WRITERS' EXPRESS: a day for all writers in Surrey BC

BEACON FLASH #40 - November 2009

Block off November 14 if you live in the Metro Vancouver area. The Surrey Writers' School is putting on Writers' Express again. This day of fast-paced workshops and lunch costs only $85.00 and new and experienced writers will enjoy sessions from working writers and authors on:

• Ten Do's and Don'ts of Writing for Kids & Teens
• Eight Ways to Help Your Words Work Harder
• The ABCs of Revision
• The 12 Steps of the Hero's Journey - a powerful plotting strategy
• The Pros & Cons of Agent Representation
• Self-Publishing or the Traditional Route - 25 Tips to Help You Decide
• General discussion about writing and publishing.

Details and registration are at http://surreywritersschool.com/writersexpress.aspx

EFFECTS OF BIG-BOX PRICE WAR ON AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS

This situation is going to affect authors and publishers in Canada too, make no mistake about it.

Respected US publisher, Michael Hyatt writes -- Last week Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and Target.com embarked in an online price war over the pre-sale of new hardcover, bestselling books. While the retail price for these books is typically $25–35, all three of these retailers are selling them for between $8.98 and $9.00....

Read the rest of this important and eye-opening article here: http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html.

JAMES DOUGLAS - TEEN BIOGRAPHY LAUNCHED

I've always enjoyed launching my books and yesterday I did it a new way. Instead of alone, I launched my latest teen biography in the company of about 25 other children's writers and illustrators at the CWILL BC Fall Book Harvest. All of them have had new books published this year and their books made a colourful spread for everyone to browse.

James Douglas: Father of British Columbia got a great start in life. Authors had table displays and poster, as well as an opportunity to give a 90 second pitch to school students. About 30 teens listened to mine and I presented a copy of the book to a lucky winner. His name turned out to be Douglas too and he was thrilled. He said, "It was meant to be!"

Teachers and teacher-librarians showed interest in JD and several bought copies. I enjoyed talking to them and their students. I also believe a school won me! That means I go and give a talk and a reading to the social studies classes...

To see the details about my new book, visit www.beaconlit.com/jamesdouglas.htm

ANOTHER ACCOLADE FOR THE BEACON BLOG!!

I'm proud to announce that this blog has been chosen as one of the 100 Great Blogs that Young Writers Should Read. It is listed under "Get published" and is #63. See it here http://www.onlinedegreeshub.com/blog/2009/100-great-blogs-that-young-writers-should-read/

FREELANCE WRITERS TAKE HEED!

BEACON FLASH #39 – October 2009

If you doubt that freelancer writers need to offer editors content in addition to text articles, watch the latest video clip produced for The Economist's Third Annual Media Convergence Forum this October in New York. Some of the trends are sobering and others, exciting. All will affect us. This is a must-see for writers over 30 years old!!

If you can't see the embedded video below, you can view it here

BC STUDENTS WIN TOP 5 PLACES IN YOUNG WRITERS' SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST

Out of 507 entries from all over the world, British Columbia students took the top five places in the Lisa Rector Young Writers’ Scholarship.

This is an astounding result for BC schools and for Sophia Ma as well. It’s the second time she has won the prestigious competition to attend the Surrey International Writers’ Conference all expenses paid. Many congratulations, Sophia!

1st place - Sophia Ma for "Yours Truly" (Handsworth Secondary, North Vancouver)
2nd place - Lin Wang for "Fateful Dawn" (Pinetree Secondary, Coquitlam)
3rd place - Alison Burns for "Initiation" (Handsworth Secondary, North Vancouver)
4th place - Joy Jingco for "A Painted Mirror" (Coquitlam)
5th place - Liam St. Louis for "Forced to Act" (Summit Middle School, Coquitlam)

A huge thank you to all the teachers who encouraged their students to enter and wrote letters on their behalf.

THE VERBAL PITCH - Tangled tongues and sweaty palms

I'm just about to drive up to the Whistler Writers' Festival to present "Pitching in a Cold Climate." This covers pitching magazine articles to editors, both written and verbal.

While digging around the blogs I follow for useful info from the editors'/agents' point of view, I found what I was seeking at one of my favourite sites. Kristen's post on Pub Rants from yesterday gives pitchers excellent advice for the face to face meetings with editors or agents. Although she is talking about pitching books, everything she advises applies to verbal pitches to magazine editors too -- whether you do it in person or on the phone.

Go to http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2009/09/glazed-like-doughnuts.html for some pointers and reassurance.