http://www.catholicwritersguild.com/ The Catholic Writers Guild en-us Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:34:51 GMT 1440 CPG-Nuke Dragonfly The Catholic Writers Guild News http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rss/rss.html http://www.catholicwritersguild.com/images/logo.gif http://www.catholicwritersguild.com/ http://www.catholicwritersguild.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=73 To register - click here! Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:34:51 GMT http://www.catholicwritersguild.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=72 Catholic Writers of Long Island, which is poised to become the first local chapter of the Catholic Writers’ Guild, will hold a full-day conference at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, 440 West Neck Road, Huntington, New York, on Saturday, June 19th, 2010 from 9:30-4:30pm, entitled, “The Word Made Flesh: A Day of Encouragement and Enrichment for Catholic Writers.” The event’s keynote speaker, Rick Hinshaw, editor of the Long Island Catholic, will receive the Catholic Writers’ Guild’s “Lily” award for Meritorious Achievement in Catholic Arts and Letters. Other speakers include: award-winning author and publisher, Josephine Nobisso; author and composer, Alexander J. Basile; retreat leader and host of “Among Women” podcast, Pat Gohn; and author and seminary rector, Msgr. Peter Vaccari. Msgr. Charles Fink, Director of Spiritual Formation for the seminary, will be the homilist. While this is not a CWG function, CWG is one of the event's sponsors and we pray for the conference to be a great success, and encourage those in the area to attend. Resister at Mater Magesteria Magazine. Mon, 24 May 2010 01:29:01 GMT http://www.catholicwritersguild.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=71 Here's the news straight from Woody: The Miracle of St. Genevieve has emerged into print. Like One Dream: The NFL and Cajun Mariners, The Miracle is a true story. But this time the subject is not football or oil but faith. Some people have asked me, “You went from writing about those crazy oilfield boat guys to religion? What’s gotten into you?” Others have wondered aloud, “What exactly is the ‘miracle?’” Only the book answers those questions. You can pick up a copy (hardcover, $27.95) at tomorrow’s release party (Sat., 5/15/10) at 5 pm at the St. Genevieve Family Center, 815 Barbier Avenue, Thibodaux. If you can’t make the party, please consider purchasing the book from your local independent merchant (a list of participating bayou independents is below). You can also order online at http://www.woodyfalgoux.com/. The book is listed on Amazon, but the web giant has not yet received its stock-up shipment. For the record, I am donating 100% of my profits from this book to St. Genevieve to support its church and school and to feed its local and international ministries. The parish not only contributes to the region’s poor but also funds a twice-annual mission to Mexico and gives to relief organizations that provide necessities to the impoverished across the world. By buying this book, your dollars will simultaneously touch the needy on several different continents. Also, the people in this book will hopefully engage and inspire you as they did me. Thanks and Godspeed, Woody Fri, 14 May 2010 18:12:56 GMT http://www.catholicwritersguild.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=70 Consider taking part in the Catholic Writers Guild Sunday Night Chat on Sunday, May 16, for a conversation with our Special Guest, Catholic novelist and poet Andrew Jantz. Born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Jantz resides in a suburb of Boston. He is married and has two teen-aged sons. He was educated at The Catholic University of America, Harvard University, and the Northwestern California University School of Law, and served as a journalist and petty officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. The author is a past recipient of the prize for Best Translation from the New England Poetry Club, and he has published three collections of poetry. The Lives and Deaths of Matthew St. Clare is his first novel, in which Jantz explores issues of faith, doubt, and mental illness. The Chat will be conducted at the CWG Chat Room May 16, 9-11 pm Eastern. Visitors can click the link above or the chat link to the left, enter a username of their choice, click ‘connect’ and that’s it. No password needed. You do not need to be a member of the Guild to participate in the chat. We hope to ‘see’ you there for a lively and encouraging discussion about writing, publishing, and bringing our Faith to bear on our work. Tue, 11 May 2010 01:00:52 GMT http://www.catholicwritersguild.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=69 In conjunction with the Catholic Marketing Network Trade Show. •Register for the 2010 conference. •Buy audios from the 2009 conference •See Photo Gallery. Come and pray, play and learn with Catholic publishers, editors, authors, and marketing experts. We hope to see you this summer! Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:44:08 GMT http://www.catholicwritersguild.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=68 Short report of the Catholic Writers Conference Online. First, some general stats: --394 attendees --49 presenters giving 20 forum workshops, 46 chats --12 publishers hearing 66 pitches--54 of which were asked to submit more --seven totally action-packed days (We took Saturday off) --$460 in donations --one person signed up for the live conference; several others have asked about volunteering Highlights: Monday morning exemplified the spirit of the conference. Our first four presentations were no-shows, for various reasons, but that was not why this event sticks with me. Rather, it was the way other people in the audience jumped in with "I know something about that topic!"and took the place of the scheduled presenter. We were able to still have informative chats. Even better, the presenters made up their chats later, so people who attended both got extra info from several points of view. Through the whole week, this spirit of giving of time and talent infused both chats and forums. The crit workshops went very well. People got some expert advice, and in some of the groups, also critiqued each other's work as well. Poets found kindred spirits in Dr. David Craig's crit workshop, and have asked if there's a way to continue their fellowship. I've set them up a forum in the CWG website, but they may decided to do something else instead or as well. Lessons Learned: Pitch sessions didn't go as smoothly as last year, perhaps because we had more people and because of the non-Catholic publishers, which I think confused some folks. Next year, we'll have a checklist people must turn in when they want to register to pitch asking specific questions regarding guidelines, directions, and procedures to ensure they read the material and gave it some thought. Also, I am blogging about the sessions and will post them on the CWCO website for people to read in preparation next year. Again this year, forum workshops got small attendance. Most people said they didn't have time with the chats. Next year, then, we'll extend the conference, but separate the chats and the workshops: Friday-Tues: Chats Monday-Friday: workshops (and pitch sessions) Note that there is overlap on Mon and Tues. This allows presenters who are doing chats and workshops to do both, and keeps people from forgetting the forums when the chats are done. Presenters and authors giving pitches had trouble with the chat room software if they used a Mac computer. We are working on a how-to document for next year. (This is a Java issue, so changing chat room providers will not help.) Thanks to all: Once again, the CWCO was a success, not only in numbers and education, but in the camaraderie and spirit. More than once, I had someone tell me that they'd never known such a group of writers existed, or that they'd felt alone until they discovered this conference, or that the conference has given them much-needed encouragement. That's our goal in the CWCO, and we're so glad that we succeeded. However, we know we didn't do it alone: presenters, moderators and attendees made this the fabulous experience it is. Thank you! Karina Fabian Ann Lewis Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:42:41 GMT http://www.catholicwritersguild.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=67 In order to get published, writers need several things: knowledge, support and opportunity. The Catholic Writers Conference Online seeks to give writers all of those--for free! Writers, editors, agents, and other publishing professionals from around the world are gearing up for the third annual Catholic Writers’ Conference Online, which will be held February 26-March 5, 2010. Sponsored by the Catholic Writer’s Guild, the online conference is free of charge and open to writers of all levels who register before February 15, 2010. Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:43:08 GMT http://www.catholicwritersguild.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=66 Dr. Ralph McInerny, Professor at Notre Dame and noted Catholic author (creator of the Father Dowling mysteries among other wonderful works) has passed away. He is a model Catholic author for all of us. May he forever rest in peace. For more, read First Things Blog. Make sure to read the story of his life as a writer here. A tale of a true writer of faith. Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:04:25 GMT http://www.catholicwritersguild.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=65 Are you a Catholic writer? Looking for an opportunity to learn more about writing and marketing, a chance to meet like-minded authors, and get an opportunity to pitch your work? Want it all for free—and without leaving your home? The Catholic Writers’ Conference Online, which will be held February 26-March 5, 2010, is for you. Hurry, though—registration ends Feb 15. The conference is held via chats and forums at http://www.catholicwritersconference.com. Sponsored by the Catholic Writer’s Guild, the online conference is free of charge and open to writers of all levels who register before February 15, 2010. "Each year, we have about 300 writers and around 50 presenters participate," said organizer Karina Fabian. “This year, we’re thrilled to have added small-group critique sessions with well-established authors and editors, plus more pitch sessions than ever before!” Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:32:45 GMT http://www.catholicwritersguild.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=63 From the Press Release: "We've always concentrated on workshops and chats that teach the writer skills or provide information in the areas of crafting, publishing and marketing their works, but this year, we're adding critique workshops and some incredible opportunities to pitch to leading publishers," said organizer Karina Fabian. This year, publishers hearing pitches include well known Catholic publishers like Pauline, large secular publishers like Thomas Nelson, and smaller presses like White Rose. Thus far, eleven pitch sessions are scheduled, running the gamut from Christian romance to Catholic theology. In a new program, at least fifty attendees will have the opportunity to have pieces of their work critiqued by successful editors and writers. In addition, there will be forum-based workshops and chat room presentations covering topics from dialogue to freelancing to how Catholic fiction differs from Christian fiction. View Entire Press Release Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:48:43 GMT