Tag Archives: writers groups

It’s A Perfect Fit!

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“The only thing that will redeem mankind is  c0operation.”        ~                       ~Bertrand Russell

In Steamboat Springs, CO and in places all across the country, there are so many non-profits that are quietly contributing to the betterment of others and to the world, in their own special way. Many of these non-profits are unheard of to the “average Joe.” With funding and grant opportunities being cut, it is never more important for non-profits to become visible and to demonstrate how they are helping others to fulfill their needs.

There is a way! To bring visibility and awareness to a non-profit, independent publishing can help. An independently published book or film, about your non-profit, may provide a way for non-profit organizations to spread the word about their mission and obtain corporate sponsorship. Also, it is a creative way for others to learn and see how satisfying it is to volunteer for a worthy cause and to increase your volunteer base by recruiting others who will commit to an exciting project or mission.

Independent publishing is a perfect fit for alternative marketing for non-profit organizations. One of the most successful global non-profits  has chosen independent publishing to advance their visibility throughout this world. To watch a preview of a great example of non-profit work and independent publishing joining together to bring visibility to a mission, please visit www.MillardFullerMovie.com.

Is your non-profit doing all it can to be recognized in your community, in your world?

 

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It Hit a Nerve

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“A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.” ~ John Maxwell

Last week, I received an e-mail from a frequent visitor to this blogsite. The correspondent stated that independent publishing is a hobby,  and nothing more. I found it interesting. I guess then, from her statement, we can all surmise that she thinks the independent films that are shown all over the world every year, are produced only as “hobbies?” Hardly!

I couldn’t  help but take quiet offense to her statement. I assured her that if she were to attend a professional publishing trade association conference with me, she would quickly realize that independent publishers are no different than those who seek to have their books published through traditional publishing houses. That by attending an independent publishing trade event, she would see that there is a huge network of professionals and vendors working hard to support each other in business, helping each other to succeed and are passionate about educating, inspiring, informing and entertaining others through their independent publishing.

What  I decided was that perhaps I needed to educate her about the fact that the independent publishing industry now represents almost half of all publishing revenue. In fact, between 2008 and 2009, the indpendent publishing industry has grown by 40%! I project that the independent publishing industry will grow even further this year.

It’s funny how people criticize what they do not understand. I am posting this video in hopes that the frequent reader of this blogsite, who hit a nerve within me, will return again and become better informed. There is so much excitement in the independent publishing industry. It keeps me engaged each and every day.

Art & Media Building Bridges

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“Education is all a matter of building bridges.” ~ Ralph Ellison

My, my how our world has changed in unimaginable ways. When I  stumbled upon a Reuters news article, I realized just how far our  world really has come, in all industries, with regard to international agreements and trade. Even the arts and entertainment industry has joined forces with other countries to collaborate on projects. Reuters has reported that Time Warner Inc.’s Cartoon Network is  partnering with the United Arab Emirates to open Carton development in that country and also a training academy in September. New production studios will open in early 2011, in the capital city of Abu Dabi.

The initiative  is part of efforts by Abu Dabi to diversity their economy and create a 27 billion dollar cultural hub for television, radio, film, publishing and animation. The cultural district will also house branches of France’s Louvre Museum and New York’s Guggenheim Museum.

Many of the media broadcast stations such as Fox News International, the British Broadcast Corporation (BBC) and CNN have also joined forces in this collaboration. To read the article in it’s entirety http://bit.ly/djCEIp.

Never would I have I have thought a cultural exchange of the Arts and media of this proportion would be possible many years ago.  How far we have progressed in the world of international business and in the exchange of bright, open minds full of all kinds of possibility.

To see a model of the futuristic buidings designed by architects from France and California architect Frank Gehry, please visit 

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Weekend Indie Publisher News

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Tis the Season for Annual Writers Competitions!

79th Annual Writers Digest Competition. Deadline May 14. Grand prize $3,000 and trip to NYC to meet with 4 editors or agents of your choice. 10 Categories to be judged.

For information on more writing contests, please visit Poets and Writers Magazine www.pw.org

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Creative Writing Summer Intensive Program June 13 -25, 2010    New York University – School of Continuing & Professional Studies. For more information, visit www.scps.nyu.edu.

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Split Rock Arts Program – Summer workshop and retreats for creative writing. University of Minnesota.  For more information, please visit www.cce.umn.edu/split-rocks-arts-program.com

Check back every weekend for more news on writing contests, workshops and other independent publishing news!

Special Olympics Fulfills Dreams

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“You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best you have to give.”  ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Last week we had a special guest at our weekly Kiwanis International  meeting! We were graced with the presence of a Special Olympian, who shared with us a few of the medals that she has earned and that decorate her room. She expressed the personal fulfillment and enjoyment she and all her friends find in participating as athletes in the Special Olympics.

Our Kiwanis Club also learned some of the history of the Special Olympics organization which was established in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver. There are now athletes, with disabilities, in 150 countries around the world, that participate  in the Special Olympics. In 1977, the very first International Special Olympics Winter Games were held in the town of Steamboat Springs – of all places!

One of our Kiwaniians, of Macedonian heritage, went on to explain that thanks to the help of Kiwanis International, a chapter of the Special Olympics was formed in her native country in 2000 and it still exists very strongly to this day. The next International Special Olympics games will be held in the region of her roots, the Balkans. Athens, Greece will be hosting the Special Olympics from June 25 to July 4, 2011.

Without the help of scores of volunteers, the Special Olympics could not exist. Not only do the Special Olympians find satisfaction in being involved with this organization, it also brings great rewards to the volunteers who witness the smiles, the camaraderie and the motto, put into action,  of every special athlete  “Let me win. But, if I can not win, let me be brave in the attempt.” 

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Weekend Indie Publisher News

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Updated Information: If you missed “Cover to Cover” Radio Show and want to learn more about order fulfillment for independent publishers

Go to www.oceanpublishing.com/podcast.html  

Look for April 3, 2010 Show featuring Sue Leonard

Writing through the Eyes of a Child

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“The most effective kind of education is that a child should play among lovely things.” ~ Plato

Don’t you love the honesty of a child? Kids often come up with statements all of us would not have thought of, as adults. They speak their minds, looking at the world through a different set of eyes than a person who  has seen the ugly, harsh realities of life. Writing through the perspective of a child brings very different results. What we have lost as adults can be brought back to us, through a child’s story. Children are more apt to write and to speak with abandon, without the fear of being judged.

Two weeks ago, when I attended the Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) “College”, I spent some time  in a room filled with children and their parents. One of the ballrooms of the hotel was all dressed up and all decorated up to celebrate a group of newly published writers – kids!

Fourth and fifth graders from the Cherry Creek School District in Denver were asked to participate in a short writing and art contest using the theme “Making the World a Better Place.” The Young Authors League http://cipabooks.com/YAL/ of the CIPA Education and Literacy Foundation (ELF) had screened and selected the finalists. The winner’s stories about ways to make a difference in the world were published.

That late afternoon, the kids were all pumped up, shined to a polish and waiting for their moment in the spotlight! They had all become published writers and were listening to hear their names called so they could climb the stage stairs, accept their certificate, receive a copy of the book “Making the World a Better Place” and make a little acceptance speech. How sweet it was to see a group of children, who rose to the stage, full of confidence, not yet beaten down by the storms of life.

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Weekend Indie Publishing News!

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Tune in this Morning, Saturday April 3, 2010 to radio show for authors and independent publishers. “Cover to Cover” with host Frank Gromling will have as his guest, Sue Leonard of Cornerstone Fulfillment Service, LLC. Today’s discussion will be order fulfillment for independent publishers. Tune in to www.wnzf.com on-line at 11:30 am Eastern Standard Time, 10:30 am Central Time, 9:30 am Mountain Time and 8:30 am Pacific Time.  If you miss it you can go to Archived shows at www.wnzf.com or www.oceanpublishing.org.

Last weekend at the Colorado Independent Publishers Association Collge, I learned something I was not aware of. Scott Flora, Executive Director of the Small Publishers Association of  North American (SPAN) informed me that it is springing into new territory. This non-profit publishing trade association is establishing a new on-line presence! For a period of time, a one month free trial membership is available.

The mission statement of SPAN is “Advancing the Success of Independent Publishers and Authors.” There are so many member benefits to joining publishing trade associations fromm education  to  discounts on writing software, discounts on printing and discounted advertising rates. For more information on SPAN, please visit www.spannet.org.

Join this non-profit trade association and take advantage of all the benefits this organization has to offer!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Covering All Bases

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“The art and science of asking questions is the source of all  knowledge.”~ Thomas Berger

Frank Gromling,  Host of Radio Show “Cover to Cover” www.wnzf.com called yesterday! I knew he would. He is as reliable as they come. He called and asked me to be a guest on his radio show this coming Saturday morning, April 3rd! “Cover to Cover” is an educational radio show for authors and publishers that all of you should not miss.

If yesterday’s blog left you dazed, confused and scratching your head, it was because I wanted to talk to Frank, ask and confirm the broadcast date, before I spilled all the beans.

Frank knows how to put together a great radio show! Every Saturday morning he has guests who know the independent publishing scene well and they share their knowledge about a variety of subjects relating to the industry. This Saturday, tune in and learn about order fulfillment for independent publishers. Independent publishers will come away from this half hour show with a better understanding of what services order fulfillment companies provide.

The best way to become knowledgeable about independent publishing is to listen to “Cover to Cover”  www.wnzf.com weekly, attend publishing conferences, search for e-zine articles on the industry, join independent publishing associations and ask questions of those who are seasoned professionals. Cover all your bases! There is valuable knowledge to be had everywhere. Take every opportunity there is to educate yourself.

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Frank Calling

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“Reputations are made by searching for things that can’t be done and doing them.” – Frank Tyger

I need to talk to Frank and discuss this passion of mine, independent publishing! The subject has occupied all the nooks and crannies of my mind for the past 10 years. Trouble is, Frank’s last name has escaped me! I have been searching all over my digital files, in my rolodex, in my address book and in my file cabinets- to no avail. It is the most foolish thing because he is not the kind of guy that disappears. Since the day we met, when I have been searching for an answer to a question about the independent publishing industry, Frank has been there. Maybe some day, I can return the favor and answer his questions!

It is so difficult when you are trying to think of the name of someone and it evades you! I resorted to the internet to search for Frank’s last name, but that wasn’t much help either! I came across so many Franks – Frank Morgan, Frank Sinatra, Frank Capra, Frank Zappa. My friend Frank is, in a sense, an entertainer too. I used search engine keywords like Florida Publishing Company Owner Frank and all I came up with is a book called “Way Out West Lived a Coyote Named Frank.” No, it is not that Frank! I read that book to my kid, umpteen times, when he was young.

Perhaps I ought to drop it for today, if Frank does not hear f rom me, I know he will call. I better stay close to the phone, I wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity to discuss helping authors get their books out of basements, attic and garages and into the hands of readers. If I hear from Frank, I will let you know what he says tomorrow – so stay tuned, I might have some information I may want to reveal.

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