I know you all want your own copy of Dianne’s book, A 365 Day Journey from Genesis to Revelation, you can get yours here!

Thank you, Dianne Neal Matthews, for joining us and sharing your insightful devotional book with us! Blessings on all your projects!

And blessings to you, dear reader. Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Vonda

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Point of View for Fiction Writers by Guest Blogger Laura Hodges Poole, and Early MoGo & Kudos Call-Out

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By Vonda Skelton | May 30, 2013

Today is a 5th Thursday, and that means you get to hear from today’s guest blogger, Laura Hodges Poole, as she shares a great lesson on POV…

 

Point of View for Fiction Writers by Laura Hodges Poole

 

Point of view (POV) is the perspective of a character within a scene. POV may change from scene to scene depending on the genre. For example, Christian romance novels split point of view and scene time between the hero and heroine. Women’s fiction novels may show the point of view of several characters or just the main character. Short stories are typically told from one character’s POV.

Before you begin writing, decide which of the three narrative points of view your story will use.

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Writer’s Headlines: Writing Opportunities and Contests

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By Vonda Skelton | May 16, 2013

1.  Stages of Life Writing Contests for teens to retirement agers!

2.  Writer’s guidelines for Alive Now. The Upper Room.

3.  Miracles and Moments of Grace is an upcoming anthology edited by author and speaker Nancy B. Kennedy and published by Leafwood Publishers. This will be the 4th book in their Inspiring Stories of Survival series. Get the Miracles & Moments of Grace Writers Guidelines here. (repeated since deadline is still open)

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Writing the Best You Can by Cindy Sproles, and Who Won the Writer’s Block Blocks?

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By Vonda Skelton | May 14, 2013

Photo courtesy of DavidCastillo/FreeDigitalPhoto.net

Today I’m sharing a post from Cindy Sproles, faculty member at Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, co-founder and executive editor of Christian Devotions Ministries and ChristianDevotions.us, and much more. Be sure to read her bio below. But today, I want to share her experience and sage advice for those seeking critiques at Blue Ridge next week, as well as for all of us who are writing and submitting.

Writing The Best You Can by Cindy Sproles

“This is what I see needs a little tweaking.” I twisted the paper around so the author could see.

“What? Tweaking?”

“Yes, did my accent throw you? I’m a Tennessee gal. Sometimes folks don’t understand my accent.” I chuckled and pointed to the first remark on the page.

“I’ve worked on this. It’s done. I didn’t pay for it to be torn apart.”

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Writer’s Headlines: Kudos, MoGo7000 Totals, & Last Call for Teen Interns

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By Vonda Skelton | May 9, 2013

Hello, writers. Well, it’s the 2nd Thursday and that means it’s a day to celebrate YOUR successes!

First, let’s give a big round of applause for all these writers who have been hard at work…and have the results to show for it.

1.  Edie Melson (SC): Edie has a new two-book contract with Thomas Nelson for books of prayer for military families, While My Husband Serves and While My Son Serves.

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7th Annual Bad Poetry Contest with Chip MacGregor–You Could Win Here AND There!

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By Vonda Skelton | May 7, 2013

Okay, friends, as we continue the theme of conferences, I thought it’d be a good time to join in the fun going on over at Chip MacGregor’s Bad Poetry Contest to celebrate his birthday.

For those who’ve been around writing conferences for a while, you’ll recognize the name, Chip MacGregor. For those who don’t know him, Chip is owner of MacGregor Literary, one of the most recognized agencies in the business. He’s spoken at writing conferences in over 100 locations. And I can promise you, once you’ve been around Chip, you won’t forget him. He helps writers around the world with his snarky voice and big heart. (Don’t tell I said the big heart part. He likes to protect his image.)

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Writer’s Headlines: Call for Kudos and MoGo7000 Counts

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By Vonda Skelton | May 2, 2013

Who has good news to share?

Have you had something exciting happen recently in your writing or speaking life? Maybe you’ve had an article published, signed a book contract, released a new book, got an agent, or started a new blog. If so, we want to hear from you!

It’s really simple, but I do ask that you contact me with the info in this format:

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Writer’s Headlines: Writing, Speaking, and Media Conferences

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By Vonda Skelton | April 25, 2013

It’s the 4th Thursday–Time to look at upcoming conferences!

 

1.  Southeastern Christian Writers Conference:  April 26-2, 2013, Cleveland, TN

2.  Colorado Christian Writers Conference: May 15-18, 2013, Estes Park, CO

3.  Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference: May 19-23, 2013, Ridgecrest, NC–I can’t wait to see you there!

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Writer’s Headlines: Writing Opportunities

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By Vonda Skelton | April 18, 2013

Time to share this month’s WRITING OPPORTUNITIES with you!

 

No more excuses. Now you’ll know what to write about and where to submit. :-)

1. Miracles and Moments of Grace is an upcoming anthology edited by author and speaker Nancy B. Kennedy and published by Leafwood Publishers. This will be the 4th book in their Inspiring Stories of Survival series. Get the Miracles & Moments of Grace Writers Guidelines here.

2.  I received this note from Jeanette Gardner Littleton. She’s looking for stories for another anthology! Hey Writers, I’m gathering stories for a book I’ll edit for Whitestone Communications and Bethany House. It’s “Angels, Miracles, and Other Heavenly Encounters 2.” If you have a story about a time when you had a supernatural experience (from a Christian-based perspective) we’d love to tell you more about this book and see if you’d like to write for it (it’s a paying opportunity). Please email me at Supernaturalstories2@earthlink.net and I’ll send you the guidelines.

3.  Marilyn Nutter will be editing the 2014 anthology Penned from the Heart. She says: Penned from the Heart is a book of 365 daily devotions which can be used in any year.  It is published around Thanksgiving by Son-Rise Publications, New Wilmington, PA.  Absolute cut-off date for receiving submissions is June 1. Penned from the Heart is a non-denominational, Christian book of inspiration and teaching. Devotions can be either prose or poetry (verse or free-verse). Devotions should be 225 words or less. Poems should be no more than 20 lines, counting spaces between stanzas. Complete writers’ guidelines can be found at www.marilynnutter.com or email nutter4penned@gmail.com.

4.  And on the theme of anthologies, don’t forget Christian Soup is always looking for writers. Here’s the link to the latest call-outs for Chicken Soup for the Soul stories.

5.  Susan Baganz is a new editor at Prism Book Group and she’s looking for novellas! Through an unexpected turn of events I accepted a position as Acquisitions Editor with Prism Book Group (www.prismbookgroup.com). It’s a small Christian press and I’m looking for authors who write romance, romance, romance: contemporary, historical (especially Regency), Western, Comedy or Romantic Suspense. (no Amish, please?). They should fit our Diamond or Inspired lines. Give me a creative happy ending and I’ll be tickled raspberry. Submissions can be sent to sbaganz at prismbookgroup dot com. Here’s the link to the Prism Book Group submissions page.

6.  Arthritis Self Management magazine writing guidelines here.

7.  CampSight magazine for Christian camps and conference centers. CampSight writing guidelines here.

8.  Working Mother Magazine. Writing guidelines for Working Mother.

9.  Watercolor Artist and Artist Network are looking for writers. I know some of you are artists, so this might be just for you! Watercolor Artist Submission Guidelines.

10. Sew News writing guidelines here. (I know there are sewing people in this group. This is for YOU!)

Okay, that’s it for this month’s writing opportunities. That should keep you busy for a while. :-) Can’t wait to see what comes out of these opportunities. Be sure to let me know if your work is published through any of these contacts. It’s such an encouragement to hear of your successes!

Happy writing!

Vonda

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