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This week: Edited by: Vivian  
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The Muse Online Writers Conference is over for another year, but it will come again. Maybe you'd like to be a part next October.
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A Chance at a Free, Online Conference
Experts advise writers to attend writing conferences to horn their ability and talents. Some people can’t afford to attend a conference, or they can’t find a conference close enough.
The past three years I’ve been telling people about a free, online writing conference. Some W.Com members have attended and have found at least one or two sessions helpful, if not more. The forum workshops can be accessed anytime, day or night, that the attendee can get on line. Live chat workshops or portions of the forum workshops are scheduled at certain times, but the forums themselves give enough help and information that a person wouldn’t have to attend chats if time doesn't allow.
This past year, attendees could schedule a pitch session with a publisher or agent. Yes, there were real publishers and agents in attendance. Giving or “hearing” a pitch through writing was rather different, but the process worked.
What could an online conference possibly have that would interest me? you ask. Here’s a list of the workshops offered week before last:
Workshops:
12 Stages of the Writer’s Adventure
Adding Suspense
Article Marketing
Assaulting a Writer’s Thinking
Before Copy Editing
Being the Prime Contractor – Builder of Worlds and Other Stuff
Bipolar Don’t Twitch: Mental Illness Workshop
Blogging Your Way to Greater Recognition – and more sales
Building Blocks of Fiction Writing: Characterization and Plotting
Creative Block Buster
Crit Groups 101
Decorate Your Work with Springs of Humor
Dialogue Workshop
Editing and Book Design: What Happens When You Have Finished Writing Your Book
Fine Tuning the Senses
Finding Your Writing Voice Through Personal Essays
First Pages and the YA market
Frugal Writer’s Guide to Web Sites
How to Promote When You Don’t Know How
How to Write Power Sentences
How to Write Your Bio, Get a Headshot & More
Infusing the Romance Novel with Emotional and Sexual Tension
It’s All about You! Writing Personal Stories
Monsters and Mayhem
Non-verbal Communication
On Being a Professional Amateur
Pet Writing for the Beginner
Pre-Publisher Book Marketing
Pump Up Your Opening
Research Workshop
So, you want to be a Freeland Writer
True Lies – Writing Covert Training and Missions for Fiction Writers
Using Social Media to Attract Readers
Visual Storytelling for Picture Book Art
Website Makeover
When Viewpoints Stray
Writing the Short Screen play
Write as tight as Granny’s new girdle
Writing a Teacher’s Guide to Accompany Your Children’s Book
Writing for kids and teens
Writing for love and money
Writing for the Trades: How to Make Money Writing Non-Fiction - And How NOT to P*SS Off Those You Need to Interview!
Writing Love Scenes that Sizzle
Writing with Impact
Writing Resources 101
The Art and Science of Self-Publishing
What publishers and agents accepted pitches? The list is below.
Publishers, editors, agents: (allowed attendees to make pitches by appointment)
4RV Publishing
Black Velvet Seductions
Breathless Press
Caryn Wiseman - Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Crescent Moon Press
Eternal Press
Freya’s Bower (erotica & romance publisher)
Larsen Pomada Literary Agency
Lyrical Press
The MacGregor Literary Agency
Morrigan Books
Red Rose Publishing
Samhain Publishing
Wild Child Publishing
White Rose Publishing
The Wild Rose Press
Twilight Times Books
Paladin Timeless Books
Of course the conference is over for another year, but people can register now and get updates and notice of workshops during the year. Register at http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/2010MuseConferenceRegistration/ Early registration means less chance of forgetting, and more opportunity to take part in activities. Some of those activities, pitches, and/or workshops will be held throughout the year. |
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Words from our Readers
Wow, such a large number of comments after last month's issue about apostrophes. I may not be able to give individual replies, but I'll try to at least answer questions. Thank you all.
Leaf 
Thank you for writing this week's newsletter about apostrophe's! I'm tempted to print it and staple it to my forehead. Maybe then it would seep in! Thanks again, it was very helpful.
Comma's next? 
Alethia
Commas were covered earlier: To Comma or Not to Comma, that is the question.
ontherun
In Rule 2 regarding possessives you stated: Names ending in s or an s sound are not required to have the second s added in possessive form. At least according to Strunk and White: "form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's." Thus:"Charles's friend," "Burns's poems," "the witch's malice." Unless, of course, you refer to the friend of more than one Charles. "Style rules of this sort are, of course, somewhat a matter of individual preference, and even the established rules of grammar are open to challenge."
All I know is the rule was changed to the rule I noted, changed about thirty-five years ago. The way you explain is still used, but the "singular nouns ending in s or an s sound don't have to add 's to show possession" is now the preferred method.
sarahreed
Thanks for the run-down on apostrophes. I really like the idea of them being bat commas - makes me laugh. 
Futrboy
Thanks for the insightful rules. I've been ignorantly using apostrophes for numbers.
Now, if you could just put to rest the increasingly common misuse of "lead" for "led."
The verb lead (pronounced leed) has three parts: lead, led, led. Then lead (pronounced led) is a noun, a metal.
SkyHawk - Into The Music
Dear Viv,
Thanks for an insightful (and frankly very needed) article about "bat commas." Punctuation is an area that will turn me off of a story if used wrong (because it so often screws up the understanding of the story). The same applies for word choice (e.g. "affect vs effect," "accept vs except" and the "there / their / they're" collection). A column on that would probably be very helpful, along with a column on punctuation use in relation to quotes/quotations. Thanks again!
billwilcox
Bat Comas!Laugh I love that!
Zeke 
As usual, your advice was excellent. Apostrophes are sometimes very complicated. You have made their use much easier to understand. Thank you.
Zeke
Briar Rose
Thank you! I get so annoyed when I see apostrophes used with simple plurals! Icky! Maybe this newsletter will prevent one tragic incident from happening and then YOU will have made a difference in the world! :)
THANKFUL SONALI Library Class! 
The apostrophe's triumph, over the commas' defeat! Or - the apostrophes triumph over the commas ... defeat!
Or something! Wink
NickiD89 
Great NL! No matter how many times I reference punctuation rules, I still question myself while I'm writing. Rules 8 and 9 listed here always trip me up -- thanks for setting us straight!
ace
Oh, they are cheeky little numbers, those apostrophes, aren't they? Thanks heaps for so clear and concise a guide.
Thanks for joining me this issue.
Viv |
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For Authors: October 28, 2009 Issue [#3360]
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