Here is a practical list of organizations, market guides, and networking opportunities for jump starting your writing career.  My apologies that it is heavy on the America and Speculative Fiction side, but that is who I am and what I write, so that is what I know best.  But hopefully everyone can find something useful from this list:

Your best friend for meeting publishers and agents is writers’ and fan conferences, especially if you can get one-on-one consultations!  Every state in America has at least one per year.  The one I always attend is the Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc. conference the first weekend in May (http://www.owfi.org/).  Next year it will be May 5^th-7^th.  It`s one of the best in America.  If you happen to live near the Oklahoma area, there is also Tulsa Nightwriters, CrossRoads Writers Critique Group, Oklahoma Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers, Fellowship of Christian Writers, and the Conestoga conference, all of which can be googled.  If you live in other areas, simply google “(your state/province/country) writers” and you will no doubt come up with a host of organizations, conferences, and events. 

Here are some groups in Japan:

Osaka Readers and Writer`s Club: Meets every Saturday to read and critique:

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=84878668917&topic=13137#!/group.php?gid=35793654598&ref=search

 Nagoya Writers: http://nagoyawrites.wordpress.com/

Tokyo Writers Salon: http://ja-jp.facebook.com/posted.php?id=16353897846

Japan Writers Conference: http://www.japanwritersconference.org/ (This year being held in Tokyo October 10^th-11.) 

The best writing reference, in my humble opinion, is Writers` Market.  It comes out every September and you can get it at almost any bookstore (where English is the main spoke language; and where not, you can buy it online).  It features over 8,000 book, magazine, script, and poetry editors and agents to buy your writing. You have to get the latest one because it becomes totally obsolete in six months. For a more fluid, long-lasting reference, you can subscribe to www.writersmarket.com.  There`s a similar one for Christian Writers called Christian Writers` Market Guide: http://www.stuartmarket.com/ and for kids and teens called Children`s Writers and Illustrators Market: http://www.cwim.com/

Libraries often host events for writers and contests.  By winning a number of these contests, I’ve gained some really useful contacts. 

A really prestigious sci-fi/fantasy writers group is Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America- commonly called SFWA. http://www.sfwa.org/  In order to join you must have sold three short stories, a novel, or a screenplay in one of those genres to be in it, but it`s really worth it.  Even for non-members they are a vast resource for markets and other information.

This is a link to Australian Speculative Fiction markets: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~mslee/mag.html.  And this one is international: http://www.sff.net/people/julia.west/markets.html

Fangs, Fur, and Fey (http://community.livejournal.com/fangs_fur_fey) is an online community for urban fantasy/paranormal authors.  They’re great for networking and critiquing.  The Absolute Write is another great online group of critiquers for any writer.   

Some agents with very helpful blogs about the industry are Nathan Bransford, Miss Snark, and Kristin Nelson.  They actually tell step by step how to submit your work and write a professional query letter, including examples, along with other essential writing, selling, and marketing tools.  The Guide to Literary Agents blog is my personal favorite, especially the new agent alerts! http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com

The international Writers of the Future Contest is how a lot of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writers are getting started these days.  If you win (hard, but doable) they really promote your work and send you to a week-long conference with dozens of agents and editors present.  http://www.writersofthefuture.com/   

For more general genres, there is the international Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest held in February every year.  The odds at winning (with 5,000 entrants in both adult and young adult categories) are very low, but even making it to the quarterfinalist round is something you could put on a resume or a query letter to a publisher/agent.  That goes for all contests, actually.

Four small to medium press publishers interested in fantasy, science fiction and horror are Zumaya Publications, Yard Dog press, Double Dragon, and Baen Books.  They don’t require an agent to submit work to them.

Society of Children`s Book Writers and Illustrators is one of the most prestigious international writing groups in the world and is for authors of work for toddlers to teens. There are three levels of membership depending on your level of publication. They host events, critique groups, and conferences all over the world.  I am a member of both the Tokyo and Oklahoma chapters.  Here is their website: http://www.scbwi.org/.

For freelance writing opportunities, try checking caigslist: http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites.  I`ve had a number of friends who got gigs this way. Here`s a link to an interesting submission request for science fiction writing out of Osaka: http://osaka.craigslist.jp/wrg/1780784902.html. Elance is another one that looks to be quite useful to us writer sorts.

And hopefully that will keep you busy for awhile!

Yoshiko Chuma returns to the 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Festival March 19 to 21 with the New York premiere of Hold the Clock, the latest installment of her ten-year project, Page Out of Order. To celebrate the 92nd Street Y’s 75th anniversary theme, Past-Future-Now, Chuma, who has appeared at the Harkness Dance Festival in 1995 and 2001, invited three artists she admires to create a 7-minute piece to be integrated into the final presentation of the work: Ursula Eagly, Jon Kinzel, and Rie Ono. Chuma will appear in each of these artists’ new works. The evening will also feature performers Mina Nishimura, Jun Kim, Catherine Galasso, Yuko Mitsuishi, and Ryuji Yamaguchi, singer Sizzle Ohtaka, and sound designer Kohji Setoh.  For more info click here.

March 19-21, 2010
Fri & Sat, 8 pm; Sun 3pm
Tickets: $15

For more info click here.

- Date: 2/20,  2/28,  3/6,  3/13
- Time: 1pm-4pm
- Place: Center StageNY Studio A 2/20, 3/6, 3/13  (SAT)
Rod Rodgers Dance Co Studio 2/28 (SUN)
- Fee: $120
- Limited to 15 participants

www.kurotamakikaku.com

How do JETs and JET alums feel about Japanese healthcare and the points in this article?  Share your thoughts by posting a comment.

See this recent post on JetWit (“JET alumni and healthcare“) for additional discussion of JET alumni and their experiences and concerns with healthcare.

Update: Turns out PBS’ Frontline did a documentary called “Sick Around the World“ which examined the healthcare systems in five countries, including Japan, which you can watch on their website here.

Friday Sept. 25, 2009

7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Enjoy Drink Specials, Raffles, and Prizes

http://www.nydevolunteer.org/activities/2009/2009.09.25_e.html

Location:

Slattery’s Pub

8 E 36th St. (btwn. 5th and Madison Ave.)

100% of cash tips will support to

NY de Volunteer’s

“Explore Japanese After School Program”

@ New York City Parks and Recreation Center

For more information regarding the FUNdRaiser please visit:

http://www.nydevolunteer.org/activities/2009/2009.09.25_e.html

Future JETs?

Thanks to the hard work of JET alum Abigail MacBain, current JET Program Coordinator for the Consulate General of Japan in Miami (and former JETAA DC Newsletter Editor), the Miami Consulate has a wonderfully updated JET Program page.

Have a look at Abigail’s handiwork at http://www.miami.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jet/jetprogram.html

Abigail also reports two big JET Program policy changes as of Monday, August 17:

1. JET alumni can now reapply for JET after 3 years instead of 10

2. The previous requirement used to be that you couldn’t have lived 3 or more years in Japan in the past 8 years. Now it’s 6 or more years years in the past 10.

********************

(Originally posted on April 28, 2009.)

Here’s your chance to help JetWit.  Just share a comment on this post saying what you like about JetWit.  (Or email your comment to jetwit [at] jetwit [dot] com and I’ll post it.)

Thanks for your help and yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Update: Thanks to everyone who has posted comments so far!

Dear JET Alumni and current JET Program Participants:

My name is Mark Smith and I am Executive Director of the Japan America Society of the State of Washington.  As some of you may already know, one of our core programs here at the Society is our Japan in the Schools program. This is an educational program driven by volunteers who visit elementary schools and high schools.

In the elementary classroom, a day in the life of Kentaro is brought to life through a large format photo presentation that engages the students in exploring similarities and differences between American and Japanese children’s lives. Students are also taught some Japanese words and they have trying to pick up mini erasers (which they get to keep) with chopsticks.

Our high school visits are primarily to Japanese language classes. We coordinate with the classroom teacher so that the students will have an opportunity to pre-learn standard phrases and vocabulary that they might encounter in the following situations: Visiting someone’s home, shopping, and going to a restaurant. Our volunteers then role-play with the students in these situations giving them the chance to practice their Japanese with native speakers.

Since its creation in 1994 and thanks to the dedication and generous support of volunteers and donors, the Japan in the Schools Program has been presented to over 30,000 area students.

We are very curious to find out if any of you participated as a student in the Japan in the Schools program when you were in elementary or high school. If you did and are willing to share your experience, please contact me at 206-374-0180 or send me an e-mail at msmith@us-japan.org. We would very much like to know what influence this program may have had on you and your decision to join the JET program and/or continue learning about Japan and the Japanese language.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Mark Smith

Two things occurred to me as I watch this:

1. This might be the best tourism promotion for Japan they could possibly hope for.  It gives people a real sense of Japan and a connection to it.
2. What the hell do samurai parades and chopstick making have to do with the gameshow?

Thus far, the show seems to be a greater enigma than Japan ever was.

• How are you feeling about health insurance and healthcare these days?

• Do you have it?

• Are you worried about it?

• What are your options?

• What challenges or problems have you faced or do you expect to face?

Post your comments here for the benefit of the JET alumni and Friend of JET community.

Yoroshiku.

Additionally, the term “WOJ” (i.e., “Wife of JET”) occasionally comes up.

And lastly, while it hasn’t caught on yet, I propose increased use of the term “SOJ” (i.e., “Significant Other of JET”) for those vague and undefined relationships that require a category in the JET context.  (Though I suppose FOJ could also apply to “Fiancee of JET” as well.)

How you do deal with this issue in your chapter or JET-vironment?  Share comments on this post, or send JetWit an email.

Note:

Japan Fix:  New York City

By Kirsten Phillips (Niigata-ken, 2005-08), writer of the Kirsten’s World columns on JetWit

There are thousands of different angles to approach a story like this, particularly in a metropolitan city such as New York. But I’d really love to expand this topic and hear about Japan Fixes in other parts of the country, preferably those without a coast! Yes, I’m talking to you Wyoming! Hi there, Kansas City! Since Japan means something different for everyone who walks away from it, I’d really like to hear about where and how you find Japan. Whether its building a raft and fording rivers to reach that one Kaiten Sushi bar, renting your favorite Japanese language film, or simply chatting with your Japanese neighbor down the hall, tell us all about it!

Now let’s get one thing straight. I earned an admirable jones before I even lived in Japan.

I have my buddy Reiko to thank for the multitude of pre-JET Japanese obsessions I harbored before marching knee-deep into the trenches. In Nueva York, karaoke was only something I did when I was too drunk to care about the lyrics and the only songs I knew then were by Shiina Ringo. Tarako-spaghetti was novelty, not survival. I entered without ceremony. Tips were important. The sole purpose of a handkerchief was for gagging. Vending machines only offered one thing.

Although prior knowledge of Japanese custom, popular wastes of time and cuisine-abuses was a reasonably applicable methadone for the harder edges of culture shock, nothing can fully prepare you for the experience of living on Japanese soil. Everyone gets shocked in one way or another. However, once you get used to the vibe and start running with the pack, untangling yourself from that mentality can be equally as harsh. Three years of opening important doors with 失礼しますand public transportation that runs on time can really leave a mark. Also, it’s hard to say goodbye to your favorite onsen, izakaya, chuugakkou and depaato. A majority of these are difficult to revive even in facsimile here in the States unless you wanna fork over your rent check.

But for those who are blessed enough to live in or around Nueva York, there is hope.

In this town, most of what I left behind I was able to come back to. In Gotham, I would not have to drive miles to an all-encompassing AsiaMart to find my specific brand of miso paste or umeboshi. We have entire supermarkets devoted to Japan, not just a shelf. A distinction is made between Japanese food and “Japanese” food. There are no shortages of Japanese businesses, artists, cultural events, and just plain walking talking individuals to feed your soul. Nonetheless, some things you still need to hunt for.

The East Village is where you’ll predictably find many forms of Japanese crack cocaine. Decent takoyaki may be found at OTAFUKU. Yakitori and ramen (in the same place???) may be scored at VILLAGE YOKOCHO. I patronized YOKOCHO so much in college they put my face on the menu. Once upon a time there was a sweet little place called PANYA that served as a bakery but alas, it is no more. However, KYOTOFU has lessened the pain of their loss with luscious Japanese sweets of the high quality I grew accustomed to in Japan. *sob* How I do miss my Yamazaki roll kekki! *bawl* *whimper* *sniffle*

I enjoyed going to the nearby HOSHI COUP II when I required a haircut. Not only was the staff patient, understanding and knowledgeable of 7 out of 10 of my favorite Japanese bands, they seemed to have an intuitive feel for what would look good on me. Plus, they cleaned my ears while they were drying my hair and offered complimentary shoulder rubs. Just like in Japan. These days, however, I have switched to the comfort of YO-C (named for its darling Tokyoite owner, Yoshi) salon on East 5th Street for a bit more personalized experience. I go to his website sometimes just to zone out to the awesome trance he’s got embedded therein.

Though once I was a devoted follower of the YOKOCHO sect, UDON WEST on 45th & Lex is where I now get my ホルモン on. I respect an izakaya that serves it up slimy and underdefined, speaks English when it feels like it and stays open a wee bit later if you’re still in your cups past last call. They do have an English menu for chrissakes, this is still America. But how can English accurately portend the ultimate mouthwatering bliss of a もつ鍋？ GUT STEW? That’s attractive.

Though you can always hit up the SUNRISE MART, DONGURI-YA, or KATAGIRI should you ever find yourself in dire need of パンコ or a gas conro, their selections vary frequently and are often limited (though KATAGIRI has an impressive dry goods section). For a truly fun experience, I recommend coughing up the bus fare to MITSUWA in Edgewater, NJ to meet a myriad of your needs. It’s a very wallet-damaging place to start missing Japan. I never go there without dropping at least $100. My hard on is severe.

If all you’re looking for are anime soundtracks/dated J-pop, look no further than Chinatown bootlegs. It’s the most cost-effective option. Failing that, KINOKUNIYA offers a wider range of more timely selections (though pricier). Last time I live in the city, there was a BOOK OFF on E. 41st that sold used or marked down Japanese CDs so check that out first before shelling out any serious yen online. Limewire has been my supplier for longer than I can say with dignity however if I truly want something, I attack AMAZON Japan or CD JAPAN like any normal person.

For those who like their Japanese music way off the beaten pop star, however, I heartily recommend this UK-based website called Far Side Music. Sample downloads available. ^_^ If you have a passion for Japanese music like I do, this site may become your new bitch. Yes, why wouldn’t they have a MySpace?

Japanese bands were once a mere roving happenstance in my part of town but if you look close enough (and attend enough JAPAN NITES), you will find more than a few recurring house acts. Now may I pimp the melodic UZUHI fronted by a man I fall just a bit more in love with every time I witness him. If all you truly seek is a decent kick in the teeth, UZUHI will more than politely oblige. HAPPY FUN SMILE is also an enjoyable outfit. Though I was initially confused by their dual embrace of cosplay and accordion playing, once I heard them cover MATSURI MAMBO and HAISAI OJIISAN, I was bought. I mean, how can you lose with a name like Happy Fun Smile???

However, some pleasures are harder to reproduce.

Once upon a time I was sitting around my countryside elementary trying to look busy when I heard a joyous music burst from the gymnasium. Were they having an unscheduled matsuri here in my little school? Was there a fire? Once my schedule of classes was completed, I was pretty much left to fend for myself. Though I was free to roam the halls at will, I tried not to make my presence too obvious as this always got a pleasing though distracting reaction from my adorable students.

Often we ALTs are left out of the loop or expected to know much more than we actually do. If there had been a fire, I’d have been the dumb chick asking: “So like, who’s KAJI and why is everyone making like such a big deal over him? Hey, do you guys smell smoke? I totally smell smoke.” Unbeknown to me, my elementary school was practicing for their Sports Festival and part of this joy was a dance known as yosa-koi.

I did not know what yosa-koi was at the time. All I heard was happy music and all I saw were happy kids! Only my two favorite things in the world! I eagerly leapt into the throng of teachers and students and did my best to jama along with the music.

I had no clue what I was doing but that’s never stopped me before.

Soon yosa-koi became my Saturday mornings. The teachers, eager to see an ALT interacting outside class with the students, found me a pair of wooden naruko and signed me up for the school’s yosa-koi team. I was thrilled though poorly coordinated. Every Saturday I faithfully showed up in the suffocating heat of our mirrorless gym and tried to learn the steps to our DON GALA FESTIVAL routine.

Yosa-koi was a profoundly good way to meet people. Not only my students but their parents and siblings, friends and grandmothers. It was something we did for fun and together. I loved it lots.

When I came home I was dubious as to whether I would ever dance yosa-koi again. I’d half-resigned myself to becoming one of those eccentric ex-ALTs who sleeps with a naruko under her pillow, sipping sho-chu on the front porch and reminiscing about the good old days when I danced that martian dance Yosa-Koi in the parade of ’08. Yesiree, I’d gaze dewy-eyed at footage of past performances on YouTube and weep into my mochi, yearning fruitlessly for any excuse to rattle them clappers again.

Unwilling to accept such a fate, I Googled “yosa-koi” and “NY” and found: 10tecomai: Yosa-Koi Dance Project.

The most I’d hoped for on this 東海岸 was some extension of a college Asia club or Japan society, an environment I didn’t exactly wish to invade. Finding even Japanese people who were into yosa-koi seemed impossible enough indeed, let alone an entire project?!?! Such an outfit demanded further investigation. To my elation, they were kind enough to let me audition and even kinder to let a 左右-challenged individual like myself join their ranks. The Japanese community in NY, such as it is, is fairly vast. Even within the miniature dynamic of 10tecomai, there are a diverse range of individuals, Japanese and non-Japanese. For me, Japan is well represented by its members. From the fast-talking Tokyoites to the barely decipherable Tohoku-factions, to ALTs who served their time, 10teco represents Japan through one common act: Stylin with naruko. Where there is music and happiness, where there is a stage or no, where there ought to be nothing to see by but beer and red lanterns, there should be 10tecomai.

When I miss Japan, I miss it less when I’m dancing yosa-koi. When I’m talking with people who yearn for onsen the same way I do. Who know to slurp noodles at the speed of light while its still hot enough to sear the roof of your mouth. Who will lend me an aburatori when I ask for one. Who laugh at my old man jokes and don’t need translation every time my Japanese goes on auto-pilot. It’s not Niigata by any means but it’s close enough.

A.J., the official mascot of JetWit (designed by Zi Mei (Saitama-ken, 2002-05))

Big news: Just learned that JetWit.com has been added to the JET Programme website’s Links page in the “After JET” section.  http://jetprogramme.org/e/links/index.html#after

Needless to say, A.J. is beside himself with shiawase.

For more information about the effort, please visit http://findcraigarnold.blogspot.com/

For more information on Craig Arnold, you can see his Wikipedia entry at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Arnold

Latest update from findcraigarnold.blogspot.com:

News

4/30 at 2:00 am EST: According to Christopher Blasdel of The International House of Japan, two US helicopters have landed on the island to assist in the search. The prefectural police have added another helicopter to make a total of four helicopters. The island has deep vegetation which might make it difficult to see anything from the air, but we have our fingers crossed!

Saw this on the JETAA Pacific Northwest yahoogroup list and thought it was worth sharing.  I’m sure there are plenty of other JET alum actors/performers out there, so feel free to share any upcoming performances via e-mail to jetwit at jetwit dot com and perhaps we can do a periodic update of what various folks are up to.

Just wanted to pass this on from Nate Maddox (Kagawa-ken 2003-2005), and (disclaimer!) good friend of mine. I saw The Underpants on Sunday, and I’ll vouch for the hilarity. All the characters are absurd, and there are some killer lines.

Yes, there are underpants in this play.  No, they are not Nate’s. (And no, you probably don’t want to bring kids under 14.) But I highly recommend it, especially if you’d like to see Nate prance about in a ridiculous hat and cape.

Please go enjoy The Underpants!

-Sandra

———– (more info below)

Hey all,

In the spirit of shameless self-promotion, I wanted to invite anyone who is interested to come to the play I am acting in for the next few weekends. The play is a farce written by Steve Martin titled “The Underpants” and is absolutely hilarious!

I would highly encourage you, your family, friends, and the enemy of your enemies (who logic dictates must be your friend) to come out and check it out! It runs Friday, Saturday, Sunday on March 27, 28, and 29 and April 3, 4, and 5 at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in West Seattle.

Info about the show can be found at: http://www.twelfthnightproductions.org/onstage.php

And tickets can be purchased in advance at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/57151

If you want some more info, feel free to ask me anything!

Hope to see you there!

Nate Maddox

Hazen HS Math Dept

NY de Volunteer

The next program will be:

J. Hood Wright Recreation Center, 351 Fort Washington Avenue, New York,  NY 10033, Located in J Hood Wright Park

Cross Streets: West 174th Street & Fort Washington Avenue

Subway: A line “175th Street Station”

Map: http://www.nydevolunteer.org/activities/afterschool/images/map_jhoodwright.jpg

Date: June 12th

Time: 3:30-5:30Speech time: about 20 minutes, between 4:00-4:40.

Most of the kids over there are from Dominican Republic, so we’d love to have any Spanish speakers.

If interested, contact Noriko Hino at noriko /at/ nydevolunteer /dot/ org

1.  PURSUIT OF HEALTH

Currently seeking men and women from a variety of ethnicities, ages and Tri-State area locations for a health series for the web for a major online provider.    This is not scripted.  Casting for real stories.

The topic is staying healthy and the series is hosted by two health experts.   We’re looking to feature people with 2 types of health stories – inspirations and interventions.    With interventions, we’re looking for people with a real life health issue (nothing major) that our host helps to resolve.   With inspirations, we will showcase various people who will share their tips and show us how they remain healthy (e.g. a dancer who has to nurse her aches and pains so she can dance her next show, a singer tells how she nurses a sore throat, etc).

I’d love to find someone who uses Japanese remedies to stay healthy.

Compensation is $200 for a half day shoot to tell your story.   Must be available on March 7 to audition.  Please respond with a blurb on your own unique strategy for staying well or tell us what your health issue is.   You can email: nycastingteam /at/ gmail /dot/ com with your story and picture.  Please spread the word to family, friends and acquaintances.

Some examples:

Inspirations:
·         A dancer talks about how she deals with the aches and pains associated with her job
·         An overweight man who started a marathon training group and lost 60 lbs.
·         A new mom who started a weight loss club for other new moms
·         A group of 60 somethings who walk together every morning

Interventions:
·         Weight loss/Eating problems
·         Sleep problems
·         Arthritis
·         Non-exercisers
·         Someone who’s always getting sick
·         New Moms
·         Overworked & stressed folks

2.  EXPERIENCE LIFE AND LOVE IN A NEW CITY

(via Suzette’s friend at ABC)