Vote for Write On! to get a $1,000 grant for literacy!

Write On! For Literacy is one of thirty teams in the running for fifteen $1,000 prizes offered by Ralph Lauren through the Ashoka Youth Venture Program.

We need your help!

All you have to do is click on the link below, scroll down the list, and vote for Write On!

http://www.rugby.com/newsroom/blog_post.aspx?id=ace1f4b2-2cc6-44e3-b109-03cc94ea993e&cat=6d3287ed-c1e1-4d01-8717-544c4efbb8b9

If we are selected, the prize money will be used to purchase brand-new books to give to underprivileged kids through our annual Holiday Book Drive.

Thanks for your help! Tell all your friends! Voting ends JUNE 30th.

http://www.rugby.com/newsroom/blog_post.aspx?id=ace1f4b2-2cc6-44e3-b109-03cc94ea993e&cat=6d3287ed-c1e1-4d01-8717-544c4efbb8b9

"Literary Happenings"

Thank you so much, Jo Ellen Heil, for your wonderful mention of my Write On! Summer Writing Camp in your "Literary Happenings" column today!

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/jun/21/ventura-summer-camp-is-geared-for-young-writers/

Everyone, there's still a couple weeks left to sign up for the early registration discount! E-mail me today! dallaswoodburn@aol.com

New Write On! Website

Check out my new and improved Write On! website.

www.writeonbooks.org

* Get published
* Enter writing contests
* Read book reviews
* Join the Holiday Book Drive
* Register for Writing Camp
* Subscribe to the Write On! newsletter.
* Buy my books
* Find cool links to other websites

I'd love to hear what you think of my new site!

Radio Interview Thursday!

Hi everyone! Wanted to let you know I'm going to be a guest on the online radio show, Starstyle-Be the Star you Are! with Cynthia Brian, the Oprah of the Airwaves. I will be talking about my contribution to Cynthia's new book, Be The Star You Are! For Teens. I wrote a chapter about "The Gift of Writing."

You can listen to the live interview Thursday on World Talk Radio from 3-4 pm Pacific Time (6-7 pm Eastern Time) at http://wtr.radiopilot.net/worldtalkradio/vshow.aspx?sid=764

Two Great Resources for Writers

I came across Shannon Buck's blog, How to Live the Freelance Life, mentioned in the recent Writer Gazette newsletter. Shannon is chronicling her first year carving out a career as a freelance writer. Her site is a wonderful resource for writers of all ages and experience levels! You will find a treasure trove of inspiration and information on the writing life.

http://howtolivethefreelancelife.com/

I also highly recommend Krista Barrett's free weekly e-newsletter, Writer Gazette, which you can sign up for at her website. It is chock-full of writing tips, call for submissions, paying markets, contests, and more! A fantastic resource -- no wonder it's been voted the Best Site in Writer's Digest magazine seven of the past eight years!

http://www.writergazette.com/

Book Talk at Cabrillo Middle School

Here's a short video clip from my recent talk to students at my alma mater, Cabrillo Middle School. I had a wonderful time! Thanks to Jon for filming!

Rejection Letters: Bringing Writers Together

Let's say you've recently started sending your writing out to editors, hoping to get published. Instead, you receive a dreaded thin envelope in the mail containing ...
... a rejection letter.

Don't despair! Rejection letters are a part of every writer's life. Yes, even now-famous writers like Meg Cabot, Stephen King, and J.K. Rowling collected dozens, even hundreds, of rejection letters before finally getting their big breaks.

Still, sometimes it's hard not to feel a bit discouraged when your masterpiece is turned down. Here's a great site that will help cheer you up, with lots of wonderful writerly insights, quotes, and funny cartoons.

http://www.inkygirl.com/

And remember, when those inevitable rejection letters find their way into your mailbox -- you're in good company!

Books Make Great Gifts!

My wonderful friend Jack Collins forwarded this video link along to me ... it was released during the holiday season, but I think the message is true the whole year long! Books always make a perfect gift for your friends, family, teachers, and loved ones!