James River Writers is pleased to announce that the final judge for the Best Unpublished Novel competition will be Maya Payne Smart. Maya is a writer and literacy ambassador who shares reviews, interviews, and musings at MayaSmart.com and BookRiot.com. She served on the boards of the YWCA of Richmond and The Community Foundation serving Richmond and Central Virginia. She also raised funds and awareness for numerous local nonprofits including FRIENDS Association for Children and The Richmond Christmas Mother Fund. She is a former chair of James River Writers and served on the national board of governors of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers. Her honors include Style Weekly’s 40 under 40 Award and an Excellence in Journalism Award from The Press Club of Cleveland.More
March 2015
March 2015 Writing Show – Life After Rejection: What To Do Before You Query Again
Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Roald Dahl. Even these authors have been rejected. So how do you pick up and get going again? And what rational steps should you take to reevaluate your work and submissions before you query again?
Join panelists Lisa Hagan and David Morgan, and moderator Kris Spisak for discussions and Q&A. Stay for the second half when coach Sarah Beth Jones will help provide tangible ways to get reenergized and stay motivated.
Some questions the panel will address include
• Does your query match the quality of your book?
• Are you querying the right agent or publisher?
• Does your book need to be edited?
• Is networking your missing component?
• At what point do you call in professional help?