Check your calendar! Is it marked for SWA in June?

Scholarships!

Time is running out!

★☆★ 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.

Faculty List 

40th Annual Southeastern Writers Workshop

June 19-23, 2015

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

Publisher: Maria McGaha – Dancing with Bear Publishing 

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 

Where? 

St. Simons Island, GA

REGISTER HERE! SWA

Something Extra Special!

Southeastern Writers Association is offering 2 scholarships for the summer workshop at Epworth-by-the-Sea on St. Simon’s Island, GA. All you have to do is submit a 300-word essay about why you should be selected to attend the fiction writing sessions on June 19-21 or the nonfiction writing sessions on June 21-23. Be creative. Show your personality. You could be a part of our 40th anniversary of writers helping writers. 

The entry deadline is midnight on April 15th 

Please note: 

The scholarship pays for tuition only. The scholarship recipient will be responsible for their accommodations. Please email your entries to DebraAyersBrown@gmail.com with a subject line of SWA Fiction Scholarship or SWA Nonfiction Scholarship. Good luck!

 Check out all the details of the workshop at southeasternwriters.org.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

Don't miss out! 

Click the link and sign up.

http://southeasternwriters.org/Writers_Workshop.html

*DRUM ROLL* 

This week we are rolling out the special logo for the 40th Anniversary of Southeastern Writers Association. Alexandra Christle of Christle Concepts is the graphic artist who designed this special logo. 

Now, more about the workshop. It's an important year. The Ruby Anniversary of SWA. 40 years of bringing a quality writing workshop to writers in the southeast. 

Faculty List for the June 19-23, 2015 workshop

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 are featuring Donald S. Vaughn. He will be teaching Nonfiction. 

 

Donald has been writing for over thirty years. He’s worked as a staff writer and/or editor for The Lake Worth Herald, Your Health Magazine and The National Examiner, worked as a full-time freelance writer, publishing more than 1,700 nonfiction magazine and newspaper articles and writing, 

co-writing, ghosting or contributing to thirty-two books. 

He’s also worked on fourteen books for Illinois-based Publications International Ltd., co-authored 500 Things to Do Before You Kick the Bucket, and have contributed to several volumes in the popular Armchair Reader series, including editions on Hollywood, Christmas, dogs, Ohio, Texas, New York City, and the Bible.

Always engaged, he also teaches teach Freelance Writing for Beginners through the continuing education program at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, North Carolina. He founded Triangle Area Freelancers (TAF), which is the largest organization in North Carolina devoted exclusively to nonfiction freelance writing. 

Writer’s Market (Writer’s Digest Books) profiled Donald in 2005 in a feature about successful national freelance writers. A follow-up profile appeared in the 2006 edition.

2009 brought a new writing aspect to him. He became a researcher for the television series I Survived on The Biography Channel. His duties included finding and interviewing people who had survived extraordinary circumstances, and writing a comprehensive report about each. Among those Donald interviewed, and who were featured on the show, was a California woman who had been viciously mauled by a mountain lion, and a North Carolina woman who had been shot nine times and left for dead as part of a violent gang initiation.

Donald is also a public speaker. He lectures on freelance writing, censorship and other topics close to his heart. 

We look forward to his classes at our June workshop. 

Find out more about Donald here: http://www.donaldvaughan.net

Members Shine!

Last night, Linda Joyce joined a panel of four authors to kick off the Atlanta Authors Series 2015 hosted at the Roswell Library. The panel presented Tackling Sensitive Topics in Fiction. A lively Q&A followed, along with a chocolate tasting. 

We hope to see you in June. Sign up for the workshop now!

Exciting New Member News!

Patrick Hempfing's moMENts column was published in the July issues of Pennsylvania's About Families, North Carolina's Carolina Parent, Idaho Family, Sonoma Family Life, South Florida Parenting, Texas's Suburban Parent, and Western New York Family magazines. He has also reached 57 followers on Twitter. 

Erika Hoffman's essay, "Biggest Obstacle," will appear in the August issue of South Carolina's Sasee Magazine. 

Roy Richardson was on The Writing Well, a literary blog run by fellow author Anne Wainscott-Sargent celebrating "excellence in writing and story-telling," and an excerpt from his short story collection, "Hillbillies Prefer Blondes," was also featured. 

If you have any member news, feel free to email us about your accomplishments! Also, if you'd like to include your social media information, we will link to you as well. We hope everyone is having a fun and productive July! 

EditorialLee Speaking

I couldn't have hired a playwright to script it any better. Our 2014 SWA workshop was everything I hoped it could have been and a whole lot more. We filled up the seats, mostly with new attendees. We dazzled everyone with brilliant instructors, and most of the newbies were saying they couldn't wait to come back next year. We have some younger people accepting positions of responsibility on the Board of Directors. I believe SWA's future is very secure.

That wasn't the case not so long ago. While we had a cash reserve that could carry us forward for a couple of years no matter how great the failures, we were in a downturn. Our membership was down. Our Board of Directors was dwindling, and while we were almost begging for more bodies, our requests, for the most part, went unanswered. Workshop attendance was barely bringing in break-even revenue, if that. A couple of times we pondered if we might have reached the end of the line.

Now with a positive cash flow from our most recent workshop, an energized "fan base" of new attendees who will be back, hopefully with their friends, and some younger blood sitting in the Board of Directors' seats, the end of the line has been pushed well into the future.

All this happened as Kay Eaton and I served our last tenures on the Board. Kay was one of those who answered the call when we were in dire need of people a few years ago. She helped hold SWA together with the important registrar duties. Relocation to Florida has dictated that she step down from her duties, but we still expect her to show up each June at St. Simons.

As to that other guy who's stepping aside, I'll still show my face at St. Simons as well. The ThomasMax "You Are Published" Contest -- which received the highest number of entries and best competition we've ever had in 2014 -- will continue so there's still a book deal to be had. I've made a lot of comments about my retirement, and all of them have been honestly from the heart. There DOES come a time when everyone needs to step aside and let others bring something new to the show. George Washington DID indeed say eight years was enough. But mostly it's been health issues, specifically pain management, that sparked my decision. I've tried to keep that under the rug (and think I've been pretty successful at it), and now you've just read all I'm going to say about it here. 

But I do have a little more to say before I run into the sunset. I am quite proud of the service I've given to SWA. I've received several post-workshop notes and thank-you cards. One said, "Someone asked me the other day what I do. I said, 'I am a writer.' And that's all because of my years at SWA that I could say that." While there were personal accolades in that note, the thing that touched me is that I know I made a difference. And that's why I signed up for the volunteer job in the first place.

My last night as SWA President (let's pretend the meeting the next morning didn't happen) was amazing. My good friend Darrell Huckaby -- I met Huck as a result of SWA -- asked if he could come and entertain at our Awards Ceremony. Anyone in his right mind would say yes, and luckily I was in my right mind the day he asked. And I got this inspired idea to buy torches to pass to the new board members (at least those of which I was aware at the time) as a fitting ritual. Then I was blown away with the going-away gift the board gave me . . . a photo of the Braves' locker room (it's no secret I'm a rabid Braves fan) with my name awarded one of the lockers there. No. 8 -- for eight years of service, four as President and four as VP. I felt truly honored at that moment. I've seen former SWA Presidents with many more years than me retire with a simple "thank-you" certificate or plaque . . . or less. 

I haven't yet chosen the spot in my house where it will hang, but it will certainly be a spot of honor. Every time I look at it, I am humbled by the notion that I was held in such esteem by my peers. I know it wasn't cheap, and you really shouldn't have . . . but I'm thrilled that you did. Thank you from every fiber of my being.

And thank you, SWA, for giving me the chance to make a difference. I'll remember THAT every time I look at that picture, too.

~~ Lee Clevenger

Lee is 2-time President of SWA, an author and co-founder of ThomasMax Publishing in Atlanta, GA.

The Power of Technology

Becky Lee Weyrich was a pillar of SWA when I joined in 1990.  It was a re-building year after the Workshop wasn't held due to lack of funds the year before.  Becky taught that year, a commanding presence with her deep voice, reading glasses perched on the end of her nose and her hair pulled back so severely into a single long braid that she would never need a face lift. Becky gave her all to SWA - a board member who served as president, a teacher, an award sponsor - nurturing many fledgling writers into successful authors.  

My favorite Becky story occurred a few years after I joined the board. Becky was on a panel with other instructors including fantasy author Tom Deitz.  Tom announced he had published 9 books and 4 were still in print and he stood them up on the front of the table.  While the other panelist introduced themselves, Becky walked out and returned with a box.  When her turn came, she stood and said "My name is Becky Lee Weyrich and I have 27 books published, 7 still in print here." She lined up her books.  "This one's in print in 2 languages - Spanish and French - and this one's in 4!  I've been in print longer than you've been alive!" She sat down triumphantly, but soon shot a wink down the table at Tom, who toppled his books then stood clapping and coaxed us into a standing ovation.

Well, Becky passed away a few years ago, but thanks to technology, she's back in print.  Diversion Books is re-releasing Becky's books as e-books!   They released 5 titles on June 10th and have 5 more scheduled on July 1st and 4 more each on July 22nd and August 5th. The e-books are available on amazon.com and bn.com and there are some mass market paperbacks, too.  She still deserves a standing ovation.

~~ Amy Munnell

Amy is the current president of SWA, serving on the Board of Directors from 1993-2007 and again from 2011 to the present.  She has been a freelance writer and editor for 29 years with her work appearing in various publications including the Chocolate for a Woman's Soul series, Saying Goodbye, From the Heart, Points North, ByLine, Athens Magazine and Georgia Magazine. Find Amy on Twitter: @amunnell

A Round of Applause: Member News

Susan Lindsley, H.W. "Buzz" Bernard and Martha Phillips were semi-finalists for Georgia Author of the Year.  Susan was in the First Novel category for The Bottom Rail, placing third, while Buzz and Martha competed in the Fiction Novel category for Supercell and Carved respectively. 

Debra Brown's humor story "The She Devil" has made it into Not Your Mother’s Book . . . On Cats. The book is slated for release in September 2014.

Patrick Hempfing’s moMENts columns were published in the June issues of 12 regional parenting magazines, including Houston Family, San Diego Family, South Florida Parenting, and Suburban Parent (Dallas/Ft. Worth) magazines.  In May, the Chicago Tribune, Daily Press, Orlando Sentinel, and Sun Sentinel ran one of his pieces.  His columns have now been published over 100 times, spanning 17 states and two Canadian provinces.

We invite members to share news about their successes and activities so we can all join the celebration!

2014 Southeastern Writers Workshop Highlights - Open Mic Night

A regular feature of the 2014 Southeastern Writers Workshop is Open Mic Night.  Attendees and faculty share their work.  It's a funny, poignant and inspiring night!

Workshop Sneak Peek: Evening Programs

The SWA Workshop doesn't stop for the day at 5:00.  There's more after dinner each night!  The Evening Sessions are open to the public and there's a social after for networking, card playing and more. Oh, and there are DOOR PRIZES every night!  Click here for the full Schedule of Events!

Friday, June 13

Orientation - Meet the faculty and the SWA Board of Directors, learn the basic set-up, ask questions and sign up for evaluations and Open Mic Night.

Saturday, June 14

Something New! - We're having a little fun - Karaoke! Board member Jan Kelleher will host an evening of singing, cutting up and being fabulous because everyone's a rock star deep inside!

Sunday, June 15

State Of The Industry - Agent Carlie Webber will give a talk on Publishing Today and answer questions on the Writer/Agent Relationship.

Monday, June 16

Open Mic Night - Attendees and faculty can sign up to read 4 minutes of their work.  Always a fun and interesting night!

Tuesday, June 17

Awards Night with Special Guest Darrell Huckaby and After Party - We will hand out the contests prizes and a few surprises!  Read all about here.

EditorialLee Speaking

It's June. If you're a subscriber to Purple Pros and you haven't already decided to come to St. Simons this month for our workshop, it's doubtful there's much I can say that will convince you to come. But I'd like to try. This is my final year as president, my final year on the Board of Directors, my final year to recruit faculty. And if you haven't managed to get to our workshop for the past eight years while I have been on the board (or the six years or so before that when I came strictly as a student), that means I haven't had the chance to meet you. And I'd like to meet you.

No, you can't enter manuscripts for evaluations or contests at this late date. That ship has sailed. But we still have some open seats in classes, the best roster of instructors I've ever seen (I know I'm prejudiced because I recruited them, but, it's really exactly that). We have a publisher, a renown editor, a social media specialist, a best-selling novelist, an award-winning children's author (who will double teaching poetry, for which she's up for an award this year). And that's just the start...there's more! Got a book you want to pitch to an agent? We'll have an agent there to hear your pitch . . . convenient, huh? And there's more beyond that, too much to explain in a simple column. Just come see for yourself.

It's so simple. Just go to www.southeasternwriters.com and register. And be sure to come talk to me while you're there. Oh, yeah, talk to everyone else too; they'll want to meet you as well. We're a fun group that enjoys spending time together! And we've got room for you in that group.

I guarantee if you do, you'll be glad you did.

~~ Lee Clevenger

Lee is the current President of SWA, an author and co-founder of ThomasMax Publishing in Atlanta, GA.

Pitch Your Book Ends Sunday!

Hurry!

Submit a 1-page query anonymously, but put your contact info and proof of registration in the body of your email. Write Query Evaluation in the subject line, attach the query to your email in a Word file and send to evaluation@southeasternwriters.org  Your query will be evaluated by our Agent-in-Residence Carlie Webber during the SWA Writers Workshop.

Pitch Your Book until 

Sunday, June 1 at 11:59 pm!

Workshop Sneak Peek: Awards Night

Celebrate a Great American Writer...YOU!

Put on your best party clothes and come celebrate the Great American Writer in all of us at SWA Writers Workshop's Awards Night, Tuesday, June 17!  We will hand out the contests prizes and a few surprises!  Plus syndicated columnist and best-selling author of nearly a dozen books, Darrell Huckaby will be our special guest, bringing 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.” 

Once these ceremonies are completed, the party will continue (if attendees wish) at the King & Prince Resort on the beachside of the island, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.  This informal "After Party" is the ideal wind-down after an intense and exciting workshop! 

Don't Miss It!

Seats are Still Available!

Click Here!

Pitch Your Book Ends Sunday, June 1 at 11:59 pm!

You have 6 DAYS to Pitch Your Book to our Agent-in-Residence Carlie Webber.  Carlie wants a 1-page query from SWA Writers Workshop attendees, submitted anonymously, but put your contact info and proof of registration in the body of your email. Write Query Evaluation in the subject line, attach the query to your email in a Word file and send to evaluation@southeasternwriters.org 

It is an incredible opportunity for writers looking to publish their first book!  Carlie's agency, CK Webber Associates, seeks commercial fiction and high-interest nonfiction.

Pitch Your Book until Sunday, June 1 at 11:59 pm!

Workshop Sneak Peek

Got Questions?

They have answers!

Register today!

Workshop Sneak Peek: CD Mitchell--Author, Short Storiest

Author CD Mitchell will teach a 2-day course, “Writing and Marketing Short Fiction”,  during the Fiction mini-workshop (June 16-17) of the SWA Writers Workshop, June 13-17, at Epworth-by-the-Sea on St. Simon’s Island, GA.  His stories and essays have appeared in dozens of nationally and internationally recognized literary journals as well as several anthologies.  With an MFA in creative writing from the University of Memphis, C.D.’s first short story collection, God's Naked Will, was released in the Fall 2013, followed in January 2014 by Alligator Stew, his second.

Praise for Alligator Stew:

"In these stories, Mitchell give us a style more like Twain updated...They are wonderful--yarns, the sort of gossipy good stuff you'd hear at the local diner--a place like Campbell's Cafe in Delbert, Arkansas. " ~~ The Southern Gentleman.

Writing and Marketing Short Fiction

We will discuss writing and marketing short fiction. We will speak of the elements of short fiction, what a short story can and should do. We will read and consider short shorts—less than 500 words—as well as longer short stories. How to piece together a story collection will also be discussed. I will also address publishing opportunities and where and how to submit polished work.

So are you ready to join us?

Space is limited!

Register today!

A Round of Applause: Member News

Patrick Hempfing had moMENts columns published in May issues of About Families (PA), Carolina Parent (NC), Palmetto Parent (SC), San Diego Family, Suburban Parent (TX), Idaho Family, and Western New York Family magazines. 

 

Sasee Magazine of Myrtle Beach is publishing another story by Erika Hoffman. It’s called "First Time’s the Charm", and it will appear in the June edition.

We invite members to share news about their successes and activities so we can all join the celebration!

Workshop Sneak Peek: Peggy Mercer - Poet, Children's Author and Songwriter

Peggy Mercer will be doing double-duty during the Southeastern Writers Workshop, June 13-17, 2014, teaching one session on Poetry and two on Writing for Children – Fiction and Nonfiction.  Peggy is an award winning poet, children's author and songwriter. Her book Peach: When the Well Run Dry won Georgia Author of the Year in 2011 for Children’s Mid-Readers. Peggy’s other books include Ten Cows to Texas, There Come A Soldier and a book of poems and songs, Grew Up Loving Elvis. Peggy is a music publisher and owns Peggy Mercer Music Publishing.  

Poetry

If poetry washes over you with deep thoughts from the soul, you're invited to jump into a once in a lifetime "river" of profound learning about poetry with Peggy Mercer. and will touch on the formats of poetry through the ages, where ideas come from, what sets the great poets apart and how to get published in this fun and worthwhile field of writing.  Write a poem and see your name in print?  Write a poem for friends?  Write a book of poetry for the ages...all of these moments will be touched on with the poet Peggy. JUMP in and take a poetry bath!  

Writing for Children

Touching children for good...writing children's books the big publishers will love...writing books for the children in Japan as well as Georgia, USA...how do we get there from here?  From the idea, how does the subject of a children's story, the seed, become a story in book form, upper reader form, juvenile novel form, and where do the facts come in?  Writing for children in all it's weird, wacky, wild and fun glory will be touched on in Peggy's class on writing for children.  Come with an idea, leave with the know how to get the book published!  

So are you ready to join us?

There's still time!

Register today!

Workshop Sneak Peek: Manuscript Deadline is TWO WEEKS away!!

The Southeastern Writers Workshop, June 13-17, 2014, offers registered attendees ample opportunities to share their work and receive feedback or cash prizes.  And submission deadline is May 15!  The SWA Workshop is one of a few, if not the only, workshops that offer free manuscript evaluations and we offer THREE for FREE!

Manuscript Evaluation Categories (choose 3)

• Poetry - Evaluator: Peggy Mercer 
• Novel - Evaluator: Bob Mayer 
• Short Fiction - Evaluator: C.D. Mitchell  
• Nonfiction - Evaluator: Dahlynn McKowen
• Juvenile - Evaluator: Peggy Mercer

See the full guidelines on the SWA website.

Pitch Your Book

In addition, our Agent-in-Residence Carlie Webber wants a 1-page query from Workshop attendees, submitted anonymously, but put your contact info and proof of registration in the body of your email. Write Query Evaluation in the subject line, attach the query to your email in a Word file and send to evaluation@southeasternwriters.org

15 Contests with CASH prizes

Attendees may enter any and all contests.  The full contest descriptions are here.  Submission guidelines can be found here.

• The Hal Bernard Memorial Award for Novel 
• The Past Presidents’ Romance Award
• The Edna Sampson Award of Excellence for The Best Novel by a First Time Attendee (Selected from entries to the Hal Bernard Memorial Award)
• The GT Youngblood Short Fiction Award 
• The Microcosm Award  
• Romantic Flash Fiction Award  
• Lines of Worth Award  
• The Julie L. Cannon Award 
• The Bill Westhead Memorial Award 
• The Angel Award for Holiday Seasonal Writing 
• The ThomasMax “You are Published” Contest 
• The Very Merrie Bosom Buddy Award 
• The Dr. George L. Sheppard Memorial Award 
• The Award for Excellence in Inspirational Writing 
• The Cappy Award for Humor  

Submission Deadline is May 15! 

Open to Registered Workshop Attendees Only!

More Info and Registration on Our Website!

Workshop Sneak Peek: Debra Brown, Social Media Trainer

Debra Brown will be leading three sessions about Social Media for Writers during the Southeastern Writers Workshop week, June 13-17, 2014.  Debra is SWA's Social Media Coordinator, a past-president of SWA and a marketing professional with over 30 years experience in such fields as banking, business and education as well as her award-winning writer career. Her list of published credits include the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Chocolate for a Woman's Soul series, Guideposts, Woman's World, Total Business Lifestyles, and others.

Debra's Social Media sessions are designed "to give the basics to new users but also to offer tips that I've learned in the process that advanced users can use" and to "to show options for writers/authors to use for branding and sales so that they can find one to focus on in the beginning ... and to have fun using ... social media ... to engage with peers, readers."  She will focus on three types of Social Media but will be available to meet with attendees individually to answer other questions.  Her classes are:

• Mastering the @BCs of Twitter for Writers
• Putting the "Book" in Facebook: Branding & Sales
• Pinning with Purpose: Pinterest for Writers

Register Today!

Free Manuscript Evaluations!

Contests with Cash Prizes!

News from the Twitterverse

Items for writers gleaned from Twitter....

Contests

Hope Clark ‏(@hopeclark) posted on April 20
Creative nonfiction contest - no entry fee - $125 first place - 500-1500 words - deadline May 31 - https://renegadeword.submittable.com/submit/28175 

Boston Review ‏(@BostonReview) posted on April 6
The BR Poetry Contest is now accepting submissions! Judge is Major Jackson, 1st Prize is $1,500, deadline is June 2: http://bit.ly/1frZq26 

Writing Competitions ‏(@WritingCompt) posted on April 14
Jeff Sharlet Award http://bit.ly/1ep3few 

Prize Reporter ‏(@pwprizereporter) posted on April 21
Read more about Claudia Rankine & the $50,000 Jackson Poetry Prize, given annually by @poetswritersinc: http://www.pw.org/about-us/jackson_poetry_prize  #JacksonPrize

Tips About Contests

Hope Clark ‏(@hopeclark) posted on April 20
10 things to do to win a writing contest - http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/2014/04/ten-things-to-do-to-win-a-writing-contest/ …

YA Authors Opportunity

Amy Trueblood ‏(@atrueblood5) posted on April 19
Write Contemp #YA? Have you checked out this amazing opportunity from @SHContemp & @brendadrake? http://www.brenda-drake.com/2014/04/got-ya-contemporary-announcing-pitch-event-spencer-hill-contemporary/ …


Follow SWA on Twitter: @SWAwriters

~~ Amy Munnell

Amy is the Editor of The Purple Pros, and has been an SWA member since 1990, serving on the Board of Directors from 1993-2007 and again from 2011 to the present.  She has been a freelance writer and editor for 25 years with her work appearing in various publications including the Chocolate for a Woman's Soul series, Saying Goodbye, From the Heart, Points North, ByLine, Athens Magazine and Georgia Magazine. Find Amy on Twitter: @amunnell

Workshop Sneak Peek: Carlie Webber, Literary Agent

Agent in Residence Carlie Webber will be with us throughout the Southeastern Writers Workshop week, June 13-17, 2014.  She is the founder of CK Webber Associates based in San Francisco, but began her book-centric career as a Young Adult librarian.  As such she often reviewed YA books for Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), Kirkus Reviews and others.  After completing the Columbia Publishing Course, Carlie interned at Writers House then worked for the Publish or Perish Agency/New England Publishing Associates, and later at the Jane Rotrosen Agency.  She launched CK Webber Associates in early 2013 and currently seeks manuscripts in various genres, including Young Adult, Middle Grade,  New Adult, women's fiction, literary and general fiction, memoir and others.

Carlie will meet one-on-one with interested workshop attendees throughout the week, participate in our Ask The Experts Q&A panel discussion, and give a State of the Industry lecture Sunday. In addition, she'll teach two classes:

Dissecting The Query Letter

A great query can be your key to snagging the right agent. In this workshop, Carlie Webber will take you through the ins and outs of constructing the perfect query letter, from the opening (hint: “Dear Agent” is not a great opening) to the book description (no spoilers!) to the close. She’ll answer some of the most common questions about query writing, including length of the letter, how much information to reveal about the plot, what information to put in your author bio, and what details will make an agent want to read more. 

☆ ☆ ☆ Submit Your Query Letter for Critique! ☆ ☆ ☆

Email for details.

Dissecting The Synopsis

After writing a 100,000-word novel, writing a 500-word synopsis of the novel seems easy. In fact, writing a synopsis might be one of the hardest things a writer has to do. Carlie Webber will teach you what information should (and should not) go in a synopsis, why a great synopsis can help sell and market your book, and why it’s important to be able to clearly and concisely summarize your book in just a few words. Examples of good synopsis writing will be shown throughout the presentation.

Still undecided?

Check out the Southeastern Writers Workshop  page 

to learn more.

And to REGISTER!