Product Description
"The whole glory of writing lies in the fact that it forces us out of ourselves and into the lives of others." — Sherwood Anderson

Writing is solitary, but thriving and growing as a writer—and getting your work published—requires support and networking. This one-of-a-kind guide shows you how to get yourself plugged into the literary circuit and connected with other writers, no matter what your background, age, writing experience, or genre.

Here's your essential reference to:

• Writers organizations—a directory of 400 conferences, courses, seminars, and workshops
• Writers gatherings—why retreats, centers, foundations, classes, and groups play an important part in a writer's life
• Writers groups—suggestions for joining an established group or forming your own
• Writers conferences—searching, evaluating, or attending the one that is most valuable for your needs
• On-line writers groups—what they are and where to find them

Tucked amid talk of facilitators, rewrites, envy, and mentors are some interesting bits of trivia. "The term freelancing," we're told, "dates from the Crusades of the 12th century when warrior knights who lost alliances with landed lords offered themselves as mercenaries--a lance for hire." We learn that Edmond Rostand, author of Cyrano de Bergerac, liked to write in the bathtub, while Raymond Carver composed in his car. And, before they became the household names they are today, Cynthia Ozick and Joseph Heller wrote advertising copy, Kurt Vonnegut wrote press releases, and Amy Tan wrote horoscopes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

If Eileen wrote it, it's worthwhile to read
Eileen Malone knows what she's talking about, not only as a writer but as a teacher. Ms. Malone walks her talk by creating an atmosphere, in classes and in writing, of the importance of a friendly supportive writing group to move you forward as a writer. Her style is straight forward information with good resources (yes, outdated) that one can seek out. As she said, Amy Tan herself realized the importance of such a group. I have been to several like groups but never did I feel the intense dedication as in Eileen's classes to support the uniqueness of a writer. Read her "how to's" and you feel inspired to continue with your writing. I must say that because of her I ventured to write my first fictional novel, The Skye in June, due out soon. Thank you, Mz. Teacher.

Dated, but perfect for what it is supposed to be
Half the book, granted, is outdated lists (of the constantly changing contact info and deadlines for all of the conferences and workshops, which are easily accessible via the internet now, anyway).

But the other half of the book alone is still worth the purchase price. I wish someone would do an updated version of it.

I read this book several years ago when I started SOC (Screenwriters On-Line Cooperative) and it was instrumental in helping me define our culture, goals, and structure (i.e.: what to look for in a writers' group, what to expect, how to form one, how to GROW one, etc.).

I still recommend that all new members read it, so we're all on the same page as to how to benefit from - and contribute to - a good writers' group.

I also use it as a reference in my screenwriting classes to help students offer constructive criticism to one another - and how to best incorporate the myriad suggestions and insights they receive themselves.

I have loaned it out several times - and now must buy yet another copy!

Worked for me, I started up my own group because of it
I used this book like a bible and searched around for a good writers group for me but nothing measured up and I know that because I used the book to help me evaluate my needs and what each group was providing.Consequently,I started up my own group, again using the book as a guide and now we alluse the book to settle differences and improve ourselves as we grow.It isan excellent guide and one that keeps on giving.The only thing we wouldlike is to have the list of resources in the back of the book updated toinclude websites and e-mail addresses, otherwise, it is just about perfect. ... Read more

Product Description
I Should Have Given Them Water is a sensual and heartbreaking new collection of poetry by San Francisco-based poet Eileen Malone. With a maximalist style, Malone’s hard-edged poems make the most of grammatical ambiguities and compel the reader to fully engage with her unique sense of the incongruous. Offering feminine as well as feminist testimony to the experience of being a woman in the 21st century, Malone is a widely published poet, mental health activist and the host of a television series on the arts in California. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A book to be treasured.
I picked up this book after hearing Eileen Malone author read from it -- and am I glad i did. Poem after poem in this volume lopped the top of my head off.These poems are full of gorgeous darkness and soft light. They are mystical and, at the same time, immersed in this world. One moment the reader catches a glimpse of a Fra Angelico angel wing and in another a large man with "an Easter Island head." Animals, children, and homeless men and women are Malone's spiritual messengers as they appear in gardens, city streets, public bathrooms, canyons and wharves, all struggling in various degrees of relationship and deterioration.

The first two poems of the book powerfully illustrate the fusion of the mystical and the totally-down-to-earth qualities of Malone's poetr. The first, "More Like Angels," is set in a public restroom "aspirin white ... where the scent of pine is denser than that of urine ." It doesn't get much more down to earth than that. In the second poem, "What It is to Gamble," the reader is ushered into a church gulping "air aromatic with frankincense [and] snuffed candles." In the public restroom we encounter "crack-addled prostitutes" and others, more like angels. In church, we join the holy crapshooter who knows "on the first roll of the dice, nothing is required of me and then everything."

Malone's language is richly evocative throughout. For example, a canyon "powders us with a fine dust of dried menstrual blood." Other examples: "she slashes the cataract of heaven's eye;" hair "the color of rotting hay;" and "the night continues to speak in tongues above our heads, chitters and snaps and cracklings clamor the syllables." I could go on and on.

I am putting "I Should Have Given Them Water" on a select place on my bookshelf with a few books of poetry I will return to again and again. I highly recommend it.

... Read more