Springing Ahead

"And I think what I've always recognized about writing is that I don't put much value in so-called inspiration. The value is in how many times you can redo something.
" ~ John Irving

The pros understand what's important when it comes to the craft of writing. Rewriting. Revision. More rewriting. In a 1958 Paris Review interview, Ernest Hemingway was asked how much rewriting he did.

"It depends," he answered. "I rewrote the ending of Farewell to Arms, the last page of it, 39 times before I was satisfied."

When asked what had stumped him to do so many rewrites, he responded simply, "Getting the words right."

In our rush to see a finished product we sometimes forget about getting the words right, and fail to take the time to do one more revision or to have our manuscripts professionally edited. Or, to carry it one step farther, to keep up with the world of writing by attending workshops and conferences. So, here's what opportunities await you this month.

• The River City Writers meets on Tuesday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. at the SE Branch Library to hear from author Linda Rondeau who will speak on self-editing. Linda is the 2012 Selah Award Winner for best new novel - The Other Side of Darkness. Contact group leader Gregg Golson for more information.
• Maureen Jung leads the Clay County Writers who next meet on Wednesday, May 15 at the Orange Park Library at 6:15 p.m. Maureen's speaker is Tim Gilmore, Ph.D. writing instructor at FSCJ. He'll speak on “Writing About Place: How to Let the Local Haunt You.” Place can play a dramatic role in a story, whether your genre is fiction or nonfiction. Too many authors neglect the power of place to bring their stories to life. Dr. Gilmore explains how to explore, research, and appreciate local places, and how to translate your exploration into writing.
• The Ancient City Writers chapter of FWA meets Saturday, May 18 at St. Augustine's Main Library at 10:00 a.m. Elizabeth Sinclair presents a workshop on "Goal, Motivation & Conflict or How to Sustain Book-Length Fiction." Elizabeth is the author of 23 novels, sold in ten foreign countries and won a number of national awards.
• Serivilous Panerians is the fancy name of the critique group formed by Cheri Roman and now under the FWA banner. The group meets twice a month on second and fourth Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Panera Restaurant in Town Center. Contact Cheri for more information at cherileigh9@me.com.
• There's a double whammy of writing on Tuesday, May 21 at Books Plus in Fernandina Beach. First the new Nassau County Youth Writers meet at 5:00 p.m. under the auspices of James Weinsier and Arlyse McDowell. Email them at nassauyouthwriters@gmail.com. This is followed immediately at 6:15 p.m. by the adult FWA Amelia Island Writers group. Call Maggie deVries for more information at 904-321-6180.
• Jax Youth Writers of the FWA Young Writers program meet Thursday, May 23 at 7:00 p.m. at the SE Regional Library. All youth under the age of 18 are invited. Contact Kimberly Smith for details.
• FWA affiliate First Coast Christian Writers meets each Thursday at 6:45 p.m. at the Webb-Wesconnett Library.
• Flagler College creative writing instructor Dr. James Wilson makes a return appearance to the Ponte Vedra Writers on Saturday, May 25 at 10:30 a.m. at the Ponte Vedra Library. Jim, who is the co-organizer of the "Other Words" Conference and is a member of the Florida Literary Arts Coalition board, will address "Moving to Metaphor." He tells us, "Metaphor is the place where most writers can sharpen their writing. Figurative language adds power to settings, descriptions, character development, and even the structure of a novel. Jim will discuss figurative language, what it is and how to create it.

What else is new? Glad you asked. Check this out:

• Because of personal conflicts, Edna Buchanan has had to withdraw as this year's Person of Renown for FWA Collection #5, It's A Crime. But fear not, in her place has stepped the winner of the 2012 Best PI Novel Shamus Award, Michael Wiley. A noted crime writer, Michael is the author of the Joe Kozmarski Mystery Novels, A Bad Night's Sleep, The Bad Kitty Lounge and Last Striptease. Publisher's Weekly had this to say about his award-winning novel, A Bad Night's Sleep: “Fans of gritty PI novels will relish Shamus-winner Wiley's third mystery featuring Chicago detective Joe Kozmarski. Kozmarski, a well-developed flawed hero, would be right at home in a Chandler or Hammett novel. The relentless pacing makes the pages fly by, and the hard-edged prose is bracing.” As the Person of Renown for the Collection, Michael will review the 60 stories accepted for the collection and select his top ten list. He'll also submit his own short story and plans to conduct a crime-writing workshop at the annual conference, October 18-20. Michael will also deliver the keynote address at the Friday night welcome dinner and make himself available for one-on-one interviews.
• Speaking of Collection #5, It's A Crime, you have until May 15 to submit your story for consideration. Find the guidelines here, but keep in mind you must be an FWA member. There's a 1,200 word limit.
• You must also be an FWA member to submit to the Royal Palm Literary Awards competition. You have until June 15 before the competition is closed. For the first time, there is a Youth Writers RPLA Competition. Check it out.
• The April 20 FWA Mini-Conference in Altamonte Springs was such a success that another mini-conference is planned for Saturday, June 22 at the University Club in Winter Park. This one will be strictly for non-fiction. Details can be found here.
  
• The Florida Heritage Book Festival presents "Oh, The Places You'll Go," a 4-hour workshop on how to publish your children's book. Facilitated by publishing pros, Frances Keiser and Jane Wood, the workshop includes an overview of children's book genres, your publishing options, book design and printing, illustrations and photographs, fulfillment and distribution, marketing tips and much more. The workshop is scheduled for Saturday, June 1 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Flagler College, Ringhaver Student Center. The early-bird rate of $69 ends at midnight tonight then increases to $79 from May 1 to May 31, and $99 at the door. To register or for more information call Jane at 904-268-9572 or Fran at 904-471-5376. Proceeds benefit the Florida Heritage Book Festival & Writers Conference.
• Speaking of the FHBF Writers Conference, it's scheduled for Thursday and Friday, September 26 and 27 at the St. Johns County Convention Center at World Golf Village. There will be workshops on memoir writing, writing humor, marketing, travel writing, and more. NY Times bestselling author Andrew Gross will give the opening keynote address preceded by a "Meet the Author" reception. Friday's luncheon keynote is none other than Tim Dorsey. Look for all the details including presenters, titles, times and registration fees coming soon to the FHBF website.
• Friday evening, September 26, FHBF presents its Literary Legends Banquet honoring the renowned author of historical American fiction, John Jakes. Mr. Jakes is the author of over 60 books, including the 8-part Kent Family Chronicles, the North and South Trilogy and many more. Visit the FHBF website for details.

But wait, there's more:

• Florida Sisters in Crime presents Linda J. Gummow, Ph.D., Forensic Neuropsychologist, as the guest speaker at their meeting on Saturday, May 4, 10:30 a.m. at the SE Regional Library, 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd.
• The First Coast Romance Writers offers a half-day workshop with NY Times bestselling author Alyssa Day on Saturday, May 11 at the West Regional Library. Ms. Day presents, "Romantic Times Recap," channeling her experiences at the Romantic Times Convention. She won the 2012 RT Award for Best Paranormal.
• The Other Words conference welcomes proposals for 1:15 minute panels on the theme of "Writing Florida: The First 500 Years” for the 2013 Conference, to be held on the historic Flagler College campus. The conference is open to all who are interested in the contemporary practice of literary writing, and will offer a mixture of panels, workshops and readings. Deadline for proposals is June1 and they may be emailed to Rick Campbell at rick@floridarts.org. More information here.
• MWA Florida chapter presents MWA University, a 1-day mini-conference with a series of craft workshops by MWA members. It takes place in Delray Beach on June 15. Details here.
• Nancy Quatrano's OnTargetWords.com is looking for submissions to its 2013 Snowbird Christmas Volume 2 publication. There's a May 15 deadline for "sweet" family-friendly stories of between 750 and 1,500 words. There's also a $10 submission fee, but if you make the cut you'll share in the proceeds of any sales and can purchase the books for only $6.00 each. Visit the website at www.ontargetwords.com and click on the 2013 Snowbird tab.

And since I began this post with a quote, it's only fitting to end it the same way. Here's one by one of our accomplished forefathers.

"If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are rotten,
either write things worth reading or do things worth the writing."

~ Benjamin Franklin
Best of luck with your writing,

Vic

Victor DiGenti

FWA Regional Director

Make Your Writing Blossom

From my office window I see trumpeting blooms of coral and gold amaryllis. Although the flowers only last about a week, I'm always heartened to see them pop up in my flower beds, a sure sign we've put winter behind us. I see the colorful blooms as a metaphor for my writing, which cycles from budding ideas to fertile growth but sometimes enters  a period of dormancy. But like the amaryllis, creativity can come to life again in the proper conditions.

I know I'm stretching the metaphor, but FWA offers fertilizer for the writer's muse through our meetings, conferences and associated activities. Check out these FWA meetings and other events for writers. Remember that all are welcome at FWA meetings.

• River City Writers meets on Tuesday, April 9, 7:00 p.m. at the SE Branch Library to hear from Linda Schilling Mitchell on "Getting the Gig." Linda is the author of Dear Miss Schneider, Please Excuse Walter, and will talk about how to get interviews, signings and speaking engagements.  Contact group leader Gregg Golson with questions.
• The first meeting of the Nassau County Youth Writers Program, under the leadership of James Weinsier, will meet on Tuesday, April 16 at 5:00 p.m. at Books Plus in Fernandina Beach. James has the cooperation of the Nassau County Public Library Youth Program and has worked with area schools to get the word out about the new venture. He's asked me to be the first speaker to tell them about FWA and encourage them to pursue their writing interests. If you have any questions about the youth program, you may contact James directly through his email address.
• Maggie deVries leads the Amelia Island Writers group which meets at her bookstore, Books Plus at 6:15 p.m. on April 16 following the Nassau County Youth Writers Program meeting. She's asked me to be the speaker at her meeting as well, and I'll talk about my latest Quint Mitchell Mystery, BRING DOWN THE FURIES, and the process of writing mysteries.
• The Clay County Writers group meets on Wednesday, April 17 at 6:15 p.m. at the Orange Park Library. Maureen Jung has details of the meeting. Contact her at mjung@wordspringconsulting.com.
• St. Augustine's Main Library is the site for the April 20 meeting of Ancient City Writers at 10:00 a.m. Author and website designer Sharon Buck presents "The Big Bang Theory: 14 Secrets to Selling More Books." The workshop will explore ways that authors can multiply their book sales using 14 often overlooked and underused techniques.
• Jax Youth Writers meet Thursday, April 25 at 7:00 p.m. at the SE Library. All youth under the age of 18 welcome. Contact Kimberly Smith for details.
• FWA affiliate First Coast Christian Writers meets to critique their work each Thursday at 6:45 p.m. at the Webb-Wesconnett Library.
• We're closing out the month of FWA meetings with the Ponte Vedra Writers, meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 27 at the Ponte Vedra Library. If you're an independent publisher or about to publish a book, you should know your cover is one of the best selling tools you have. Fran Keiser will be on hand to tell us what works and what doesn't work when it comes to cover designs. 

But wait, there's more!

• It's not too late to register for the FWA Mini-Conference on Saturday, April 20 in Altamonte Springs. They've added agents and pitch sessions to the conference schedule, and you may select from the day of workshops or the daylong workshop, "How to Write Killer Fiction." Here's the link to the conference schedule and faculty line-up.
• Have you sent in your Royal Palm Literary Awards entry yet? Each year, FWA honors members with RPLA awards in recognition of superior writing in multiple categories. We've had many winners from here in NE Florida, and you might be the next one. Find out more by clicking this link.
• May 15 is the deadline to submit your entries to FWA's Collection #5, It's A Crime. There is no entry fee, but you must be an FWA member. Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and crime writer Edna Buchanan will select the Top Ten from the sixty winning entries. There's a 1,200 word limit and you may submit up to two entries. Read the guidelines for all the details.
• Florida Sisters in Crime meets this Saturday, April 6 at 10:30 a.m. at the SE Regional Library to hear from Richard Orsini, Forensic Document Examiner and Handwriting Specialist. Check out their new website here.
• First Coast Romance Writers will present a half-day workshop featuring Kiernan Kramer beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 13 at the West Regional Library, 1425 Chaffee Road. Kiernan, who writes historical romances for St. Martin's Press, has titled the workshop, "Why Buy Your Books: The Top Ten Reasons."
• St. Augustine author Laura Lee Smith's debut novel, Heart of Palm, (Grove Press) is set in the NE Florida town of Utina, modeled after Palm Valley. Laurawill be at the Bookmark in Neptune Beach on Monday, April 8 at 7:00 p.m.
• Ancient City Romance Authors welcomes romance author Valerie Bowman to their April 27 meeting at the SE Library, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Valerie's workshop is titled, "How to Sell to Any Publisher (Plus Contests & Agents)."Visit the website for more information.
• The Friends of the Ponte Vedra Library's Book Talk Cafe program feature Florida Book Award winner, Elizabeth Stuckey-French discussing her award-winning novel, The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady on Monday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m.
• The Friends of the Library of St. Johns County present their second Friends Book Fair featuring area authors on Monday, April 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the Main Library. Come by and support your fellow authors including Caren Umbarger, Will Merrill, Andre Frattino, Parker Francis and Ron Whittington. Light Refreshments will be served.
• The Amelia Island Book Festival welcomes both readers and writers to its 2013 event, April 26 and 27 in Nassau County. On the 26th the Festival presents writing workshops and Saturday features author talks and panels. Featured authors are Debbie Macomber, Elizabeth Kostova and Michael Morris. Visit the website for all the details.
• Black Horse Winery on Kingsley Avenue in Orange Park has another Meet the Authors event scheduled for Wednesday, April 25 beginning at 6:30 pm. The event is coordinated by the Clay County Writers group. Contact Maureen Jung if you wish to participate in future Meet the Authors events.
• The Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writers of Jacksonville meet on Tuesday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the SE Regional Library. Contact Tim Robinson with questions.
• The Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition is now accepting submissions for it's 33rd annual contest. There's a $1,500 first place award along with publication of the story in Cutthroat: A Journal of the Arts. Visit the website for submission guidelines.
• In case you missed it last month, Folio Weekly will have a special section devoted area authors in an upcoming issue. You may add your personal information to their database on this page.
• And finally, last week Amazon.com announced it had reached an agreement to acquire Goodreads, the popular site for readers to share book recommendations. While many have worried about Amazon's latest acquisition, both sides have stated that Goodreads will remain independent. On the website, Paid Content, Laura Hazard Owen interviewed the Goodreads CEO and Amazon's VP of Kindle Content to gather more facts about what Goodreads users might expect.

That's all for now. I'll see you in the garden.

Vic

Vic DiGenti

FWA Regional Director

It's Your Job

Last Saturday I attended the talk by Alex Grecian, author of The Yard, the St. Johns Reads book for this year. I was struck by Alex's statement that he learned from his father, a published author, that writing is a job you go to every day. Which fits in with a quote by John Gregory Dunne, who wrote that, "Writing is manual labor of the mind. A job, like laying pipe."

So let's prepare ourselves to work at our best by attending writers meetings, conferences and whatever gives us an edge in our jobs. You might first want to consider the April 20 FWA Mini-Conference in Altamonte Springs. There will be a day of workshops on memoir, editing, e-publishing and more. Plus agents to pitch. Or you may sign up for my "How to Write Killer Fiction" full day workshop running simultaneously with the conference. Registration and information here.

While we're talking FWA, submissions are now being accepted for both the Royal Palm Literary Awards and FWA Collection #5, "It's a Crime." The fee for each RPLA entry is $30 through March 31 when it increases to $40. Also, remember Edna Buchanan is the Person of Renown for the FWA Collection and will select her Top Ten faves to be placed at the front of the book.

Here now are this month's NE Florida FWA meetings:

• River City Writers usually meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the SE Branch Library, but there's a possibility they'll be moving to a new location. So before you head to the library on Tuesday, March 12, contact Gregg Golson for more information.
• Ancient City Writers meet Saturday, March 16 at 10:00 a.m. to hear Michael Ray King and Jeff Swesky present, "From Manuscript Page to Printed Page: Publishing from an Insider's Perspective." Sounds like a good one. Don't be late if you want a seat.
• Amelia Island Writers next meet on Tuesday, March 19 at 6:15 p.m. at Books Plus in Fernandina Beach. The group will hear from Emily Carmain of Noteworthy Editing on the ins and outs of writing the query letter. Group leader Maggie de Vries says they will have a door prize drawing this month and snacks. Call Maggie for more information at 904-321-6180.
• Ask Maureen Jung for details about her Clay County Writers meeting on Wednesday, March 20. They meet at 6:15 p.m. at  the Orange Park Library.
• Ponte Vedra Writers chapter meets Saturday, March 23 at 10:30 a.m. at the Ponte Vedra Library. Guest speaker is Dr. Michael Carlson who will present, "Hurting Your Characters." Carlson presented this workshop at last year's FWA Conference to a SRO crowd. If you want to know what realistically happens when you hurt your character—whether by trauma, gunshot, poison, burning, or any other malady—then this is a can't miss workshop. 
• Jax Youth Writers of the FWA Young Writers program meet Thursday, March 28 at 7:00 p.m. at the SE Regional Library. All youth under the age of 18 are invited. Contact Kimberly Smith for details.
• FWA affiliate First Coast Christian Writers meets each Thursday at 6:45 p.m. at the Webb-Wesconnett Library.

But wait, there's more:

• Florida Sisters in Crime Jacksonville Chapter meets tomorrow morning, Saturday, March 2, at the SE Regional Library at 10:30 a.m. to hear Sharon Buck's talk, "Explode Your Book Sales: 14 Secrets to Selling More Books."
• If you know of a creative young person in Nassau County, James Weinsier has formed another FWA Young Writers chapter he's calling the Nassau County Youth Writers. Their first meeting is Tuesday, April 16 at 5:00 p.m. at Books Plus in Fernandina Beach. The meeting precedes the Amelia Island Writers 6:25 meeting. Contact Jim here. 
• Nimrod International Journal, founded by the University of Tulsa in 1956, offers cash prizes for poetry and fiction along with a trip to Tulsa to accept the award and participate in its annual writing conference. There's a $20 entry fee which includes a subscription to the magazine. Check the website for guidelines.
• Ancient City Romance Writers meet Saturday, March 23 at 12:30 p.m. at the SE Regional Branch Library to hear Shannon Greenland and Simoone Elkeles. The topic sounds tasty, "Sweet and Spicy."
• The SF & Fantasy Writers Group of Jacksonville next meets at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13 at the South Mandarin Branch Library. Contact Tim Robinson for more information.

Until later, remember to assemble your tools and go to work.

Best,

Vic

Victor DiGenti

FWA Regional Director

"Go after it with a club."

Some of you may recognize the title of this post from Jack London's quote, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." I thought that was an appropriate lead for this post as I was recently asked how to deal with writer's block, and I thought London had the perfect answer.

To keep you inspired, FWA has a full schedule of meetings here in NE Florida plus more events planned for the coming months. For example, the FWA Spring Mini-Conference will be held on Saturday, April 20 in Altamonte Springs. This is a double-barrelled conference with a full day of workshops, the chance to pitch an agent and hear keynoter Adrian Fogelin. And that's only one barrel. The other is my workshop, "How to Write Killer Fiction," held in conjunction with the conference. This is the same workshop I presented prior to last October's FWA Conference with a registration fee of $99. The mini-confernce is only $59 and it includes a continental breakfast and lunch. More information and registration can be found here.

And our NE Florida FWA family is still growing. Kimberly Smith organized and leads Jax Youth Writers, part of the FWA Youth Writers program. Thanks to FWA member James Weinsier, another youth group is in the works. Jim reports the Nassau Youth Writers will meet for the first time on Tuesday, April 16 at Books Plus in Fernandina Beach at 5:00 p.m. The meeting precedes the regular meeting of the Amelia Island Writers FWA group at 6:15 p.m. If you know of any Nassau County youth or want more information, you may contact Jim at wondrousbooks@bellsouth.net.

And don't forget submissions are now being accepted for FWA Collection #5 — It's A Crime. The "Queen of Crime" herself, Edna Buchanan, will select her top 10 faves. Visit the FWA website for submission guidelines before you enter.

Here's what's planned for this month's FWA group meetings.

• River City Writers meets on Tuesday, February 12 at 7:00 p.m. at the SE Regional Branch Library off Gate Parkway. Group leader Gregg Golson will be out of town that day and I'll lead the group and present a workshop I call, "Heroes, Mentors & Shapeshifters: Character Archetypes and the Writers Journey."
• The Ancient City Chapter of FWA will not meet this month due to tax preparers use of their meeting room. They return on Saturday, March 16 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Augustine's Main Library meeting room with authors Jeff Swesky and Michael King presenting, "From Manuscript Page to Printed Page: Publishing from an Insider's Perspective." 
• Amelia Island Writers meets on Tuesday, February 19 at 6:15 p.m. at Books Plus in Fernandina Beach. Call Maggie de Vries for more information, 904-321-6180.
• Clay County Writers come together next on Wednesday, February 20 at 6:15 p.m. at the Orange Park Library. Author Linda Schilling Mitchell, Dear Miss Schneider, Please Excuse Walter, presents "Getting the Gig," how to land interviews, articles, book signings and speaking engagements to promote your book. Group leader Maureen Jung has more details.
• The Jax Youth Writers meets on the 4th Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. the SE Regional Library. All youth under 18 are welcome. Contact Kimberly Smith for more information. 
• On Saturday, February 23, the Ponte Vedra Writers will gather at the Ponte Vedra Library at 10:30 a.m. to hear Jennie Jarvis discuss "Film Writing Versus Novel Writing." Jennie worked in the film and TV industry before returning to Florida and transitioning to literary writing. She has served as a script analyst, and works as a freelance script consultant. She's currently teaching screenwriting and criticism at Full Sail University and has an MFA in creative writing.
• FWA affiliate First Coast Christian Writers meets each Thursday at 6:45 p.m. at the Webb-Wesconnett Library.

More for Writers:

• Mystery author Michael Wiley (A Bad Night's Sleep–St. Martin's Press) is the guest speaker at the Saturday, February 9th meeting of North Florida Writers. They gather at 2:00 p.m. at the Webb Wesconnett Library. More on NFW and the meeting can be found here.
• Jane Wood and Frances Keiser are presenting "The Business Side of Publishing," a 3-hour workshop at UNF on Tuesday, February 19 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Click here for more information.
• Ancient City Romance Writers welcome author Brenda Jackson for a Q&A session at their February 23rd workshop. They meet from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. at the SE Regional Library. Visit their website for more information. 
• Southern Writers Magazine is calling for submissions for its short story contest with a deadline of March 1, 2013. $250 cash prize plus publication. Submission guidelines.
• Looking for a critique group? FWA member Cheri Roman leads a group that meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Panera at Town Center. They are open to adding a few more members to the group. Contact Cheri if you're interested.
• Editor Beth Mansbridge also leads a critique group on the first Thursday of each month from 5:00 to 7:45 p.m. at the SE Branch St. Johns County Public Library, 6670 US 1 South. Contact Beth at 904-461-9564 if you have questions.
• This month the St. Johns County Public Library System presents St. Johns Reads 2013 featuring The Yard by Alex Grecian. A number of special programs built around this historical crime novel will be held at all the St. Johns County libraries, incuding "Murder, Mayhem and a Medical Examiner" by author and forensic death investigator Kent Holloway. Kent will  present his program detailing the facts and fiction of forensic death investigation at 2:00 p.m. on February 2nd at the Southest Branch Library, on February 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Main Library, and at 6:30 p.m. on February 13 at the Ponte Vedra Library. The monthlong event will be capped by a presentation by the author on Saturday, February 23 at the St. Johns County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian Way. The program is free to the public and starts with a 6:00 p.m. reception followed at 6:30 by the author talk.
• Rita Malie hosts a live Hay House 60" Online Event to discuss her latest book, Supreme Sacrifice, dealing with family alcoholism. This is part of Children of Alcoholics Week. The free online seminar will be held February 12, 12:00 - 1:00 PST. Contact Rita for more details. 
• Running Out of Ink is a new webzine focusing on short fiction. They accept short stories of any genre and variety under 2,500 words long. Visit the website for submission guidelines.
• Black Horse Winery hosts another Meet the Author program on Wednesday, February 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Featured authors are Chris Berman, Ace of Aces, Howard Denson, Mowbray and the Sharks, Heman "Doc" Harris, The Forest People: Sasquash Revenge, and Jack Owen,  Palm Beach – An IRREVERENT Guide.
• And finally, here's a little BSP (Blatant Self Promotion). My other persona, Parker Francis, will sign copies of his latest Quint Mitchell Mystery, Bring Down the Furies, this Saturday at the Barnes & Noble on San Jose Blvd. from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

This may not be simpatico with your typical Valentine's Day sentiment, but it is rule #6 in Kurt Vonnegut's 8 Rules of Writing. He says, "Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful thing happen to them — in order that the reader may see what they're made of."

Until next time, get a tight grip on that club and keep writing.
Vic

Victor DiGenti
(aka Parker Francis)
FWA Regional Director

It's A New Year

It's that time of year when everyone approaches their writing with fresh eyes and determination to complete a project or start on one they've been putting off. Like the residents of Lake Wobegon "where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking and all the children above average," we're all feeling pretty good about ourselves right now and looking forward to a great year.

So let's keep that productive feeling going and jumpstart our commitment to become better writers by resolving to attend one or more of FWA's monthly meetings. There are a host of excellent speakers each and every month at the various meetings. Here's what's on this month's schedule:

•  River City Writers group meets on Tuesday, January 8 at 7:00 p.m. st the SE Regional Branch Library off Gate Parkway. The group will take a hands-on approach to the subject of "Interviewing Experts." Group leader Gregg Golson will interview Larry Wehner, the chief engineer for the Dames Point Bridge. . 
• Amelia Island Writers will meet on Tuesday, January 15 at 6:15 p.m. at Books Plus in Fernandina Beach. Give group leader Maggie deVries a call for more information: 904-321-6180.
• Clay County Writers meet on Wednesday, January 16 at 6:15 p.m. at the Orange Park Library, 2054 Plainfield Avenue. This month's topic is "Who Needs An Editor?" The author panel includes Russell Kamradt, Lillian Kiernan Brown and Lois Fiorelli. Group Leader Maureen Jung has more details. 
• St. Augustine's Ancient City Writers meet on Saturday, January 19 at 10:00 a.m. at the Main Library, 1960 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd. Award-ewinning authors Nancy Haddock and Nancy Quatrano provide tips on "Making Yourself Memorable: How to Increase Sales and Readership Through Branding."
• More and more writers are becoming independent publishers, due to the changing environment in the publishing industry. But there's more than one way to become an independently published author, as we'll explore at this month's Ponte Vedra Writers meeting, Saturday, January 26 at 10:30 a.m. at the Ponte Vedra Library. "Independent Publishing and You" presents a panel discussion with four independent authors, printers and publishers who will share their personal journeys and provide tips on how to best take advantage of independent publishing for your book. Panelists include author and writing coach Sharon Y. Cobb, author, publisher and book coach, Rik Feeney, Cheyenne Knopf, Marketing Manager with OnLine Binding, and novelist Judith White. 
• The Jax Youth Writers of FWA's Youth Writers Program meets on the 4th Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the SE Regional Library. All youth under 18 are welcome. Contact Kimberly Smith for more information.
• FWA affiliate First Coast Christian Writers meets each Thursday at 6:45 p.m, at the Webb-Wesconnett Library.

More for Writers:

• If you've been looking for a way to boost your writing, why not register for the NOVEL IN A DAY workshop, presented by the Florida Heritage Book Festival on Saturday, February 2nd at Flagler College. Facilitated by Vic DiGenti, the full day workshop is highly-interactive and fast-paced with a number of writing exercises designed to strengthen and motivate all writers. Some of the topics covered include plot and structure, characterization, dialogue, scene structure, beginnings, middles and endings. And more. Presented as a benefit for FHBF, Early Bird registration is $85 through January 10, $95 through January 31 and $115 at the door. Fee  includes a continental breakfast and a 30-page workbook. Visit the Florida Heritage Book Festival website for more details and registration information.
• Florida Sisters in Crime meets Saturday, January 5 at 10:00 a.m. at the SE Branch Library wo hear from Forensic Handwriting Expert, Richard Orsini.
• North Florida Writers meet on the second Saturday of the month, January 12 at 2:00 p.m. at the Webb-Wesconnett Library.
• The First Coast Romance Writes also meet on January 12, from 10:15 to 2:30, offering two workshops, one in the morning and one after the lunch break. Visit the website for details. 
• Author June Weltman will teach an 8-week adult education workshop on "Writing Mysteries for Children and Teens" at Mandarin High School starting Thursday, January 24 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Registration is from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on January 8, 9 and 10 at Mandarin High. Contact Kathy Cook for information, 904-260-3911, or email June Weltman.
• In place of their annual writers conference, Sleuthfest will present a day of writing workshops at the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota on Saturday, February 16.
• NY Times bestselling author Steve Berry will speak at the Ponte Vedra Library on Monday, January 14 at 6:30 p.m. as part of the FOL's Book Talk Cafe program.
• The Amelia Island Book Festival is hosting its 2013  Membership Launch Party on Tuesday, January 22 at a private home on Amelia Island Plantation. Email them for more information.
• If you admit to being over 57 years of age, the Nimrod International Journal is looking for your submission. To celebrate their 57th anniversary, the University of Tulsa literary magazine is soliciting submissions for its spring/summer issue themed, "Lasting: Writers Over 57." Submissions may be poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction. But there's a short turnaround as the deadline is January 15. Submission requirements here.
• Visit Poets & Writers for a comprehensive listing of writing contests, grants and awards. 

Here's wishing you the best of all worlds in 2013.

Vic

Victor DiGenti

FWA Regional Director

Have a Merry One

The holiday season can make it tough to concentrate on our writing efforts, but FWA is here to bolster your convictions to keep writing. So take some time during the mad holiday rush to attend one of these FWA group meetings.

• River City Writers group meets on Tuesday, December 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the SE Regional Branch Library. Contact Gregg Golson for more information. 
• Ancient City Writers hosts a special holiday meeting on Saturday, December 15, 10:00 a.m. at St. Augustine's Main Library. Along with speaker John Boles, there will be refreshments and drawings for a gift basket and other goodies. Plus this is a joint meeting with the Ponte Vedra Writers group, so a good time will be had by all. John will discuss "The Keys to Story Structure." He'll cover the three-act structure, the use of plot points and turning points to build conflict and move the story toward climax and resolution. John is a writing coach, editor and book doctor. 
• Amelia Island Writers will not meet in December due to the holidays. Look for them next month on the third Wednesday at Books Plus in Fernandina Beach at 6:15 p.m.. Contact group leader and bookstore proprietor Maggie deVries at 904-321-6180 for details.
• Clay County Writers now meet at the Orange Park Library, 2054 Plainfield Avenue,  Wednesday, December 19 at 6:15 p.m. Veteran journalist and media expert Stephen Kindland presents, "What's New with the News? Media Relations Strategies that Still Work in a Rapidly Changing Environment." Group leader Maureen Jung has the scoop.
• FWA affiliate, First Coast Christian Writers, meets each Thursday at 6:45 p.m  at the Webb-Wesconnett Library.
• The Ponte Vedra Writers are on holiday this month, but will join the Ancient City Writers on December 15 for a jolly, holly gathering. We'll return on Saturday, January 26 with a special Indie Publishing Panel.
• The Jax Youth Writers of FWA's Youth Writers Program meets next on Thursday, December 27 at 7:00 p.m. at the SE Regional Branch Library. All youth under 18 and their parents are welcome. Contact Kimberly Smith for more information.

But wait, there's more ...

• Florida Sisters in Crime is in a holiday mood. They invite you to the annual chapter holiday party tomorrow, Saturday, December 1 at 10:30 a.m. at the SE Regional Library. There will be refreshments, door prizes, free books and a murder mystery to solve. Snacks are welcome.
• Black Horse Winery and Clay County Writers host another "Meet the Authors" event on Wednesday, December 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This month's authors include Lillian Kiernan Brown, a writer and journalist who has traveled the world but held on to her love for Boston, burlesque and show biz. She'll be signing her memoir, Banned in Boston, Memoirs of a Stripper. Carroll Wolverton is a writer of both fiction and non-fiction. She'll sign her mystery, Boston Basement (Another Boston book. Coincidence? I think not) and her self-help manual, Method Weight Management: A Common Sense Approach to Weight Loss. And Vic DiGenti, aka Parker Francis, will be on hand to sign copies of his latest Quint Mitchell Mystery, Bring Down the Furies, along with his first mystery, Matanzas Bay. Black Horse Winery is located at 420 Kingsley Avenue, a block west of Park Avenue. Clay County Writers will have a table there and will be accepting donations for BASCA, Inc., a local non-profit dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Come and do your holiday shopping along with a glass of wine.
• FWA is offering an early release copy of bestselling author Mary Burton's upcoming romantic suspense novel, The Seventh Victim. This won't be on the bookstore shelves until February, but you can get your copy by visiting the Florida Writers Foundation shopping cart and purchasing one now. Mary will be presenting the Celebrity Workshop before the next FWA Conference, and will be the 2014 Person of Renown for Collection #6.
• Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 2nd when the Florida Heritage Book Festival presents Vic DiGenti's Novel in a Day workshop at Flagler College. This will be the only presentation of this workshop in the NE Florida area for at least six months. Details will be added to the FHBF website shortly.

And a final word of good tidings to all of us — however you celebrate the holidays, make it a merry and safe one. 

All the best from my family to yours (and from Santa Kitty, too) 

Vic

Victor DiGenti

FWA Regional Director

First Defrost the Turkey

It might seem like an old sit-com plot, but how many young marrieds have found themselves in the embarrassing position of not allowing enough time for the frozen bird to fully defrost. I know it happened to us. With Thanksgiving around the corner (and how did that happen?) the defrosting anecdote is a good way to remind us to plan ahead.

If you're planning to write a novel, it helps to think it through before you start writing. Create the most compelling characters. List the plot points that will keep the readers hooked. And write an outline. At the other end of the process you'll want to revise and rewrite until it's the best you can do, then turn it over to a professional editor.

And because writing is such a solitary process, take time to recharge the batteries by attending workshops and conferences. Which takes us to this month's update of FWA group meetings and other key events taking place this month.

• River City Writers meets Tuesday, November 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the SE Regional Branch Library. Contact Gregg Golson for information.
• Ancient City Writers gather on Saturday, November 17 at St. Augustine's Main Library. Time is 10:15 a.m. and the guest speaker is historical novelist Arliss Ryan speaking on "Researching and Writing the Historical Novel."
• The Amelia Island Writers are scheduled to meet at Books Plus in Fernandina Beach on Tuesday, November 20 at 6:15 p.m. But since it's Thanksgiving week, it's best to call group leader Maggie deVries first. You may reach her at 904-321-6180.
• And the Clay County Writers, which normally meets on the third Wednesday of the month, has cancelled this months meeting. But group leader Maureen Jung reminds everyone of the Meet the Author event on November 14 at Black Horse Winery from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• There will be no meeting of the Ponte Vedra Writers for either November or December since both fall during holidays weeks. We'll see you back in January with a new season of programs.
• Remember the First Coast Christian Writers, an affiliate of FWA, meets most Thursdays at 6:45 p.m. at the Webb Wesconnett Library, but most likely not on Thanksgiving Thursday.
• A reminder that Kimberly Smith is leading the new FWA Youth Writers group for NE Florida. Find out more about this new program here, and contact Kim here for meeting times and details.

More Events for Area Writers

• I've been asked many times about critique groups in the area and have usually directed the individuals to a few ongoing groups I know about. Now it's time for us to form our own critique group. Newly relocated FWA member Betsy Stoutmorrill has agreed to lead a new group that will probably meet at the Jacksonville Beach Library starting in January. If you're interested in joining the group, contact Betsy here.
• Florida Sisters in Crime meets Saturday, November 3 at 10:30 a.m. at the SE Regional Library to hear Chief Forensic Consultant Michael Knox. He's written a book on the forensic evidence in the killing of Trayvon Martin. The group will also vote on their new slate of officers.
• The Other Words Conference of the Florida Arts Coalition takes place November 8 - 10 at Flagler College. The Conference features readings and workshops in poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction.
• The First Coast Romance Writers meets Saturday, November 10 at 10:15 a.m. at the West Regional Library located at 1425 Chaffee Road. New York Times bestselling author Haywood Smith conducts a full day workshop covering characterization, writing scenes and plotting.
• Meet the Author at Black Horse Winery, 420 Kingsley Avenue in Orange Park. Four area authors will sign their books from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. I'm guessing there might be a little wine involved, as well.
• There will be no meeting of the Children's Book Writers due to the election. 

Kudos

• Congratulations to area writer and FWA member Will Merrill who took home the Book of the Year award at this year's Royal Palm Literary Awards Banquet for his book, 9/11: Ordinary People-Extraordinary Heroes.
• Other area winners included Judy Weber, second place Essay (Unpublished); Kimberly Smith, second place Young Adult (Unpublished); and Vic DiGenti, first place Short Story (Unpublished). Will Merrill also took first place in Book-Length Nonfiction (Published) for his 9/11 book. Congratulations to all of the winners.
• Many area authors also made it into this year's Collections #4 "My Wheels." Its an especially fine anthology, and featured author Julie Compton selected her Top Ten from the 60 stories in the collection. Kudos to Marie Vernon and Vic DiGenti for making it into the Top Ten. Other area writers in the book include Richard Hebert, Diane Mutolo and Judy Weber. Next year's theme is "It's A Crime," and the Person of Renown is none other than Pulitzer Prize-winning crime writer Edna Buchanan.

A Final Word: This year's Florida Writers Association Conference offered something for everyone, but next year's should be an extravaganza of the first magnitude. Which may be why it's being called "The Greatest Show on Earth." I don't know if it will have a high wire act and dancing elephants, but it will have Edna Buchanan. And bestselling romantic suspense author Mary Burton will present the Celebrity Workshop for the Florida Writers Foundation the day before the conference kicks off. We're told the last time Mary gave her workshop at the Romance Writers Conference, there were 2,000 people in attendance. Since the Lake Mary Marriott only holds 550 people, it's probably a good idea to get your reservations in early. 

Check and Like our NE Florida FWA Facebook page. Until next time, don't forget to keep writing ... and defrost the turkey.

Vic

Victor DiGenti

FWA Regional Director