Win a Pitch Critique!

Snag that agent with our Pitch Critique!

All you have to do is post a pitch (good or bad, rough or polished).
Every pitch counts as an entry, so pitch away!

Bonus: double entry if you share the post (via blog, Facebook or instagram)

Forget the Siesta, We have First Draft

While most of the publishing world is throwing their yearly siesta, we're gearing up for another fantastic workshop. Our writers asked for help and Writers of Kern snagged First Draft Publishing.

Here's a sneak peek:

To make any task easier you need structure and publishing a book is no different. Self Publishing can be simple if you have the right system to work with.

Donnée and Marcus Harris have spent seven years writing, formatting and creating books to share with the world. In the process, their experience as a journalist, creative writer and publisher has prompted them to share their experience with other writers that have an interest in self publishing their books.

Our Self-Publishing System will give you everything you need to create an Ebook and Print book from your edited manuscript. This course includes video lectures, step-by-step instructional videos, templates and industry resources needed to complete your book.

Author Etiquette: Fortune favors the bold...and the polite

For the fifth time today I received an automatic message after accepting a friend. Immediately following was the author's newsletter. 

Even my love for writers can't stop the involuntary cringe. 

Authors, whether we like it or not, we are self employed. The surge in direct sales and multilevel marketing (think LuLaRoe, Amway, Nuskin...) has emboldened otherwise relaxed entrepreneurs. Sadly, this is chasing would be readers, including agents and editors, underground.

Temptation is ever present. 

We spent years honing our craft and are eager to share it with the world. 

Fortune favors the bold, right?

Yes. And no.

Bold is asking a newly minted friend if he would like to be added to your newsletter/email chain. 

It's taking a risk and extending an offer. 

But more important, it's polite. 

An automatic message to a friend/acquaintance is less polite and typically, the message is a not-so-subtle solicitation for their book or service. 

It's tacky and leaves bad taste in our mouths. First impressions once given, are hard to overcome.

Adding your new friend to a Facebook group or newsletter without asking, isn't bold. 

It's downright rude.

The breach of etiquette in social media has been the driving force behind Instagram's success. 

No one can add you to a group, post links in comments or take over your feed with their self promotion.

Writers, 

Be bold, but be wise as well. 

Dear Writers

Dear Writers,

Cheering authors started out as a simple hobby but mushroomed to an all consuming career. For months, I vacillated back and forth on whether to accept the upcoming nomination for President of my local California Writers Club branch.

Thankfully, the decision forced me to revisit my priorities and schedules. With three small children (ages eight to thirteen) who are active in both the school and the community have more than the lion’s share of my time.

Add critique groups and clients, I had mere seconds left for my writing until I reached out to an incredible board. Overnight, I had volunteers help with critique groups and substitutes for the upcoming months already pegged for my daughters’ events.

I spent the last several years working side by side with a dedicated board—even saying an earthly farewell to a dear, dear friend. Through these friendships, we built a new caliber of critique groups, added Young Writers of Kern and expanded membership. It was a beautiful experience but also an overwhelming expectation to continue.

We—the board—played a bit of musical chairs and restructured positions; our past president now sits at the helm of our indie imprint while our past Vice President captains our ever-growing young writers program.

And now, we embark on a new fiscal year with the same eagerness and same hunger to help our authors with our new Mentorship Program. Writing might be solitary but editing and publishing doesn’t have to be.

Sending that first submission (or the hundredth) can be demoralizing—we’re unrolling a plan to help with the entire publishing process. From contests to queries, we’ll be here to help our members through their publishing journey.

 For more info on membership, click here.

Sincerely,

Clarissa Kae

Shameless

Because I'm shameless (or just bursting with maternal pride)

I have to share my daughters' cover story in the Kern County Family Magazine.

Just over a year ago, my older two girls wanted to know why an anti-bully campaign focused on "how to respond to a bully" instead of being preventing the bully. 

It wasn't a day later when a riot broke out on the other side of the country, prompting my daughters to found Kind Girls Make Strong Women. 

Once a quarter these little ladies host a donation drive in our backyard (or sometimes online) for a non profit organization. They've provided Christmas for sixty five local families and fed hundreds again and again. They've helped raise awareness and donations for animal rescues and recently, helped raise funds to reunify separated children to their parents.

The three of them work together, each with their strengths (one is creative, one is logical and one can outwork an ox). They've counted every penny and worked every moment behind the scenes; this is very much their company. 

They've sold t-shirts as far away as London, England (the money is transferred to the current non profit they're helping). The girls are getting ready to add Kind Boys Make Strong Men, asking for male counterparts to join in their Kind Revolution.

A few weeks ago, I was stopped by an elderly man. After asking if I was the mom of the Kind Girls, he shook my hand and said, "It's going to take a kid to change the world."

Yes, yes it will.

For more info: follow Kind Girls Make Strong Women on Facebook & Instagram.

Pitch Perfect

Just a few more weeks and we'll be tackling the dreaded Pitch. 

Join us July 21st for our Pitch Perfect Workshop. 

Come, learn the basics of what a pitch is and what a pitch isn't. 

We'll top off the class with a live Good Pitch, Bad Pitch Competition.  

Can't make the trip? 

Have no fear, we've added an online category

Good Pitch, Bad Pitch Competition. 

Unlimited entries (so pitch away!).

Still nervous?

Take a deep breath. We're giving away a Pitch Critique to calm your nerves, no pitch needed. 

Enter to win by sharing, 

liking

 or inviting to

  Clarissa Kae or Pitch Perfect Workshop.

The more you share/like, the more chances to win.

And the Winner is...

And the Winner is...

Author J. Wrice Sr.

(send contact info when able)

Stay Tuned...more giveaways coming!

Karma At Its Finest

The sweetest revenge is unplanned karma. 

—J.K. Rowling queries crime novel under pseudonym Robert Galbraith

—Constable & Robinson Publishing writes scathing rejection (learn how to pitch & join a writing class)

—Mr. Galbraith given critical acclaim after Little, Brown Book Group publishes his “debut” book

—Little, Brown takes over Constable & Robinson 

Karma at its finest.

A Scoop of Instruction, A Scoop of Sustenance

Vendor events, community fundraisers and donation drives are in constant rotation on our mini farm. The anticipation is almost as exciting as the event itself, our Pitch Perfect Event is no different. 

We've given away a writing reference, now we're giving away some writing.

Three ways to win...

1. Share our Pitch Perfect Event

2. Invite friends to our Pitch Perfect Event

3. Share Clarissa Kae FB page

Unlimited entries: share, like and invite to your heart's content. 

Winner picked by random.org on Friday (6/29/18).

And the Winner is...

Check out our Clarissa Kae FB page to see if you're the lucky winner (and more giveaways to come)

Win New Adult Writing Reference

New Adult is known for tension and self-discovery.

Master these elements (for your own manuscript, regardless of genre) with this writing must-have.

Three ways to win...

1. Share the Pitch Perfect Workshop

2. Invite friends to the Pitch Perfect Workshop

3. Share the Clarissa Kae Facebook page

Unlimited entires, so share and like to your heart's content!

Winner picked by random.org on Monday (6/25/18)

Join the fun!

We're gearing up for our July 21, 2018 Pitch Perfect Workshop and want to have a little fun. Follow us on Facebook for giveaways and contests (hurry, the fun starts Thursday).

Join, Submit and Publish

Authors need that one publishing credit to their name, one acquisition editor to take a leap of faith on their craft, before they can join a writing guild or other "published only" authors groups. 

At Writers of Kern, we invite authors to join, to submit and to publish.

Ahead of the game as always, Writers of Kern founded WOK Press with this in mind. And don't you worry, they're accepting submission right now for their 2018 Anthology.

Authors must be a member to submit ($10 for students, $65 first year, $45 renewal). 

Once you've joined, you'll also have access to free critique groups to polish your submission. You'll also have a chance to enter WOK's Fall Writing Contest, winners are given automatic submission to the anthology (another publication credit).

Flash Fiction, Short Stories, Poetry, Cover Art/Photo Art and Museful Moments

You can send over as many submissions in each category as you deem worthy (just please, please, please, follow the submission guidelines)

Calling All Volunteers

A quality critique can have more influence on an author’s evolving craft than any other aspect in learning to write—including (dare, I say) reading. Agents and editors alike question prospective authors on their use of critique groups. Writing contests across the nation have renovated their competitions, opting for professional critiques instead of cash prizes.

Critiques are, and will continue to be, the driving force behind published authors. Even with my acceptance of the presidential nomination, Writers of Kern will provide high caliber critique groups—but we need your help.

Volunteers, you are needed. There are plenty of opportunities to serve, emailing prospective authors, organizing dates and times, checking on new critique groups—whether you have five seconds or five hours, you are needed.

Email for more information.