Be Yourself. It’s a corny phrase, “Be Yourself.” But it works.
Writing Advice
FiLMLaB Podcast Episode 3: Copyright
FiLMLaB’s third podcast deals with copyright; a brief discussion with screenwriter Randall Jahnson, WW Visual Media Director Ruth Witteried, and attorney and FiLMLaB co-founder, Stefan Feuerherdt. [soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/ww-filmlab/wwc-filmlab-copyright” params=”color=00cc11&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true&visual=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Revision Strategies with Maren Anderson
Revision Strategies with Maren Anderson I just wrote “The End” on the first draft of a manuscript I’ve been picking at for months. My normal M.O. is to write a very fast, very bad first draft. But my revision strategies have been changing lately. You see, this book was slow, slow, slow in coming. It…
4 Obstacles Keeping You from Finishing Your Manuscript
4 Obstacles Keeping You from Finishing Your Manuscript Disclaimer – Before I can be slapped with the charge of hypocrisy, let me be the first to say that I have succumbed to all four of the manuscript impediments listed below. I have two novels in print (The Sum of Our Gods and Corporate High School), and…
Revise with Jill Kelly | Writing Tips and Tricks
Willamette Writer member and writing instructor Jill Kelly knows how to revise. An award-winning author and editor and a former professor of grammar and literature, she’s helped hundreds of writers move their work to excellence. This month, she’ll be leading two Willamette Writer workshops in Salem. To get us started on the road to revision, she’s…
How to Submit to Literary Journals
At Poets and Writers Live in Portland, several literary journal editors offered their perspectives on how to submit to literary journals. Travis Meyer of the journal Poor Claudia got right down to business: “Put your name in the top right corner. Use Georgia, double-line height, healthy margins.” Cheston Knapp of Tin House said “I’m a…
Pre-Launch Machinations
You wrote a book. It’s been acquired! Now what in the world do you do with yourself?
Every writer has heard the axiom that penning a book is only the first in a long run of hurdles, and if we’re honest with ourselves every last one of us has believed that must be a mendacious proposition. Writing is hard work.
Ten Words To Keep In Mind For A Writer’s Conference
by Chip MacGregor As you begin preparing for this year’s Willamette Writers Conference, I’d like to suggest you keep ten words in mind… • READ. Don’t just show up and wonder who the speakers are. Read the blog of the keynote speakers. Read the books of the workshop teachers. That way, when you get to…
Get The Most Out of Your Book Event
Authors sometimes don’t do all they can do to get the most out of their book events. A small turnout can feel discouraging, but in fact, small readings are a great opportunity to connect personally to convert readers into loyal fans. Mary Bisbee-Beek offers her wisdom and knowledge for our members to help get the…
Screenwriting Tips
Willamette Writers encourages writers of all genres to enter the FiLMLaB Competition–even those who have never written a screenplay before. Screenwriting has generally accepted conventions and guidelines. Below are some valuable resources as well as links and screenwriting tips to make your short screenplay the best it can be: Our weekly FiLMLaB blog offers tips about…