Welcome to Author Network – we provide an extensive range of resources for writers.
Latest News
Read about interesting authors on our interview page. We recently posted author interviews for Michelle Buckman, Terry Burns, Max Elliot Anderson, Robert Bakke, Michelle Cove, Rosetta Hoessli, Pen Densham and Eddie Aucoin. Keep checking back for newly posted interviews.
The New School Screenwriting: Students can take screenwriting courses toward a Certificate in Screenwriting, for undergraduate credit, or on a non-credit basis. Upon completing the core sequence of screenwriting courses, students have a comprehensive grounding in story, character, theme, action, visuals, and dialogue, as they have been carefully guided through the entire screenplay writing process.
The Rena’s Promise International Creative Writing Camp: Created to further the vision of Holocaust survivor Rena Kornreich Gelissen and in honor of her memory, Rena’s promise is a promise to create a more ecumenical world unhindered by prejudice, racism or hatred by bringing young people together from all walks of life and providing them with a place to develop the cultural and creative voices of Generation NEXT. This one week intensive writing program is for young people between the ages of 14-17, who want to explore their own unique gifts as writers by working with professional writers. The camp will be held July 2-8, 2011 in Shelter Island, New York.
Writers on the Net at writers.com: On-line Writing Classes available. New classes are available. Other classes focus on creative writing, fiction, blogging and new media, spiritual and personal growth and many more topics.
Writing Competitions:
Stay tuned for Author-Network’s first annual writing competition! Details to come ….
The Fine Line Short Story Competition: The Fine Line’s inaugural short story competition is now open for entries. Whatever your taste, style or inspiration, submit your tale and you could win £200 ($320/EUR230) and publication in The Fine Line Short Story Collection. A percentage of all entry fees goes to charity so you’ll be doing good while getting your work out there. The entry fee is £5 ($8/EUR6). Deadline for entries is May 31, 2011. To read more about the competition, please click on the above link.
Rhyme & Reason 2011: Details for the 2012 edition of Rhyme & Reason, with the theme of ‘TIME’, have now been launched. Contributions for the publication can be made through one of two competitions: a new Prose Competition, to be judged by author Fay Weldon, and a Poetry Competition, now in its fourth year, to be judged by poet Gerard Benson. We are awarding prizes in both categories, and hope to publish as many entries as possible, so even if you are unsuccessful in the competition, you have a very good chance of being published in the diary. Details about both competitions and how to enter can be found by clicking on the above link.
The Poetry Society: The National Poetry competition is now open for entries for all candidates aged 17 or older. International poets are also welcomed to join the contest. Poems can have any theme, but they must not exceed 40 lines. For the first submission aspiring poets need to pay £6 and £3 for any additional entries. The closing date is on October 31st 2011. The first prize is of £5,000, second prize of £2,000, third prize of £1,000 and seven commendations of £100 each. The winner will be published in the Poetry Review periodical and will be asked to read at Ledbury Poetry Festival in the summer of 2011.
Leaf Books: challenges you to write 140 characters story for the New Tiny Weeny competition. First prize is of £75 and publication as a Leaf Book. Entry fee: £2 per submission payable through PayPal. Closing date: May 31st 2011. Other competitions refer to micro fiction or postcard and short travel writing of 300 words. More details are available on the website as well as entry forms. Send your work at contact@leafbooks.co.uk.
The New Writer magazine: offers prose and poetry prizes in 2011. This is a major annual competition for short stories, novellas, single poems, poetry collections, essays and articles writers; offers cash prizes of £2500 as well as publication for the prize-winning writers in The Collection – the special edition of The New Writer magazine. Closing date is November 30th of 2011. See website for additional information including guidelines and entry fees, or send SAE for an Entry Form to The New Writer, PO Box 60, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2RE.
Writers Group Seeks Cat-Related Contest Entries: The international Cat Writers’ Association Inc. (CWA) will accept entries for its 18th annual Communications Contest for published writers, photographers and editors in print, online and broadcast media. First publishing or broadcast occurred June 16th 2009 and prior to June 15th 2010. Closing date is July 1st, 2011. Rules and entry details are available on the CWA website.
Calyx: A Journal of Art and Literature by Women, holdings an annual Lois Cranston Memorial Poetry Contest. The prize includes a one-volume subscription, website publishing and $300. Check back for more details.
For more listings see: Competitions.
Reviews:
Fear of Writing: For Writers and Closet Writers: By Milli Thornton. Nonfiction/Writers/How-To. If you are so blocked that you don’t believe this, Milli Thornton will take care of that. Her exuberance–her pure force of will–will see to it not only that you read Fear of Writing but that you also read it right. That is, you must pause to do the exercises which she calls (aptly) “fertile material.” And if you but think of sitting back on your laurels for having gone this far, her enthusiasm will propel you forward. Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson. Contact email:hojoreviews@aol.com.
My Inner Pilgrimage Journal: By Christina Rodenbeck (Writer and Editorial Consultant). Nonfiction/Adult/Journaling and Writing. A Journal that Inspires Writers and Others To More Glorious Memories. Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson. Contact email: hojoreviews@aol.com.
Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer: How to Win Top Writing Assignments: Inspiration in a How-To Book – Jenna Glatzer Shares the Essence of Freelancing. Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson – contact email: hojoreviews@aol.com.
For more listings see Reviews.
Markets:
Turntable + Blue Light: encourage expression on different fields such as contemporary poetry, prose, music, visuals or the extraordinary. Details about submissions are available on the website. You can contact Editor Arielle Guy for your queries at arielleg@turntablebluelight.com. Content on the website is mainly due to enthusiast contributors of which you can be a part too.
Mslexia: the magazine for women who write currently features a poetry competition until 26th of July 2010. It publishes selections of poems and short stories based on a theme from renowned as well as unpublished female writers. The aim is to create awareness and support high quality story telling. For submissions they pay £25 per poem and £15 per prose. Flash Fiction is another writing option authors should consider. It entails telling a story in just a few words (150 maximum) on a given subject. It is worth £20.
DigitalPulp Publishing: publishes and distributes e-books and aims to establish itself on the market as a supporting platform for writers, self-publishers and independent presses. The company encourages all these categories to place inquiries about e-book technology to help them seize the opportunities of this emerging market. DigitalPulp Publishing distributes content on all popular digital formats such as PDAs (Pocket PC/Palm), MP3 players, e-book readers, cell phones and computers.
SAW wwelcomes unsolicited submissions of a wide spectrum of poetry, by post, or email by January 31st for the April issue, or June 30th for the September issue. There will be a maximum of 80 lines per poem, including title and stanza breaks, allowed on all future submissions. Postal submissions should be typed on one side only of A4 white paper, double spaced. Each page must include the author’s name and address. A stamped addressed envelope must be enclosed with submissions, if you would like your manuscripts returned. Please ensure the envelope is large enough and postage is sufficient. If you are not in the UK please send the appropriate number of International Reply Coupons. Subscriptions are not paid, but writers receive a copy of the magazine where their work is featured. Email Colin Shaddick for further information.
Associated Content: Publish your articles, reviews and opinions on Associated Content.com which joined the Yahoo! Websites family. Writers can write on any topic and earn money anytime the content is viewed. If you have a solid writer experience you can apply for the Guest contributors program at www.associatedcontent.com. Get paid to share your expertise.
Matador: is an interactive travel magazine comprising 13 different websites connected through the Matador community. You need to have a Matador profile registered on one of them in order to submit content. Unique tales are sought after which fully capture the experiences a place has to offer. First thing to do is to understand the type of content by reading published articles on the Matador community network. Next thing is to compile a heartfelt story which is also relevant for readers. For each article submitted fitting the details you will find on the website you will get paid$ 25 through PayPal money transferring system.
Delivered: is a short story magazine welcoming new writers to submit their work on this subject but also encourages poetry, crosswords and page fillers (facts of the day, quiz questions or cartoons) submissions. Your story can be on any subject as long as it doesn’t exceed 3000 words. You receive a free copy of the issue featuring your work. Your stories should be sent by email to: delivered@hotmail.co.uk. For additional information check out the posts on the website.
Short-Story.Net – Submit short stories poems, or read and offer constructive criticism on the work of others. Unpublished as well as experienced authors can send their short stories. You need to fill out a simple form and hit submit. Your work will be reviewed and if content is relevant for the website it will be published under your name. You keep the copyright of all submissions.
Conferences and Literary Festivals:
Guernsey Literary Festival: The first ever Guernsey Literary Festival will taking place from May 12-15, 2011 and will be featuring writers inspired by Guernsey. Just some of the speakers and performers Guernsey will be welcoming are Annie Barrows, Tim Binding, Mary Horlock, Edward & Olivia Chaney and John Cooper Clark. For full Festival information click on the link above.
UBUD Writers & Readers Festival: 5-9 of October, 2011. Location: Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. This year’s theme is cultivate the land within. Full program will be available on the website in August.
Writing, Creativity and Ritual: A Writing Retreat for Women in Bar Harbor, Maine – the home for Acadia National Park. The event will be held between July 25th and August 4th, 2011.
For more listings see Literary Festivals.
Magazines and Websites for Writers:
English PEN: is a literary membership organization with branches in over 100 countries dedicated to the promotion of literature and freedom of expression. They run several literary programs and events such as the Readers and Writers started in 2000 addressed to promote literature for social excluded categories.
Campusbooks.com: provides a powerful search engine empowering you to find the lowest price on new and used college textbooks. It scans thousands of bookstores and has many textbook references you might want to take into account before actual purchase. You can also sell or donate your textbooks whichever is best suited to your needs.
Techwriters.com: is a great tool when in need of an excellent technical writer. An experience of 20 years recommends the website for your search. Companies can find a Technical Writer, contract or staff. Independent writers receive technical writing classes, technical writing training, and an online technical writing course.
Movie Outline Software: is a professional scriptwriting tool designed to help people in this business track better character development and plot unfolding in a well-organized cinematic structure.
For more listings see Magazines.
Writing Courses and General Advice:
Write here in France: Creative writing courses for beginners and established writers. New writers are guided so they can understand writing mechanism while established writers can find inspirational energy which might lead to a new successful book. Both of them can gain confidence through individual or group classes. Courses have a weekly structure available on the website and take place in a quiet and beautiful area designed to inspire, in a mediaeval farmhouse in the Aveyron, France. Visit the website and email: Sharon.Colback@Wanadoo.fr or call her at Tel: +33 5 65 99 7645
University of Newcastle upon Tyne: Postgraduate creative writing courses at the School of English. Postgraduate Certificate – designed for students who wish to further develop their skills in creative writing or receive an accredited training for teaching creative writing. The duration is of 12 months full-time, 24 months part-time. MA Degree in creative writing – offers intensive workshops of poetry, prose and stage and screen scripts to identify the opportunity to specialize or move between genres. Curriculum includes different genres exercises, guidance for publishing your work and many more. The university also offers six week courses, specializing in a broad range of subjects including Children’s Literature, Fiction Master class, Writing and Health, Screenwriting and Poetry. Access the university’s webpage for additional information or emailCynthia.Fuller@ncl.ac.uk for the postgraduate program or margaret.wilkinson@ncl.ac.uk for the MA degree.
WritersCollege.com: offers more than 60 online writing classes taught by actual writers of both fiction and nonfiction genres. Lessons are sent to your email address and allow you to do the homework according to your own schedule. Most courses address basic writing skills, only a few need more qualifications to enter.
Screenplay coverage: is a major tool in the story development process. Your script has to leave its mark on a producer from the first reading. This website can provide you the necessary guidance to achieve such an effect: rewriting process to build up believable characters, good storyline, heighten drama, improve concept, sharpen pacing and increase the marketability of your screenplay.
Want to write children’s books – and get published? Join Alan Durant, acclaimed author of over 50 books, on a residential writers’ course in South West London. If you want to rediscover your childhood and also provide a fun reading experience for millions of boys and girls in the world, this is the writing opportunity for you. The author is available for a flexible course or for a fixed timetable. Cost £325 per day to cover fees, accommodation and all meals. Does this sound exciting? For further details you can contact Alan Durant directly by email atalandurant@blueyonder.co.uk or by phone on 07944 374734.
Leeds University – MA in Writing for Performance and Publication. One year full-time. Also two years part-time (though not in 2005/6). For students who hope to become writers or wish to develop their writing skills. Taught by established professional authors, the course offers the chance to work in a wide variety of fiction genres as well as specialize in any of the major forms – prose fiction, poetry, theatre & radio script or screenplay. In order to apply you must right a research proposal. For any details on this matter contact the Postgraduate Research Tutor, Dr. Kara Mckechnie, at k.mckechnie@leeds.ac.uk or call at 0113 343 8727.
Write here in France: Residential creative writing courses in the Aveyron, South West France. To inspire writers of all levels. Discover your strengths; improve your technique, gain confidence and direction for your writing. For details of 2005 dates please visit the website or emailSharon.colback@Wanadoo.fr, or call +33 5 65 99 76 45.
For more listings see Courses.
Recent Articles:
Two new articles by our Writer in Residence, Paul Saevig: CRITIQUE? YES, BUT BY WHOM AND HOW? and Do You Want to Review Movies?
Beware and Be Smart! By Pamela S. Thibodeaux.
“The dilemma of the amateur poet” By Paul Grainger.
How Long Should Your Story Be? by Lee Masterson. One common question asked by many writers is: “How long should my story be?” The simplest answer is: As long as it takes to tell the whole story. Still there are a few generally accepted lengths which can give insight on the genre you’re more closed to. Aside plot and character development, this is also a differentiator between genres.
For more listings see Articles.