2010/7 — Riichard Georgian

July 2010

Dear Members:

Toot your horns, bang the drums, and blow the vuvuzelas, our 2011 Writing Contest has begun. This year there is no set theme, so you can write about whatever you would like (except no erotica or gratuitous violence). A few other changes: the maximum word count for prose has dropped to 1500 words; students may enter at a reduced price, and please submit three copies with your entry form. Visit our Website and under the NEWS bar click on Writing Contest for guidelines and entry form. Florida Weekly has agreed to sponsor this year’s contest and will provide advertising, and print the first place winners in each category. We are still looking for additional sponsors, and if you have a contact or company that you think might provide a prize, please pass the word to a board member.

Intellectual Property attorneys Edward Livingston and Erica Loeffler’s presentation on copyright law stimulated a lot of thought, generating many questions. A word of warning, the use of “poor boy copyrights,” i.e., using the © without registration, does not provide you any legal protection. You can copyright your materials online at www.copyright.gov. It is a very easy process. The cost is $35.00.

Join award-winning novelist Robert N. Macomber for an informal discussion of one of the most difficult tasks a writer faces—how to edit one’s own work. He’ll explain his methods to better the product prior to an editor seeing it, most of which he learned the hard way while writing well over a million published words in nine novels and numerous magazine pieces. Some of them may surprise you. He will be an exciting July speaker.

The “Island Getaway Contest” kicked off last month. Aurelie Shuleshko and John Repa were the first to win the drawing and receive the free trips out to North Captiva Resort. After their trip, they will write a 500 to 750 word piece about their experience. These entries are posted on North Captiva’s Website and by the end of the season next year, the entry with the most and best blog comments is the winner.

If you have not checked out our Website lately, I suggest you do. There are some exciting changes, and if you have published books, see the new page “members books.” Our new photographer, Denise Holbrook, is now taking head shots of members to post on the Website, see her if you want one taken.

Hope to see you all Saturday, July 17 for our next meeting, and keep on writing.

Sincerely,
Richard Georgian
President

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