Meeting: February 2nd - Formatting for Smashwords and Kindle

Thursday's meeting will be about formatting your manuscript for uploading to Smashwords and Kindle.  It's really a simple process if you follow the directions.

The program will start at 11:00 a.m. at The Cottage in Alexandria, LA.



July Meeting - Writing the Short Story

It's time to quit sleeping on it and get it done.

In order to test the waters of self-publishing, a short story challenge was thrown down in front of the membership.

Many authors are putting their short stories up on Kindle and Smashwords in order to get their name out there. Several have put up more than one and then combine several for an anthology.

Short story.

Sounds easy, but isn't. You still need a beginning, a middle and an end. But you don't need a subplot to lengthen the story.

In the 1940's and 50's, there were hundreds of magazines that purchased short stories, and due to a distribution problem, the vast majority of them vanished, leaving a void for readers.

With the advent of self-publishing, readers can now get their short story fix.

Ergo, the challenge.

Bring your short story to the meeting, or whatever you have. The challenge will continue through the next few months with formatting, book covers, and uploading to the different edistributors.

That's not counting the edits, proofreading, writing a blurb, writing a bio, etc. All steps that must be taken before that final upload.

Then after that, it's the excitement of seeing something you wrote out there in the world, striving for attention. Buy me, buy me, buy me...

There is your first review from someone you don't know...validation that yes you are a writer!

Exciting times are in store for the members who decide to try this 'short' challenge!

NaNoWriMo is Coming!

NaNoWriMo is coming in November!

It means that National Novel Write Month is upon us. You have thirty days to write a fifty thousand word novel. It most likely won't be a 'finished' product, but will be a decent first draft.

At our meeting this Saturday, we'll be going over preliminary plotting sheets.

Plot? Plot! Who needs a plot?

We all need a plot, so bring a pen as you'll be busy filling in the blanks of your story.

Hope to see you Saturday, October 9th at 10AM for the business meeting and at 11AM for the Plotting Workshop.

Coeur's Year Plan

Here's the plan...

Beginning on Monday's we start 'checking in'...

The first challenge is to decide what book you are going to write or finish this year. You have a week to make a decision. Be ready next Monday, the 12th to have a manuscript in mind.

The second challenge is to figure out the market for said book. Who's purchasing that type of book, what is the necessary length, do you need an agent? Etc., Be ready the following Monday, the 19th to disclose your target markets.

The third challenge for January is Book in a Week. Yes you heard me. Start writing that book as fast as you can for one week. We start on January 26th - February 1st and report in on the 2nd as to how we did.

We also plan to have three speakers this year.

In between speakers we will be following the below schedule...

Finish the Book in a Week
Edit the Book in a Week
Critique the Book in a Week
Rewrite from the critiques of our Book in a Week
Writing the synopsis for our Book in a Week
Writing the query letter for our Book in a Week

The only two months that are set in stone are:
November - NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month
December - Our Christmas Party

Quite an ambitious setting. But at the end of this year, you should have a completed manuscript, ready to go out the door, or ready for the Golden Heart. And the beginning of a new manuscript.

Donna Caubarreaux
President

November Speakers: Elaine Grant and Eleanor Cocreham

Wow! Two published speakers at the next meeting.

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On is left is Eleanor Cocreham, published by Wings ePress, and on the right is Elaine Grant, published by Harlequin Super Romance.

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They will be open for questions on both ways of getting published.

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Don't miss this exciting meeting.

Romancing the Tome Winners

Coeur de Louisiane is proud to announce the winners in Romancing the Tome Contest...

Erotic:
Theresa Stevens, Editor, Red Sage Publishing, Inc
1st - Afternoon Delight - Judi Phillips - Requested
2nd - Taylor's Tryst - Jacqueline Daher

Historical
Michelle Grajkowski, Agent, Three Seas Literary Agency
1sr - The Duchess Competition by Vicky Dreiling - Full Requested
2nd - Embrace the Swan by Christina L. Stambaugh
3rd - The King's Map by Sherry Brummel
4th - Celtic Sacrifice by Sheryl Brennan

Inspirational
Judged by Melissa Endlich, Editor, Steeple Hill Books
1st Place - Finally Found by Louise D. Foster
2nd Place - Lifetime Investment by Myra Johnson

Paranormal
Judged by Sean Mackiewicz, Editor, Nocturne
1st - The Reluctant Vampire by Kate MacEachern - Full Requested.
2nd - The Reluctant Amazon by Sandy James
3rd - Curse of the Dragon's Spell by Robin Haseltine
4th - Incredible Dreams by Sandra De Taranto
5th - Caught in the Middle by Carol R. Wood

Romantic Suspense
Judged by Scott Eagan of Greyhaus Literary Agency
1st - Rhodes Uncovered by Angela Platt
2nd - My Only Love by Martha Hoover
3rd - Neither Race Nor Creed by Ruth Logan Herne
4th - Love Unleased by Sarah McDermed

Series Contemporary
Natashya Wilson, Editor, Harlequin
1st - See Jane Run by Angela Platt - Full Requested
2nd - Run Silent by Kimberley Howe - Full Requested
3rd - Coming Home by Jennifer Harris - Full Requested
4th - My Brother's Keeper by Ruth Logan Herne - Full Requested
5th - The Spinnergig Curse by Greta MacEachern
6th - Reforming Finn by Ellie Huse

Single Title
Judged by Roberta Brown of Brown Literary Agency
1st - For Love of Ravioli by Laurie DeSalvo
2nd - Burnt Sugar by Rosemary Rothacker
3rd - Picket Fences by Sarah Sinclair
4th - Luna Red by Patricia Canavan

Honorable Mentions...
Given to the top five non-finalists...no matter what category
Hot Pursuit by Lynn Raye Harris
The Cleopatric Secret by Greta MacEachern
Crimes of the Past by Rosanne Anderson
A Reason to Dance by Glynna Kaye Sirpless
A Perfect Match by Sally Jane Driscoll

Grand Prize Winner of RWA Conference Fee in Cash!!!
The Duchess Competition by Vicky Dreiling