Writing Class at ECU in Ada, Oklahoma

I haven’t publicized this much as yet, but I will be teaching a writing class through ECU’s Continuing Education/Public Service Program in Ada.

If you, or anyone you know, would be interested in taking this class, please call the number I’ll give you in a minute and sign up. As of right now, there is one person enrolled. I am willing to do the class for two or three people, but I can’t do it for just one.

Here’s the blurb as it appears in the ECU catalog:

If you have an interest in writing and selling your work, this class is for you. In this class you will learn how to find a market for writing articles or essays that you have a passion and expertise in. Instructor Jennifer Nipps is an award winning, multi-published freelance writer and has training in teaching adults.

Make Money Writing: 0209-PQ34
10/20-11/17 (5) TU 7:00-9:00 $60 310 FE

You can call 580-559-5456 to enroll.

If you would like a little more info on what will be covered in the class, feel free to e-mail me. I’ll be glad to answer any questions.

Feel free to forward this to anyone in the Ada area — or anyone willing to travel to Ada one night a week for five weeks — you think might be interested.

Filed under: writing , Ada Oklahoma, article, East Central University, ECU, Jen Nipps, jennipps, Oklahoma, queries, query, rejection, submissions, write, writer, writers, writing

Press Release: Imagine Oklahoma at Red Dirt Book Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pioneer Library System
CONTACT: Galyn Cresap, Public Relations Specialist
Telephone; 701-2674
E-mail: gcresap@pls.lib.ok.us

Imagine Oklahoma at Red Dirt Book Festival

SHAWNEE—More than 70 well-known writers, entertainers, and scholars with Oklahoma roots are preparing to be in Shawnee, Okla. on November 6 and 7 to present 40 programs for hundreds of reading enthusiasts and aspiring writers. The fourth biennial Red Dirt Book Festival will be held at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center on Friday, November 6, and at Oklahoma Baptist University on Saturday, November 7. The public is invited to attend any or all of the programs associated with the festival. Registration for most Red Dirt Book Festival events is free and can be done online at www.reddirtbookfestival.com through October 15.

Imagine Oklahoma is the conversational theme for the 2009 festival, and will be illustrated by several featured presenters who help the world image Oklahoma through their work on television. Ron Stahl, co-host of the Integris Discover Oklahoma series will speak at the Opening General Session at the Expo Center at 9 a.m. Friday, November 6. The luncheon speaker on Friday is Susan Miller, producer of the Gallery series on OETA-TV. The Friday evening banquet speaker is Galen Culver, producer of the Is This a Great State or What! series for KFOR-TV. Also performing at the banquet which will be held at the Potawatomi Cultural Heritage Center are the Red Dirt Rangers.

The featured author for the 2009 festival is Billie Letts, best known for her debut novel, Where the Heart Is which became a York Times Best Seller, an Oprah Book Club selection, and a major motion picture. Letts has written three more novels, all with Oklahoma settings and characters. Her latest work, Made in the USA, was published in 2008. Letts will speak at OBU’s Raley Chapel at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 7. Copies of her novels will be available for purchase and autographing following the presentation.

Previous featured authors have included Tony Hillerman, the first American author whose work was featured on the PBS series, Mystery!; Bob Burke, 2006 Oklahoma Hall of Fame inductee who has written 70 historical non-fiction books; Fred R. Harris, former U.S. Senator from Oklahoma and widely published author of nonfiction, including Does People Do It? A Memoir; and Carolyn Hart, master of mystery and suspense and the first author to win all three major mystery awards for her novels–the Agatha, the Anthony, and the Macavity awards.

Those interested in attending any portion of the festival may visit their nearest hometown public library in Cleveland, McClain and Pottawatomie counties to pick up a free copy of the winter 2009 edition of WORD Magazine which contains complete festival information including a list of presenters and donors.

Major support for the festival is provided the Pioneer Library System, the Oklahoma Humanities Council, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Ar-Hale Family Foundation, Dougherty Fund, and Kirkpatrick Family Fund.  Additional support comes from the Shawnee Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma Baptist University and St. Gregory’s University and many local donors and volunteers.

Filed under: press release, writing , Billie Letts, Bob Burke, Imagine Oklahoma, Oklahoma, press release, Red Dirt Book Festival, Tony Hillerman, write, writer, writers, writing

Slow & Steady Wins the Race

A few months ago, one of my cousins went to the Bahama’s and brought me the turtle in the picture. I put it by my computer in my writing space. I think it’s a perfect metaphor for writing, in more ways than one. The writing, revising, and submission processes are slow. The hurrieder you go, the behinder you get.

Do you remember Aesop’s fable of the toirtoise and the hare? As a refresher, here it is:

There once was a speedy hare who bragged about how fast he could run. Tired of hearing him boast, Slow and Steady, the tortoise, challenged him to a race. All the animals in the forest gathered to watch.

Hare ran down the road for a while and then and paused to rest. He looked back at Slow and Steady and cried out, “How do you expect to win this race when you are walking along at your slow, slow pace?”

Hare stretched himself out alongside the road and fell asleep, thinking, “There is plenty of time to relax.”

Slow and Steady walked and walked. He never, ever stopped until he came to the finish line.

The animals who were watching cheered so loudly for Tortoise, they woke up Hare.

Hare stretched and yawned and began to run again, but it was too late. Tortoise was over the line.

After that, Hare always reminded himself, “Don’t brag about your lightning pace, for Slow and Steady won the race!”

In writing, we have to be more like the tortoise. Keep plodding along and we will reach the finish line. Sometimes, though this wasn’t included in Aesop’s fable, we help others along the way (as shown by my friendly little turtle above who has another turtle riding on his back).

Keep with it. Keep writing. And if you need a little pick-me-up, remember the story of the tortoise and the hare. If that doesn’t help…

E-mail me. I’ll give you a little pep talk if that’s what you need.

Filed under: writing , Aesop's fables, Jen Nipps, jennipps, query, submissions, tortoise and the hare, write, writer, writers, writing