Six-Word Memoir Writing Contest

Can you tell your story in six words or less? Smith Magazine is currently accepting really, really short memoirs for possible publication in its next six-word memoir book.

The first book, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure collects almost 1,000 six-word memoirs, including additions from many celebrities including Stephen Colbert, Jane Goodall, Dave Eggers, and more.

You can enter the contest through the submission form on this page.

Designing the Work Area

I have recently gone back to freelance writing and have set up a small work area at home. All I have is a computer table and a laptop. I don't have what others call a "home office," although I'm looking forward to having one in the future. I imagine a room with office furniture like a writing desk, metal filing cabinets and wooden bookcases.

Metal filing cabinets seem to be the practical choice for paper storage, because where I live termites readily attack anything that's made of pulp or wood. A metal filing cabinet is definitely something they cannot sink their teeth into!

These steel executive filing cabinets (see picture) also have tough scratch resistant paintwork and come in different colors.

As for my books, upright wooden bookcases would be good enough. I spotted this glazed bookcase which comes with stylish sculptured metal handles. What I really like about it is that it's fitted with height adjusters to cope with uneven floors. What more, all the boards that make up this glazed bookcase come from sustainable resources.

So there, I'm done designing my future home office. Have you done yours?

Become an AP Reporter

The Associated Press seeks a temporary, part-time reporter for its Chicago bureau for at least the next six months. The job would be two days per week.

The reporter will be part of a team that covers the top news, business and sports in Illinois for a state, national and international audience. Thorough, aggressive reporting is a must and we demand strong, accurate and compelling writing from our staff.

More details at the Poynter Career Center.

A Generous Package for Emerging and Established Writers

Thanks to the Internet, it's now relatively easy to have your literary works published, what with all those literary sites (phony or genuine) tangled in the World Wide Web. But if you're looking into poetry and fiction publishing, you might as well work with those who know the tricks of the trade.

Greendoor Publishing is a well established literary site and is highly respected in the industry. It publishes poetry and fiction from emerging and established writers. Greendoor encourages experimental and innovative writing.

If you're an emerging writer who could use proper guidance from the experts, avail of Greendoor's online editing service. Greendoor's experienced editors adhere to a positive feedback philosophy to bring out the best in writers. And, once you've anchored yourself into Greendoor Publishing, you will be provided your own page containing your photo, biography and contact information. That's a generous package, if you ask me!

Greendoor also offers a ghost writing service for those working on a special story or biography. Rest assured that the piece will be treated well with Greendoor's disparate group of writers and editors.

Poke around the Greendoor Publishing site (it's easy to navigate and is download friendly) and you'll see a treasure-trove of writers resources, including literary magazines, ezines and blogs.

The 4th Annual New York Round Table® Writers' Conference

Mark April 11-12 on your calendar. The non-profit New York Center for Independent Publishing (NYCIP) is bringing some 75 publishing professionals together to discuss the promises and pitfalls of the writing life.

The two-day New York Round Table® Writers' Conference is providing access to the nation's leading literary figures, including editors, agents, publicists, reviewers, bestselling authors and publishers, speaking on the business and career of writing.

Based upon last year's extremely successful agent and editor panels, the conference will again feature two literary agent panels divided into nonfiction and fiction agents and two book editor panels divided into nonfiction and fiction editors.

This year's conference will also include presentations by best-selling authors John Berendt, Joshua Ferris, Charles Bock, Alice Hoffman, and Lincoln Child; two luncheons; craft workshops and panel discussions on topics including:

* Writing Book Proposals
* Memoir Writing
* Writing Query Letters
* Writing Process
* Online Publishing
* PR and Marketing
* Independent Publishers
* Self Publishing
* Fiction Writing
* Birth of a Book

The Conference will be held at the NY Center for Independent Publishing, 20 West 44th Street, New York City. Refer to this page for more info.