WritingSucks

YouTube Is Going To Tell Me How To Write A Book!

14th Annual SLAMDANCE Screenplay Competition

"The Slamdance Screenplay Competition is dedicated to new writers. We accept screenplays in every genre, both feature and short length, on any topic from every country around the world. Our mission is to bring attention to the most talented emerging screenwriters and introduce them to the industry."

Grand Prize: $7,000
Best Short Prize: $500

http://www.slamdance.com/writing

Author Says Texting is Destroying Kids Writing Style

OMG here is an interesting concept about the impact all that text messaging may have on the future of writing:

"Somewhere out there is the mind that will produce the next great American novel.  If, however, that would-be author is under the age of 18, the words they write may be more of “SOZ” and “TGGTG” then beautiful, flowing prose."

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Making Little Lists

Bill Vossler has written 2,700 articles published in 160 different magazines, along with eleven books. I assume he must be doing something right. He recently talked about one of his writing tips on AbsoluteWrite. Breaking up your to-do into a manageable list...Read "Little List Big in Writer's Life".

Storytelling With Google Maps

From the latest edition of Springwise:

"In mid-March Penguin—along with alternative reality gaming firm Six to Start—launched the We Tell Stories initiative through which consumers can enjoy six digital novels by six different authors over the course of six weeks for free. The first story, which launched March 18, was "The 21 Steps" by renowned thriller author Charles Cumming. "He was the wrong man, in the wrong place, at the wrong time," the story begins, and readers follow the protagonist's adventures step by step across the world using Google Maps, with text presented in the technology's information bubbles at each point along the way. "

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Call For Submissions

Writer Mama is looking for submissions for Cup of Comfort books. If you've got experience as a

military family
new mother
adoptive family
father
parent of children with special needs
dog lover

Share your wisdom!
More here>

Stuff White People Like: Book Deals

The NY Times has an article about blogs and book deals. Christian Lander started his blog Stuff White People Like in January, as in January of 2008, a few months ago. On March 20th Random House announced that they gave Lander a book deal---worth $300,000.

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Confidentiality Oops

Four Seasons Tell-All Book Pulled

By HILLEL ITALIE – 20 hours ago

NEW YORK (AP) — A gossipy book by two ex-concierges at Chicago's luxurious Four Seasons Hotel has been pulled by Three Rivers Press because the authors were legally banned from writing about their experiences.

"Despite previous and repeated inquiries made by Three Rivers Press, we recently learned that Abigail Hart and Nancy Callahan did not disclose that they had signed confidentiality agreements with their former employer, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts," publicist Katie Wainwright told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The book, "Great Reservations," had been scheduled for a June release. It featured anecdotes on such celebrities as Madonna (who had a "phobialike aversion" to air conditioning) and Sir Anthony Hopkins (who asked that he simply be called "Tony").

Although advance copies had been sent to the media, the book had not yet been shipped to stores and a print run had not been determined, Wainwright said.

Three Rivers Press is an imprint of Random House, Inc., which is owned by Bertelsmann AG.

I Want To Be Read To In London

From Springwise:

"Guests at the new Andaz Liverpool Street hotel in London will soon have the opportunity to enjoy not just a homelike atmosphere complete with a "living room" instead of a traditional lobby. Next month, during the world-famous London Book Fair, guests will also be able to partake of the services of the hotel's first-ever "reader-in-residence," who will be available to read aloud to them in their rooms."

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The Basic Plots in Literature

Close your eyes, give the wheel a spin, and pick a plot:

http://www.ipl.org/div/farq/plotFARQ.html