INVITATION TO GUILD COFFEE ON SATURDAY JANUARY 5, 2013 10 a.m. - 12 Noon COCC Redmond Campus,  2030 SE College Loop, Building 3 Room 306 Everyone is welcome to join us for coffee and conversation as we plan a brand new year of Central Oregon Writers Guild Activities and Programs. This year we celebrated our tenth anniversary. As we enter the next decade, this is your opportunity to help chart the Guild's future as we continue to meet our goals to support and encourage Central Oregon writers of all skill levels and genres. Bring your thoughts, ideas and suggestions and learn how you can be involved in carrying out our mission. The session is free and coffee--and tea--will be served! If you have not yet signed up for this event, contact Lindy Jacobs at lindyj@bendcable.com. SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER PATY JAGER "Make 2013 Your Best Year to Write" Guild member and award-winning author Paty Jager will do a presentation on the topic "Make 2013 Your Best Year to Write". Based on her own successful writing career, Paty will share her experience and guidance about how each of us can achieve our writing goals. You won't want to miss the chance to listen and learn from Paty. For updates about her writing activities, visit www.patyjager.net. We look forward to seeing many of you on Saturday January 5th!

CENTRAL OREGON WRITERS GUILD ANNOUNCES REDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT’S 2013 4th GRADE BOOK CONTEST

                  

Redmond, OR, October 3, 2012—In partnership with the High Desert Society of the Arts, Redmond Rotary Club and Redmond Library, Central Oregon Writers Guild is proud to sponsor the annual Redmond School District’s 4th Grade Book Contest.

The contest is open to Redmond School District 4th grade students, including those who attend Christian schools and home schooled students who are at the 4th grade level. Rules governing the contest have been distributed to district administrators, principals and the 4th grade teachers who will coordinate the students’ participation. Home schoolers should contact Kai Strand for entry details, at kaistrand@yahoo.com or 541-410-3225. Local businesses or organizations that would like to provide financial support for contest expenses should also contact Ms. Strand. Participation in this important event is welcome!

HDSA and Central Oregon Writers Guild members are available to make classroom presentations to offer students guidance as they write and illustrate their contest entries. Books must be the child’s original work. Entry deadline is January 24, 2013. The winner and runner-up will be announced February 20, 2013, and all submissions will be available for viewing during the contest awards ceremony and reception at Redmond Library in March.

The panel of judges includes representatives from the Central Oregon Writers Guild, HDSA and the Redmond Library. For further information about the 4^th Grade Book Contest, contact Coordinator Kai Strand at kaistrand@yahoo.com.

LITERARY HARVEST CONTEST RESULTS UPDATE

by Anita Lanning

Congratulations are in order to JT Gregory, one of the top ten winners in the 2011 Literary Harvest. Because of a scoring error called to attention following the October 14 event, it was learned JT’s memoir Taking Sides had tied for third place, along with David Burns’ story Going to St. Johns. We regret this change was not made in time to be included in the article about the Harvest in this month’s Cascade A&E magazine, but as JT said, the win will be a positive addition to his author’s platform!

About that A&E article—it’s on page 7 of the November issue of Cascade A&E, it’s titled “Writers Guild’s 2011 Annual Literary Harvest”, and it includes a photo of Cindy Murphy, Ava Wilson and David Burns. It lists the Harvest Contest winners and story titles, talks about the history of the Guild and the Literary Harvest, and our other activities such as sponsorship of the Redmond Schools 4^th Grade Book Contest. A&E is a free publication, available at various locations around Central Oregon. Everyone is encouraged to pick up a copy and read the Guild article as well as the many other accounts about what’s happening in the arts and culture arena in our area. Publisher Pamela Hulse Andrews’ “The Thrill of Success Via Film & Literature” on page 2 is definitely worth a read!

2011 Literary Harvest Contest Winners Announced

We are pleased to announce the top ten winners of this year’s Literary Harvest Writing Contest. The authors’ names and titles are:

First Place        Cindy Murphy, “The Last Storm”

Second Place:   Ava Wilson, “The One-Eyed Goose”

Third Place:      David Burns, “Going to St. John’s”

Runners-up in no particular order are:

Jackie Aaro, “Corner of Wall & Ivy”

Dixie Brown, “The Call”

JT Gregory, “Taking Sides”

Alexander Weiss, “Poems”

Sue Nell Phillips, “The Talk”

Elizabeth Stephenson, “Two Hours to Heaven”

Verna Clay, “Prison”

Congratulations to all the winners. They will read their pieces during the Seventh Annual Literary Harvest on Friday, October 14, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., at the Comfort Suites Inn, 2243 SW Yew, Redmond. Everyone is invited to attend and enjoy hearing these winning entries. Admission fee is $5 for Guild members, $10 for non-members. Several Guild authors will display and sell their books during the event. The 2011 Winners’ stories will be published in the Literary Harvest Chapbook, which will be on sale at the November 17 Guild meeting. Cost is $10 each.

See everyone at the Literary Harvest!

2011 Literary Harvest Now Open for Submissions

ANNOUNCING THE CENTRAL OREGON WRITERS GUILD’S

2011 LITERARY HARVEST WRITING CONTEST

NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS
June 1 – September 6

Open to Guild Members and Central Oregon Area Writers

For contest guidelines, rules and entry details,

click HERE to go to the Literary Harvest page

Contest winners will read their stories at the Literary Harvest

Questions? Contact the Contest Manager at

LiteraryHarvest@gmail.com

SAVE THE DATE!

2011 ANNUAL LITERARY HARVEST

FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2011

6:30 p.m.

Comfort Suites Inn

2243 SW Yew

Redmond, Oregon

Central Oregon Writers Guild Presents

Writing Your Book Proposal Workshop

With Best-selling Author Paty Jager

Saturday, April 10, 10:00-3:00 PM*
COCC Redmond Campus, 2030 SE College Loop, Building 3, Room 306
Cost: $15/$8 for Guild members

Writing the book proposal is the most important step in selling your book. In this four-hour, hands-on workshop, Paty will show us how to put together a book proposal packet. You will be working on your query/cover letter, 2 page synopsis, and the first three chapters of your project. Paty will begin with a brief overview of what a professional letter should look like and how to condense your book into a three to four sentence pitch.

Registered students can send your 2- page synopsis to Paty at patyjag@gmail.com by March 30th and she will return the synopsis to you with her suggestions and kudos during the workshop. Please know Paty may use sections of some of the student’s work as illustrations during the workshop (remember all writers need to build a tough skin, rejection is a necessary evil of becoming published). Then she will give you tips for the final editing of your first three chapters before you send them along with your letter and synopsis.

There will be a one hour break for lunch at noon (restaurants nearby or bring a sack lunch)

Sign up at a monthly Guild meeting or reserve space by calling Events Director Lindy Jacobs 541 408-6306.

Central Oregon Writers Guild 2010 Literary Harvest Planning Meeting

Tuesday, March 2
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Redmond Library
827 Deschutes Avenue

The 2010 LITERARY HARVEST planning will get underway March 2. All Guild Members are welcome to this important meeting to form the 2010 Literary Harvest Committee.

The 2010 Literary Harvest will be held on October 15, and we are excited to announce our keynote speaker will be nationally acclaimed author and book editor, Elizabeth Lyon (Manuscript Makeover: Revision Techniques No Fiction Writer Can Afford to Ignore, Writer’s Guide to Fiction, The Sell Your Novel Tool Kit, Nonfiction Book Proposals Anyone Can Write, and the Writer’s Guide to Nonfiction)

This year, for the first time ever, Literary Harvest will also include an all-day FICTION WORKSHOP and a half-day NONFICTION WORKSHOP given by master teacher Elizabeth Lyon.

For more information, contact Lindy Jacobs, Events Director at 541 408-6306

4th Grade Book Writing Contest Organizational Meeting

Central Oregon Writers Guild invites all those interested in the Annual 4th Grade Book Writing Contest to attend the planning and organizational meeting February 10 starting at 6 P.M. at the Redmond Public Library. The Guild needs volunteers for promotion, funding (to cover printing and prizes), to assist students at schools, and judging. You may also help fund the contest with your contribution to the Friends of the Redmond Library-4th Grade Book Writing Contest.

Kathy Duffy, Reference Librarian at the Redmond Public Library, originated and organized the Annual 4th Grade Book Writing Contest for all 4th graders in the Redmond area from 2005-2008. Ms Duffy retired and moved away this past year so there is no contest scheduled for the current school year.

However, the Library has asked Central Oregon Writers Guild to take the lead in conducting this popular contest for the 2010-2011 school year The Guild has been an active partner in the past with the Redmond Library, the Friends of the Redmond Library, the Redmond Rotary, and the High Desert Society of the Arts and will direct the communications and organization of the contest. The Redmond Public Library will continue to host a reception for the contest winners and catalog the winner and runner-up books.

For additional information, please contact ElsieMarie Rochna at centraloregonwritersguild@gmail.com or you may call 541-923-0896

First Member Showcase Was a Resounding Success

Central Oregon Writers Guild first Members Showcase was December 17 in conjunction with our Holiday Social. Dennis Stachota served as Master of Ceremonies. Our readers, standing from left to right Cameron Prow, Carol Freed, Cleopatra Welch, Mary Krakow, Annette Fairchild, Paty Jager, seated from left to right, Stan Turel, and Randall Shelton. Thanks to Pat Wilson for the photo.

The Guild’s Members Showcase is designed to give members an opportunity to test their work and practice its presentation in a nurturing environment. Our next Members Showcase is scheduled for August 26. Guild members are invited to read a short piece (no longer than 10 minutes) of their work, not contest, not critique.

COWG 2009 Elmer Award

The Central Oregon Writers Guild Elmer for 2009 goes to a person who has served the Guild willingly, accepting any task assigned. A member for five years and a team player, she has stepped up to the plate time after time. This past year when our Blog Director was unable to continue, she stepped up, when our VP Program Director needed assistance; she took that on, while fulfilling the duties of Publicity Director. She is a person who is there for you, takes joy in your triumphs, cries with you in your sorrow. She truly is the glue that holds Central Oregon Writers Guild together, Anita Lanning.

This is an Elmer, a Central Oregon Writers Guild traveling award; it is meant to be awarded on an annual basis. Each Year’s recipient is to award it at the end of the following year, with name and year engraved; to one who it can truly be said is the glue that holds the Guild together.