Writing Contest and (Non) Retreat

Harper/Teen is offering a contest for new authors--winners will appear in their "Defy the Dark" anthology. Here's a link: http://dailyfig.figment.com/2012/08/01/defy-the-dark-contest/ <http://www.facebook.com/l/GAQHg1TzL/dailyfig.figment.com/2012/08/01/defy-the-dark-contest/


Also, here's some information about the Writer's (Un)workshop

By November, you will suddenly realize summer has gone and that fall is in full swing and about to lead into winter. So if you are like me, you will start thinking about New Year's resolution.

Maybe you neglected your writing lately. You'll think, "But life got in the way." Ever so many responsibilities crop up and put us behind in doing what we really want to do.

So I got this idea, which we have kicked around for a long time: Let's have people come and just write.

Well, to be honest, it's not my idea at all—a number of writers and illustrators who have come here for workshops have suggested it. I don't know if it's because cell phones don't ring all the time here (mostly it's pretty hard to get a signal, but we are working on that). Or, if it's because the food is spectacular, and our chef, Marcia Dunsmore, can meet every special diet need (well, except Kosher. She tried that once and it was just too hard). I could fill up this page with food reviews of our workshop programs, but you can take that for granted instead.

We have comfortable cabins. Nice walking and jogging trails. We even have started yoga down in our other barn—the horse barn—each morning. But it's a little early for some folks.

Here's some details. What we will do:

·         Give you a comfortable place to stay, with a writing table and other amenities (refrigerator, coffeepot, tea bags).

·         Offer three squares a day, where you can eat with like-minded people (or take the food back to your room on a tray if you are in the middle of a landslide of writing inspiration).

·         Ignore you when you are in your cabin (unless you need something).

·         Provide a place for group meals and chats and socialization all you want. Around the clock. With beverages, snacks, and at least five flavors of ice cream. You can hold critiques with other writers. YOU set the program.

·         Have printers and a couple extra computers on hand for your use.

·         Perhaps we will have an editor or so happening by for dinner most nights. And likely you will bond with some like-minded creative folks. But the focus is on your creating.

Would have been simpler to say we will pamper you while respecting the sanctity of your writing space.

Here is are the showing dates available. Arrive anytime after lunch, and leave before dinner on day of departure. Pick any set of days. I originally decided we would try one week, but then I decided to try the open days we have left this year. See what works for you.


And here's a mathematical challenge for you. The first-day rate for this Unworkshop, Unguided, Nonevent is $129 per day. Each day is 10% cheaper than the day before it. I won't give you any examples, but a good algebra problem would be this: If they had longer time periods, how long would I need to say till it became completely free? You must be present to get the deal. And you need to stay on contiguous days. If you leave and come back, you start over again.

Whew! Jo Lloyd will kill me. Or at least think I've lost my mind.

Let me know what you think. My e-mail address is below, or you can reach Jo at jalloyd@highlightsfoundation.org or call, toll-free, 1-877-512-8365.

Kent

Kent L. Brown Jr.
Executive Director
Highlights Foundation, Inc.
814 Court Street
Honesdale PA 18431
570-251-4500
KentLBrown@aol.com
www.highlightsfoundation.org

Highlights Foundation, Inc.
814 Court Street
Honesdale, PA 18431
Phone: (570) 251-4500
E-mail: contact@highlightsfoundation.org
www.highlightsfoundation.org

A few opportunities

I periodically receive emails about fiction contests, publishers wanting submissions, book lists, and the like. Here are a few:

The Tuscany Prize for Catholic Fiction: http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d6d61078b9844af039931a32e&id=9ddb9ddf65&e=8ef059e222

If you liked the Hunger Games: http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2012/07/if-you-liked-the-hunger-games-3/

Tu Books New Visions Award:  http://www.leeandlow.com/p/new_visions_award.mhtml 

Thanks to Abbey for her recent post--if any of you would like to post and aren't set up to do that, let me know in a comment to this post and I will get you set up to do that. 

More later on what I've been reading!