Writing Advice

Consider entering Guideposts Magazine’s 2020 writers workshop contest. Winners will attend a workshop to be held from Oct. 19-23, 2020 in Rye, New York. The twelve participants selected will have all of their expenses paid. The magazine’s editors will teach them how to write inspirational true stories of their own about how faith made a difference. They will also learn how to write about the faith experiences of others. Those attending will also be considered for future writing opportunities in Guideposts and other magazines the organization publishes. Guidelines for the contest with an entry deadline of June 26, 2020, are at http://www.guideposts.org.  See what a beautiful story you can write.

The Writers League of Texas has announced its guidelines for its 2020 manuscript contest. League members and others living in Texas or elsewhere can submit excerpts of unpublished manuscripts for books in ten genres. The deadline is midnight in Central Standard Time on March 10, 2020.  Winners in each category will receive a free registration to its Agents and Editors Conference to be held June 26-28, 2020 in Austin, Texas. They will also have the opportunity to talk individually in person at the conference or by phone with a top literary agent for their book genre. All of those submitting manuscripts will have the option to receive a written critique of their manuscript. For more information, visit http://www.writersleague.org. Click on the link for classes and programs and then on the one for contests and awards.

 

Using a speech planning template can help you be more effective and efficient in writing presentations.

This should include the essential elements of writing, organizing and formatting a speech.

I provide my speechwriting clients with a planning template that I have designed.

I also write posts on speechwriting on my website’s blog at

https://jankilby.com/blog.

If you want to know more about my template or any of my services, contact me through the form at https://jankilby.com/contact.

The start of a new year is a great time to thank those who have helped you succeed as a writer in the past one.

If you’re an aspiring or published author, send a handwritten thank-you note to your agent, editors, publishers, book reviewers, mentors, or teachers.

If you’re in business, send a note to those who have critiqued your drafts or provided opportunities for you to develop or demonstrate your writing skill.

To succeed in a writing project, start by doing something on it, even if it’s a small part. The following day, you’ll be eager to accomplish more. This is because you’ll remember the progress you’ve already made.

Lawyers, like those in other professions, have a unique writing challenge. They must communicate specialized knowledge in a way that’s understandable to anyone. To be successful, they can benefit from using Microsoft Word’s readability statistics feature. Having their writing critiqued and receiving editing training can also help.

 

Consider entering Guideposts Magazine’s 2018 writers workshop contest. The workshop will be held from Oct. 12-18, 2018 in Rye, New York.  The twelve participants selected will have all of their expenses paid. The magazine’s editors will teach them how to write inspirational true stories of their own or about others. Those attending will also be considered for future writing opportunities in Guideposts and other magazines the organization publishes. Guidelines for the contest with an entry deadline of June 10, 2018, are at www.guideposts.org.

 

The 2018 Writers League of Texas Agents and Editors Conference will be held June 29 to July 1, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Austin, 208 Barton Springs Road, in Austin, Texas. This is an excellent opportunity for writers to hear more than twenty agents, editors and published authors speak and to meet fellow writers. For more information, visit www.writersleague.org.

As the new year dawns, make some resolutions to help you achieve your writing goals.

Whatever you decide to do, be brave, be better and begin.

The beginning of a new year is a great time to express gratitude to those who have helped you succeed as a writer in the past one.

If you’re an aspiring or published author, send handwritten thank-you notes to agents, editors, publishers, book reviewers, mentors, teachers, critique group members and others.

If you’re in the workplace, thank those who have critiqued your drafts or given you opportunities to develop or demonstrate your writing skill.