Camp Quest West Essay Contest

If you are a middle school student, or you know a writer who is, this contest might interest you: Camp Quest West is announcing an essay contest whose winner will receive a free campership at Camp Quest West 2008, valued at $390! Simply write a short essay, between 200 and 400 words, on any one of the following intriguing questions:

1. Should Intelligent Design be taught in public schools along with evolution? Why or why not?
2. What, if anything, does evolution tell us about the interconnectedness of life and how we should treat each other?
3. Is science the only way of knowing about the universe, or are there other ways? Explain.

The submitted essay must be entirely the work of a middle school student, with the exception of attributed quotations. Any work that does not meet these qualifications will be disqualified and the deadline is March 15, 2008. Please go to the Camp Quest West website for the application form.
Camp Quest West 2008, for campers aged 8 through 15, will be held at Camp Ross Relles in Nevada City, California, from Sunday July 13 to Saturday July 19. In addition, campers aged 16 and 17 are welcome as "staff in training,"

Poetry Reading in the Valley

This just in from Valley Contemporary Poets:

The Valley Contemporary Poets Present:
Don Newton
Poet, artist and supporter of the artsfrom the East Valley

Tuesday, February 19
Cobalt Café
22047 Sherman Way
Canoga Park, CA 91303
(just west of Topanga Canyon)

9pm, Free – one drink minimum
Open Mic

Beating Perfection Syndrome

We all want our writing to be the best that it can be, which, in our self-critical eye, is often better than it seems. If you find the desire for perfection to be so strong that it prevents you from writing at all ... well ... that sort of thing not only keeps you from sharing your gifts, it can constrict your soul. Author and copywriter Angela Booth grapples with this problem, and, in this article, generously shares her insights into its causes and consequences, as well as valuable tips on how to overcome it.

Live and In Person

UCLA Live's Spoken Word series is a real chance to hear writers talk about their writing. Single event tickets are now on sale for evenings with such luminaries as Anne Lamott and David Sedaris. Held in UCLA's Royce Hall, these evenings include readings, conversation, and question and answer sessions with the writers.

Be warned, these events often sell out, so don't wait until the last minute.

Writer Beware: The Dangers of Writing Fiction

Although writing about the stuff of our own lives, (non-fiction, memoirs, journals, etc.), may seem as though it would entail more emotional risks than writing fiction, through her own experience, Jennie Nash shows us that the exact opposite is, in fact, the case. She discovered that she revealed more of herself than she anticipated when her first novel was published, and in this insightful and informative article, explains how and why this happened.

Write Spot

Forget the overpriced coffee and overly hip would-be writers hogging up all the good couches at the Insomnia Cafe.  We've all been there, we've all done that.  We all know that folks there spend more time acting like they're writing than actually writing.  Seriously.

If you're an eastsider, check out the Silverlake Coffee Company on Glendale.  With practical tables and chairs, convenient outlets, free wi-fi, real food, and some of the best coffee in town, it's a fantastic spot for getting out of the house and getting some writing done.  Filled with writers actually writing, the vibe is energizing, not pretentious.  And with new, longer hours, you may actually finish that draft.

Which you can celebrate with a drink at the Red Lion Beer Garden next door...

First Things First ~ Passager Calls For Submissions

If you're over 50, this publication may be just the thing for you! Passager's mission is to explore the imagination during the later years. They publish two issues a year, featuring poetry, fiction, memoir, and "Pass it On," a collection of their readers personal stories on a given topic. Their current topic is "Firsts," and you are invited to sent them 250 words or less of informal prose about some "first" in your life, (no poems or fiction, please). You have until September 15 to submit your work.