Rochester Writers Association

Founded in 2007, the Rochester Writers Association focuses on more than your short story, poem or novel excerpt's entertainment value. We assist our members with punctuation, grammar, believability, plot, structure, theme, scene development, flow, and professionalism. With dedication and determination, we assist our members with their synopsis, query letters and submissions. The submission process, rejections and even form letters are treated with a positive outlook.The majority of our members have their sights set on publication. In turn, it is the purpose of this group to give you the tools necessary to achieve literary greatness. 

Schedules through February are listed on the calendar page. For the first time we will be holding a food drive at our Thursday, February 11th meeting in Fairport. If you want to participate, but don't wish to attend the Fairport meeting, please bring your donations to an earlier meeting. 

 What is an acceptable donation? Non-perishable foods, like canned fruits and vegetables, rice, cereal, and more. If you have any questions please email or leave a comment for Janet or myself.

WritersDigest

Not on Twitter? It's a great way to start your online platform! Not sure why you would need a platform, look for further information coming soon!

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.

William Wordsworth

If you haven't been to Helium you need to check it out. This is a site where you can earn REAL money for your writing. Make sure that you read their tips for writing on Helium and writing in general. The better you are at writing effectively, the more money you can earn. 

Quips and Tips for Writing  

 Challenge yourself to this quick (60 SECONDS!) creativity jump start! One Word, So Little Time

 If you're looking for an online community of writers to form a support base try http://tinyurl.com/aspiringwriters. It's a writers support group on Linkedin.  They are also holding short story competitions through the site. I've been in contact with a few professional editors for writer's cafe style sites. If you haven't taken a look at Linkedin, I advise that you use it to create working/professional contacts. GREAT networking site. www.linkedin.com

The Writers Emergency Assistance Fund (formerly the Llewellyn Miller Fund) is administered through the ASJA Charitable Trust, which has 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Its mission is to help established freelance writers across the country who, because of advanced age, illness, disability, a natural disaster, or an extraordinary professional crisis are unable to work. A writer need not be a member of ASJA to qualify for a grant. However, a grant applicant must establish a record of past professional freelance nonfiction writing over a sustained period of years, which means qualifications generally similar to those of ASJA members. The Fund does not award grants to beginning freelancers seeking funding for writing projects, nor does it fund works-in-progress of any kind.

Since 1982, the Fund has issued more than 160 grants totaling about $400,000. Among the recipients have been writers representing diverse backgrounds and interests, with an impressive list of honors and credentials among them. Each year numbers of such talented and deserving people appeal to the Writers Emergency Assistance Fund. For many, the Fund represents their last hope for help. Contributions are fully tax-deductible, and can be made online or by check.

For submission criteria, please go to:

Accu-assist, a great site for those of us with grammar oriented issues!

http://www.accu-assist.com/grammar-tips-archive.htm 

7 Most Common Grammar Mistakes

Blogging for Dummies by Susannah Gardner and Shane Birley offers some great, sometimes offbeat, writing resources on the Web. For example, did you know that if you type in the word "define" followed by a colon on Google, you can get up to 10 definitions of any word found on the Web. I tried this with the word "giraffe."

What you type in is "define:giraffe" minus the quotes. Pretty neat! Try it!

http://www.google.com/

For quick answers to copyright law, go to

http://www.copyright.gov/

Want to impress people with your knowledge of quotations? Go to:

www.bartleby.com/100

and finally, get the experts' answers to common spelling, grammar, word usage and symbol problems at

www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq

 Children's Writers Workshop:  July 17-24, 2010

This summer, spend a week learning from and getting to know children's book and magazine editors, award-winning authors, and prize-winning illustrators. Work one-on-one with a publishing professional to polish and shape your manuscript. Wander shady streets between historic gingerbread houses with people who are eager to talk about writing for children. Sit on a porch and critique manuscripts, grab a coffee or dip into a bowl of ice cream, experience creative renewal in a unique setting. http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/

Split This Rock Poetry Festival

From the website: The festival will explore and celebrate the many ways that poetry can act as an agent for change.  March 10-13th, 2010

http://www.splitthisrock.org/

The Seventh Annual San Francisco Writers Conference, "Building Bridges to Better Tomorrows" February 12-14, 2010

http://www.sfwriters.org/%20