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Friday, September 22, 2006
NEWS! Shalla Wins Competition in Mad Hatters Review
Happy
NEWS!
Shalla Wins Competition in Mad Hatters Review
Who is Shalla?
*Writer *Artist *Model *Adventuress
Shalla de Guzman short stories have appeared in the Mosaic Literary Journal and Mad Hatters Review, her articles in The Scriptorium and L.A. Freepress, her skits at the Stella Adler Theatre.
Her flash fiction Fish In My Bed recently won the FISH AND PLANE Competition and is featured in Issue 6 of Mad Hatters Review.
Shalla, a former writer and producer of a health and fitness cable show, is currently writing a novel. She is President of The ShalladeGuzman Writers Group where she interviews literary agents, publishers, editors, etc.
For more about Shalla: www.shalladeguzman.com
Check out the ShalladeGuzman Writers Group!
"Get Booked on Oprah"
Also-- Learn how to get a
6 figure book advance!
Join Us!
For more:
http://shalladeguzman.blogspot.com/
Previous Posts
http://journals.aol.com/shalladeguzman/ShallaJournal/entries/2006/09/22/news-shalla-wins-competition-in-mad-hatters-review/203
shalladeguzman at 7:31:24 PM EDT
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Friday, June 30, 2006
Did you know? Shalla Blogs on MySpace.com
Happy
Did you know? Shalla Blogs on MySpace.com
Check out Shalla's MySpace Profile too
And, Shalla is also at Spoiled Ink
LIKE MORE SHALLA NEWS? Coming Soon! SHALLA CHATS with Editors
shalladeguzman at 2:14:41 PM EDT
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Saturday, April 22, 2006
Free Online Seminar: "Learn the Business of Writing: Public Relations"
Happy
Free Online Seminar: "Learn the Business of Writing: Public Relations"
****************
***Develop your brand...
*****Get media training...
*******Learn to promote your book...
Find out how to do book tours and more!
Still writing your novel?
It's never too early to learn the business of writing.
Moderated by:
Shalla de Guzman
www.shalladeguzman.com
Who is Theresa Meyers?
She is the President of Blue Moon Communications, a Public Relations Consulting for Fiction Writers whose client includes New York Times Bestselling Author Brenda Joyce, bestselling author Linda Conrad and Michele Scott, author for Berkley Prime Crime. My agency, Blue Moon Communications is probably best known for getting two of our clients, Carly Phillips and Vicki Lewis Thompson selected as picks for Kelly Ripa’s Book Club on LIVE! With Regis and Kelly. We’ve also gotten clients in national magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Complete Woman and Publishers Weekly and on radio nationwide. I work with New York Times bestsellers, new authors and many of the largest fiction publishers in New York including St. Martins Press, Warner Books, MIRA Books (Harlequin), NAL, Dorchester and others. JOIN US http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShalladeGuzman
*********
HAPPY EARTH DAY
(yes, Shalla is an environmentalist)
shalladeguzman at 2:59:10 PM EDT
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Thursday, March 9, 2006
Resources for Writing Fiction
Happy
Resources for Writing Fiction
Further Reading
Short Fiction
Where I'm Calling From: New and Selected Stories
Raymond Carver
This is major collection of Carver's short stories, including seven new stories written shortly before the author's death in 1988. The Chicago Tribune said, "Set next to standard-issue American heroes, these characters may be jerks, losers, flops, sad-sacks, bums, and chumps, but within each is a spark of caring. This human quality impels us into the center of every Carver story."
The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Short Stories
Tobias Wolff, Editor
The thirty-three stories in this volume prove that American short fiction maybe be our most distinctive national art form. They make up an alternate map of the United States that represents not just geography but narrative traditions, cultural heritage, and divergent approaches.
Novels
Empire Falls
Richard Russo
Dexter County, Maine, and specifically the town of Empire Falls, have seen better days. Long-successful businesses have failed, and the working class continues to struggle. Called back from college and set to work by family obligations, Miles never left home again. His obligations are many -- a pending divorce, a troubled younger brother, a failing business, and his adolescent daughter, Tick. In Miles, Russo's epic reveals our worst and best instincts, our most appalling nightmares, and our simplest hopes.
White Teeth
Zadie Smith
Set against London’s racial and cultural tapestry, venturing across the former empire and into the past as it barrels toward the future, two unlikely friends and their families revel in the ecstatic hodgepodge of modern life, flirting with disaster, confounding expectations, and embracing the comedy of daily existence. Smith's stunning, self-assured debut established her as unforgettable voice in fiction.
Books for Writers
Aspects of the Novel
E. M. Forster
Forster's renowned guide to writing sparkles with wit and insight for contemporary writers and readers. With lively language and excerpts from well-known classics, Forster takes on the seven elements vital to a novel: story, people, plot, fantasy, prophecy, pattern, and rhythm, providing examples of writing from such literary greats as Dickens and Austen. Forster is entertaining without lapsing into complicated, scholarly rhetoric.
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Anne Lamott
You'll laugh out loud at Lamott's inspiring look at the spirituality and the sometimes dull reality of writing and the writing life. She offers practical and honest suggestions on how to beat writer's block, find inspiration, or tackle a project that seems overwhelming, all of it wrapped in her warm and often hilarious viewpoint. With lessons in craft, art, and even life, having this book on the shelf is like having a fellow writer and friend on hand.
Elements of Style
William Strunk and E. B. White
Asserting that one must first know the rules to break them, this classic reference book is a must-have for any student and conscientious writer. Intended for use in which the practice of composition is combined with the study of literature, it gives in brief space the principal requirements of plain English style and concentrates attention on the rules of usage and principles of composition most commonly violated.
2006 Writer's Market
Kathryn Brogan and Robert Lee Brewer, Editors
This essential reference contains current listings and key information for more than 4,000 book publishers, consumer magazines, trade journals, and contests and awards. Plus, you'll find useful articles and invaluable advice covering issues of concern to both new writers and published authors.
Online Resources
For further resources, visit the Writer’s Network at www.WritingClasses.com.
shalladeguzman at 5:09:41 PM EST
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Resources for Writing Screenplays
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Resources for Writing Screenplays
Further Reading
The Screenwriter's Workbook
Syd Field
Here is the perfect companion to your primary text, your very own hands-on workshop. This terrific book that allows you to participate in the processes that have made Syd Field's workshops invaluable to beginners and working professionals alike.
The Screenwriter's Problem Solver
Syd Field
Next, Syd Field tells you step-by-step how to identify and fix common screenwriting problems, providing the professional secrets that make movies brilliant -- secrets that can turn your screenplay into one headed for success ... or even Cannes!
500 Ways to Beat the Hollywood Script Reader
Jennifer Lerch
This guide to screenwriting is designed to get you past the fiercest gatekeepers in Hollywood: the Hollywood freelance script readers. Written by an industry insider who has recommended scripts that have sold for as much as one million dollars, this is the only book to show you what the Hollywood Reader really wants to see. Tips include: making a good first impression, writing effective dialogue, what makes a screenplay "unputdownable," requirements and pitfalls of each genre, how to write a "wow" ending, and what to do when your screenplay is rejected.
Creating Unforgettable Characters
Linda Seger
In this book, Linda Seger shows how to create strong, multidimensional characters in fiction, covering everything from research to character block. Interviews with popular writers complete this essential volume.
Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting
Robert McKee
Here, McKee expands on the concepts he teaches in his $450 seminars (considered a must by industry insiders), providing readers with the most comprehensive, integrated explanation of the craft of writing for the screen. No one better understands how all the elements of a screenplay fit together, and no one is better qualified to explain the "magic" of story construction and the relationship between structure and character than Robert McKee.
Online Resources
The Writer’s Network section of WritingClasses.com features an extensive listing of online resources for screenwriters.
The American Screenwriters Association™ (ASA) is organized for educational purposes, including the promotion and encouragement of the art of screenwriting. A non-profit organization, ASA is committed to the international support and advancement of all screenwriters and welcomes interested individuals from around the world who are pursuing the writing of documentaries, educational films, feature films, television, radio and large screen format films.
Other Resources
Final Draft Screenwriting Software -- Final Draft is the number one selling word processor dedicated to the art of screenwriting, playwriting, and television writing. Specifically designed for writing screenplays, TV scripts, and stage plays, Final Draft combines powerful word processing with professional script formatting in one self-contained, easy-to-use package. Final Draft automatically paginates and formats your script to industry standards as you write, helping you to focus your creative energies on plot, act-structure, character development, conflict, and dialogue.
Special Student Discount -- As a student enrolled in a Screenwriting course, you can purchase the software at a special student rate through Gotham Writers' Workshop. For more information, click here.
As you enter the world of screenwriting, it's a great idea to read as many actual, professionally-formatted screenplays as you can. It can be fascinating to read how a favorite movie was first put down on paper by its screenwriter. Additionally, it can be an invaluable experience to read the script for a film you haven't seen, and to then rent the final, filmed version and compare.</ P>
Below you’ll find some links to web sites that provide free downloads of hundreds of scripts for well-known films.
Do keep in mind, however, that many of the scripts which appear on these sites were written as much as twenty years ago. Screenwriting trends tend to change over time, so don’t be alarmed if what you read there occasionally contradicts the ideas we talk about in class. While there’s much to be learned from reading the masters, we’ve also got to keep our own techniques as current as possible.
Click on the links below to be taken to the web sites.
Drew's Script-o-rama</ a>
Luna Lounge
It’s important to master proper screenplay format before you send your work out to professionals. Here are some resources to help you. Click on the blue links to visit web sites.
Final Draft
This is the most widely used, professional screenwriting software. This is not to say that there aren’t others that are just as good. But Final Draft is commonly used in the film industry, so it’s a good place to start if you’re researching software packages.
Screenwriting.Info
There are hundreds of web sites on screenwriting out there, and many can be very helpful. Screenwriting.Info offers a clear overview of the margins and spacing of screenplay format. If you’re not ready to invest in a software package that formats for you, use these specs to create a template for yourself in your word processing program.
The Complete Guide to Standard Script Formats
If a book is your thing, here is one of the more popular volumes on screenplay format.
shalladeguzman at 5:05:06 PM EST
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Resources for Writing Poetry
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Resources for Writing Poetry
Further Reading
2006 Poet's Market
Nancy Breen and Erika Kruse O'Connell, Editors
This 2006 edition of this go-to poetry market guide contains more than 1,800 listings, all updated and easily accessible. The book contains numerous indexes, including Chapbook Publishers, Book Publishers, Openness to Submission, Geographical, and Subject.
The Writer's Idea Workshop: How to Make Your Good Ideas Great
Jack Heffron
Whether you have one idea or several, your goal is to create a powerful piece of fiction or nonfiction -- the kind you've always dreamed of writing. The problem comes in transforming that good idea into a great story or article. How do you proceed after that initial flurry of inspiration? Here, Heffron guides you through the idea-development process from initial concept to final revision.
The Pocket Muse: Ideas and Inspirations for Writing
Monica Wood and Jack Heffron
The rich variety of exercises will help writers to create entire stories or focus on a single aspect of their writing. It will also encourage them to think about how they write in new and surprising ways. It's truly a unique book, both fun and effective. It will teach, cheer and inspire writers as never before.
Americans' Favorite Poems
Robert Pinsky and Maggie Dietz, Editors
This anthology embodies Robert Pinsky's commitment to discover America's beloved poems, his special undertaking as Poet Laureate of the United States. The selections in this anthology were chosen from the personal letters of thousands of Americans who responded to Robert Pinsky's invitation to write to him about their favorite poems. The collection discloses the rich and vigorous presence of poetry in American life at the millennium.
The Writer's Idea Book
Jack Heffron
This is the guide writers reach for time after time to jump start their creativity and develop ideas. Four distinctive sections, each geared toward a different stage of writing, offer dozens of unique approaches to "freeing the muse." In all, readers will find more than 400 idea-generating prompts guaranteed to get their writing started on the right foot, or back on track!
The Making of a Poem: A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms
Mark Strand and Eavan Boland
Two of our foremost poets provide a lucid, straightforward primer for readers who have always felt that an understanding of form (sonnet, ballad, villanelle, sestina, among others) would enhance their appreciation of poetry. Tracing "the exuberant history of forms," they devote one chapter to each form, offering explanation, close reading, and a rich selection of examples.
Poetry Speaks: Hear Great Poets Read Their Work from Tennyson to Plath
Elise Paschen and Rebekah Presson Mosby, Editors
This collection features the work of the most influential writers in modern poetry -- written and performed -- from 1892 to 1997, and combines their most significant poems in print with the authors themselves reading their poetry on audio CD. It not only introduces the finest work from some of the greatest poets who ever lived, it reintroduces the oral tradition of poetry, of poetry performed.
Online Resources
Writer's Digest Books
Writer's Online Workshops presented by Writer's Digest
Poetry e-zine.
Other Resources
Writer's Digest Magazine
CutBank Literary Magazine
The Colorado Review
shalladeguzman at 5:02:47 PM EST
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Resources for Writing Memoir
Happy
Resources for Writing Memoir
Further Reading
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Anne Lamott
If you have ever wondered what it takes to be a writer, what it means to be a writer, what the contents of your school lunches said about what your parents were really like, this book's for you. From faith, love, and grace to pain, jealousy, and fear, Lamott insists that you keep your eyes open, and then shows you how to survive. And always, from the life of the artist she turns to the art of life.
Inventing the Truth: The Art and Craft of Memoir
William Knowlton Zinsser, Editor
In this expanded edition, nine well-known authors describe in anecdotal detail the pleasures and problems of writing a memoir. Inventing the Truth is an indispensable book for anyone writing a memoir or anyone eager to know how authors impose an orderly structure on the disorderly experiences, memories, and emotions of the past.
This Boy's Life: A Memoir
Tobias Wolff
In this unforgettable memoir of boyhood in the 1950s, we meet the young Toby Wolff, by turns tough and vulnerable, crafty and bumbling, and ultimately winning. Separated by divorce from his father and brother, Toby and his mother are constantly on the move. Fighting for identity and self-respect against the unrelenting hostility of a new stepfather, Toby's growing up is at once poignant and comical.
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
Natalie Goldberg, Foreword by Judith Guest
With insight, humor, and practicality, Goldberg inspires you to take the leap into writing creatively and well. She offers advice on many aspects of the writer's craft: writing from "first thoughts" (keep your hand moving, don't cross out, just get it on paper), listening (writing is ninety percent listening; the deeper you listen, the better you write), using verbs (verbs provide the energy of the sentence), overcoming doubts (doubt is torture; don't listen to it) -- even choosing a restaurant in which to write.
I Could Tell You Stories: Sojourns in the Land of Memory
Patricia Hampl
Hampl explores her autobiographical writing -- including her family's response to her writing, the ethics of writing about family and friends, St. Augustine's Confessions, reflections on reading Walt Whitman during the Vietnam War, and an early experience reviewing Sylvia Plath. The word that unites the impulse within all the pieces is "Remember!"--a command that can be startling. For to remember is to make a pledge to the indelible experience of personal perception, and to history itself.
The Elements of Style
William Strunk and E. B. White
This classic reference book is a must-have for any student and conscientious writer. Intended for use in which the practice of composition is combined with the study of literature, it gives in brief space the principal requirements of plain English style and concentrates attention on the rules of usage and principles of composition most commonly violated.
2006 Writer's Market
Kathryn Brogan, Joanna Masterson, and Robert Lee Brewer, Editors
Since 1921, Writer's Market has been the #1 resource for helping writers sell their work. 100% updated, this essential reference contains current listings and key information for more than 4,000 book publishers, consumer magazines, trade journals, and contests and awards. Plus, you'll find useful articles and invaluable advice covering issues of concern to both new writers and published authors.
Online Resources
For an exhaustive list of online writing resources visit the writers network at www.WritingClasses.com
shalladeguzman at 5:01:23 PM EST
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