Follow the path to Publication

The path to publication is a journey of many steps. A marathon, not a sprint. 

What can you do to ensure you're on the right path? 

Invest in yourself. 

Southeastern Writers Association is the perfect ticket to help you reach your destination. 

Want proof? 

Meet H.W. “Buzz” Bernard

Award-winning Author 

and SWA board member. 

This is Buzz's story journey with SWA: 

2005: first workshop; Buzz’s novel, The Koltsovo Legacy, is sliced and diced rather severely by international, best-selling author Steve Berry.

2007: Buzz’s novel, Eyewall, wins Honorable Mention.

2008: Eyewall (rewritten) wins First Place.

2010: The Koltsovo Legacy (rewritten) wins First Place; Buzz signs a contract with Sullivan-Maxx Literary Agency.

2011: Eyewall is published by Bell Bridge Books, goes on to become a number-one best seller in Amazon's Kindle store; Buzz joins SWA Board of Directors.

2012: Plague (formerly The Koltsovo Legacy) is published by Bell Bridge Books, goes on to win the 2014 EPIC eBook Award, Suspense/Thriller category.

2013: Supercell (Buzz’s third novel) is published by Bell Bridge Books, goes on to win the 2015 EPIC eBook Award, Suspense/Thriller category.


2015: Blizzard (Buzz’s fourth novel) is published by Bell Bridge Books; he continues work on my fifth novel.

Buzz is dedicated in his service to SWA and bringing writers quality educational opportunities. 

There are many success stories of SWA members and you could be one, too. 

Register now! Click Here. 

What do you get for the price of admission? 

Contests that pay money. Critiques. Networking. Plus, direct interaction with two publishers--  

Publisher: Maria McGaha – Dancing with Bear 

Publisher: CreateSpace 

An agent: Agent-in-Residence: Sorche Fairbank 

of Fairbank Literary Representation 

A well-rounded faculty for all your writing needs: 

Novel Writing: C. Hope Clark 

Nonfiction: Don Vaughn 

Poetry & Flash Fiction: Chris Tusa 

Young Adult: S.R. (Shelli) Johannes 

Columns: Darrell Huckaby 

Memoir: Dana Wildesmith 

AND there's more! Scholarships!

★☆★ WRITERS ★☆★

Win one of two scholarships to the SWA Writers Workshop!

SWA is offering two scholarships. 

One for the Fiction mini-workshop (June 20-21) and one for the Non-Fiction mini-workshop (June 22-23)

Just submit a 300-word essay on why you should be selected to attend the Fiction mini-workshop or the Nonfiction mini-workshop. You MUST state which mini-workshop

you want to attend.

The entry deadline is midnight on April 15th. The scholarship pays for tuition only. 

Please email your entry to DebraAyersBrown@gmail.com with a subject line

of SWA Fiction Scholarship or SWA Nonfiction Scholarship.

Want to know more? 

Check out SWA on Facebook

and on Twitter. 

Will we see you at SWA in June?  

SOUTHEASTERN
WRITERS
ASSOCIATION
Workshop

Presenting the 2015 Faculty

Quiz time! And Connections for YOU!

Hey there! 

2015 is moving so fast. The SWA workshop will be here before we know it. Are you ready?

Quiz Time!

First question: How can you win a scholarship to the SWA 40th Anniversary Writers Association Workshop? 

To start things off on a good note, here's the answer to that question:

Submit a 300-word essay on why you should be selected to attend the Fiction

mini-workshop or the Nonfiction mini-workshop. You MUST state which mini-workshop

you want to attend--Fiction mini-workshop (June 20-21) 

or the Non-Fiction mini-workshop (June 22-23)

The entry deadline is midnight on April 15th. The scholarship pays for tuition

only. Please email your entry to DebraAyersBrown@gmail.com with a subject line

of SWA Fiction Scholarship or SWA Nonfiction Scholarship.

Are you ready? Take the quiz and let’s see!

 What is the deadline date to ENTER TO WIN a scholarship to the fiction or nonfiction portion of the workshop?

How many manuscripts of yours can be submitted for FREE for critique after you register for the workshop?

What contests that pay MONEY are open for entries? 

Name as many faculty members for 2015 as you are able.

What is the name of the beautiful island where the workshop is held? 

This is an open-book quiz. Here’s where to find the answers: 

Contests

Manuscripts Evaluations

Faulty

Registration 

Lodging

Investing in your craft and your career will give you the inspiration, support, and knowledge to keep on the path of writing success. Who knows better than another writer the pitfalls, potholes, and even sink holes along the way? Other writers. Connecting with other writer is an enjoyable part of a writer's journey. 

                                                     

Check out SWA on Twitter

Southeastern Writers

@SWAwriters

OR on FACEBOOK  

One of the best things about SWA? You learn and grow in your craft, which leads to success! Every week, we share our member's success. 

SWA Members SHINE!

Patrick Hempfing’s moMENts column titled “Leprechauns, Pots of Gold, and Clovers” was published in the March issue of eleven regional parenting magazines, spanning seven states (NY, OH, NC, SC, TX, ID, and CA).  About Families (PA), South Florida Parenting, and four newspapers (Capital Gazette, Carroll County Times, Orlando Sentinel, and Sun Sentinel) published “Happy Reading.”  His moMENts column has now reached 20 states and two Canadian provinces.

We hope to see you at the SWA workshop in June!

What do you get with SWA?

What does your money buy you when you register for the Southeaster Writers Association 40th Anniversary Workshop? 

Check it out!

Scholarship

Win one of two scholarships to the SWA Writers Workshop!  SWA is offering two scholarships. One for the Fiction mini-workshop (June 20-21) and one for the Non-Fiction mini-workshop (June 22-23)

Just submit a 300-word essay on why you should be selected to attend the Fiction mini-workshop or the Nonfiction mini-workshop. You MUST state which miniworkshop you want to attend.

The entry deadline is midnight on April 15th. The scholarship pays for tuition only. Please email your entry to DebraAyersBrown@gmail.com with a subject line of SWA Fiction Scholarship or SWA Nonfiction Scholarship.

Manuscript Evaluations - (Authors must be registered for at least 2 days to submit manuscripts for evaluation.)

GENERAL

 There are 7 evaluation categories:

• Poetry (Evaluator: Chris Tusa)  - No more than 100 lines (one long poem or several short poems)

- Poetry can be single-spaced

• Novel (Evaluator: C. Hope Clark) - The first chapter and a five-page synopsis

• Flash Fiction (Evaluator: Chris Tusa) - Complete manuscript of at least 100 and not more than 500 words 

• Nonfiction (Evaluator: Donald S Vaughan) - The first chapter and a five-page synopsis –OR– Complete manuscript not over 1500 words

• Columns (Evaluator: Darrell Huckaby) - A 1-paragraph description of the column, including the intended media and the target audience, and a 750-word sample column manuscript.

• Memoir (Evaluator: Dana Wildsmith) - The first chapter and a three-page synopsis

• YA Fiction (Evaluator: SR Johannes) - The first chapter and a five-page synopsis 

 The submission DEADLINE IS May 15, 2015. NO extensions.

Find out ALL the details here: http://southeasternwriters.org/uploads/EvaluationsGuidelines2015.pdf

Contests

2015 SWA Workshop Contests & Guidelines

The Hal Bernard Memorial Award for Novel

- The first 10 pages (double-spaced)

- 1-page synopsis

- 1-paragraph "elevator pitch."

- Any genre, literary or mainstream

The Past Presidents’ Romance Award

- The first chapter and a five-page synopsis

- Romance novels only

The GT Youngblood Short Fiction Award

- Complete manuscript not over 3000 words

- Any genre, literary or mainstream

The Microcosm Award

- Fiction of at least 100 and not more than 500 words

The Vega Award for Speculative Short Fiction NEW

- Complete manuscript not over 4000 words.

- Stand-alone novel chapters also accepted

-

Lines of Worth Award

(in honor of Dorothy Williamson Worth and all she did to encourage poets at SWA)

- Each entry should be a collection of three poems, each up to thirty lines, not

including the title.

- Awards will be made to collections.

The Harry Rubin Award for Limericks NEW

- Submit 3 Limericks in standard form

The Julie L. Cannon Award

- Writing which exemplifies the southern spirit preferably in a subtle, nuanced, and

non-stereotypical manner

- 1,000 words or less

- Fiction or nonfiction, NO poetry

The Bill Westhead Memorial Award

- Complete manuscript not over 3000 words

- For the best short story with a subject matter of an event occurring during the

writer's childhood that shaped his/her life.

The Angel Award for Holiday Seasonal Writing

- Short fiction, poetry or essays of 1200 words maximum about the holiday season.

The ThomasMax “You are Published” Contest

- Prize is publication and 25 copies of the book with no obligation to author.

- Manuscript may be submitted in full or only first three chapters.

- A complete synopsis (3 to 10 pages) should accompany all entries. Approximate

word count should be included with synopsis, preferably 40,00 to 90,000 words,

fiction, non-fiction, or a collection of short stories.

- Do not send work currently under consideration by the publisher.

- The standard contract, which will be modified slightly to show that no money is due from the author, can be seen by  clicking here: http://www.thomasmax.com/images/authorcontract.pdf

- Other details are available at http://www.thomasmax.com/contest.htm or send

SASE to “You are Published,” P O Box 250054, Atlanta GA 30325

The Very Merrie Bosom Buddy Award

- Nonfiction up to 750 words about your best friend.

- This poignant true story must make the reader laugh and cry.

The Dr. George L. Sheppard Memorial Award –

- Nonfiction up to 750 words about a supportive sibling.

- This poignant true story must make the reader laugh and cry.

The Award for Excellence in Inspirational Writing

- The piece may be religious or secular.

- It should be wholesome and leave the reader with a “take away” message of

encouragement, hope, comfort, fresh motivation, or renewed spiritual strength.

- Complete manuscript not over 1500 words

The Cappy Award for Humor

- Complete manuscript not over 1000 HILARIOUS words

Manuscripts entered in these contests will not receive evaluations by faculty members. Contests are judged by the contest sponsors. If you want a faculty evaluation, please see Evaluation guidelines

http://southeasternwriters.org/uploads/2015ContestsJan.pdf

How do you get register? 

Click here

Don't miss this opportunity! Scholarship Deadline closing in fast!

APRIL 15th! It's more than a tax deadline. 

It's also the deadline for scholarship entries! 

★☆★ WRITERS ★☆★

Win one of two scholarships to the SWA Writers Workshop!

SWA is offering two scholarships. One for the Fiction mini-workshop (June 20-21)

and one for the Non-Fiction mini-workshop (June 22-23)

Just submit a 300-word essay on why you should be selected to attend the Fiction

mini-workshop or the Nonfiction mini-workshop. You MUST state which miniworkshop

you want to attend.

The entry deadline is midnight on April 15th. The scholarship pays for tuition

only. Please email your entry to DebraAyersBrown@gmail.com with a subject line

of SWA Fiction Scholarship or SWA Nonfiction Scholarship.

JOIN US FOR the 40th SWA Writers Workshop!

Register here: http://southeasternwriters.org/Writers_Workshop.html

Faculty for 2015

Agent-in-Residence: Sorche Fairbank – Fairbank Literary Representation - http://www.fairbankliterary.com/

Publisher: Maria McGaha – Dancing with Bear - http://www.dancingwithbearpublishing.com/

Publisher: CreateSpace - https://www.createspace.com/

Novel: C. Hope Clark - http://chopeclark.com/

Nonfiction: Don Vaughn – http://www.donaldvaughan.net

Poetry & Flash Fiction: Chris Tusa - http://christophertusa.net/wp/

Young Adult: S.R. (Shelli) Johannes - http://www.srjohannes.com/

Columns: Darrell Huckaby - http://www.darrellhuckaby.net/

Memoir: Dana Wildesmith - http://www.danawildsmith.com/

SWA Members SHINE!

Buzz Bernard's newest book is making headlines! Here's an excerpt from Buzz's blog: 

SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN WOLVES

There are no wolves in the southern Appalachians.  There probably haven’t been in over a century.

They do, however, make a guest appearance in my most recent novel, Blizzard.  In the book, I think I adequately explain their presence.  What’s more interesting, perhaps, is how the animals made their way into the story in the first place.

It started in Germany. 

Read more here: http://buzzbernard.com/2015/03/southern-appalachian-wolves/ 

Also, 

Southeastern Writers Association vice president, Buzz Bernard, has won his second "Eppie." SUPERCELL is the winner of the 2015 EPIC eBook Award, Suspense/Thriller category.  Buzz's novel PLAGUE won in the same category last year.

Buzz Bernard, author EYEWALL, PLAGUE, SUPERCELL, BLIZZARD

Don't forget to send in your scholarship submission!

Island retreat. Beautiful views. Writing workshop. SWA has it ALL!

Where will we find you June June 19-23, 2015? 

Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland  offers some advice:

Alice: From the moment I fell down that rabbit hole I've been told where I must go and who I must be. I've been shrunk, stretched, scratched, and stuffed into a teapot. I've been accused of being Alice and of not being Alice but this is *my* dream. *I'll* decide where it goes from here.

If you dream of being a writer, dream of writing success, then Southeastern Writers Association 40th Anniversary Workshop has something for you! Join us on lovely St. Simons Island.

Find out all the details HERE

SWA's faculty bring wisdom, experience, and support. This is your faculty for 2015: 

Agent-in-Residence: Sorche Fairbank – Fairbank Literary Representation 

Publisher: Maria McGaha – Dancing with Bear 

Publisher: CreateSpace 

Novel: C. Hope Clark 

Nonfiction: Don Vaughn 

Poetry & Flash Fiction: Chris Tusa 

Young Adult: S.R. (Shelli) Johannes 

Columns: Darrell Huckaby 

Memoir: Dana Wildesmith 

This week, we're featuring Dana Wildesmith. 

Dana will be teaching memoir writing. 

Dana Wildsmith grew up in south Georgia, the daughter of a Methodist minister who was active in working for social justice. She attended college wherever her Navy husband’s career took them, finally obtaining a B.A. in Sociology from Virginia Wesleyan College. In 1999, she returned to her family’s land in north Georgia , where she and her extended family work to preserve a 125-year-old family farm in the midst of encroaching development. She teaches English to adults of many nationalities in the English Literacy Program of the Adult Literacy Program of Lanier Technical College.

In 1992, Wildsmith was named a Poetry Fellow in the South Carolina Academy of Authors, and her second chapbook, Annie, won the Palanquin Press competition of the University Of South Carolina, Aiken. She has worked as a Writer-in-residence for the Devil’s Tower National Monument and the Island Institute in Sitka, Alaska. She worked as an Artist In the Schools for the South Carolina Humanities Department. She teaches poetry workshops throughout the United States. Her poems and essays have been widely published in both literary and commercial journals, including Yankee, The Kentucky Poetry Review, and The Chattahoochee Review. She is among the writers featured in the University Press of Kentucky’s Listen Here: Women Writing in Appalachia. Her other published works are: Alchemy, Our Bodies Remember, Choices (an audio collection), One Good Hand, and Back to Abnormal. 

Find out more about Dana and her work HERE

Scholarship, Mentorship, and Friendship=SWA

Scholarship: 

Win one of two scholarships to the SWA Writers Workshop!
SWA is offering two scholarships. One for the Fiction mini-workshop (June 20-21)
and one for the Non-Fiction mini-workshop (June 22-23)

Just submit a 300-word essay on why you should be selected to attend the Fiction
mini-workshop or the Nonfiction mini-workshop. You MUST state which miniworkshop
you want to attend.

The entry deadline is midnight on April 15th. The scholarship pays for tuition only. Please email your entry to DebraAyersBrown@gmail.com with a subject line
of SWA Fiction Scholarship or SWA Nonfiction Scholarship.

Learn more HERE

Mentorship: 

Established authors will critique your work. Learn more HERE

Guidelines for Manuscript Evaluations

(Authors must be registered for at least 2 days to submit manuscripts for evaluation.)

GENERAL

1. There are 7 evaluation categories:

Poetry (Evaluator: Chris Tusa)

- No more than 100 lines (one long poem or several short poems)

- Poetry can be single-spaced

Novel (Evaluator: C. Hope Clark)

- The first chapter and a five-page synopsis

Flash Fiction (Evaluator: Chris Tusa)

- Complete manuscript of at least 100 and not more than 500 words

Nonfiction (Evaluator: Donald S Vaughan)

- The first chapter and a five-page synopsis –OR– Complete manuscript not over 1500 words

Columns (Evaluator: Darrell Huckaby)

- A 1-paragraph description of the column, including the intended media and the target

audience, and a 750-word sample column manuscript.

Memoir (Evaluator: Dana Wildsmith)

- The first chapter and a three-page synopsis

YA Fiction (Evaluator: SR Johannes)

- The first chapter and a five-page synopsis

2. Each conference member can submit up to 3 manuscripts for evaluation, but ONLY 1 entry per member per

evaluation category.

3. Each manuscript may be submitted to ONLY 1 evaluation category.

4. Manuscripts must be submitted by EMAIL ONLY.

5. The submission DEADLINE IS May 15, 2015. NO extensions.

6. Manuscripts must be previously unpublished, including cell publication, Web publication and blogs. If your work is openly available to readers online on a blog or article directory (i.e.: ezinearticles.com, gather.com, associatedcontent.com), it is considered PUBLISHED. If your manuscript has been critiqued online through membership website that requires members to login to see the work, it is considered UNPUBLISHED.

7. Simultaneous submissions are OK.

Friendship: 

Writers need other writers. No one else understands a writer like another writer. Family may love you, but often they don't understand your staring off into space, whispers to people who are not visible, and need to scribble things ideas at a moments notice. 

I am honored when another member of SWA calls me, sends me an email, or connects with me on social media seeking information about something about writing. I cheer for the accomplishments of SWA members. Their successes inspire me. 

I'm blessed to have made life-long friends from the first time I ever attended SWA. 

And, I look forward to forging new friendships this June. 

Learn more about the Southeastern Writers Association HERE

Counting Down to the SWA 40th ANNIVERSAY Workshop

Southeastern Writers Workshop 

June 19-23, 2015 at Epworth by the Sea on scenic St. Simons Island, Georgia.

The weekend workshop (June 20-21) is dedicated to fiction writing. 

The weekday workshop (June 22-23) is focused on nonfiction writing. 

Full conference tuition includes entry to all sessions, 3 FREE manuscript evaluations with one-on-one feedback from our faculty, and access to an agent and two publishers. 

Registration for a single workshop is $249. 

Full conference tuition for both workshops is $445; however, those opting to stay on campus at Epworth by the Sea receive a discounted tuition of $395. 

Plus 15 contests with CASH PRIZES! The Awards Ceremony is June 23. 

Already published and want to sell your work during our conference? Register then email us and our bookstore manager will help you set that up!

Register HERE

Southeastern Writers Association Workshop

This week, we're featuring faculty member Darrell Huckaby.

He'll be teaching Columns

Born and raised in the North Georgia mill village of Porterdale, Darrell Huckaby now lives in Conyers with his wife, Lisa, and their three children, Jamie, Jackson, and Jenna.
He teaches AP US History and Current issues at Heritage High School and his syndicated newspaper columns appear in a number of papers across the state. The What the Huck? Commentary can be heard on the Moby in the Morning radio show every Wednesday morning at 7:50.

A proud graduate of the University of Georgia, Huck is the author of ten books and travels extensively across the South, speaking to church and civic organizations as well as corporate functions.

His down home humor and unique reflections on life in the South “the way it was, the way it used to be, and the way it ought to be” make him a favorite with his readers and on the banquet circuit.

Want to know more about Darrell Huckaby?  Connect with him here  http://www.darrellhuckaby.net/

Your Faculty for 2015

Agent-in-Residence: Sorche Fairbank – Fairbank Literary Representation

Publisher: Maria McGaha – Dancing with Bear

Publisher: CreateSpace

Novel: C. Hope Clark

Nonfiction: Don Vaughn

Poetry & Flash Fiction: Chris Tusa

Young Adult: S.R. (Shelli) Johannes

Columns: Darrell Huckaby

Memoir: Dana Wildesmith 

 SWA Members SHINE

From Emily Sue Harvey

 One of my novels, SPACE, published two years ago, that just went to #3 on the Barnes and Noble National Best Seller list. Two others are National best sellers as well, HOMEFIRES  and UNTO THESE HILLS, all published by Story Plant. And just this month, I had another novel release entitled TWILIGHT TIME. This is my eighth Story Plant title. All these can be ordered from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble and actually through any online or local bookstore.