WordWhore

Just a reminder that the deadline for entering your best opening line into our ThatFirstLine Writing Contest is coming up. September 1st is the deadline, and we’ll award one writer chosen by our panel of industry professionals a grand prize of $500!

Zirdland’s new $1,000 NOVEL COMPETITION opened on the same day as the Olympics: August 8th. If you have a completed unpublished novel, you can enter it at: http://www.zirdland.com/contest.php There’s NO entry fee. Deadline is October 10th.

We decided to start early on our Blog Action 2008 post by sending in our first (via PayPal) Kiva loan. I’d send each and every one of you an email about these loans and Kiva but that would take too long. Instead, here’s what the email message would have been:

Hi!

I just made a loan to someone in the developing world using a revolutionary new website called Kiva (www.kiva.org).

You can go to Kiva’s website and lend to someone in the developing world who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the entrepreneur is going.

The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva’s loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly.

I just made a loan to an entrepreneur named Aracely Maribel Aguilar Zacarias in Guatemala. They still need another $575.00 to complete their loan request of $1,200.00 (you can loan as little as $25.00!). Help me get this entrepreneur off the ground by clicking on the link below to make a loan to Aracely Maribel Aguilar Zacarias too:

http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=60078

It’s finally easy to actually do something about poverty - using Kiva I know exactly who my money is loaned to and what they’re using it for. And most of all, I know that I’m helping them to build a sustainable business that will provide income to feed, clothe, house and educate their family long after my loan is paid back.

Join me in changing the world - one loan at a time.

Thanks!

———————————————————
What others are saying about www.Kiva.org:

‘Revolutionising how donors and lenders in the US are connecting with small entrepreneurs in developing countries.’
– BBC

‘If you’ve got 25 bucks, a PC and a PayPal account, you’ve now got the wherewithal to be an international financier.’
– CNN Money

‘Smaller investors can make loans of as little as $25 to specific individual entrepreneurs through a service launched last fall by Kiva.org.’
– The Wall Street Journal

‘An inexpensive feel-good investment opportunity…All loaned funds go directly to the applicants, and most loans are repaid in full.’
– Entrepreneur Magazine

Got a Creative Non-Fiction email today. CNF director LeeGutkind will be inundated with a virtual backwash of events this fall. Some people adore MIchael Chabon, others admire him, and some people think he’s just the cat’s pajamas. Our mysteries of Pittsburgh include the walled-up door in the basement of C4’s house on Scheneley Farms Terrace.

But, to keep up with the staccato of inert vebage, check out the Pittsburgh in Words essay site. It doesn’t get much better than that…

Annie Dillard is even there!

Pittsburgh in Words: The Website, the Reading, the Publication -
2008 Creative Nonfiction Writers’ Conference - The Best CNF Vol. 2 -
Lee’s Workshops and Thoughts - A Reminder - Mentoring Programs -
Advertising

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

This fall marks Pittsburgh’s 250th anniversary, and whether or not
you have any connection with the city, there’s one thing we can all
connect with–great writing.

In honor of the city’s birthday, CNF has collected some of the best
true stories ever written about Pittsburgh and its people, and we’ve
put them up on our brand new Pittsburgh in Words website.
<http://www.pittsburghinwords.org>
These essays cover everything from coal mining in the 19th century
to dating in the 21st.

The website currently features essays by Stewart O’Nan, Annie
Dillard, and Cathy Day. Plus, we ll keep adding essays, so stop by
often. And if you don t see your favorite Pittsburgh story on the
website, you can email your suggestions to
shaffer(at)creativenonfiction(.org)

But the website is only part of this literary celebration. We’ve
decided to add to the local lore by collecting seven all-new stories
by up-and-coming writers in a special Creative Nonfiction
publication. This special book will be released on October 2 at a
reading and launch party in Pittsburgh–an event that conveniently
coincides with CNF’s 2008 Writers’ Conference (see below).

THE LITERARY EVENT OF THE YEAR!

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

October is shaping up to be one heck of a month. Not only do we have
the Pittsburgh in Words project, but CNF is hosting the 2008 Writers’
Conference
<http://www.creativenonfiction.org/events/pgh_science/info.html>
here in–yep, you guessed it–Pittsburgh. And registration is now
open!

From October 2-4, the 2008 Creative Nonfiction Writers’ Conference
will offer engaging speakers, writing workshops, panel discussions,
readings and networking. This year’s focus is on science and
technology writing–a theme inspired by Pittsburgh, a city whose
social and economic life has always been intertwined with scientific
discovery and technological innovation.

Featured guests include Lawrence Krauss, bestselling author of The
Physics of Star Trek, Corey Powell (Discover), Virginia Morell
(Science and National Geographic) and CNF’s Lee Gutkind.

A series of intensive writing workshops will also be offered. Topics
include research and writing about science and technology, crafting
book proposals and query letters, writing dialogue, developing
characters, and much more. Manuscript review workshops are also
available.

Did we mention there are price breaks for early registration? For
more information and to register, visit the CNF website.
<http://www.creativenonfiction.org/events/pgh_science/info.html>

THE BEST NEWS AND REVIEWS

Rest assured, the Best Creative Nonfiction Vol. 2 will be making
its way to subscribers shortly.

What’s that? You’re not a subscriber? Well, now’s the perfect time
to become one. Subscribe today and your first issue will be The Best
CNF Vol. 2. This book alone is a $15.95 value–which is a steal. But
don’t take our word for it. In a recent review, Publishers Weekly
<http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6579659.html?q=best+creative+nonfiction+2>
called the book “a whirlwind of moods and thoughts captured by some
of the biggest talents on the essay and blog beat…another fresh
collection of exemplary essays from a wide range of authors and
sources” and “a 30-run homer” (we don’t know what that means, either,
but we like the sound of it!)

It doesn’t get any better than this. It’s called “The Best” for a
reason. To subscribe now and receive the book automatically, click
here. <http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/subscribe.htm>

KEEPING UP WITH THE GODFATHER

Keeping up with CNF’s head honcho, Lee Gutkind, can be a daunting
task. This summer he’s been doing a good bit of globetrotting abroad,
but lucky for us (and the U.S.) he’ll be returning stateside just in
time for the fall.

Besides the 2008 CNF Writers’ Conference, the Godfather will be
making appearances in the nation’s capitol and the Volunteer State:

September 13, 2008, Franklin, Tennessee.

There are only a few available spots left for this 15th annual
writers’ workshop hosted by the Council for the Written Word. This
all-day workshop will define the genre and present all the basic
elements of creative nonfiction, including structure, voice, tone,
writing in scenes and using background information and descriptions.
The course will focus on real life, research and reflection as the
primary Rs in the 5 Rs of Creative Nonfiction.

For more information click here.
<http://www.cww-writers.org/events/FallSem2008/FallSem08Home.htm>

September 20, 2008, Washington, DC.

This intense, day-long program will present the art and craft of
memoir writing, explaining how to capture traumatic stories in a way
that touches and impacts readers.

During this intense and entertaining day, participants will learn
how to:

” find the precious nugget of the story

” isolate the crucial magic moment

” infuse the story with a universal chord

” develop a narrative arc

” frame and focus the story

” capture essential intimate details

” share their hard-earned, hard-learned wisdom

Register before August 20 to take advantage of the price break. For
more information or to enroll, click here.
<http://www.creativenonfiction.org/events.html>

The Godfather continues to examine truth and ethics in the world of
creative nonfiction.

This month Lee’s newest blog post <http://www.leegutkind.com/blogs/>
tackles the issues associated with pyschoanalyzing characters,
speculation, and Esquire’s role in shaping the creative nonfiction
genre.

HTML REMINDER
If you haven’t done so already, please change your newsletter
settings so that you will receive our HTML correspondence.

Trust us: not only will this make the newsletter much more dynamic,
it will also make it more readable. No more long url addresses
cluttering up the text. Just colorful images and imbedded hyperlinks.

Updating your preferences takes less than a minute.

To do so, scroll down to the bottom of this email and click on the
link that says: “TO UPDATE YOUR PREFERENCES TO HTML VISiT (URL
ADDRESS).” Then it’s as simple as checking off a box.

CNF’S NO RESIDENCY WRITING PROGRAM

Whether you are a novice writer looking to learn about the art of
creative nonfiction or a seasoned pro looking to polish and publish a
finished manuscript, CNF’s Mentoring Program is flexible and can be
tailored to help you with all of your creative nonfiction needs.

Our program teams you with one of our experienced mentors to help
you accomplish your writing goals.

Make an investment in your writing career! For more information,
click here.
<http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/mentor/mentor.htm>

A Cookbook in Celebration of Cornbread-Fed, Down Home Family Stories and Cuisine

by Janis Owens

Book Tour Dates:

Turner Classic Movies, this morning at 9:00 a.m.

Could it get any better? What is “arguably the worst movie ever made” will be showing for your viewing displeasure. On a rainy July morning with nothing to do but try out the Peticure - movie madness fits the entertainment bill.

Took five weeks for the Peticure to arrive. Let me be the millionth (?) to compliment the mfg. for this piece of wizardry. I tried using my regular re-chargable Dremmel on the Jack Russells but it was hard to keep the nails even. The Peticure (bought the whole thing, not just the guide) really is skippy keen and works swell. The dogs just sit there, no squirming, no whining, no pulling back… I do have to regulate the RPMs though, they don’t like really high pitched speeds. Jane’s going to try it on Larry & Darryl and Miss Savannah, the cats.

Sahara
Arabian
Great Victoria
Rub'al Khali
Kalahari
Syrian
Chihuahuan
Thar
Great Sandy
Gibson
Sonoran
Mohave
Atacama
Namib
Gobi
Patagonian
Great Basin
Kara-Kum
Colorado
Taklamakan
Iranian

One of the speakers, Secretary of the Treasury John W. Snyder, mentioned the fact that we were in a unique position because we had seen the atomic age born. Most of us wonder whether seeing it born is half as important as seeing it develop along the proper lines!

This is why Mr. Baruch’s work as U. S. representative on the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission means so much to us all. If only a working agreement can be reached under which the commercial development of atomic energy can be both guarded and encouraged, I think we will have gone a long way toward establishing peace.

Just because this country has the atom bomb does not mean that other nations are not developing other weapons. But if we could reach an agreement for the control and release of this energy, the new developments for peace might be so exciting that one could really start a joint disarmament program which would cover all types of armament. This would give us greater security than we could have in any other way.

I was happy at the recognition accorded an old friend, and I pray that Mr. Baruch may long be able to continue the type of unselfish work he is now doing.

-Eleanor Roosevelt, October 11, 1946

El Punto Bed & Breakfast
in Liberia, Costa Rica.

It is there one learns that true peace of mind, comfort, and genuine hospitality emanates from the heart of the staff and the owner.

Thank you, Mariana.

info@elpuntohotel.com or use the contact form on the website. Tell her the MacEwan’s sent you!

My dear friend, novelist Janis Owens, is gearing up for the publication of her new cookbook:

The Cracker Kitchen

A Cookbook in Celebration of Cornbread-Fed, Down Home Family Stories and Cuisine

By Janis Owens
Introduction by Pat Conroy

This Edition: Hardcover
Publication Date: February 10, 2009
Our Price: $24.00

We’re working on her new website — complete with videos and recipes. Y’all are going to love it. Trust me.