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Scroll down for CONTEST and CONFERENCE information:
Missouri Writers' Guild is proud to announce a
Flash Fiction Contest.
Tell us a story in 500 words or less and be quick about it. The
deadline is
September 30, 2010.
-
Flash Fiction – Get to the point in 500 words or
less. Subject is open, but no gore or pornography.
-
Deadline
for entry—submissions
must be postmarked no later than September 30, 2010.
3. Entry fee:
$10 for non-members, $8 for members (make
sure your dues are current.)
Maximum three
entries per person.
4. Checks payable to:
Missouri Writers’ Guild.
5. Prizes: 1st
place - $100, 2nd place - $50, 3rd place -
$25. Three
honorable mentions will receive certificates.
6. Short stories must be in
English, unpublished at the time of submission, and original
work of the contestant.
7. Contestants retain all
rights to their stories. Standard manuscript format: 8 1/2 x 11
paper, typed and double-spaced on one side of the paper, pages
numbered, title of entry on every page, 12 point Times New
Roman. Paper clip
pages together. Contestants name or other identifying
information should not appear anywhere on manuscript.
8. Attach a separate cover
sheet and include: story title, contestant’s name, address,
e-mail, phone number, and MWG chapter name (if applicable). Do
NOT send by
certified mail!
9. Mail entry fee and two
copies of each entry, flat, not folded, by
September 30 (postmark) to:
Tricia L. Sanders
Missouri Writers’ Guild – Flash Fiction Contest
90 Westwood Trails
Foristell, MO 63348
10. Stories exceeding word limit,
not having adequate postage, or not adhering to contest
guidelines will be disqualified and entry fee will not be
returned. Decision of judge is final. Not responsible for lost
or misdirected entries. Stories will not be returned. For a
list of winners, visit our website in late
October 2010:
www.missouriwritersguild.org Certificates and prizes
will be mailed by the end of October.
**
Writers!
Meet all your friends in St. Louis at the
2011 Missouri Writers’ Guild
“Just Write!” Conference
April 8th – 10th
Westport Plaza Sheraton Hotel
St. Louis, MO
Agents, editors, prizewinning authors, pitch sessions, panels,
classes, critiques, buzz sessions, book sales and book signings,
awards banquet, networking, Masters classes, and more!
Banquet Keynote Speaker
Elaine Viets
National Bestselling Author and
Former St. Louis Post-Dispatch Columnist
Luncheon Keynote Speaker
Mary Troy
Prizewinning Author, Editor, Natural Bridge, a journal of
contemporary literature,
Director, MFA Program, University of Missouri at St. Louis
Registration opens August 15th with Special
“Early-Bird” Rates
Go to
www.missouriwritersguild.org
For details or to register
***
Here are some photos taken by Louella Turner during our January 2010 meeting
*
Country-Western singer Nick Nixon sang two lovely ballads during his
"Fifteen Minutes of Fame," which moved several people to tears, including
himself. ;-) (He takes a minute to ask if anyone has a tissue.)
Stan Nelms reads his prize-winning entry in our 1/1/1 Kick-off Contest in January 30.
During Open Mic, Kathleen Kaiser shows her winning smile after finishing
reading her charming essay, "Susie-Q's Surprise."
***
2009 News
We are saddened to report the passing of Lynn Carney, who was to be our 8th
Annual Short Story Contest. She died of a heart attack in her Arkansas home.
Lynn was 56, and leaves a husband and grown son.
Pushcart Prize nominated writer Lou Turner has graciously
volunteered to serve as judge in place of Lynn. Our thoughts and prayers are
with Lynn, her husband Mark, and son Jeremy.
"Exercise Your Writing Muscle" Writing Resources from Tricia Sanders:
***
Attention all Elementary, Junior High, and High
School Teachers, Students, and Parents:
Saturday Writers annual fall creative writing contests for children and
teenagers are being moved! So never fear, they're still here. However,
we've decided to try something new during the 2009-2010 school year.
Saturday Writers is pleased to announce that we are planning to have a
spring contest instead. We are even thinking about incorporating poetry
into the mix this year and having our awards' meeting in April to
coincide with National Poetry Month. Look for guidelines and contest
rules in the new year, and we will look forward to reading all the
wonderfully creative entries soon. If you have any questions or
suggestions until then, please email Margo Dill at
margodll@aol.com .
****
Our speakers are great!
(Dianna and Don Graveman) (Shelly Schneider)
(Angie Fox)
(Photos from June and July meetings courtesy of Sheree
Nielsen)
***
(Photo by Dianna Graveman)
Walter Bargen, Missouri's First Poet Laureate, spoke about poetry and read a
few poems to a full house during Saturday Writers' January 31 meeting.
****
*
Two-time Spur award winning author
Dusty Richards
will speak at an extended meeting on
August 29.
December Updates:
***
Agent Krista Goering answers questions about query letters, author
platforms, marketing, publishing, and distribution with attendees at the
October 27 "Turn the Page" Workshop. For comments about Krista's
presentation and a summary of remarks of "Do's and Don'ts" from the Editor
Idol panel, visit Donna's Book Pub.
http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com/
*
Thanks to Sheree
Nielsen, official SW photographer, for taking photos
during our July meeting.
Photo by Sheree Nielsen
At our July meeting, SW Teasurer,
David Lee "Kirk" Kirkland,
sells copies of his critically acclaimed short story
collection, "The Yesterday Tales." To
order a copy, contact Kirk at
kirk@davidleekirkland.com or visit his website
www.davidleekirkland.com
*****
APRIL PHOTOS
Photos and News from the 2008 MWG Conference in Columbia
Changing of the Guard at the Missouri Writers' Guild
Incoming
President Patsy Bell Hobson thanks Outgoing President Margo Dill Balinski
for her vision, leadership, and hard work
(notice the look of relief on
Margo's face)
***
Saturday Writers kick up their heels at the MWG Conference in
Columbia on April 12
Mary Horner, Alice Betz, Mary Ann
Kohenskey, Tricia
Grissom, Tricia Sanders, Dianna Graveman, Donna Volkenannt, and Margo Dill
Balinski
***
A Happy Group of Saturday
Writers after the Banquet
From left to right: Alice Betz, Mary Horner, Mary Ann
Kohenskey, Margo Dill Balinski, Tricia Sanders, Tricia Grissom, Dianna
Graveman, and Donna Volkenannt
***
Missouri's Poet Laureate Walter Bargen graciously poses with
SW members
Mary Horner, Dianna Graveman, Walter Bargen, and Donna
Volkenannt
***
A Couple of Winners!
Tricia
Sanders
Dianna Graveman
Saturday Writers took home a total of nine Missouri
Writers' Guild awards. Winning writers are: Dianna Graveman (2 President's Awards), Tricia Sanders (2 Chapter/Sponsor Awards), Donna
Volkenannt (2 President's Awards and 1 Chapter Award), and Patsy Zettler (2
Chapter Awards).
*******
SATURDAY WRITERS
MENTIONED IN THE ST. LOUIS REVIEW
The St. Louis Review, the
newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, mentioned Saturday Writers on
page 5 of its Dec 21, 2007 issue. Under the headline, "Write On," the
newspaper reported the names of the children and young adult winners in the
Saturday Writers Contests from St. Peter School in St. Charles.
***********
* EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2008 -Please note changes in membership dues:
Current Members - Annual Renewal $15.00 (due January 1)
Current Members - Late Renewal $20.00 (after March 1)
New Members - $20.00 (New members who join after September will have the
following year included)*
*Members who joined after Sep 07 are paid up until Dec 08
****
***Here are some comments our incoming president received
from Troy Windom, who drove all the way from Tennessee to attend our October
workshop with Gail Galloway Adams:
"Allow me to
say thank you for making me feel so welcome, and they said all the
hospitality was in the south, well you Northern Belles prove them wrong
this time. Happy Writing, hope to stay in touch." Troy
************
Copies of the Cuivre River Anthology (Vol II), edited by Pushcart
Prize nominated writer Louella Turner, are available for only $10 per
copy, plus $2 shipping and handling. Send check made out to
Saturday
Writers to: Cuivre River Anthology, 2731 Cumberland Landing, St. Charles, MO
63303 Quantities limited.
****************
Photos from our March 2007 meeting
Writer and teacher Will Donnelly shares tips for
overcoming writer's block
(photo by Donna Volkenannt)
Saturday Writers President Amy Willoughby-Burle looks on
as Kathleen Kaiser talks about her business
*******************
Photos from our December 2 meeting, courtesy of Donna
Volkenannt.
Guest speaker Sheila Wood Foard
(on stage in red) and her husband Bob
smile for the camera with Publicity
Chair and Teen Writing Contest Judge,
Mary Horner (in jacket), and
Children's Program Chair, Margo Dill Balinski
(in green Saturday Writers
shirt).
Outgoing President Amy Harke-Moore
shows her appreciation to our
treasured Treasurer, David
Kirkland, for his hard work and support.
Board members Lou Turner, Doyle
Suit, and Margo Dill Balinski
take a break from their meeting
duties to smile for the camera.
With their renown efficiency
and hospitality, Membership Chair, Joy Wooderson
(seated and wearing green SW shirt), and
Treasurer, David Kirkland
(seated and
wearing plaid shirt), take care of members and visitors during our meeting.
Walt Volkenannt (profile in white cap)
checks out Emily Moore's
first-place certificate in our
annual
teen writing contest, and congratulates Emily's
proud parents, Mike
Moore and Amy Harke-Moore.
Check out our MEMBERS page for the names of our newest
members.
**********
An Afternoon of Comfort
(Photo by Jerrell Swingle)
Members Joy Wooderson, Donna Volkenannt,
and Candace Carrabus Rice
sign copies of their A Cup of Comfort books at
Barnes and Noble in St. Peters, MO
***************************
"Gone to Kansas City"
". . .they got some pretty,
witty women there . . ."
Lou Turner, Amy Willoughby-Burle,
Marcia Putnam, Candace Carrabus Rice, Joy Wooderson, Donna Volkenannt and
Margo Dill are "dressed to the nines" at the 2006 Missouri Writers' Guild
Conference banquet in Kansas City, MO
**********************
SW
Children's Program Coordinator Launches New Business
Editor 911--"Your words are
my Emergency"
Do you
have
to write, edit, or type a term paper, thesis, or dissertation?
Maybe you’ve written a book or short story that needs to be edited or
critiqued?
Contact
EDITOR 911*Personal,
friendly, creative and professional service*
Services
include typing, editing, critiquing, and organization/research help.
Prices Vary but FAIR and REASONABLE
Call Margo at 217-714-8582 Email
margodll@aol.com or Check
www.margodill.com
Credentials include: *B.S. English, Truman State University (TSU), *M.A.E.
Elementary Education, TSU, *Special Reading Certificate K-12
*Five
years critiquing experience, *Twelve years teaching experience, *Two years
as a writing specialist, *Award- winning author,
*President of the Missouri Writers’ Guild
**************
WELCOME YOUNG WRITERS!!!!
The board of Saturday Writers recently approved membership
for writers age 15-17. When applying for membership, writers ages
15-17 just need to include a consent statement signed by their parent or
guardian. Writers over age 18 have always been welcome to become
members.
**********************************
Here are some winners from
our 3rd annual children's writing contest and their teachers.
Jeff Noonan (red shirt), Nick Thro (white around neckline),
Maggie Michalak, and Dan Oleson (stripe on chest.) Teachers are: Mrs. Kaye
Hartweger (plaid shirt), Mrs. Mary Jeanne Elek (glasses), and Mrs. Carol
Arns (black and white shirt.)
***********
