Dallas Woodburn News

[Talon Karrde]

Hello everyone!

My apologies for this mass e-mail, but I wanted to let you know ...


For the second consecutive year, I will be teaching a summer writing camp!


The Write On! Summer Writing Camp is Now Open for Registration! www.writeonbooks.org



Who: The camp is open to youth ages 8-18. Poets, playwrights, short-story writers, novelists --dall are encouraged and welcome to join!



Why: Students will not only have FUN, they will also learn how to improve central components of their writing, including dialogue, characterization, plot and setting, through various creativity-inducing writing exercises.



When: The camp consists of four two-hour workshops held on consecutive weekends: August 1, 2, 8 and 9. Parents choose either the morning session, from 10 a.m.-noon, or the afternoon session, from 1-3 p.m.


Where: The camp will be held in the conference room at Jensen Design and Survey at 1672 Donlon Street in Ventura, California (by the Target shopping center.)



Cost: Before July 1st: All four sessions for $125.00.
After July 1st: All four sessions for $150.



A portion of the money raised will go towards "Write On! for Literacy" (www.zest.net/writeon) to encourage kids to discover joy, confidence, and a means of self-expression and connection with others through reading and writing.



Teaching and Writing Experience:

Dallas Woodburn is an acclaimed speaker and teacher, with experience as workshop instructor and coordinator of the Young Writers Program of the prestigious Santa Barbara Writers Conference for the past three years. She taught the Write On! Summer Writing Camp last year to great success, and has also taught an online writing course at absynthemuse.com.



Dallas graduated this May from USC with a B.A. in Creative Writing and Entrepreneurship; she is an alumna of Poinsettia Elementary School, Cabrillo Middle School, and Ventura High School. She recently signed a contract with the highly regarded agency Foundry + Media to represent her novel, The Identity Theft of Dani Norhall, and is the award-winning author of two self-published collections of short stories. Her first, There's a Huge Pimple On My Nose, was published when she was ten years old, and her latest, 3 a.m., was featured on the nationally syndicated PBS book talk show Between the Lines. Dallas has also written for numerous national publications, including Family Circle, Writer's Digest, The Writer, Cicada, Justine, Listen, and her work has appeared in six Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies.


For registration or more information, please call 805-889-5570, e-mail [e-mail], or visit www.writeonbooks.org.

[Talon Karrde]

"Hi everyone!

Wow, summer flew by -- it always does! This is the first time in a long time that I haven't been heading back to school. It is a bit strange, but also exciting to be in this new chapter of my life. I have been keeping busy with a wide variety of activities: revising my novel, writing articles for various magazines and websites, doing radio and online interviews, booking talks to schools and community groups, reading great books, teaching writing workshops, working on my applications for international fellowships to study writing abroad ... a writer's life is filled with so many interesting and diverse pieces, it seems every day is something new!

The highlight of my summer was the Second Annual Write On! Summer Writing Camp, which was a huge success! Twenty-four enthusiastic, creative, amazing young writers came together for two weekends to write and share their work with each other. Camper Talia Lawson wrote me afterwards in a sweet e-mail: "Thank you so much for the amazing experience!! I had a wonderful time, learned a lot, and made a great new friend."

Hope you are feeling refreshed as we head into the busy back-to-school season! As always, please don't hesitate to zip me an e-mail -- I always love to hear from you!

Best wishes,

Dallas"

[Talon Karrde]

Write On! For Literacy: May 2010 Newsletter

News & Thanks

My short story "Red" is featured in the latest issue of the literary magazine Diverse Voices Quarterly.

I was interviewed by Girls Life Magazine!

Win an autographed copy of my second book, 3 a.m.! To enter, all you have to do is read my interview on the Mrs. Magoo Reads blog, post a comment, and post a comment on my blog as well. Tell your friends!

Thanks to Brand New Theater for producing my one-act play "The Stars in Illinois" as part of their Spring Festival. It was amazing to see my words brought to life onstage. Special thanks to directors Leah Steiner and Michelle Cahn and actresses Tory Stolper and Jennifer Zahlit, and to all my friends and family who came to the show.

I was featured on The Indie Spotlight!

My poem "Not Yet" was published by Ad Hoc Monadnock Online.

Thanks to Debra Eckerling for featuring me on her wonderful blog for young writers, Purple Pencil Adventures.

Thank you Carolyn Howard- Johnson for publishing my article with tips for overcoming writers block on her Sharing With Writers blog.

I interviewed Daniel Errico, founder of the website FreeChildrenStories.com, about his writing journey. The interview is archived on the Write On! website.


Read what I learned about writing from Simon Van Booy's fantastic collection of short stories, The Secret Lives of People in Love.


Attention all young writers: I want to read your book reviews! Send a couple paragraphs about your favorite book to [e-mail] for a chance to be published on the Write On! website.

Thank you to Chris Culver and the Young Writers Group at the Camarillo Library for having me as a guest speaker! I loved meeting you all and talking about writing with you!

Thank you to Gina Gutierrez for inviting me to be part of CAPE Charter School's "Day With An Author" event. I had a blast!

To book me as a guest speaker at your school, event, club meeting, etc. send me an email at [e-mail]. I'll be around through August and would be delighted to come speak to your group!


Grad School Decision!

Hi everyone,

Tomorrow I leave for New York City to take part in a photo shoot for Glamour Magazine for the "Best of You" Contest. I am SO very excited!

Thanks again to all of you for voting for Write On! in the contest. While I am in NYC I am also looking forward to meeting my literary agents, the lovely Yfat Reiss Gendell and Kendra Jenkins. We have spoken on the phone numerous times, but have never met.

More exciting news: I've decided to go to graduate school at Purdue University to get my M.F.A. in Fiction Writing! I am thrilled and I feel very honored to have been accepted to this top-tier program. Purdue accepts four fiction writers and four poets each year. I'll be teaching one class of undergraduate writing/composition every semester in addition to taking creative writing courses myself. I'm really looking forward to the teaching element.

Another thing I'm really happy about is the program is three years long -- the final year is devoted to working on your thesis, which can be either a novel or a collection of short stories.

I flew out to Purdue to visit a couple weeks ago, and I felt at home right away. Something clicked, and I know I'd found the right place for me. I got to meet all of the fiction professors and I liked them a lot, and the other students were wonderful. And I'm actually really looking forward to living somewhere new, where the seasons change! I'll be moving to West Lafayette, Indiana (about two hours south of Chicago) in August.

Special thanks to Aimee Bender, Richard Fliegel, and Barry Kibrick for writing letters of recommendation for me and being so supportive during the application and decision-making process.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN for 2010 Write On! Summer Writing Camp

I am now accepting sign-ups for the third annual Write On! 2010 Summer Writing Camp!

Don't delay! Space is limited!

The goal of the camp is to make writing FUN (and also improve students' writing) through creativity-inducing writing exercises.

Who: Kids ages 8-18.

When: July 9, 10, 17 and 18. Students can attend either the morning session from 10 am-noon or the afternoon session from 1-3pm.

Where: Jensen Design & Survey at 1672 Donlon Street in Ventura, California.

Cost: The discounted early registration rates are available until June 1; after June 1, the prices are bumped up a little bit. It's okay if the student can't make all the sessions -- there are varying rates from just one session to all four sessions. Rates are posted on my website.

Register and find more information at writeonbooks.org/festivalofwriting.aspx

"Thank you so much for the amazing experience!! I had a wonderful time, learned a lot, and made a great new friend." -- Talia Lawson, 5th grader, about the 2009 Summer Writing Camp

[Talon Karrde]

Write On! For Literacy Newsletter - September 2010

News and Thanks

I'm featured in the September issue of GLAMOUR Magazine! (On newsstands now!) You can see my smiling face with the three other beautiful "Best of You" winners on page 148. To nominate an amazing woman you know for this year's "Best of You" contest, click here.

I reviewed Aimee Bender's latest novel, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, for Purdue's literary magazine, Sycamore Review.

Thank you to "The Sunny Girl" Lauren Cook for reviewing 3 a.m. for her blog "The Sunny Side Up!" You can read her heartfelt, very kind words here. And while you're there, spend a few minutes exploring her amazing blog about happiness!

My short story "Is This Something?" appeared in the latest issue of Lady Jane's Miscellany, a literary magazine published by San Francisco Bay Press. Read it online here.

My short story "Gifts" was published in the online magazine All Things Girl. Read it here.


My short story "A Litany of Bruises" was accepted for inclusion in the anthology Oil and Water (and other things that don't mix) to benefit the victims of the oil spill disaster. More information can be found here.


Thanks to Dov Baron for having me as a guest on his radio show "The Accidental Guru." What a fun interview! You can listen to it archived here.


I was featured on the Get Inspired! Project. Listen to my interview or read the transcript here.


Thanks to Barb Scala for having me as a guest on her radio show "Bloom Talk." She is a lovely and inspiring host. You can read my guest post on Barb's Bloom Talk blog called "Start Small, Dream Big."


Thanks to acclaimed author Tricia Goyer for having me as a guest on her show "Living Inspired." I had such a great time talking to her about reading, writing, and pursuing your dreams! Listen here.


Thank you to Jill Jepson for publishing my guest post on her blog The Ninja Writer. You can read it here.


Thanks to Darcia Helle for featuring me on her blog A Word Please. Read it here.


Letter from Dallas

Hi everyone,

Sorry this newsletter is a little late -- my big news this month is that I moved cross-country from my beachside California hometown of Ventura to Lafayette, Indiana -- my new home for the next three years while I pursue my M.F.A. in Fiction Writing at Purdue.

I now live in a one-bedroom apartment in an old Victorian house on a beautiful tree-lined street about ten minutes from campus. (There's even a trolley I can catch a few blocks away that runs to campus and back -- how cute is that? A trolley!) I had a fun time decorating my new place with my mom, who helped me move out here and get settled. The weather has been much warmer and more humid than I was used to in Ventura, but I am adjusting. I love the lightning bugs, sweet tea, and Midwestern tomatoes. And everyone has been very friendly and welcoming.

In addition to taking fiction-writing classes, I am also teaching freshman composition to Purdue undergraduates. I've always loved teaching and I enjoy this new challenge of teaching college students. Most all of my students are majoring in math or science, and many have expressed a fear or reluctance about writing. My main goal is to increase their confidence about their writing skills. I've already grown quite fond of my twenty undergraduate students, and I'm proud of the hard work they are putting into the class. I'm looking forward to seeing them grow throughout the semester!

Here's to a healthy, happy, and magical autumn!



Best wishes always,
Dallas



Tips for Embracing Change

Despite all the excitement, a big move is full of changes, and change can be stressful! I also miss my family and friends from home a lot.

Here are some tips that have helped me keep smiling and embracing the changes:

1. If you feel sad or homesick, recognize that these feelings are expected and perfectly normal. Everyone feels this way sometimes. That said, try not to wallow in sadness. Instead, do something to brighten your spirits -- bake some brownies, buy some flowers for your room, put on your favorite CD.

2. Call your friends, family and loved ones -- even for just a few minutes, even just to say hi. Hearing a familiar voice can be a huge comfort. Also, remind yourself how many people care about you and are supporting you in your new adventure.

3. Reach out to new people. Invite your neighbor over for dinner. Ask a classmate if she'd like to grab coffee after class. Smile at a stranger you pass on the street. Potential friends are everywhere!

4. Get involved. Join a club. Take a class. Find out about events -- a poetry reading, a street festival, a concert -- and go!

5. It's okay to miss things from home, but focus on being present in your new surroundings. What do you like about your new place? What is there to explore around you? Get to know your neighborhood and your community. Instead of dwelling on what you miss from home, try to focus on being present in the moment and making new memories. Someday, you are going to look back on your life now and miss it!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~



Closing thoughts: my amazing brother Greg shared this quote with me, and I think it is so true and so wonderfully put:


"It is one of the beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

[Talon Karrde]

Write On! For Literacy Holiday Season 2010

HOLIDAY BOOK DRIVE 2010!!!

“Write On! For Literacy” is holding its Ninth Annual Holiday Book Drive to benefit underprivileged children! Last year we collected nearly 1,000 books (bringing our grand total to more than 11,000 books!) that were distributed to various schools and charities including the Boys & Girls Club, Casa Pacifica, and Project Understanding. Please do your part to help children have a better holiday season. Help beat illiteracy and give the gift that lasts forever: the gift of reading!


Want to get involved?

You can mail book donations to the Write On! chapter headquarters: 400 Roosevelt Court, Ventura, CA, 93003
You can also mail monetary donations that will be used to purchase books to the above address. (Checks made out to Dallas Woodburn.)
You can start a chapter in your area! Donate books to a local charity -- Boys & Girls Clubs are usually very grateful for donations -- and then e-mail Dallas the total number of books donated which will then be added to our grand-total.

[Talon Karrde]

Hi everyone,

Brrr, my first winter in the Midwest has been quite an experience! My plans to attend the AWP Conference in Washington, D.C. were derailed due to an ice storm that closed down the Indianapolis airport for two days! It was disappointing, but next year the conference will be held in Chicago, so I'll definitely make it then. Meanwhile, here are Purdue we got two snow days, which were magical. I've been spending lots of time curled up under a blanket in my cozy apartment, writing and reading and drinking tea.

Write On's 2010 Holiday Book Drive was a huge success! The final donation tally was 623 new books, bringing our grand total to nearly 12,000 books! In Ventura, these beautiful new books were distributed to children through the Boys & Girls Clubs on Johnson and Olive streets and Casa Pacifica.

Special thanks to Linda Brug at Ventura High School, Lynne & Clyde Hoffland at Cabrillo Middle School, Rima Muna, Shiela Strayer, Raeanne Alliapoulos, and Positive Imaging publishing company for their donations of beautiful new books.

Here's to a healthy, happy, warm and safe winter!


Best wishes always,
Dallas


Dancing With The Pen

I could not be more excited for the upcoming release of Write On! Books' debut anthology, Dancing With The Pen: A Collection of Today's Best Youth Writing. This one-of-a-kind collection features stories, poems and essays written by more than 60 kids and teenagers from across the U.S. and abroad. Reserve your copy today at the Write On! website -- for every book purchased, a new book will be donated in your name to Write On's Holiday Book Drive.


Here is a teaser from the back cover:

A lawyer for the Big Bad Wolf earnestly pleads his client's innocence in court. Mother Earth and Father Sky give birth to a rebellious child whose fiery temper threatens to destroy the world. A teenage boy discovers the complexities of fame after his band's first album skyrockets to the top of the charts. Tornado warnings turn a young girl’s routine babysitting job into a fight for survival.

These are just a few of the imaginative, daring, and thought-provoking stories found in these pages. Also included are dozens of poems and personal essays exploring everything from travel to friendship, love to loss, fear to hope.

However, what makes this book truly unique is it was written entirely by kids and teenagers.

Dancing with the Pen features stories, poems, and essays by more than sixty young writers in middle school and high school. These authors come from all across the United States, from California to New York, from Kentucky to Michigan, from all parts between and even from abroad: Singapore, Canada, New Zealand. But the themes and situations they explore transcend hometowns, backgrounds and cultures: they are familiar to us all.

Dancing with the Pen is a book for young writers, young readers, and the young at heart. Even if you are not normally a voracious reader, this book is still for you. Every piece between these covers is written by someone who understands what it's like to be a young person today. Maybe you'll recognize yourself in these pages.

Perhaps you will even be inspired to pick up a pen, step out on the dance floor, and go for a whirl yourself.

ORDER YOUR COPIES TODAY and they will be shipped out immediately upon publication!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Closing thoughts:


"Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who encourage more than criticize."
~Elizabeth Harrison

[Talon Karrde]

Dancing With The Pen: a collection of today's best youth writing
is on a roll!!

Thanks for helping us reach a #2 ranking on Amazon.com
in the "literature anthologies" category during the book's first week of release!


New Release!

Dancing With The Pen: a collection of today’s best youth writing

The debut book from Write On! Books publishing company, Dancing With The Pen: a collection of today's best youth writing, has been getting a whirlwind of positive response!

"A massive variety of writings, each one bursting with youthful exuberance and wonderful imagination. If you're looking for a fun and creative read, this book comes highly recommended!"
"It's great to see kids who are utilizing their creative side and helping to make the world a more magical place. The stories they have created transcend age, you don't have to be a kid to enjoy this collection!"

"Publishing so many diverse and interesting stories is sure to spark a lifelong love affair with writing within these kids. It is also a treat for us as readers, to gain an insight into what this upcoming generation is thinking and feeling."

Here's an excerpt from a stellar review that recently appeared in LA Parent magazine. (Read the full review here.)

There’s just something so honest and pure about stories and poems from a child or teen’s point of view. But don’t be mistaken, these are not amateurish writings; rather they are high quality written pieces from some very talented young writers. While reading the book, you’ll experience a gamut of emotions from laughter to tears and from surprise to awe. Some of the stories and poems are so wisely penned, I had to double check the ages of the writers in their short bios.

-- Debbie Glade, LA Parent Magazine


Dancing With The Pen has also been featured on the following media outlets:

Ink Slinger's Whimsey
The Golden Pathway
Author Exchange Blog
The Writer's Hotspot
The Desert News & Telegraph (March 2011)

Dancing With The Pen even rose to a #2 ranking on Amazon.com in the "literature anthologies" category! (Order the book on Amazon here.)


YOU CAN HELP US GROW AND SPREAD THE WORD!
Please take a few seconds to "like" our Amazon page!
And, if you have a few minutes and could write a review on Amazon, that would be fantastic!
You can also follow Dancing With The Pen on Facebook and Twitter.
We're now featured on Goodreads, too!

Discounted bulk orders are available at the Write On! website: www.writeonbooks.org.

News & Thank Yous

The 2011 Write On! Summer Writing Camp is now open for registration!

* WHO: Youth ages 8-18. Poets, playwrights, short-story writers, novelists – all are encouraged and welcome to join!

* WHEN: This year's camp dates are July 30 & 31 and August 6 & 7; there are two time sessions available: 10am-noon or 1-3pm.

* WHERE: The conference room of Jensen Design & Survey at 1672 Donlon Street in Ventura, California.

* WHY: Students will not only have FUN, they will also learn how to improve central components of their writing, including dialogue, characterization, plot and setting, through various creativity-inducing writing exercises.

*** Register before June 30 for discounted rates!


I won first place out of 622 entries in the Ninth Glass Woman Prize for my story "Woman, Running Late, in a Dress." I am thrilled and very grateful! Read my winning story here and learn more about the Glass Woman Prize here.


I wrote a review of Jess Row's new short story collection, Nobody Ever Gets Lost, for Sycamore Review Literary Magazine. You can read my review here.


Thank you so much to Christina Diaz for her support of Write On! For Literacy. She collected 93 wonderful new books for our book drive through her art show BOUND: Art Inspired By Literature, which you can read more about here.


Thank you to Jennifer Gladen for featuring me on her blog! You can read my interview with Jennifer here.


Write On! Books, 400 Roosevelt Ct,
Ventura, CA 93003, Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
www.writeonbooks.org

[Talon Karrde]

Write On! For Literacy Holiday Season 2011

HOLIDAY BOOK DRIVE 2011!!!

"Write On! For Literacy" is holding its Tenth Annual Holiday Book Drive to benefit underprivileged children!

Last year we collected nearly 1,000 books (bringing our grand total to more than 12,000 books!) that were distributed to various schools and charities including the Boys & Girls Club, Casa Pacifica, and Project Understanding. Please do your part to help children have a better holiday season. Help beat illiteracy and give the gift that lasts forever: the gift of reading!



About Write On!

"Write On! For Literacy" is a volunteer-run organization founded by author Dallas Woodburn in 2001. The goal is to encourage kids to discover confidence, happiness, a means of self-expression, and connection to others through reading and writing. The Write On! website features writing contests, book reviews, author interviews, writing tips and ideas, and ways for everyone to get involved.


Want to get involved?

You can mail book donations to the Write On! chapter headquarters: 400 Roosevelt Court, Ventura, CA, 93003


You can also mail monetary donations that will be used to purchase books to the above address. (Checks made out to Dallas Woodburn.)


You can start a chapter in your area! Donate books to a local charity -- Boys & Girls Clubs are usually very grateful for donations -- and then e-mail Dallas the total number of books donated which will then be added to our grand-total.


Winter Writing Camp

Due to some very sweet emails from parents and young writers, I am excited to share with you that I will be holding a special one-day Winter Writing Camp when I am home for winter break this year! It is going to be held Saturday, December 17 from 10am to noon at Jensen Design & Survey at 1672 Donlon Street in Ventura.

In the spirit of the season, the Special Holiday Rate for this session is $20, half the price of a day of writing camp during the summer. You can sign up on my website: writeonbooks.org/festivalofwriting.aspx or you can simply reply to this email and I will send you a PDF of the registration form.


Guided Mentorships

A number of parents have asked if I do any writing workshops during the school year. I am currently living in Indiana, going to graduate school for Fiction Writing at Purdue University, but thanks to the Internet I am pleased to be able to offer "Guided Mentorships" for young writers across the country. The handful I am already doing are working out wonderfully!

Mentees receive:

- a creative writing exercise/prompt emailed to you once a week
- a market to submit your writing to once a month
- and most importantly, a 20-minute individual phone call or Skype session with me every month to discuss your writing and give you personal feedback on your work

Let me know if you would like more information!

[Talon Karrde]

Dallas Woodburn's Write On! Newsletter - Summer 2012

NEWS & THANKS

My short play "A Frog in Boiling Water" will be produced July 27-29 by Eclectic Company Theatre in Los Angeles as part of their annual summer festival "Hurricane Season." I have spoken with the very talented director and have seen photos from rehearsals, and it should be a terrific show!

That same play, "A Frog in Boiling Water," has been selected to be produced in the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival in New York City this October. I could not be more thrilled!

Thanks to the editors of The Valparaiso Fiction Review for publishing my story "Jared Sampson's Mom" in the journal's debut issue and nominating the story for a Pushcart Prize!

Thanks to The Mom Egg for publishing my flash fiction story "Sustenance."

My story "The Stars in Illinois" will be published in the next issue of The Nashville Review.

Big thanks to Beate Sigriddaughter for selecting my story "Guitar Lessons" (originally published in The Blue Moon Literary & Art Review) as a finalist for the Glass Woman Prize.

My story "Ten Reasons" appeared in the latest issue of Women in REDzine.

Thanks to the Indian River Review for publishing my essay "A Toast to Sir Sandy" dedicated to the memory of USC Trojan Sandy Roberts.

My flash fiction piece "On Repainting My Bedroom Walls" was published recently in the online lit journal thickjam.

My flash fiction piece "Wedding Day" was published in the online journal Dr. Hurley's Snake-Oil Cure.

A great big thank you to Hugh Ralston, Virginia Weber, and the entire board of the Ventura County Community Foundation for their continued encouragement and support! I am incredibly honored to be the recipient of the first ever VCCF Next Generation Leadership Award and the Vivian Klemz Memorial Award. I am so grateful and determined to "pay forward" the kindness and support they have given me by supporting the next generation of young writers and artists!

A speech I gave to the Ventura County Writers Club on "Writing to Please Yourself" is now up on YouTube!

Congratulations to my incredible brother Greg Woodburn for graduating summa cum laude from USC and earning the prestigious Renaissance Scholarship, in addition to Discovery and Global Scholar Awards; being honored as a Rhodes Scholar Finalist; and for giving a phenomenal speech at the USC Athletics Graduation Ceremony! I was overjoyed and so proud to be there to help celebrate his very special graduation festivities. Greg is now working full-time with his nonprofit organization Give Running that teaches youth, through running, the character traits and skills that serve as a foundation for success in all aspects of life. To date, Give Running has collected, cleaned and donated nearly 13,000 pairs of shoes to disadvantaged youth in the U.S. and abroad.


LETTER FROM DALLAS

Hi everyone!

It has been far too long since I have sent out a newsletter, and for that you have my sincere apologies. Graduate school has been an exhilarating experience and I am learning and growing so much, both as a writer and as a teacher. However, I have never been so busy in my entire life! I am now preparing to begin my third-and-final year in the M.F.A. program at Purdue University. This summer I am taking a literature course, teaching a terrific group of undergraduate students in a creative writing class at Purdue, and preparing to teach Business Writing for the first time this upcoming fall semester. I am also spending a lot of time writing the first draft of my Master's thesis, which is an adult novel exploring themes of loss, guilt, home and family.

I have always LOVED teaching the Write On! Summer Writing Camp and conducting writing workshops for schools and conferences, but I had no idea how much I would LOVE teaching undergraduates! I have now taught Purdue's freshman composition course and introduction to creative writing course multiple times, and I love how every group of students brings something new to the course. My students impress and inspire me daily. The hardest part of teaching, for me, is saying goodbye to my students at the end of each semester! I feel so blessed to have found such a fulfilling and exciting companion career in addition to my own writing pursuits. You can check out my online teaching portfolio and teaching philosophy statement here.

I've also started a new blog, Day-by-Day Organization, that stems from my desire to get my apartment, and my life, better organized. I always feel happier, more calm and less stressed, when my space is neat and free of clutter. I once read that the average person wastes 40 minutes a day — 40 minutes every day! — looking for things they have misplaced. This blog chronicles how I am getting organized, a little bit every day, on a tight budget! I also share healthy, inexpensive recipes like these turkey enchiladas or good morning sunshine muffins, and every Monday I write a "Marvelous Monday" post about something that makes life marvelous. You can subscribe to the posts by email here. I'd love for you to join me!

What are you up to these days? Please keep me posted. I hope you are doing well and having a fun, relaxing, rejuvenating summer!

Best wishes always,
Dallas


NOW OFFERING GUIDED MENTORSHIPS

A number of parents have asked if I do any writing workshops during the school year. I am currently living in Indiana, going to graduate school for Fiction Writing at Purdue University, but thanks to the Internet I am pleased to be able to offer Guided Mentorships for young writers across the country. I still have a couple spots available!

Guided Mentees receive:

a creative writing exercise/prompt emailed to them once a week
a market to submit their writing to once a month a 20-minute individual phone call or Skype session with me every month to discuss their writing and give them personal feedback on their work You can sign up on a month-by-month basis (for example, while some of my mentees sign up for every month, others prefer to sign up for every other month or perhaps do two months, skip one, and come back again — which is perfectly all right!) … I typically charge $30 per student per month, but for a limited time I am giving a $10 discount to make it $20 per month.

To sign up or for more information, email me at [e-mail].

[Talon Karrde]

June 2013 Newsletter

Registration is Open for the Sixth Annual Write On! Summer Writing Camp!

Camp will be held the weekends of July 13 & 14 and 20 & 21 in the conference room at Jensen Design and Survey in Ventura, California (near the Target shopping center.) Students will have FUN while learning how to improve central components of their writing, including dialogue, characterization, plot and setting, through various creativity-inducing writing exercises. Camp is open to kids ages 8-18 and there are two time sessions available: 10 a.m. to noon or 1-3 p.m. Take advantage of the discounted early registration rate before June 30! Download the registration form here or email Dallas for more information.


"Thank you so much for the amazing experience! I had a wonderful time, learned a lot, and made a great new friend!" -- Talia Lawson, past camper

"Thanks so much for all you do to support and stimulate an interest in writing in younger students. Our daughter has become so interested in writing, primarily I believe on her interactions with you." -- Phil & Annette Brown


REGISTER NOW >>

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My dad's new book WOODEN & ME is now available for pre-order!

I am so proud and excited to share this news with you! Pre-order your copy today through my dad's Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to publish the book. Here's what the book is about, in his own words:

As a longtime newspaper sports columnist in Southern California, I am often asked to speak to civic groups -- and the person audiences invariably want to hear more about during the Q & A afterward is Coach John Wooden. Listeners are these talks, as well as readers of my columns, over the years have encouraged me to write a book about my experiences with Coach.

Now I have, with the memoir WOODEN & ME: Life Lessons from My Two-Decade Friendship with the Legendary Coach and Humanitarian to Help "Make Each Day Your Masterpiece."

It was in 1987 as a young sports writer and near-newlywed that I met Coach, who soon became a friend and mentor through the births of my two children and their growth into young adulthood; the death of my mother; career decisions; and more. As I note in my completed manuscript: "One did not have to play for Coach Wooden in order to be one of his students, and of this I am a privileged example. I was not one of his basketball players -- except for one glorious week at his youth camp in 1975 -- but make no mistake, I was his pupil. No coach or teacher or professor has taught me more, or taught me more important things."

Just as Coach Wooden was beloved and revered by people of all ages and all backgrounds, readers from teens to parents to grandparents, basketball fans and non-fans alike, will find WOODEN & ME enlightening and inspiring.

"WOODEN & ME is an inspiring combination of Tuesdays with Morrie and Chicken Soup for the Soul!" -- author & journalist Randy Robertson

[Talon Karrde]

HOLIDAY BOOK DRIVE 2013!!

"Write On! For Literacy" is holding our Twelfth Annual Holiday Book Drive to benefit underprivileged children!

Last year we collected nearly 1,000 books (bringing our grand total to more than 12,000 books!) that were distributed to various schools and charities including the Boys & Girls Club, Casa Pacifica, and Project Understanding. Please do your part to help children have a better holiday season. Help beat illiteracy and give the gift that lasts forever: the gift of reading!


About Write On!

"Write On! For Literacy" is a volunteer-run organization founded by author Dallas Woodburn in 2001. The goal is to encourage kids to discover confidence, happiness, a means of self-expression, and connection to others through reading and writing. The Write On! website features writing contests, book reviews, author interviews, writing tips and ideas, and ways for everyone to get involved.


Want to get involved?

You can mail book donations to the Write On! chapter headquarters: 400 Roosevelt Court, Ventura, CA, 93003


You can also mail monetary donations that will be used to purchase books to the above address. (Checks made out to Dallas Woodburn.)


You can start a chapter in your area! Donate books to a local charity -- Boys & Girls Clubs are usually very grateful for donations -- and then e-mail Dallas the total number of books donated which will then be added to our grand-total.


Winter Writing Camp

Due to some very sweet emails from parents and young writers, I am excited to share with you that I will be holding a special one-day Winter Writing Camp when I am home for winter break this year! It is going to be held Saturday, December 21st from 10am to noon at Jensen Design & Survey at 1672 Donlon Street in Ventura.

In the spirit of the season, the Special Holiday Rate for this session is $20, half the price of a day of writing camp during the summer. You can sign up on my website: writeonbooks.org/?page_id=211 or you can simply reply to this email and I will send you a PDF of the registration form.



Guided Mentorships


A number of parents have asked if I do any writing workshops during the school year. Thanks to the Internet I am pleased to be able to offer "Guided Mentorships" for young writers across the country. The handful I am already doing are working out wonderfully!


Mentees receive:

- a creative writing exercise/prompt emailed to you once a week
- a market to submit your writing to once a month
- a 20-minute individual phone call or Skype session with me every month to discuss your writing and give you personal feedback on your work

Let me know if you would like more information!



Wooden & Me Holiday Special

My dad's new book Wooden & Me is receiving a lot of wonderful praise (including a dozen 5-star reviews on Amazon!) and in the spirit of the season he is offering special holiday deals: the cover price of the book is $25, but for a limited time you can get two books for $45 or five books for $100. Visit his website WoodyWoodburn.com for more information!



www.writeonbooks.org

dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com

[Talon Karrde]

Write On! For Literacy

April 2014 Newsletter

News & Thanks

I still have a few spots available in my Guided Mentorship program for young writers. Mentees receive:
* A writing prompt emailed to you every week
* A contest or publication opportunity to submit your work every month
* An individual phone call or Skype session with me every month to discuss your writing and goals!

Learn more and sign up to reserve your spot here.


Thanks to Arroyo Literary Review for publishing my short story "Goosepimples" in their latest issue! You can read the story here. Thanks also to the editors for inviting me to read my story aloud at the Arroyo Literary Review launch party last month -- what a fun night!

I'm thrilled to share that my short story "Hearts Like Lemons in Fists of Dew" won second place in the American Fiction Prize and will be published in the forthcoming book American Fiction Volume 13: The Best Unpublished Short Stories by American Writers (New Rivers Press). What an honor!

Thanks to Our Ventura TV for having me on as a guest to talk about writing and the creative process, and thanks to author Ken McAlpine for being such a fantastic interviewer! You can watch my segment online here:
Empowering Kids Through Writing and Reading

Thanks to the Savvy Authors blog for featuring my guest post, "Write to Please Yourself." Read it here.

Thanks to Will Gray, editor of the superb website SteinbeckNow, for recording and producing an audio version of my short story "Living Alone." Listen to it here.

An ebook version of my children's book There's a Huge Pimple On My Nose is now available! You can order copies via my website for $2.00 each. (Print copies are also still available for $5.00.)

My short story "Three Sundays at The Grove" was published in the book Not Somewhere Else But Here: A Contemporary Anthology of Women and Place (Sundress Publications).

My short story "Tarzan" will be published in the May issue of the online magazine Superstition Review, with an audio version forthcoming on their literary podcast this summer.


Registration Open for the Write On!
Summer Writing Camp 2014

The seventh annual Write On! Summer Writing Camp will be held the weekends of July 19 & 20 and 26 & 27 in the conference room at Jensen Design and Survey in Ventura, California.

Students will have FUN while learning how to improve central components of their writing, including dialogue, characterization, plot and setting, through various creativity-inducing writing exercises.

Camp is open to kids ages 8-18 and there are two time sessions available: 10 am-noon or 1-3 pm.

Take advantage of the discounted early registration rate before June 30th! Download the registration form here or email Dallas for more information.


"Thank you so much for the amazing experience! I had a wonderful time, learned a lot, and made a great new friend!" -- Talia Lawson, past camper


Letter from Dallas

Hooray, sweet springtime!

I am finishing up my Steinbeck Fellowship in Creative Writing at San Jose State University. This year of full-time writing has been such a gift. I've finished a collection of short stories, substantially revised a novel, and am 100 pages into a new memoir!

I am also teaching and mentoring young writers and working on some freelance writing and editing projects. {If you're looking for an editor or P.R. person, learn more about my services here.}

And, of course, I've been soaking up lots of springtime sunshine by relaxing outside with a book! What books are you reading and loving right now? I'd love to post your reviews on my blog. And I'd love to be your friend on Goodreads!

Summer means lots of excitement here at Write On!

* I'd love to visit your school, club or community group!

Email me to schedule a talk: [e-mail]
You can read testimonials here.

"Thank you for taking time to share your passion with children who truly need it the most. After talking with the other teachers, the only way we can describe how our students reacted was MAGICAL. I have never seen so many students here take pride in what they have written. I sincerely hope you find time next school year to pay us a visit." -- Carolyn Mullan, Lillian Larsen Elementary

* Writing goodies give-away!

I've got my hands on some beautiful writing journals, fancy pens, inspiring craft books, and Write On! t-shirts! For your chance to win, all you have to do is write a review of Dancing With The Pen or 3 a.m. and post your review on Amazon; OR order a copy of either book on Amazon or through my website.

Then email your name, address, and phone number to me at [e-mail] and you'll be entered in the contest!


Best wishes always,
Dallas

[e-mail]

* * *

Final thought:

"Cherish what will in time fade, and it fades less." -- My wise brother Greg Woodburn