My News
Florida Writers Conference
It is my honor to introduce our Florida Writer of the Year 2021.
Our conference will run from Thursday evening, October 14, 2021 thru Sunday, October 17, 2021 at the Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs, outside Orlando.
What makes it so exciting this year is that my agent, Joyce Sweeney is our writer of the year. More to follow. Unfortunately, Hurricane Eta is forcing me to shut my computer down. Stay safe.
Colors of the Holidays
Good Morning,
Thank you for visiting My News.
It’s time for a new attitude. Put away your blues music. Drag out your most upbeat music and favorite music. I’m going with the Beatles “Here Comes the Sun.”
It’s time to get into an upbeat holiday mood. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or Festivus, what color is your holiday?
Get in a happy mood and write. As president of the Florida Writers Foundation, I invite you to enter our contest. Follow this link to learn more: https://floridawritersfoundation.net
Have a great day.
NaNoWriNo
Good Morning. Thank you for visiting My News.
Today marks the beginning of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Have you ever considered writing a novel, but not gotten around to it? November is a great month to get started.
The challenge of NaNoWriMo is to write a minimum of 1,667 words per day. That’s 69 words per hour. The ultimate goal is to write the first draft (not the revised and edited version) of a 50,000 word novel in a month. That’s about the size of my first novel Silent Screams.
If you’ve been wanting to write a book, consider starting today. With the pandemic surging around us, it might be a good idea to stay inside and write as much as possible. I suggest you start with a character. My favorite books are character driven, but you decide whether you want to write an action-based or character-driven novel.
Google NaNoWriMo and get started on your writing career. Hope I’ll see you at a virtual writers conference soon. Hey, what have you got to lose?
Colorful Holidays Competition
Good Morning,
Thank you for visiting My News. I’m wearing my Florida Writers Foundation hat today. This post is designed to invite you to a fun, uplifting event.
Chase away the coronavirus blues. Whether you are still in quarantine or venturing out, make the most of the holiday season by choosing to write a positive short, short story or a short poem.
To learn more, please follow this link: https://floridawritersfoundation.net/colors-of-the-holidays/
Is Florida Writers Association for you?
Good Morning,
Wondering if attending a writers’ conference is for you? You can register for and join into the virtual workshop held last weekend.
You can still register for the remote conference and view all of our awesome workshops. All content will be up and available through November 15th. The cost is $57 for members and $116 for nonmembers, which includes a year of membership. The workshop lineup appears below.
Florida Writers Association
Good Morning,
If you follow My News, you often hear me touting the Florida Writers Association. First, let me tell you that you don’t have to reside in Florida to belong, and our conference speakers are from around the United States and Canada.
Fellow writers, it’s time for you to learn a little more about this organization. Is it right for you? Find out more by growing our website. Enjoy. Please click on this link to find out: https://floridawriters.net
2020 Royal Palm Literary Awards Winners
“This is the most competitive RPLA we’ve ever had,” said Chris Coward, RPLA chairperson. “The RPLA administrative team, judges, and entrants did an amazing job.”
In all, the competition covered 28 adult genres and 5 Youth genres, with published and unpublished entries considered separately.
Can you find me? More importantly, will you be in the picture next year? If you are a writer, consider entering the 2021 RPLA competition. Directions will appear on the Florida Writers Association website soon. Follow me, and I’ll keep you posted. Thank you.
Good Sunday Morning,
I’m super excited. Last night at the 19th Annual Florida Writers Conference, I won Gold in the Young Adult category for my novel, No Parents Allowed published by Taylor and Seale, LLC.
For me, the win proves the importance of believing in myself. I first submitted this book more than five years ago. The judges gave me what I thought were scathing reviews. I cried. I knew the book had merit and needed to be in the hands of high school students, parents, and grandparents.
I wrote three more books before returning to No Parents Allowed with more critical eyes. Sometimes, we must step away from a book before revising. After rereading my manuscript, it was clear huge chunks of it had to be deleted. As the judges indicated, there were too many characters. I rewrote the book and sent it to my copy editor, Beth Mansbridge. She helped me make my manuscript shine.
If you didn’t win this year, pay attention to the judge’s comments. Rework your book and submit again.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
The 2020 Florida Writers Association’s Collection becomes available today. I’m looking forward to reading these stories of a maximum of 1,200 words and poems of a maximum of 50 lines. In the time of this pandemic, I’m finding it easier to read short stories and poetry. I’m excited to say my poem “Insanity” appears in the collection.
I challenge you to write a short poem or story on the topic of Create an Illusion. Near the end of the FWA Remote Conference, next year’s theme will be announced. Let’s write. Writing can be cathartic.
Florida Writers Association National Writer of the Year
I shall introduce Greg Pincus and Robert N Macomber Thursday Night and they will interview each other.