January 31, 2009 Winners     

Anthony Cheng ~ New York, NY

TC McClenning ~ Talking Rock, GA

December 31, 2009 Winners     

Erica Houston ~ Kenosha, WI

Sue Randall ~ Maple Grove, MN

November 30, 2009 Winners     

Susan Kuchta ~ Bear Creek Twp, PA

Michael Garbarz ~ Bartlett, IL

October 31, 2009 Winners     

Regina West ~ Valley Head, AL

Arianna Hawkins ~ Ponder, TX

September 31, 2009 Winners     

Georgetta Buggs ~ Smackover, AR

Origins of the Specious—Myths and Misconceptions of the English Language by Patricia T. O’Conner and Stewart Kellerman. An educational, trivia filled book about the English language. A lighthearted, fun-filled discussion of our fickle, capricious language. (Random House) 270 pp. PB 978-1-4000-6660-5| $22.00

Brooke Simpson ~ Atlanta, GA

August 31, 2009 Winners     

Meg Eden ~ Gambrills, MD

Thanks, But This Isn’t for Us—A (Sort of) Compassionate Guide to Why Your Writing is Being Rejected by Jessica Page Morrell. The author outlines the mistakes writers repeatedly make, and what they should be doing to catch an editor’s eye. Resources, exercises, tips, and examples make this an educational handbook for writers who experience rejection. (Tarcher/Penguin) 358 pp. PB 978-1-58542-721-5 | $16.95

James Briggs ~ Rexburg, ID

July 31, 2009 Winners     

Dalton Love Gentry ~ St Joseph, MO

Tarot for Writers by Corrine Kenner. More than just a fortunetelling device, tarot cards are also an excellent tool for writing and creative thinking. The author details a wide range of techniques for writing with the cards. (Llewellyn) 366 pp. PB 978-0-7387-1457-8 | $19.95

Jennifer Depo ~ Chazy, NY

June 30, 2009 Winners     

Christina Plante ~ West Palm Beach, FL

Ordinary Genius—A Guide for the Poet Within by Kim Addonizio. This book is designed to spark the creative spirit in both beginners and seasoned writers. The book is a starting point for individual art-making rather than a straightforward how-to. The suggestions, exercises, and examples, along with the thorough appendices of online poetry resources and recommended reading that appear at the end of the book leave room for personal experimentation and can be adapted to suit the needs of all writers. (W. W. Norton & Company) 311 pp. PB 978-0-393-33416-6 | $16.95

Cynthia Marotteck ~ Cottage Grove, MN

May 31, 2009 Winners     

Christian Writers' Market Guide 2008—The Essential Reference Tool for the Christian Writer by Sally E. Stuart. This is the 2008 market guide. Although a year old, it contains many resources for Christian writers and markets that may still be active. We suggest writers always check a market for its latest guidelines. Here is the information for the 2009 edition of the Christian Writers' Market Guide: (WaterBrook  Press) 547 pp. PB 978-0-30744-643-5 | $34.99

Stephanie Crist ~ Janesville, WI

A Time to Write—More than 100 Professional Writers Reveal How to Fit Writing into Your Busy Lifestyle by Kelly L. Stone. This is one of the few books that show writers exactly how to work: How to schedule time. How to set and reach writing goals. How to balance the demands of paying bills and manage the family while writing. How to go from a no-name to a household name. (Adams Media) 246 pp. PB 978-1-59869-438-3 | $12.95

Ginny Gallagher ~ Ashford, AL

April 30, 2009 Winner     

A one-year subscription to WRITERS' Journal magazine.

Frances McCord ~ Painesville, OH

March 31, 2009 Winners     

Write is a Verb—Sit Down. Start Writing. No Excuses by Bill O’Hanlon. This is a practical guide to harnessing the skills, passion, and determination it takes to completely finish and publish a novel. This book shows readers what they must be prepared to do as well as how to do it. (Writers Digest Books) 212 pp. HC 978-1-58297-459-0 | $24.99

Trish Cosey ~ Marion, PA

Writing as a Sacred Path—A Practical Guide to Writing with Passion and Purpose by Jill Jepson. This book draws on spiritual traditions from around the world to deliver fresh techniques any one can use to hone their skills, overcome creative blocks, and write with true vision. (Celestial Arts) 256 pp. PB 978-1-58761-325-8 | $15.95

Bryan Buckingham ~ Florence, AZ

February 28, 2009 Winners     

How Not to Write a Novel—200 Classic Mistakes and Hot to Avoid Them—A Misstep-by-Misstep Guide by Howard Mittelmark and Sandra Newman. By using humor combined with straightforward advice, this guide provides expert troubleshooting that can be immediately put into practice. It is filled with examples of awful writing, identifies the 200 most common mistakes made by unpublished authors, and teaches readers how to troubleshoot manuscripts. (Collins) 262 pp. PB 9780061357954 | $15.95

Michael Johnson ~ Schertz, TX

Tell Me True—Memoir, History, and Writing a Life edited by Patricia Hampl and Elaine Tyler May. The editors devote each chapter to one author and include an extract from one of his or her memoirs followed by an essay by the author. The essays recount the contributors’ experiences formulating and writing a memoir as well as their views on memoirs and how they fit into the world of nonfiction. (Borealis Books) 224 pp. HC 9780873516303 | $24.95

Linda Cacai ~ Daytona Beach, FL

January 31, 2009 Winners     

The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, Revised Edition—Your Complete Guide to Successful Authorship by Patricia L. Fry. This definitive guide to authorship walks authors through the writing, publishing, and book promotion process. It shows how to organize a book, target your audience, develop a marketing plan, and promote your work. (Matilija Press) 366 pp. PB 9780977357628 | $19.95

Kate Miller ~ Warwick, NY

Righting the Mother Tongue—From Olde English to Email, the Tangled Story of English Spelling by David Wolman. This book tells the cockamamie story of English spelling. Rich with history, pop culture, curiosity, and humor, this book explores how English spelling came to be, traces efforts to mend the code, and imagines the shape of tomorrow’s words.(Collins) 211 pp. HC 9780061369254 | $24.95

Frances Ellen ~ Orlando, FL

December 31, 2008 Winners     

Clean, Well-Lighted Sentences—A Guide to Avoiding the Most Common Errors in Grammar and Punctuation by Janis Bell. This book shows us exactly what we’re doing wrong and nothing more. It targets only the most typical errors in grammar and usage, and it explains how each of our punctuation marks works. It contains straightforward explanations that make immediate sense. (W.W. Norton) 151 pp. HC 9780393067712 | $21.95

Eva Novar ~ Cibolo, TX

The Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words—Over 10,000 Common and Confusing Words Explained by The Diagram Group. Never be at a loss for words again with this resource. It is unlike standard dictionaries as it concentrates specifically on defining words the average person will often encounter but may not fully understand. Those who have been embarrassed by their lack of knowledge in the past can now liven up their lexicon. (Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.) 560 pp. PB 9781602393394 | $12.95

Kate Weber~ Centreville, VA

November 30, 2008 Winners     

How to Succeed in the Publishing Game by Vickie M. Stringer and Mia McPherson. The author and founder of Triple Crown Publications shares her insights into how you can become published. This is an instructional book intended to encourage and guide those who are considering entering the field of self-publishing. (Triple Crown Publications) 128 pp. PB 097678940X | $20.00

Anthony Cheng ~ New York, NY

Rewrite—A Step-by-Step Guide to Strengthen Structure, Characters, and Drama in Your Screenplay by Paul Chitlik. This is a practical guide to the most efficient and economical way to rewrite screenplays. The author shows you how to attack your screenplay bit by bit, arc by arc, in clear, easy to follow language from an experienced and trusted mentor. (Michael Wiese Productions) 173 pp. PB 9781932907391 | $16.95

Thomas Hansen ~ Panama City, FL

October 31, 2008 Winners     

The New Writer’s Handbook, Volume 2—A Practical Anthology of Best Advice for Your Craft & Career edited by Philip Martin. This book has 60 useful articles for both novice and experienced writers of fiction and nonfiction. Articles move from collaborative advice to teaching writing in elementary schools—and even includes physical stretches for those spending too much time sitting in front of a screen. (Scarletta Press) 280 pp. PB 9780979824920 | $16.95

Mary Anne Wright ~ Cornelia, GA

Niche Publishing—Publish Profitably Every Time by Gordon Burgett. The niche process: find a need for a niche market, define the book’s purpose, identify the benefits the book will bring, test a small market. From the test results, extrapolate the costs and potential income. If satisfactory, design and print the book. Gordon shows how successful niche publishers implement the process, step-by-step. (Communication Unlimited) 208 pp. PB 9780979629525 | $19.95

Lucinda Gunnin ~ Carbondale, IL

September 30, 2008 Winners     

The Birds and Bees of Words—A Guide to the Most Common Errors in Usage, Spelling, and Grammar by Mary Embree. Those wanting to communicate clearly and correctly now have this informative and entertaining new guidebook at their disposal. The book provides useful lists, definitions, and examples of words as well as accessible summaries on grammar basics, covering frequently misused words, parts of speech, word roots, common grammar mix-ups and how to correct them plus more. (Allworth Press) 208 pp. PB, 97811581154955 | $14.95

Sandy Dulany ~ Springdale, AR

A Writer’s Space—Make Room to Dream, to Work, to Write by Eric Maisel PhD. For wordsmiths to write what they want, the way they want to write it, they need to carve out the psychic and physical space. Complete with writing exercises, tips on how to spark creativity and help with time management, this book will help readers find the right space for writing. The book will honor the inner muse and help design a writing schedule. (Adams Media) 248 pp. PB, 9781598694604 | $12.95

Robin Keith ~ Megargel, TX

August 31, 2008 Winners     

Manuscript Makeover—Revision Techniques No Fiction Writer Can Afford to Ignore by Elizabeth Lyon. With twenty years of experience as a teacher and book editor, the author will show you how to revise and rewrite for a cohesive and consistent story line, strong and memorable characters, and a distinctive style. The book will also teach you how to write and revise a knock-out query letter and a killer synopsis to sell your work. (Perigee) 347 pp. PB 9780399533952 | $14.95

Frances Ellen ~ Orlando, FL

Naming the World: And Other Exercises for the Creative Writer edited by Bret Anthony Johnston. This book provides indispensable creative exercises for writers to jumpstart their stalled book. Divided into seven accessible sections (Getting started, Character, Point of View and Tone, Plot and Narrative, Dialogue and Voice, Descriptive Language and Setting, and Revision), the book takes the reader through all the necessary steps to get started. (Random House) 369 pp. PB 9780812975482 | $15.00

Yolanda Jamison ~ Douglasville, GA

July 31, 2008 Winners     

The Mind of Your Story—Discover What Drives Your Fiction by Lisa Lenard-Cook. This book takes writers beyond the basics and guides them through the foundations and the nuances of story creation, allowing them to create fiction that grabs the reader and doesn’t let go. Aspiring writers will also develop and refine their technical skills when it comes to plot development, point of view and more, and establish an internal rhythm that complements their voice and their story’s developing narrative. (Writer’s Digest Books) 256 pp. HC 9781582974880 | $19.99

Tara Boelter ~ Cosmos, MN

The Write Type—Discover Your True Writer’s Identity and Crate a Customized Writing Plan by Karen E. Peterson. The author teaches readers how to exploit their writing personality and create a system that will lead to the book they were inherently born to write. She encourages readers to capitalize on individual quirks and tendencies instead of being constrained by them. She outlines the ten components of a writer’s type and provides accompanying to-do lists, exercises and scenarios applicable to each personality. (Adams Media) 247 pp. PB 1598694707 | $12.95

Cynthia Carter-Scott ~ Bellevue, WA

June 30, 2008 Winners     

Courage & Craft: Writing Your Life into Story by Barbara Abercrombie. This book is for anyone who wants to write about her or his life but wonders how to get started, how to keep going, and whether it’s even worth it. It’s about finding the courage to put your story down on paper no matter how sloppy your first draft may be. It’s also about crafting your story—shaping and editing it into an essay, memoir, fictional story, or family history. The book explores multiple methods for telling stories and offers a nuts-and-bolts overview of each genre.(New World Library) 176 pp. PB 9781577316015 | $14.95

Ruth Wucherer ~ Milwaukee, WI

Time To Write—More than 100 Professional Writers Reveal How to Fit Writing into Your Busy Lifestyle by Kelly L. Stone. The author shows readers that a big part of accomplishing great writing is the time management process taken to get it done. Excuses like getting the kids to practice or demands at work no longer need to deter aspiring writers. The book offers unique regimented time management tips any writer can use along the path to bestseller success. (Adams Media) 246 pp. PB 1598694383 | $12.95

Quinn Urich ~ Townsend, MT

May 31, 2008 Winners     

The Portable Writer’s Conference—Your Guide to Getting Published edited by Stephen Blake Mettee. This book’s workshops cover how to write a sizzling love scene, a self-help book, or a query letter. It will guide you on running a home-based writing business, understanding copyright laws, and creating memorable characters. Best of all, you don’t have to travel to this writer’s conference! (Quill Driver Books) 464 pp. PB 9781884956577 | $19.95

Diane Coutre ~ Santa Monica, CA

The Writer Within You—A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing and Publishing In Your Retirement Years by Charles Jacobs. Created to meet the expressed needs of retirees, seniors, and older baby boomers who have long dreamed of writing, this book teaches the basics of crafting a novel, non-fiction, a memoir, articles, travel or business writing. (Caros Books) 321 pp. PB 9780979363603 | $19.95

Sheryl Gordon-Rivera ~ Staten Island, NY

April 30, 2008 Winners     

A Cup of Comfort for Writers edited by Colleen Sell. This book features the stories of more than fifty writers who share the passion, unrest, and joy their craft can cause them—from the woman who enters an elite writing program at the age of forty to the husband who wins his wife’s affection by writing her love letters. (Adams Media) 327 pp. PB, 9781598692686 | $9.95

Chris Schreiber ~ Langhorne, PA

Inspired Creative Writing: Pokes and Prods for Scribblers of All Stripes by Gordon Smith. This is a welcome addition to the celebrated 52 Brilliant Ideas line. (Each book in the series contains 52 short, stand-alone chapters that present a new idea or strategy.) This particular book offers tactics and exercises to get the imagination flowing from the first line to the final word. (Perigee Trade Paperback) 237 pp. PB, 9780399533471 | $15.95

James Briggs ~ Rexburg, ID

March 31, 2008 Winners     

The Writer’s I Ching—Wisdom for the Creative Life by Jessica Page Morrell. Whether you’re trying to untangle a plot line, shape a nonfiction narrative, or determine how patient to be with a slow-to-respond editor, this book can point the way. Draw a card, then consult the book for the correct interpretation. Complete with a full deck of I Ching card. (Running Press) 224 pp. PB 9780762425471 | $17.97

Kevin Moore ~ Safford, AZ

Writing for Life—The Craft of Writing for Everyday Living by John D. Bessler. This book gives readers the know-how and tools they need to write more effectively. This inspirational guide unlocks the secrets of the craft, excites readers about the possibilities of language, and will help both beginning and experienced writers alike better navigate the writing process. (Bottlecap Books) 352 pp. HC 9780979271809 | $24.95

Marc Araujo ~ Verona, NY

February 29, 2008 Winners     

Courage & Craft: Writing Your Life Into Story by Barbara Abercrombie. This book is for anyone who wants to write about her or his life but wonders how to get started, how to keep going, and whether it’s even worth it. The book explores multiple methods for telling stories and offers a nuts-and-bolts overview of each genre. (New World Library) 176 pp. PB, 9781577316015 | $14.95

Jonathan Feld ~ Saukville, WI

The New Writer’s Handbook—A Practical Anthology of Best Advice for Your Craft & Career edited by Philip Martin. This book of sixty articles serves as a personal, professional-development seminar, touching on topics from craft techniques to career issues to helpful thoughts about creativity and motivation. The book offers an eclectic mix of expert advice, stimulating short pieces and overall encouragement. (Scarletta Press) 288 pp. PB, 9780976520160| $16.95

Vicki Kennedy ~ Longview, TX

December 31, 2007 Winners     

Finding Water—The Art of Perseverance by Julia Cameron. The third book in Julia Cameron’s bestselling trilogy on the creative process offers guidance on weathering the periods in an artist’s life when inspiration appears to have run dry. She guides the reader through tasks and questions that uncover additional tools for working through difficulties and the self-doubts that often come with lack of inspiration. (Tarcher/Penguin) 286 pp. HC 9781585424634 | $25.95

Ashley Laughery ~ Margate, FL

The Freelance Writer’s Bible—Your Guide to a Profitable Writing Career Within One Year by David Trottier. This book is designed as a compass for developing writers as they pursue success in any of 17 writing domains—guiding them from honing the creative process to marketing and selling a finished work for publication. Through worksheets and exercises he provides the ABCs of deriving a meaningful income from writing. (Silman-James Press) 260 pp. PB 1879505851| $19.95

Sean Erickson ~ Crystal  Lake,  IL

November 30, 2007 Winners     

The Fiction Editor, the Novel, and the Novelist—A Book for Writers, Teachers, Publishers, and Anyone Else Devoted to Fiction by Thomas McCormack. Mr. McCormack draws upon twenty-eight years experience as the CEO and Editorial Director of St. Martin’s Press as he gives practical guidance about how to plan, write, and revise a novel. He details how to structure the novel, choose the characters, drive the story, diagnose narrative ailments, and find and apply specific remedies. (Paul Dry Books) 167 pp. PB 9781589880306 | $14.95

Patti Pepple ~ Brooklyn, OH

Spunk & Bite—A Writer’s Guide to Bold, Contemporary Style by Arthur Plotnik. This book proves how rule-breaking can often yield dazzling, engaging writing in everything from fiction and poetry to everyday business reports, memos, and e-mail. With advise on force, clarity, texture, form and how to use the element of surprise, the book offers inspiration for writers looking to get published or just seeking a resource for fresh locutions.  (Random House Reference) 273 pp. PB 9780375722271 | $12.95

Anthony Cheng ~ Chicago, IL 

October 31, 2007 Winners     

Floor Sample—A Creative Memoir by Julia Cameron. Julia Cameron is the author of twenty-four books including The Authors Way. This memoir offers a no-holds-barred account of her trials and triumphs. Against all odds, she built a loving support system, got sober, and stayed that way. Despite enormous physical and emotional challenges, she somehow managed to channel pain and fear into her work, devoting her life to pursuing art in its myriad forms. (Tarcher/Penguin) 406 pp. PB 9781585425570 | $14.95

Margurite Bishop ~ Springfield, OH

Writer Mama—How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids by Christina Katz. With advice on everything from getting started and finding ideas to actually carving out precious time to work, Writer Mama covers specific direction for creating fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. The content is specific for mothers and their uniquely harried environments—making this book’s format a welcome departure from the traditional one-size-fits-all writing instruction guides. (Writer’s Digest Books) 296 pp. PB 9781582974415 | $14.99

Tammy McClenning ~ Canton, GA