Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Jan. 9 workshop: What authors need to know about Amazon


If you’re a self-published author, understanding Amazon is crucial. Join Matt Davids from 10 a.m. to noon, Jan. 9, for a free online workshop and learn about “The Amazon Mindset: What Self-Publishing Authors Need to Know About the World’s Largest Bookseller.”

You can find the Zoom address on the St. Louis Writers Guild’s Virtual Events page (www.stlwritersguild.org/virtual-events) or click here on Jan. 9 to join the meeting: 

https://zoom.us/j/7028903800?pwd=bHp3cWhpWHBQSW9wMXgzM3N4cE5qZz09

Meeting ID: 702 890 3800

Password: SLWG2020

Call in: +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Matt’s presentation will cover strategies and tactics for optimizing your books so they sell.

“We must learn how to make our books stand out from the millions of other books on Amazon,” he said. “We'll start with several key elements that are needed to understand Amazon and then dive into practical tips you can apply today.” 

Matt Davids is a full-time creator of tabletop role-playing game books, including the Amazon bestsellers, The Book of Random Tables and The Book of Random Tables: Quests. All his books can be found at dicegeeks.com. Matt is also the host of the Dicegeeks.com Tabletop RPG Show, a podcast featuring interviews with game designers, writers, and filmmakers. He is happily married to his beautiful wife, Erin, and is the father of three boys

To learn more about the St. Louis Writers Guild, go to www.stlwritersguild.org


Sunday, November 15, 2020

Guild honors young writers at Dec. 5 holiday gathering


Join a celebration honoring award-winning young writers at the St. Louis Writers Guild’s annual holiday gathering from 10 a.m. to noon, Dec. 5. 

You can find the Zoom address on the Guild’s Virtual Events page (www.stlwritersguild.org/virtual-events) or click here to join the meeting: 

https://zoom.us/j/7028903800?pwd=bHp3cWhpWHBQSW9wMXgzM3N4cE5qZz09

Meeting ID: 702 890 3800

Password: SLWG2020

Call in: +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

At this free online event, learn how fourth- through eighth-graders created stories that all began with the words: “Beneath the mask…” 

Winners of the first Young Writers Awards (High School Edition) for ninth- to twelfth-grade students will also be invited to read their stories centered on the 2020 theme: Beneath the Mask. 

Judging was based on originality, cohesiveness, spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Award-winning author Jody Feldman judged entries in the 4th – 5th grade and 6th – 8th grade levels. Anna Ojascastro Guzon and Michelle M. Haberberger of Your Words STL judged contest entries for the Young Writers Awards (High School Edition). Your Words STL is a non-profit that uses creative writing workshops, tutoring, and collaborative projects to help amplify the voices of those who are marginalized. 

The Young Writers Collection, an anthology of winning entries in both contests, will be published and available on Amazon by mid-December.

SLWG offers an associate membership is for young writers who are currently enrolled in middle school, high school, or an equivalent alternative. Associate members have access to special areas on the website and special events hosted by St. Louis Writers Guild. Associate members are welcome to attend age-appropriate SLWG Events. Associate Membership is $5 per year, which is applied to the young writers programming. Go to the YWSTL tab (Young Writers of St. Louis) on the Guild’s website, www.stlwritersguild.org


Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Workshop Nov. 7: Tax tips for writers and other creative professionals


Tax time is coming up before you know it. If you’re like many writers and other creative professionals, you may find it challenging to keep track of what business expenses and sales the law requires you to report. 

Certified Public Accountant Dan Connor will offer tax tips and answer your questions from 10 a.m. to noon, Nov. 7, in a free online workshop hosted by the St. Louis Writers Guild, in cooperation with the Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA).

You can find the Zoom address on the Guild’s Virtual Events page (www.stlwritersguild.org/virtual-events) or click here to join the meeting: 

https://zoom.us/j/7028903800?pwd=bHp3cWhpWHBQSW9wMXgzM3N4cE5qZz09

Meeting ID: 702 890 3800

Password: SLWG2020

Call in: +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Dan will address questions such as:

Do I need to pay taxes ahead of time?  

Can I deduct losses if I spent more than I made?  

When is writing a business or a hobby?

How will the election affect my taxes? 

Dan Connors, with  Buenger Accounting in Granite City, IL, is an Enrolled Agent under the IRS and a CPA under the state of Illinois. He has been preparing taxes for more than fifteen years for individuals, nonprofits, and businesses. Dan is also an aspiring writer and has been published in the St. Louis Post Dispatch several times. He can be reached at dan@buengeraccounting.com (accounting) or dan@authordanconnors.com  (writing). 

Learn more about the St. Louis Writers Guild at www.stlwritersguild.org and about the VLAA at www.vlaa.org.


Sunday, October 11, 2020

Workshop Oct. 24: Everything You Know About Screenwriting is Wrong

In this informative and brutally honest two-plus hours, Paul Guyot, who has worked in Hollywood for 30 years -- the last 20 as a full-time screenwriter -- shares the reasons why nearly every book on screenwriting is wrong.

Join Guyot from 10 a.m. to noon, Oct. 24, at this free online workshop, and stay on afterward to celebrate the St. Louis Writers Guild 100th Anniversary. We're limited to 100 participants, so sign up now on Eventbrite to reserve your spot. The Zoom link will also be posted in the Members Room on www.stlwritersguild.org.

Guyot’s self-proclaimed cause in the screenwriting world is to put all the gurus and charlatans who charge money for “how-to” secrets out of business.  

“Nine out of ten aspiring screenwriters I meet have completely wrong concepts about the job, the craft, and the business. I do what I can to tell THE TRUTH of what it takes to be a working screenwriter. Sometimes it’s not fun to hear, but as my grandmother used to say, ‘I’d rather be slapped with the truth than kissed with a lie.’”  

“I’ll discuss how to avoid the myriad of conmen out there proclaiming to sell the secrets of screenwriting; the difference between simply selling a screenplay and actually creating a career as a screenwriter; the truth about screenwriting contests; and why less is always, always more.” 

Guyot spent ten years working in Hollywood before his first paid writing job on the WB series FELICITY. From there, he worked on multiple shows, including writing and producing the Emmy-winning CBS series JUDGING AMY. He was the Supervising Producer on the hit TNT series LEVERAGE, and the Co-Executive Producer and showrunner for THE LIBRARIANS, starring Rebecca Romijn and Noah Wyle. 

Most recently, Guyot served as Co-Executive Producer on NCIS: NEW ORLEANS, one of the top 10 television shows in the world. 

Guyot co-wrote the 2017 film GEOSTORM, which was the number one movie in Indonesia for two weeks, but don’t hold that against the lovely Indonesian people. 

Currently, he is developing the comedy film “49” for Netflix; about a husband and father who turns his family’s life upside down when he sells everything to chase his dream of becoming a professional golfer. Greg Kinnear and Lauren Graham are attached to star. 

Guyot has taught screenwriting at the university level, and guest lectured at multiple conferences. He splits his time between Los Angeles and St. Louis. He believes that social media is neither -- and thus, his only presence is Instagram where you can find him at @p.guyot.

Learn more about the St. Louis Writers Guild at www.stlwritersguild.org.


Saturday, October 3, 2020

Guild’s Oct. 10 online conference features “Ask the Experts” and Pitchfest


On Oct. 10, the St. Louis Writers Guild (SLWG) will provide a forum for writers to “Ask the Experts” about their professions. The daylong online conference is free to SLWG Members, though registration is required, and $20 for nonmembers, including access to recordings of the five workshops. Sign up using Eventbrite on stlwritersguild.org

Writers may submit questions at the conference or in advance through the SLWG Facebook page for Regional Medical Examiner Dr. Mary Case, bestselling crime novelist Scott Phillips, registered nurse Jessica Patton, microbiologist Christine Hood, and aerospace engineer manager Jamie Krakover. They can also ask Anna Ojascastro Guzon and Michelle M. Haberberger for tips about writing realistic teen characters.

Concurrently, the Guild will host a Pitchfest on Oct. 10. Register in advance on Eventbrite for a five-minute pitch session with publishers including North Star Editions, Owl Hollow Press, Blue Fortune Enterprises LLC, The Wild Rose Press and Manniversary Media/Entercom Communications. Pitches are $10 for SLWG members, $20 for nonmembers.

The event is part of the Gateway to Publishing Conference Series, in celebration of the Guild’s 100th Anniversary. Learn more about the experts and publishers at www.stlwritersguild.org under the Special Events tab, Pitchfest.

ASK THE EXPERTS workshop agenda

9-9:50 a.m.: Bestselling Author Scott Phillips

10-10:50 a.m. Registered Nurse Jessica Patton 

11-11:50 a.m.: “Ask the YWSTL Community” with Anna Ojascastro Guzon and Michelle M. Haberberger

12-1 p.m. break – Grab lunch and get back to your computer! 

1-1:50 p.m. Microbiologist Christine Hood

2-2:50 p.m. Aerospace Engineering Manager Jamie Krakover

3-3:50 p.m. Regional Medical Examiner Dr. Mary Case


PITCHFEST publishers -- Check the Pitchfest page for more information 

Mari Kesselring - Managing Editor of Fiction - North Star Editions, Inc. (Flux & Jolly Fish Press)

https://northstareditions.com/jolly-fish-press/ 

https://northstareditions.com/flux/ 

Mari Kesselring serves as managing editor of fiction for North StarEditions and directs acquisitions and editorial work for its imprints Flux (young adult fiction) and Jolly Fish Press (middle grade fiction). She is seeking young adult fiction and middle grade fiction only. In young adult, she’s looking for thrillers, contemporary, SciFi, fantasy, and historical fiction. In middle grade, she’s seeking contemporary, action/adventure, humor, mystery, SciFi, and historical fiction. She’s especially interested in unique concepts, strong narrative voices, fast-paced storytelling, and #ownvoices stories.

Narielle Living, President, Blue Fortune Enterprises LLC 

https://blue-fortune.com/ 

Narielle Living is the president and founder of Blue Fortune Enterprises, a publishing company who believes that books have the power to change lives. She is taking pitches for mysteries and is also actively seeking work for their imprint Wildflower Press, which publishes LGBTQ+ work (fiction and nonfiction). For information about the books offered by Blue Fortune Enterprises, visit blue-fortune.com.

Hannah Smith - Acquisitions Director - Owl Hollow Press

https://owlhollowpress.com/ 

Hannah Smith is the Acquisition Director at Owl Hollow Press, responsible for discovering new talent and acquiring manuscripts. Hannah specializes in children’s fiction, but she is interested in anything that tells a unique and interesting story. Her preferences include YA Fantasy and Science Fiction, strong female protagonists, MG with a mystery, and anything that is surprising and well written. 

Ally Robertson - Editor - Wild Rose Press

www.thewildrosepress.com 

Ally Robertson has been an editor with The Wild Rose Press since they opened in 2006. She edits mainly for the suspense line but is open to other genres. Ally is open to all fiction genres, other than children and middle-grade. She is particularly looking for suspense, with or without romance, but can take pitches for all genres. She loves stories about murder and mayhem and is especially fond of the intense, scary, creepy kind.  

Ryan Wiggins - Content Development - Manniversary Media/Entercom Communications

Several Entercom radio markets are venturing into publishing and St. Louis will be the first test market in 2021. Ryan Wiggins’ company is tasked with handling this project as a third-party accompaniment. The company is Manniversary Media but the LLC authors will sign with is The Last Publisher on Earth LLC.  

"There is no particular genre we are seeking. In fact, we are looking for the widest breadth of genres possible for the round of books we're looking to publish in Q1 and Q2 of 2021.  We are generally looking for fiction or non-fiction that would appeal to a wide array of people in the age group 35-54."

Thursday, August 27, 2020


100+ sci/fi & fantasy books free for limited time!

Summer's not over yet!  

I've teamed up with more than 100 other bestselling authors to offer you an amazing selection of new books for free, including my young adult science fiction novel, Moonblood. 

Don't delay! This offer ends Sept. 15.

CLICK HERE 

Praise for Moonblood:

“A fantastic book from beginning to end, well worth the time reading."

–M. Mackey, Amazon Review

"I really enjoyed this book a lot! It was very hard for me to put down. I definitely have not read any other book like this one and I’m impressed!"

--T. Marie, Amazon Review



Thursday, August 13, 2020

Guild “Editing Extravaganza” Sept. 12 Offers Publicity Workshop, Consultations with Experts

Sign up now for online editing consultations at the St. Louis Writers Guild’s Sept. 12 Editing Extravaganza! Submit the first five to ten pages of your manuscript or your query letter to be reviewed by an editor and have a 20+ minute one-on-one consultation. 

Starting the day will be a free, online workshop from 10 a.m. to noon featuring international speaker and four-time bestselling author Jill Lublin. She will focus on how to “Get Known Everywhere Using Publicity.” 

Discover how to be the #1 Influencer in your industry by boosting your credibility and amplifying your media visibility. Based on her international bestseller, Guerrilla Publicity, Jill Lublin shares simple strategies and provides cost-effective short‐term, doable tactics. Helping you understand what the media is looking for, so you and your brand can stand out, get noticed and go from unknown to newsworthy. 

Jill shares her proven secrets to understanding what the media wants and provides cost effective short‐term, doable tactics that boost credibility and increase visibility for you and your brand. You will:

1) Understand the real purpose of publicity- To boost your credibility and amplify your visibility.  

2) Uncover your "Oooooo, Ahhhhhh!" factor. Find the Wow! that sets you apart from the crowd.  

3) You are the news! Craft a riveting message that lets others know who you are and what you do.

4) Simplify! Learn how the pros mesmerize the masses by tailoring their message to the level of a five-year-old.  

5) Write a four-sentence announcement that ignites a local media frenzy.

6) Pass the all-important "Who cares?" test by showcasing your expertise in a way that commands attention. 

Consultations with editors are $40. Sign up by clicking the button on the website’s Event page. The form asks for your editor preference. If you sign up before all the editors have been announced, you will be contacted for your first choice. Pages are requested by Sept. 1 to allow editors time to review them. Editing consultations with Meghan Pinson and Andrew Doty and query letter critiques with Catherine Bakewell will be held between 1-3 p.m., Sept. 12.

***

JILL LUBLIN is an international speaker on the topics of Radical Influence, Publicity, Networking, Kindness and Referrals. She is the author of four bestselling books including Get Noticed...Get Referrals (McGraw Hill) and co-author of Guerrilla Publicity and Networking Magic.  Her latest book, Profit of Kindness, went #1 in four categories. Jill is a master strategist on how to position your business for more profitability and more visibility in the marketplace. She is CEO of a strategic consulting firm and has over 25 years’ experience working with over 100,000 people plus national and international media. Jill teaches a virtual Publicity Crash Course and consults and speaks all over the world. She also helps authors to create book deals with major publishers and agents, as well as obtain foreign rights deals. Visit publicitycrashcourse.com/freegift and jilllublin.com 

MEGHAN PINSON is ringleader of My Two Cents Editing, a small band of specialists who provide expert editing, engaging critique, and fearless consulting to authors of novels and nonfiction manuscripts. She specializes in story development and author education and is the author of My Two Cents Editing's Indie-Publishing Workbook: A Guide to the Industry's Best Practices. Her current favorite genres: historical fiction, crime/mystery/suspense, middle grade adventure stories, and prescriptive nonfiction. Connect with her at www.mytwocentsediting.com.

ANDREW DOTY is an experienced editor and project manager who currently serves as the lead project coordinator at Editwright, a publishing services agency whose team serves authors and nonprofits; the Vice President of the St. Louis Publishers Association; and the founder of the budding nonprofit Write for a Change. Andrew is a published poet and a practicing musician. To contact Andrew, visit editwright.com.

CATHERINE BAKEWELL is a fantasy writer, history fan, and opera enthusiast. She has lived in France and  Spain, where she romped through gardens, ate pastries, and worked on her novels. She is represented by Jordan Hamessley of New Leaf Literary & Media. You can check out Catherine's blog about querying and find out about her editorial services at catherinebakewell.com.  


Learn more about St. Louis Writers Guild virtual events at www.stlwritersguild.org/virtual-events.


Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Get up to speed with the Publishing Evolution: Aug. 22 online conference

On Aug. 22, the St. Louis Writers Guild will host a variety of authors discussing the future of publishing at an online daylong conference. 

The event is free to SLWG Members, though registration is required, and $20 for nonmembers, including access to recordings of the four workshops. Sign up for the Publishing Evolution using Eventbrite on stlwritersguild.org

9-10:45 a.m. panel: “Write, Publish, Promote & Profit in the Digital Age”
with Nicole Evelina, Vivian Gibson, Esme Symes-Smith, and LaShaunda Hoffman, moderated by Marie Chewe-Elliott 
Learn tips, strategies and tools on writing and promoting your book from award-winning authors who are achieving success in the publishing evolution.

11a.m.-12p.m.: “Empowering Your Writing: Using Conscious Language for Inclusiveness and Representation” with Crystal Shelley 
Words have the power to do good: to uplift, to inspire, and to validate. Words also have the power to do harm: to hurt, to marginalize, and to erase. In this session, we'll discuss how we can wield words for good by using conscious language, balancing writer intent with reader impact, and incorporating diversity into our stories.  

12-1 p.m. break – Grab lunch and get back to your computer! 

1-2 p.m. “Art for Cause: Writing for Advocacy, Healing & CommUNITY Building” with Marie Chewe-Elliott, Antoinette Crayton and Kate Moore-Freeman
What role can writers and artists play during times of crisis, conflict and chaos in our community? Join this discussion on opportunities to use your work to make a difference and be the change you want to see. In cooperation with the North County Writing and Arts Network. 

2-3 p.m. “Locksmithing for Writers” with Arianne “Tex” Thompson
If you need that break-in scene to read just right - and if you'd like some first-hand experience to help you write it - then step right up! This introductory course includes essential vocabulary and hands-on lockpicking practice with a variety of antique and modern locks, along with little-known hints and facts guaranteed to inspire your next ingenious plot twist. Limber up your fingers and get ready to write some wrongs!

About the speakers:

Marie Chewe-Elliott is a writer, speaker, and poet in north St. Louis County. She is the author of four books and co-founder of North County Writing & Arts Network. Her poems have been published in The St. Louis Anthology, SO Magazine, UMSL's Litmag, and among winning selections in the 2019 Arts Rolla Writing Competition and Arts in Transit's 2019 Metro Lines Contest. Marie's love of words guided her to a career of more than 30 years in various facets of communications, including newspaper reporter, nonprofit and government communications, and adjunct lecturer. She earned degrees from the University of Mississippi and Webster University. Connect with Marie at myelliott61@gmail.com, https://www.mariecheweelliott.com/ on Facebook, or IG.

Esme Symes-Smith grew up in the South West of England, then earned their degree in Literature and Creative Writing at Aberystwyth University in Wales. After graduating, they moved across the world to be with their wife in St. Louis. They have freelanced as a ghost-writer, managed a frozen-yogurt shop, and are now focused on writing the queer kidlit they craved as a kid. They are represented by Megan Manzano of D4EO Literary and can be found at @EsmeSymesSmith on Twitter.  http://esymessmith.com/




Vivian Gibson is a native St. Louisian who grew up in Mill Creek Valley, a neighborhood razed in 1959 to build a highway. Her family, friends, church community, and neighbors were all displaced by this act of “urban renewal.” In her moving memoir, Gibson recreates the everyday lived experiences of her large family, including her seven siblings, her crafty college-educated mother, who moved to St. Louis as part of the Great Migration, and her at-times forbidding father, who worked two jobs to keep them all warm and fed. With an eye for telling detail, she sketches scenes populated by her friends, shop owners, teachers, and others who made Mill Creek into a warm, tight-knit, African-American community, and reflects upon what it means that Mill Creek was destroyed in the name of racism disguised as “progress.” http://vivian-gibson.com

LaShaunda Hoffman turned her love for books into an award-winning online magazine for readers and writers of multi-cultural literature, Shades Of Romance – SORMAG. Her mission in life is to help promote writers by introducing them to readers. Born and raised in St. Louis, LaShaunda started her adventure in life by joining the United States Navy. She served her country for six years and returned to her hometown. She began to work for the U.S. government. LaShaunda is currently working on a Christian romance and is on the hunt for a literary agent. She hopes to one day introduce her books to readers.



Nicole Evelina is a USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction, non-fiction, and women’s fiction whose six books have won more than 40 awards, including four Book of the Year designations. Nicole was named Missouri’s Top Independent Author by Library Journal and Biblioboard as the winner of the Missouri Indie Author Project in 2018 and has been awarded the North Street Book Prize and the Sarton Women’s Book Award. One of her books, Madame Presidentess, was previously optioned for film. She is represented by Amy Collins of Talcott Notch Literary. http://nicoleevelina.com

Crystal Shelley is a freelance copy editor, proofreader, and sensitivity reader who works with self-publishing fiction authors. She also practices as a licensed clinical social worker. She unites her love of language and social justice by providing editorial services with a focus on representation and conscious language. Visit her website at Rabbit with a Red Pen to read more tips on writing and editing or to connect with her on social media.  




Arianne "Tex" Thompson is a licensed locksmith, egregiously enthusiastic editor, and professional ruckus-raiser. She is the author of  Children of the Drought, an internationally-published epic fantasy Western series from Solaris, as well as an instructor for Writing Workshops Dallas and ‘chief instigator’ of WORD – Writers Organizations ‘Round Dallas. Now she’s blazing a trail through conferences, workshops, and conventions around the country – as an endlessly energetic, catastrophically cheerful one-woman stampede. Find her online at thetexfiles.com and wordwriters.org!



Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Workshop Aug. 1: How to write about encounters with the extraordinary

If you’ve been itching to write about a fictional character who has an encounter with something beyond the ordinary such as angels, extraterrestrials, UFOs, or ghosts, or if you’ve had an otherworldly experience you’d like to share, now is a great time to do so, said author Karen Cavalli.

At an online workshop from 10 a.m. to noon, Aug. 1, she will offer some history on writing about these encounters and key decision points during the writing process. For the Zoom address, go to the St. Louis Writers Guild’s Virtual Events page (www.stlwritersguild.org/virtual-events), or click here:

Meeting ID: 702 890 3800
Password: SLWG2020
Call in: +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

“The taboo against speaking openly about one-on-one encounters with beings and phenomena outside daily reality is loosening its hold, along with the attendant fear of ridicule,” she said. “It is possible to write about these kinds of encounters, whether they are yours or a fictional character’s, in such a way that transports both you and your readers.”

Karen will offer specific writing exercises, a bibliography, and a matrix of the most common encounter types and responses that apply to both fiction and nonfiction. Her talk will cover:
key differences between portrayals of encounters with the extraordinary vs. the paranormal in contemporary books, video and film
personal risks when writing about encounters with the extraordinary
that moment in history when the course was set
how consciousness research and quantum mechanics fit into writing about this topic
decision points during the writing and publishing process
key elements to include in your writing for success
gifts that await

Karen Cavalli has been exploring and publishing about encounters with anomalous beings and events since 2014. Her most recent book is Undercover Goddess, book one in the trilogy No Boundaries, a paranormal romance for adults. Her work has won awards including Outstanding Secondary Science Book. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Alabama where she studied with Margaret Atwood. Karen can be contacted at kcgoodguide@gmail.com and at Contact Karen Cavalli

Learn more about the St. Louis Writers Guild at www.stlwritersguild.org

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

New dystopian books free for limited time!




Searching for your next favorite story? Look no further!

I've teamed up with 18 other bestselling authors to offer you a selection of riveting new books for free, including my just-released young adult science fiction novel, Moonblood.

Don't delay! This offer ends soon.

Click here before July 21 to take advantage of this offer!


Moonblood book cover
Praise for Moonblood:

“Fans of dystopian fiction looking for something refreshingly original and truly different in the society-building/destruction theme will find Moonblood a standout….”
–D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

"In a dystopian future mired in traditions whose origins have been lost, can one woman's search for truth bring answers for her and for all of humanity? ... Moonblood is an imaginative story with complex characters set in a future landscape that is all too easy to extrapolate from today's world. It pulls you and will not let go."
--Al Gritten, Goodreads review

AND check out Brad's "Three Thoughts About Dystopia" to put it all in perspective!


Friday, July 3, 2020

Young writers invited to July 13-17 online summer writers camp

Young writers in 4th-12th grades are invited to an online Gateway Con Summer Writers Camp July 13-17 hosted by the St. Louis Writers Guild (SLWG).

The $20 fee includes a one-year SLWG Associate Membership. Space is limited, please register in advance on Eventbrite

Six authors will share their expertise from 9 to 11 a.m. in workshops on Monday and Wednesday and a panel discussion on Friday. On Tuesday and Thursday, young writers will work independently on their own stories. More information is available on the Summer Writers Camp page.

St. Louis Writers Guild has aided writers for a century, and the Gateway Con Summer Writers Camp continues that tradition. Participating authors are:

Jody Feldman – Her middle-grade novels, The Seventh Level and The Gollywhopper Games series (all from Greenwillow/HarperCollins), have won a number of honors and have appeared on 26 state reading lists. Twitter & Instagram @jodyfeldman

Cole Gibsen – Because of the reprieve library books gave her as a homeless teenager, Cole vowed to become a writer so she could provide the same escape to readers who needed a break the reality of their own lives. Her titles include Risen, Seared on My Soul, Life Unaware and Written on My Heart. Twitter at www.twitter.com/colegibsen | Facebook at www.facebook.com/colegibsen

LaShaunda Hoffman – She turned her love for books into an award-winning online magazine for readers and writers of multi-cultural literature, Shades Of Romance – SORMAG. Her mission in life is to help promote writers by introducing them to readers. LaShaunda is currently working on a Christian romance and is on the hunt for a literary agent.

Meredith Tate – A New Hampshire girl at heart and a former Zurich expat, Meredith now lives in Houston and spends her days traveling the world and writing stories about characters much braver than she is. Her books include The Last Confession of Autumn Casterly, The Red Labyrinth, Freedom Trials, Missing Pieces, and a currently untitled romcom coming from Penguin Teen in summer 2021.

Jamie Krakover –After her day job as an Aerospace Engineer, Jamie writes middle grade and young adult science fiction and fantasy. Her debut novel is Tracker220 (October 2020). Jamie’s work appears in the Brave New Girls anthologies and in Writer’s Digest’s Putting the Science in Fiction.
https://twitter.com/Rockets2Writing | https://www.instagram.com/jamiekrakover/

C.L. Postill – Her debut novel, CORY SUMMERS-A New Beginning, was born out of a story she has been creating and telling her boys and their friends before bedtime, around campfires, and at sleep-over parties for over 25 years. www.clpostill.com | @postillc on Twitter.






Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Workshop July 11: “Research for Writers” (or “How to End up On A Watchlist in 20 Minutes or Less”)

Don’t miss James Young’s free online workshop on "Research for Writers” (or “How to End Up on A Watchlist in 20 Minutes or Less”), from 10 a.m. to noon, July 11.

Click here to join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/7028903800?pwd=bHp3cWhpWHBQSW9wMXgzM3N4cE5qZz09
Meeting ID: 702 890 3800
Password: SLWG2020
To call in: +1-312-626-6799

“I will use examples from my own and others' research to help all authors find quick and efficient ways to answer questions about areas outside of their expertise,” Dr. Young said. He will discuss common tools available for authors to conduct topical or historical research.

Dr. James Young is a Missouri native who escaped small town life by attending the United States Military Academy. After leaving the Army, Dr. Young returned to the Midwest to pursue his doctorate—a process that took twice the time planned but is finally concluded.

Having now concluded two of the prerequisites to be a super villain, Dr. Young spends his time waiting for the inevitable origin story, winning writing awards (2016 United States Naval Institute Cyber Essay Contest Winner, among others), and penning novels. His next alternate history book, Against the Tide Imperial, will be out this summer on Amazon (e-book) and other outlets (hard copy). Against the Tide Imperial is the third in his Usurper's War series.  You can also find Dr. Young's blog at https://vergassy.com/ or follow him on Twitter (@youngblai) or on Facebook (Colfax Den).

Learn more about the St. Louis Writers Guild at www.stlwritersguild.org

Saturday, May 16, 2020

What Not To Do: Book Marketing Experiments

Join author Warren Martin at a free, interactive online workshop from 10 a.m. to noon, June 6, and learn about his personal book marketing experiences, as well as those of other participants.

The St. Louis Writers Guild, in cooperation with the St. Louis Publishers Association (SLPA), hosts the event.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81366509311
Meeting ID: 813 6650 9311
Or call in: +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

The intent of the workshop is to share methods that work, don’t work, and what it entails to pursue different levels of book marketing. Participants will meet in breakout groups to discuss success and failures related their individual book marketing experiences. The groups will then share their discoveries with the entire workshop. The era of COVID-19 has also provided some unique challenges to book marketing and sales, and will also be a topic of discussion.

Warren Martin is the current SLPA president. He often jokes and tells people that he doesn’t know what he wants to do when he grows up, and hence dived into writing late in life. After a 21-year career in the Army, Warren transitioned into business operations and later business ownership. During recent years he focused on academic pursuits, writing, and supporting various organizations. Warren has earned an MBA, and a PhD. in business and organizational leadership. He currently teaches business and leadership-related courses for Norwich University and Bryan University.

As a grandparent of two boys, ages seven and three, Warren makes grandparenting his primary focus. It has also developed into his latest project, a children’s book series called “Adventures with Pop Pop” based on actual adventures. Warren’s debut novel was a Cold War prisoner-of-war historical fiction, Forgotten Soldiers: What Happened to Jacob Walden. The first installment of his mystery/thriller short story series is “Till the Cows Come Home.” http://www.warrenmartinbooks.com/

Learn more about the St. Louis Writers Guild at www.stlwritersguild.org and about the St. Louis Publishers Association at www.stlouispublishers.org.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Attorney to share insights about contracts at May 2 writers’ online workshop

Michael A. Kahn, attorney and award-winning novelist, will discuss “Contract Clauses: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” from 10 a.m. to noon, May 2, at a free online workshop hosted by the St. Louis Writers Guild, in cooperation with St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA).

Mike will review several sample author contracts, provide negotiation tips, and answer your questions.

To attend, go to Webex at:
https://meetingsamer4.webex.com/meetingsamer4/j.php?MTID=m43e8998f7f33b7dda6a4aa25b230663e
Meeting number:
297 837 983
Password:
u7G5hbUKc49

Or you can join by phone at:
+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll
Access code: 297 837 983

Michael Kahn concentrates his practice in copyright, trademark, First Amendment and media law, including libel and privacy rights. He is a widely recognized trial lawyer in the area of general commercial litigation, and regularly advises clients on a range of intellectual property matters.

A veteran of numerous jury trials, Mike has handled lawsuits and arbitrations in various venues across the nation. He has served as a court-appointed mediator in a variety of intellectual property lawsuits, including copyright, trademark, patent and libel cases. 

In addition to his active practice, Mike is an adjunct professor at Washington University School of Law, where he teaches an upper level course on Censorship and Free Expression. He is also the award-winning author of numerous novels and short stories.

Mike serves on the Board of Advisers of the Gateway Journalism Review and is active in the Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts.

Learn more about the St. Louis Writers Guild at www.stlwritersguild.org and the VLAA at www.vlaa.org.

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Freedom in Form—The Poetics of Haiku and Ghazal



Celebrate National Poetry Month with poets Ben Moeller-Gaa and Jennifer Lynn at a free online workshop from 10 a.m. to noon, April 4.

Join these award-winning poets for a glimpse into the structures of their respective poetics. Then peek with their souls beyond the forms themselves, to the liminal space where passion creates, poetry is born, and freedom reigns.

https://zoom.us/j/523503327?pwd=UXVmbTNXZXNMUC8zWGpRR25vcVE0dz09
Meeting ID: 523 503 327
Password: 084823

Ben Moeller-Gaa is "your friendly neighborhood haiku poet" from St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Pushcart nominee and author of the 2018 Touchstone Award winner, Wishbones (Folded Word 2018), a full-length collection of haiku and senryu, as well as three chapbooks, Fiddle in the Floorboards (Yavanika Press 2018), Blowing on a Hot Soup Spoon (poor metaphor 2014) and the Pushcart-nominated Wasp Shadows (Folded Word 2014). His poems have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies around the globe. He has a degree in Creative Writing from Knox College, works as a Senior IT Functional Analyst for MilliporeSigma, and enjoys travel, music, art and other worldly meanderings. Find out more about Ben at www.benmoellergaa.com.

Jennifer Lynn is a soul midwife, a shamanic Druid Priestess, and a modern-day mystic specializing in Celtic mystical techniques and practices. Jennifer gives voice to her Bardic craft through poetry and prose. Her award-winning poems have appeared in magazines and journals internationally, including The Beltane Papers, Rowan Press, Sage Woman, and Sacred Hoop Magazine, and she was selected as a 2012-2013 Featured Poet for Sibella Poetry Magazine. Jennifer is the author of the mystical fiction series Bree MacLeod’s Story (Being Here, Coming Home, and The Chalice and the Blade), and her first non-fiction book, A Year and a Day, is scheduled for release in 2020. Her writings explore the rhythms of life while honoring the Goddess and the Sacred Conversation.

Jennifer is also a Chinese medicine practitioner and a Minister of the Circle of the Sacred Earth, a church of animism fostering shamanic principles and practices. Follow Jennifer and her writings at www.ThroughShamansEyes.wordpress.com.

For additional Zoom access information, if needed, and to learn more about the St. Louis Writers Guild, go to www.stlwritersguild.org.

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Guild hosts March 7 “Writers in the Lodge” mini-conference


Sign up now for pitch sessions with agents and consultations with editors at the St. Louis Writers Guild’s (SLWG)“Writers in the Lodge” mini-conference from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., March 7, at The Lodge Des Peres, 1050 Des Peres Rd, St. Louis, MO 63131. The event is sponsored by the St. Louis Publisher's Association (SLPA).

Additionally, young writers from the fourth through eighth grades are invited to attend a free “Show Don’t Tell” workshop in the Maple Room from 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. “Lead your readers on a journey, don’t take them on a tour,” said C.L. Postill, who will share techniques on how to engage readers. Space is limited; please pre-register at www.stlwritersguild.org.

In the Dogwood Room, three presentations for teens and adults are free to SLWG and SLPA members; $5 for nonmembers:
9:30 a.m. – literary agent Kortney Price on "Working With an Agent,"
10:30 a.m. – speculative fiction author and graphic novelist Guy Anthony De Marco on “Writing In Someone Else's Sandbox,” and
11:30 a.m. – editor and project manager Andrew Doty on "Book Editing for Self-Publishing Authors."

Find out about more about the speakers and presentations, and sign up for your one-on-one sessions with editors or agents on the “Writers in the Lodge” page under the SLWG tab at www.stlwritersguild.org.

Consultations with editors are $40. Submit your query by March 3 to allow editors time to review it. Pitch sessions with agents are $20. Advance reservation is required for the twenty-minute editorial consultations and five-minute pitch sessions, which will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.

PRESENTATIONS
Working With an Agent -- This session, taught by literary agent Kortney Price, explains how to best work with a literary agent once you have found representation. How do you deal with long wait times when your work is on submission? How to communicate effectively with an agent when you’re not on the same page? What happens when you want to write in a different genre, but the agent doesn’t rep that category? These questions, and more, will be addressed

Writing In Someone Else's Sandbox -- This general talk by speculative fiction author and graphic novelist Guy Anthony De Marco focuses on how to get started with writing for properties that are owned by other entities (such as Star Wars/Star Trek/Games).

Book Editing for Self-Publishing Authors -- How do you find the right person to edit your book? What will a good edit look like? How do you meet an editor? How do you work with an editor? How many editors do you need? These can be some of the most frustrating and confusing questions for a self-publishing author to answer. Learn how to do it right in this workshop with experienced editor and project manager Andrew Doty, who will explain the many nuances of researching, vetting, hiring, and working with editors.

AGENT PITCHES
Lauren Miller is a Junior Agent with Metamorphosis Literary Agency. She is a University College graduate at Washington University in St. Louis with a B.S. in Anthropology. After interning with Metamorphosis, she joined their team in 2019. Previously, she served as the Director of Communications for the St. Louis Writers Guild, and is an ongoing reviewer for the Historical Novel Society. She is seeking:
YA and MG-centric fiction
Picture books
Adult low fantasy
Adult clean romances (especially historical and inspirational)
Lighthearted women's fiction

Bob Shuman created Marit Literary Agency after many years as an editor in mainstream publishing. Marit Literary Agency as a total spectrum editorial company: it affords fiction and nonfiction authors management and product placement. It also offers publishers editing, ghostwriting, copywriting, copy editing, and proofreading services. Bob’s agented works include six drama titles for Applause Books. In 2009, Bob edited Mass Casualties (Adams Media) by Michael Anthony, which received a starred rave from Publishers Weekly. In 2016, he edited Anthony’s second memoir, Civilianized (Zest Books), which Booklist said “has the introspection of a literary memoir and the narrative momentum of a novel.” He specializes in narrative nonfiction, concentrating on politics, military, history, some sports, entertainment, and science, but will consider some fiction (mystery, thrillers, science fiction, or military). Bob does not represent plays or children's books.

EDITORIAL CONSULTATIONS
Andrew Doty is an experienced editor and project manager who currently serves as the lead project coordinator at Editwright, a publishing services agency whose team serves authors and nonprofits; the Vice President of the St. Louis Publishers Association; and the founder of the budding nonprofit Write for a Change. Andrew is a published poet and a practicing musician.

Kortney Price is an agent with Raven Quill Literary Agency. She graduated with a B.A. in English from Greenville University in 2014. Since then Kortney has interned with Andrea Hurst & Associates, Amphorae Publishing Group, and Inklings Literary Agency. She was an associate agent for two years before finding her home with Raven Quill Literary Agency. Kortney specializes in books for children from picture books through young adult. Her belief in these stories' ability to change lives and the world drives her to always look for a way to introduce young readers to new people, cultures, and adventures much like her favorite childhood stories did for her. Whether a story changes the reader's world view, tells them they aren't alone or just offers an escape, every book in this field has the potential to make a difference in a child's life and Kortney is honored to play a part in getting those stories into the hands of readers. To connect and learn more about Kortney, check out her TwitterPinterest, or MSWL page


Meghan Pinson is ringleader of My Two Cents Editing, a small band of specialists who provide expert editing, engaging critique, and fearless consulting to authors of novels and nonfiction manuscripts. She specializes in story development and author education and is the author of My Two Cents Editing's Indie-Publishing Workbook: A Guide to the Industry's Best Practices. Her current favorite genres: historical fiction, crime/mystery/suspense, middle grade adventure stories, and prescriptive nonfiction. Connect with her at www.mytwocentsediting.com.

Catherine Bakewell is a YA and MG Fantasy author with a passion for opera and languages. She’s lived in Spain and in France, where she romped through gardens, ate pastries, and worked on her novels. She is represented by Devin Ross of New Leaf Literary & Media.

SPEAKERS
Guy Anthony De Marco is a speculative fiction author; a Graphic Novel Bram Stoker® and Scribe Award finalist; winner of the HWA Silver Hammer Award; a prolific short story and flash fiction crafter; a novelist; a poet; an invisible man with superhero powers; a game writer; and a coffee addict. One of these is false. A writer since 1977, Guy is or was a member of the following organizations: SFWA, IAMTW, ITW, RWA-PRO, WWA, SFPA, ASCAP, MWG, SWG, HWA, IBPA. He hopes to collect the rest of the letters of the alphabet one day. Additional information can be found at Wikipedia.

C.L. Postill currently makes her home in a small town nestled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, just far enough away from the big city to satisfy her love of the outdoors. Three sons, a rescue cat and dog, and her husband serve as her daily support system and cheerleaders for her writing. Her debut novel, CORY SUMMERS-Lost on the Planet Terrapin, was born out of a story she has been creating and telling her boys and their friends before bedtime, around campfires, and at sleep-over parties for over 25 years. Cherie is on the board of the St. Louis Writers Guild and a member of the St. Louis Publishers Association. www.clpostill.com or visit @postillc on Twitter

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Get Conference-Ready: Perfecting Your Pitch to Literary Agents & Publishers

Pitching a book to literary agents and publishers shouldn’t be more stressful than writing the original manuscript. Learn tips and tricks on how to write and prepare a pitch for your novel at the St. Louis Writers Guild’s workshop from 10 a.m. to noon, Feb. 1, at The Lodge Des Peres, 1050 Des Peres Rd, St. Louis, MO 63131.

Leading this free workshop is someone who has sat on both sides of the pitching table—author and lecturer, Brad R. Cook. Participants will learn what goes in a face-to-face pitch, as well as what to expect from a remote pitch session. He’ll touch on query letters, using your time, what to include, and just what is an elevator pitch! Plus, he’ll explore tools to find agents and publishers online and at conferences.

Upcoming conferences include the Guild’s half-day conference – Writers in the Lodge (March 7) – and Penned Con (Sept. 17-19), both in St. Louis; Archon (Oct. 2-4) in Collinsville, IL; and the Society of Book Writers and Illustrators’ Middle of the Map conference (Nov. 6-8) in Kansas City.

“I can’t guarantee you’ll find an agent, but you’ll have the tools to do so!” Brad said.

Brad R. Cook is the author of The Iron Chronicles (treehouse publishing group) and Steamtree: The Airdrainium Adventure (Broadsword Books). A former co-publisher and acquisitions editor for Blank Slate Press, he currently serves as Historian of St. Louis Writers Guild after three and half years as President. He learned to fence at thirteen, and never set down his sword, but prefers to curl up with a centuries’ old classic. Find more at BradRCook.com

Learn more about the St. Louis Writers Guild at www.stlwritersguild.org.