2008 First Chapter Contest sponsored by The Writing Show

2008 First Chapter Contest
Sponsored by the Writing Show with Paula B.

The Writing Show is one of the best professional development website and podcast for writers on the web. Anyone who enters this contest will definitely benefit from the writing critiques offered by the experienced judges of this contest.

We want to find the world's best first chapter of an unpublished novel. Above all, you must tell a compelling story. That means that you have to grab us so quickly, so completely, that we can't stop reading, even if the house is burning down.

Your writing will be judged on the following five criteria:

1. Story. Is it a compelling read with a great hook? Are we engaged?
2. Style. Is the writing smooth and tight, without awkward constructions, extraneous verbiage, and redundancies?
3. Dialog. Is the dialog natural and does it move the story along?
4. Character. Are the characters interesting? Do we care about them?
5. Mechanics. Are grammar, spelling, and punctuation correct?

We're not necessarily looking for great literature or fancy writing. We just want an absorbing story. The point is to write tightly and economically. Make every word count. And please, watch those extra commas, capricious capitalization, overuse of individual words, and 'it's' where you mean its and their where you mean there! You will be penalized for poor grammar and punctuation!

Hudson Valley Writers Center Annual Chapbook Competition

Call for Entries: Hudson Valley Writers Center Annual Chapbook Competition
DEADLINE: MAY 15

SOURCE: Yonkers Art Blog

The prize for the 2008 competition is a $1000 cash award, publication, ten books, and a reading at The Hudson Valley Writers' Center.
At the discretion of the judges, a second chapbook may be selected for publication with an award of $250.
Judges use a blind judging system and subscribes to the CLMP contest code of ethics.

Learn more by visiting http://yonkersarts.blogspot.com/

FREE Singing Lessons in Westchester County, New York

SOURCE: Yonkers Art Blog

Westchester Chordsmen Chorus “Learn To Sing” Program
DEALINE: IMMEDIATELY

The Westchester Chordsmen Chorus proudly introduces its Learn To Sing free instructional program. The “Learn To Sing” program is ten hours of singing lessons and voice development, delivered for two hours one evening per week over a five week period. Two songs will be learned and prepared for a free performance with the Westchester Chordsmen Chorus on the evening of Week 5 for family and friends.

Get more information via the YonkersArtBlog

WE ARE LISTENING Songwritting Contests & Competitions for Indie Music Acts

World of Music Awards
The World of Music Awards from We Are Listening is the first international and multi-lingual contest for World music artists and songwriters. Armed with an expert panel of judges and a prize package that includes an all-inclusive trip to WOMEX in Spain, We Are Listening delivers an unparalleled opportunity to be seen, heard and signed!

The Singer/Songwriter Awards
The Singer/Songwriter Awards from We Are Listening is about the hottest international songwriting contest in the world. It’s no surprise that participating artists have gone on to sign with top management, license their music for film and television, as well as collaborate with renowned producers and enjoy substantial uplifts in independent record sales.

Lyric Writer Awards
The Lyric Writer Awards from We Are Listening is the ultimate contest for writers seeking music publishing, co-writing and song placement opportunities. If you long to work with professional songwriters and dream of getting your songs cut by major label artists, this could really be the chance of a lifetime!

New Music Video Awards
Got a music video? The NMVA from We Are Listening is your chance to reach a whole new film-hungry audience and make money from online downloads. Winners receive a $500 advance as well as distribution to a number of major, global online portals. Let us put you, your music - and your music video - in front of millions of music fans.

Breaking the Band
Breaking the Band from We Are Listening is every song contest, licensing, press, booking, touring and festival showcasing opportunity rolled into one. We've created an enormous independent artist campaign with a major label budget. This may be the single, largest investment in your career by an independent music company.

Participate in these Contest and Competitions NOW at WeAreListening.org!

Musician Tutorials

A most excellent site for all things music!

Musician Tutorials
Band Websites
Build the ultimate website for your band
Career & Management
How to get gigs, your future as a musician and more
DJ, Mixing & Recording
Guides on recording your first demo, mixing, making beats and more
Drums & Percussion
Drumming tips and tricks. If you need a drum kit, check out this list and read customer reviews.
Equipment
Make your first guitar purchase the right one, hardware how-to's and more
Guitar
Playing techniques, complete lessons, tips and tricks and much more.
If you don't own one, read this stores guitar reviews (by customers) to find the right one for you.
Guitar Maintenance
How to replace strings, cleaning, storing and more
Inner & Outer Musician
How to deal with stage fright, injuries and more
Inspiration and Creativity
Helping you get your creative juices flowing
Keyboard & Piano
Keyboard and piano tutorials. Need a keyboard to play on? See this store.
Music Industry
Labels, the media and more
Music Software - Beginner
Guides on CD and DVD burning, CD and DVD ripping plus more
Music Software - Intermediate
Audio editing and more
Music Software - Pro
Laying down tracks, multitrack recording and more
Music Videos
Guides on shooting music videos
Promotion & Selling
Guides on marketing your music
Singing
Singing tutorials, making a living as a professional singer and more
Songwriting
Songwriting and notation lessons

GO TO Musician Tutorials NOW!

Future of Music Coalition

The Future of Music Coalition is a not-for-profit collaboration between members of the music, technology, public policy and intellectual property law communities. The FMC seeks to educate the media, policymakers, and the public about music / technology issues, while also bringing together diverse voices in an effort to come up with creative solutions to some of the challenges in this space. The FMC also aims to identify and promote innovative business models that will help musicians and citizens to benefit from new technologies.

Learn how to join the Future of Music Coalition at http://www.futureofmusic.org/

Plotbot: Collaborate and write a screenplay online!

Create the next great American screenplay with Plotblot! Drop your current masterpiece into Plotbot's software and type away at the nearest Internet cafe.

From Plotbot.com:

With Plotbot, you can create private screenplays to work alone or with invited friends, or you can create public screenplays to find new friends. All changes are tracked to each writer, and you can revert to prior versions at any time.
We handle all of the formatting—you just click the text to edit and write, easy as pie. All you have to think of are great ideas!

Use Plotbot.com.

MySpace gets further into Music Downloads

"MySpace Music announces downloads sans DRM, free streaming"
SOURCE: arstechnica.com

Downloads through MySpace Music will be DRM-free; video content and streaming music will be ad-supported. The company said that users will be able to choose from the full catalog as streaming options and will be able to share playlists with one another. MySpace also plans to offer a mobile storefront and allow users to buy ringtones, and new features will continue to be added to MySpace Music over time. MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe said that the venture will provide "new revenue models for both MySpace and the music companies," although he declined to offer further financial details.

Continue reading via arstechnica

Great resource for actors with amputated limbs

Found this awesome profile on MySpace for established and new actors with limb loss: Amputees in Hollywood.

I think this is a great site, and an excellent example of how the World Wide Web is changing the landscape of entertainment and chipping away at the glass ceiling.

Amputees In Hollywood is a group of talented individuals with a limb loss who are available for film roles when the part calls for someone who is an amputee. Many of my top friends here are part of Amputees In Hollywood.


Our mission is the realistic portrayal of the amputee in the media, and amputees in amputee roles in movies and on television.

Secondly the authentic representation of prostheses, and the professionals who provide prosthetic services.

If you have modeling or acting experience or a strong desire and commitment to becoming a model or actor please consider applying for free membership in our Group.

Friend Amputees in Hollywood NOW!

More bands embrace web technology, reward fans, and entice new ones

SOURCE: Mashable.com

New Pennywise Album is Free for Two Weeks on MySpace
To get the album, all you need to do is visit Pennywise’s MySpace page and add Textango as a friend, which will then send you a message alerting you to the album’s release on the 25th and provide you with instructions on how to download it.

Continue reading via Mashable.com