A thousand thanks to all attendees and panelists at the Washington Writer’s Conference this past Saturday (June 11)! It was a great event, thanks to your participation and enthusiasm.

http://www.examiner.com/publishing-industry-in-washington-dc/aiw-conference-more-intimate-but-just-as-effective

Share on Facebook

Tweet This Post

Washington Writer’s Conference
Saturday, June 11
The Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, MD

Registration: 8:00-9:10

Session I: 9:15-10:00

Literary Agent Q. and A.
A successful agent offers an insider’s perspective on both the nonfiction and fiction markets
Speaker:
Shannon O’Neill—agent and director of domestic rights, Sagalyn Literary Agency

Session II: 10:10 – 11:00

Marketing Your Work
How-to lessons from leading publicists and publishing industry experts
Panelists:
Gene Taft–former NY publishing veteran (Viking/Penquin, Free Press), book/author PR
Wendy Coakley-Thompson—novelist who covers publishing industry for Examiner.com
Bethanne Patrick—founder of AOL Books Channel, The Book Maven, & The Book Studio on WETA

Session III: 11:10 — 12:00

Mysteries and Thrillers
Writing and publishing tips from well-published, seasoned professionals
Panelists:
James Grady – author of Six Days of the Condor, Mad Dogs, and many other novels
John Gilstrap—NY Times bestselling author of eight thrillers, including Nathan’s Run
Clyde Linsley—author of several historical mysteries, including Death of a Mill Girl

Luncheon, with Plenary Speaker: 12:15 – 1:30

Address by John Ross, Executive Editor of American Heritage Magazine, former senior editor of Smithsonian, and bestselling non-fiction author of War on the Run.

Afternoon Sessions
Session IV: 1:40 – 2:30
Writing for Movies and TV
Crafting, and selling, a screenplay
Panelists
John Gilstrap—Bestselling author who has adapted four novels for movies
Adam Meyer—screenwriter for shows on Fox, CBS, The Discovery Channel, and more
Khris Baxter—instructor and screenwriter with five optioned screenplays
Moderator: Beata Plonka—screenwriter and fiction author

Break: 2:30 – 2:50

Session V: 2:50 – 3:40
Connecting with a live audience
How to be a great live reader of your own work
Panelists:
Presenter: Buzz Mauro— Co-Director of Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts, actor in Shakespeare Theater and Signature Theater productions, Helen Hayes Award nominee.
(Presentation will include demonstration with an audience volunteer.)

Session VI: 3:50 – 4:40.
Historical Narratives
Seasoned writers who have successfully published historical fiction discuss some techniques for bringing the past alive
Panelists:
Barbara Esstman—author of The Other Anna and Night Ride Home
C M Mayo—author of The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire and Sky Over El Nido
Natalie Wexler—author of A More Obedient Wife: A Novel of the Early Supreme Court
Moderator: David Taylor—author of Soul of a People: The WPA Writer’s Project Uncovers Depression of America

4:45 – 6:15: Networking wine reception – meet, chat, and drink with other writers

Pricing – It’s a great deal! – Walk-ins welcome

–$99 for AIW or TWC members in advance
–$129 for AIW or TWC members at the door
–$129 for non-members in advance
–$149 for non-members at the door

For advance payment, please mail a check to:
American Independent Writers
Annual Writer’s Conference
1001 Connecticut Ave NW
Suite 701
Washington, DC 20036

To pay in advance by credit card, call Donald at 703-660-9336.
Questions? Please email Mark at taral566@yahoo.com.

Share on Facebook

Tweet This Post

Location: The Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, MD

Registration: 8:00-9:10

Session I: 9:15-10:00
Literary Agents Roundtable:
Successful agents discuss trends and offer an insider’s perspective on both the nonfiction and fiction markets

Panelists:
Jason Allen Ashlock— agent and founder, Movable Type Literary Group
Shannon O’Neill—agent and director of domestic rights, Sagalyn Literary Agency
Agent TBD—

Session II: 10:10 – 11:00
Marketing Your Work:
How-to lessons from leading publicists

Panelists:
Gene Taft–former NY publishing veteran (Viking/Penquin, Free Press), book/author PR
Wendy Coakley-Thompson–BookSquad co-host, Publishing Insider blogger, novelist
Bethanne Patrick—Founder of AOL Books Channel, The Book Maven, & The Book Studio on WETA

Session III: 11:10 — 12:00
Mysteries and Thrillers:
Writing and publishing tips from well-published professionals
Panelists:
James Grady – author of Six Days of the Condor, Mad Dogs, and many other novels
Clyde Linsley—author of several historical mysteries, including Death of a Mill Girl
Charles Salzberg—author of Swann’s Last Song, as well as more than 20 other books

Luncheon, with Plenary Speaker : 12:15 – 1:30
Address by John Ross, Executive Editor of American Heritage Magazine, former senior editor of Smithsonian, and bestselling non-fiction author of War on the Run.

Afternoon Sessions:
Session IV: 1:40 – 2:30
Writing for Movies and TV:
Crafting and selling a screenplay
Panelists:
John Gilstrap—New York Times bestselling author, has adapted four novels for movies
Adam Meyer—screenwriter for shows on Fox, CBS, The Discovery Channel, and more
Khris Baxter—screenwriter with five optioned screenplays
Moderator: Beata Plonka—screenwriter and fiction author

Break: 2:30 – 2:50

Session V: 2:50 – 3:40
Connecting with a live audience:
How to be a great live reader of your own work
Presenter:
Buzz Mauro— Co-Director of Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts, actor in Shakespeare Theater and Signature Theater productions, Helen Hayes Award nominee.
(Presentation will include demonstration with an audience volunteer.)

Session VI: 3:50 – 4:40
Historical Narrative:
Seasoned writers show to bring the past alive
Panelists:
Barbara Esstman—author of The Other Anna and Night Ride Home
C M Mayo—author of The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire and Sky Over El Nido
Natalie Wexler—author of A More Obedient Wife: A Novel of the Early Supreme Court
Moderator: David Taylor—author of Soul of a People: The WPA Writer’s Project Uncovers Depression of America

4:45 – 6:15: Networking wine reception:
Meet, chat, and drink with other writers

First 50 attendees to register for conference may sign up for a ten-minute meeting with a literary agent.

Pricing – It’s a great deal!

–$99 for AIW or TWC members in advance
–$129 for AIW or TWC members at the door
–$129 for non-members in advance
–$149 for non-members at the door

For advance payment, please mail a check to:
American Independent Writers
Annual Writer’s Conference
1001 Connecticut Ave NW
Suite 701
Washington, DC 20036

To pay in advance by credit card, call Donald at 703-660-9336.
Questions? Please email Mark at taral566@yahoo.com.

Share on Facebook

Tweet This Post

At the Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, MD 20815

Saturday, June 11, 2011 from 9 a.m. to: 6:30 p.m.

Morning Sessions:

Session I: Literary Agents Roundtable – covering both the nonfiction and fiction market

Session II: Marketing Your Work – How-to lessons from leading publicists

Session III: Mysteries and Thrillers – Writing and publishing tips from published pros

Catered Luncheon with Address by John Ross, Executive Editor of American Heritage Magazine, former senior editor of Smithsonian, and bestselling non-fiction author of War on the Run.

Afternoon Sessions:

Session IV: Writing for Movies and TV – crafting and selling a screenplay

Session V: Connecting with a live audience – be a great live reader of your own work

Session VI: Historical Narrative – seasoned writers show to bring the past alive

Networking reception – meet, chat, and drink with other writers

First 50 attendees to register for conference may sign up for a ten-minute meeting with a literary agent.

Pricing – It’s a great deal!

–$99 for AIW or TWC members in advance
–$129 for AIW or TWC members at the door
–$129 for non-members in advance
–$149 for non-members at the door

For advance payment, please mail a check to:
American Independent Writers
Annual Writer’s Conference
1001 Connecticut Ave NW
Suite 701
Washington, DC 20036

To pay in advance by credit card, call Donald at 703-660-9336.
Questions? Please email Mark at taral566@yahoo.com.

Share on Facebook

Tweet This Post

Featuring

• A literary agents roundtable
• Lessons on marketing your work
• Screenwriting tips from the professionals
• Craft talks on writing thrillers and mysteries
• How to connect with a live audience at readings
• An opportunity to meet with a literary agent one-on-one
• Luncheon address by John F. Ross, Executive Editor of American Heritage Magazine, former senior editor of Smithsonian, and bestselling non-fiction author of War on the Run.

Where: The Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, MD 20815

When: Saturday, June 11, 2011 from 9 a.m. to: 6:30 p.m.

This all-day event will feature six information-packed sessions, a catered lunch and luncheon address, and a networking reception afterward. And the first 50 attendees to register will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a literary agent.

Reservation information and program details coming soon.

Share on Facebook

Tweet This Post

The annual Washington Writers Conference, AIW’s signature event, will be held June 11 at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda. We will be sending out more information to all AIW members on speakers, agents, panels, registration, and more. Stay tuned.

Share on Facebook

Tweet This Post

Monday, April 4, 2011
7:00 p.m.
FREE for AIW members and non-members

AIW Office
Suite 701
1001 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036

The street entrance is on K Street, between 17th and Connecticut, near the K Street entrance to the Farragut North Metro station.

Metro: Farragut North on the Red line, Farragut West on the Orange and Blue lines.

Panelists:
Leslie Pietrzyk teaches in the low-residency MFA program at Converse College (located in Spartanburg, South Carolina) and in the graduate writing program at Johns Hopkins. She is the author of two novels, Pears on a Willow Tree (Avon Books) and A Year and a Day (William Morrow). Her short fiction has appeared in many journals, including Shenandoah, The Iowa Review, The Gettysburg Review, and The Sun Magazine.

Rimas Blekaitis is currently a student and MFA candidate in writing at the Vermont College of Fine Arts low-residency MFA program. The VCFA program was recently ranked as the top low-residency writing program in the country by Poets and Writers magazine, and as one of the top five programs by The Atlantic magazine. He lives in Washington, D.C.

Paula Whyman’s (moderator) award-winning stories have appeared in literary magazines and anthologies, including Writes of Passage: Coming-of-Age Stories and Memoirs from The Hudson Review. She is the recipient of an MSAC grant and fellowships to the VCCA. She’s a graduate of the American
University’s MFA program. She’s a visiting writer for the Pen/Faulkner Foundation’s Writers in Schools Program, and a frequent guest-lecturer on creative writing and literature.

Share on Facebook

Tweet This Post

New York Writers Workshop : Pitch Conferences for Writers of Non-Fiction and Fiction : Registration Now Open!

New York Writers Workshop hosts three-day Pitch Conferences in New York for writers of non-fiction and fiction. Participants polish their pitches with the help of conference leaders, then present them to three different editors from major New York publishing houses. Editors provide feedback and may request to see proposals or manuscripts after the conference. Attend one of our conferences and see what past participants have been raving about.
 
New York Writers Workshop Non-Fiction Pitch Conference
Next Non-Fiction Pitch Conference: February 11-13, 2011
 
New York Writers Workshop Perfect Pitch Fiction Conference
Next Perfect Pitch Fiction Conference: March 4-6, 2011

For further information and sign up information, please visit New York Writers Workshop website:  http://www.newyorkwritersworkshop.com/

Share on Facebook

Tweet This Post

You’re Invited! James Joyce Birthday Party!, Wednesday, February, 2, 2011

Under the aegis of the Harvard Club of Washington DC and American Independent Writers, there will be a gathering of existing and would-be Joycomaniacs to celebrate Jim’s 129th birthday, particularly significant since 129 is the sum of the first 10 prime numbers (and the product of two prime multiplicands). If he doesn’t show up this year, one might well ask if he ever will; it is, however, legal to consume both Irish and Mexican beer on the 33rd day of the year in the District of Columbia (especially duringa reading).

You are welcome to: the Reading; the Happy Hour; or Both.

Participant readers are invited to volunteer at bobkolive@gmail.com (genuine draft script available, suggestions encouraged – particularly if they involve enthusiasm, exaggeration or exuberance).

When: Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Time: Reading at 5:00 PM (featuring excerpts from Dubliners, Portrait of the Artist, Ulysses, and Finnegan’s Wake), Happy Hour at 6:30 PM

Place: Guapo’s Restaurant, Fiesta Room (On the Second Floor) 4515 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, next to Taneytown Metro Station (parking available nearby at Whole Foods)

Admissions: No Charge – Public Welcome, Patronage of Host Restaurant Encouraged.

Share on Facebook

Tweet This Post

AIW 2010 HOLIDAY HAPPY HOUR, Monday, December 13

Put away your “to do” list and postpone your errands to focus on what’s truly important this holiday season, connecting with your fellow AIW friends and meeting new ones. Join the Board of Directors and members of American Independent Writers for a social evening celebrating writers and the writing life. Guests are welcome, too.

• Network with colleagues
• Meet AIW Board members to share your ideas and suggestions
• Bring friends interested in joining AIW
• Learn about upcoming programs and the Conference in June 2011
• Find out how you can become more active in AIW activities
• Share some pre-holiday cheer!

When: Monday, December 13, 2010 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Where: Bravo! Bravo! (No host cash bar), 1001 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036. The restaurant is actually in the basement of the building where the AIW office is located. There is a street entrance on Connecticut, near the K Street entrance to the Farragut North Metro station or you can enter the AIW office building and take the stairs or the elevator down to the restaurant.

Metro: Farragut North on the Red line, Farragut West on the Orange and Blue lines

Please confirm your plans to attend at rsvp@amerindywriters.org.

Share on Facebook

Tweet This Post