How not to write a novel

There was a brilliant sounding book in the papers by Sarah Newman and Howard Mittelmark, two American authors. They identify 200 'mistakes' made by unpublished writers. They speak mainly from 30 years experience of teaching creative writing and evaluating emerging writers' manuscripts.

Compare and contrast with the list of reason to reject submissions after one page from the scarily honest agent's blog Author Author Then read her subsequent posts examining each group of rejection reasons in detail. Actually these would make a great book...

Anyway, back to the book in question. I love this rule

If you have thought twice and the exclamation mark (point) is still there, think about it three times or however many times it takes until you delete it.

Like totally! Justification for leaving one or two in? - a piece mimicing a teenagers blog entry.

Also read here from New Scientist September 21st entry.
More later.

unfettered writing time

Bring it on!

The Philip Roth Residence in Creative Writing offers an emerging writer four months of unfettered writing time during Bucknell's fall semester, without formal academic obligations. The Residence is designed to grant the writer time to complete a first or second book. The resident presents a public reading of his or her work and otherwise constitutes a literary presence on campus during the fall. Providing lodging on campus, an office in the Stadler Center for Poetry, and a stipend of $4,000, the Residence is awarded to writers of prose (fiction or creative nonfiction) and poets on an alternating basis.

The Stadler Center is currently accepting applications for the 2009-10 Philip Roth Residence, which will be awarded to a prose writer (fiction or creative nonfiction). The Residence will extend from late August through mid-December 2009. The application postmark deadline is February 21, 2009.

Unfortunately you have to reside in the USA. We should have something like this here.
The Stadler Center is in Bucknell University, Lewisburg Philadelphia.

Jane Austen Short Story Contest

Here's a great one from the inimitable Women Rule Writer.

Celebrating the bicentenary of Jane Austen's arrival in the Hampshire village of Chawton – where she spent the most productive years of her literary life. (Isn't that a bit of a stretch for an anniversary with zeros?)

What: short stories of 2,000-2,500 words in length. The inspiration for your story can be taken from any theme in Jane Austen’s novels: it might even be a character or a single sentence that sets your creative juices flowing. Or perhaps your imagination will be fired by the Elizabethan mansion, Chawton House, where Jane Austen and her family often gathered, and now houses a rare collection of early women’s writing.

Stories can have a historical or a contemporary setting – anything goes as long as it is well written. You have to state on the entry form exactly what inspired you to write it.

Main Judge: Sarah Waters, author of Tipping the Velvet, and Fingersmith.

Fee: £10 per story

First prize: £1,000.
Two runners up: £200 each.
All three finalists will also win a week’s writers’ retreat at Chawton House which must be taken in September.
Fifteen other shortlisted authors will receive £40 plus publication in the winners’ anthology.
Open to all writers who have not had a work of full length fiction published.
Deadline: 31st March 2009.
Winners contacted: June 2009

Details here

Fighting Words

Here's a great idea stolen from Dave Eggers (of MacSweeney fame) and localised by our very own famous Roddy Doyle. Did I ever tell you I met Mr Doyle once? In the Aer Lingus upper class lounge a long time ago when I used to get paid to fly business class. Anyway, I sat next to him and didn't dare open my mouth. The minute he left, I called my beloved and told him. And then, the minute I hung up, in walks Gabrielle Burns. True.

Anyway, I digress. Fighting Words aims to help children and teenagers with their creative writing skills. It is privately funded by a couple of individuals. (who?) It is currently taking school groups (book now) and soon teenagers and even (gasp) adults and teaching them to grapple with words. They're looking for all sorts of volunteers so if you've the time (mainly daytime) why not help out. See this Irish Times article.

Behan Square, Russell Street, Dublin 1

EVENING WORKSHOPS COMING SOON

Colum McCann: "Writing out of your skin"
Roddy Doyle: Introduction to writing fiction
Lia Mills: Memoir writing
Gerard Stembridge: Filmscript writing

Poetry Reading worth going to

Poet Paula Meehan will read in Blanchardstown Library on Thursday 29th January at 7.00pm. All welcome, to book telephone 8905563.

Born in Dublin in 1955 Paula Meehan has published five collections of poetry, her latest, Painting Rain, is due in early 2009. She has also written for the stage and radio. Information here and here.

I've heard she's a terrific reader. I'm aiming to be there.

This is part of a monthly series of poetry reading in the library. Among those reading later in the year is Michael Longley who celebrates his 70th birthday this year.

In The Red

Now we're all in the red, why not submit to the In The Red magazine?

Deadline: January 31
In The Red 7 will be published in 2009. This quality literary magazine publishes emerging writers alongside established writers such as Dave Eggers, Roger McGough, Greta Stoddart, Sophie Hannah, Benjamin
Zephaniah and more.
Please send: Poetry - up to 40 lines / Prose- up to 750 words - Flash Fiction particularly welcome.
Email your submission to inthered7@hotmail.co.uk
I found this on the Kudos website.
Have a quick browse for other nuggets.

Contrary Magazine

This US Chicago magazine Contrary pay $20 and allow simultaneous submissions. Check their deadlines and guidelines. Shorter stories and no more than 3 poems.

*Note picture replaced later.. ugallery.com not happy.