Our Motto: Write more and more better!

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May 4, 2013

"Best First Ten"

Writing Contest Rules & Regulations

Contest Calendar

-  The contest will close at midnight, Saturday, May 4, 2013.

-  Semi-finalists will be announced at our June 1st, 2013, General Membership Meeting (GMM).

-  Winners and "Honorary Mentions" will be announced and prizes awarded at our July 6th, 2013 GMM.

Prizes

The total prize value of this contest is $500. Total cash prizes for this contest amount to $350.  Non-cash prizes and services amount to an additional $150.

Prize Categories and values


- First Place (Best entry, overall) - $200 cash prize, judge's critique notes, Certificate of First Place Award;
- Second Place (second best entry, overall) - $100 cash prize, judge's critique notes, Certificate of Second Place Award;
- Third Place (third best entry, overall) - $50 cash prize, judge's critique notes, Certificate of Third Place Award;
- "Honorary Mention" prizes and Certificates of Merit will be presented to three additional entries, each with a prize value equal to $30.

Judging

The best entries will grab the interest of the judges on the first page, hold it for the next nine pages, and present the beginnings of a well-structured story in between.

-  Preliminary judging begins after the contest is closed at midnight, Saturday,  May 4th.
-  Semi-Finalists will be announced at our June 1st GMM and those entries will be                      forwarded to our final judge at that time.
-  Winning entries will be announced and prizes awarded at our Saturday, July 6th GMM.
-  All decisions by our judges are final.

These rules are subject to change and can be updated.  By entering this contest you agree to uphold and abide by the contest rules and regulations.  Please continue to visit our Web site for contest updates.

Questions regarding this contest may be e-mailed to awgCONTEST@gmail.com  Please type "Contest Question" in the subject line and include your name and e-mail address in the body of your message.

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We've had a number of inquiries regarding Guest Speaker Larry Zerner the entertainment lawyer, so here it is:

Larry Zerner

An entertainment lawyer with entertainment industry experience. Starting out as an actor (yes, that's him in Friday the 13th Part 3) before going on to earn his law degree, firm principal Larry Zerner knows the entertainment industry firsthand and he appreciates the intricacies of entertainment law. His work as a top copyright lawyer has led to outstanding results for his clients. Larry has been a guest speaker at the AWG and is a long-time friend to the group. If you need legal advice, mention you’re an AWG member. It may not help but it sure can't hurt.

http://www.zernerlaw.com/

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Robert H. Jacobs

 

Publisher Robert Jacobs of Jacobs/Brown Press (an imprint of Jacobs/Brown Media Group) is a true friend of the Alameda Writers Group. Through special arrangement with the AWG, group members are invited to contact publisher directly without the need of an agent.

Jacobs/Brown is a boutique publisher located in San Diego and, contrary to the policies of bigger houses, is dedicated to being a writer-­‐friendly house, with better profit participation for authors, creative involvement, and less contractual restrictions.

AWG president Marc Cushman has experienced the business practices of major publishing house first hand, endorses  Jacobs/Brown, and has put his pen where his mouth is … by recently signing with the publisher for a three-­‐book deal.   You can contact Robert at:  

http://www.jacobsbrownmediagroup.com/

* * * * * *

 PRESIDENT'S PITCH!

For those who attended the meeting of the AWG today, I hope you were both entertained and enlightened.
 
For those who pitched, congratulations to you for having the courage to do so.  Being bold is the only way to succeed in this business and all of you deserved the round of applause you received for your bravery.
 
 
The first place winner was Randy Thompson for "Justice For All," the Western story involving an African-American protagonist, based on true events.  This may surprise many of you, including Randy, because Chris told us that Westerns are a hard sell.  Also, Chris cut Randy short on his pitch because he had recently read a script on this same subject.  At the end of the day, however, the winning pitch isn't always determined by how the pitch itself went, but how the concept may have left a lasting impression on the executive who heard it.  Chris found that he was "intrigued" to read Randy's script and see how it compares to the one he recently read.  So, congratulations, Randy!  Contact me regarding making your submission to Chris at WME, as well as collecting your first place "trophy" at the next General Membership Meeting on January 5.
 
Second place goes to Lisa Jacobs for "Money Shot."  Lisa, I have a trophy for you, as well, signed by Chris, which you can collect in January.  Good job.
 
Honorable mention goes to Christine Conradt, for "The F**k-It List," and Lisa Michelle, for "Higher Ground," both of which Chris felt were interesting concepts.  You can't win 'em all, ladies, but you came very close, and congratulations are in order.  In fact, when you consider the first, second, third and fourth placing entries today, the women ruled!  Us guys will have to try harder next year.  And thank you, Randy, for representing us guys this time around.
 
For those who signed up and did not get to pitch, due to us running late - Christine Przybilla, Jackie Mitchel, Tom McClaine, and Steven Kates - please send your pitches to me by email this week and I will see that they get to Chris.  You are actually fortunate.  Chris will have fresher eyes when he looks your ideas over and, if you perk his curiosity, he will ask to see your scripts.  So, you did not miss out today.  You may actually have a better shot.
 
For those of you who took longer than one minute to do your initial pitch (not counting the time Chris was asking you questions or giving feedback), be warned, I'll be bringing an egg-timer with a bell the next time Chris is with us, and, at Chris' suggestion, I may be armed.  Remember, all he needs to hear is who your story is about, what that person's "story problem" is, and who or what is getting in their way.  He will ask questions if he is interested beyond that.  As you saw today, giving more information than that without being asked does not help sell your concept.  One minute is really all a good executive or publisher needs to know if a particular story may interest them.
 
Thank you to all who participated.  And, again, congratulations to Randy, Lisa, Christine and Lisa for catching the ear of our executive from WME.
 
Hope to see you all next month when one of our two guests will be an entertainment attorney who will tell us how to protect our ideas, negotiate contracts, enter into partnership agreements, approach producers and publishers, and more.
 
Happy holidays to you all,
 
Marc Cushman
President, Alameda Writers Group

* * * * * *

 

Freelancers, producers, directors and educators, building a community where creativity counts.

 

http://alamedawritersgroup.ning.com/page/member-guide

 

 

Winning Writers!

Ruth Anson-Sowby, judge Robert Stitzel and George Covic
SCRIPT WINNERS
#1: George Covic - "Secrets of Men" - $500 winner
#2: Ruth Anson-Sowby - "Rose & Katz" - $200 winner
#3: Lisa Henry: "The Devil's Road" - Honorary mention
Susan Osborn, judge S. Jones Rogan and Steven Kates
SHORT STORY WINNERS
#1: Steven Kates - "Sabbatical" - $500 Winner
#2: Susan Osborn (AKA Susan Templeton) - "Spring Planting" - $200 Winner
#3: Serita Stevens - "UNBorn" - Honorary mention 
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Forum

Today's Meeting

Started by David Meyerhof in Writers Helping Writers. Last reply by AWG News Apr 8. 2 Replies

I want to say thank you to all who made today's meeting possible.  It was my first meeting and It was wonderful!  I made great contacts, read one of my poems, received great feedback, and heard excellent talks.  Informative, insightful, and…Continue

Collaboration Filmmakers Challenge

Started by Leo Sopicki in Writers Helping Writers Mar 24. 0 Replies

Did anyone participate in the Collaboration Filmmakers Challenge last year? Is it worthwhile? Any other reactions? http://collaborationchallenge.com/Continue

Do You Write Poetry?

Started by David Meyerhof in Writers Helping Writers. Last reply by Leo Sopicki Mar 24. 2 Replies

I was wondering if any one else in the Group writes poetry.Continue

Honoring Donnie Dale- a long-time member of AWG and dear friend

Started by Marcielle Brandler in Say Hello Nov 17, 2012. 0 Replies

Dear Friends who knew Donnie Dale.Donnie died Thursday,Nov 15. I had visitedhim two weeks ago and could tell he was going fast.Donnie and I were very close. Below is some info about Donnie and the funeralfrom the Freelance group that Donnie had…Continue

Tags: novelist, Pasadena, writer, funeral, Dale

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