LA Times, Dec. 2, 2009

Brad Listi started the website The Nervous Breakdown in 2006 as a place for writers to come together, to discuss and support — and promote– each others’ work. The scope of the site has changed: It now reads more like a magazine than a message board, and the reading is good. It showcases editorially curated original fiction, nonfiction and poetry by writers such as Ron Currie Jr. and Tod Goldberg. But it’s still sort of a collective effort — a discussion with Neil Gaiman about his hair was a blog post — although the collection of writers steering things is now nearly 200 contributors, with 19 volunteer editors. Founding editor Listi, an L.A.-based author, answered Carolyn Kellogg’s questions about TNB via e-mail.

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Brad Listi, writer and founder of The Nervous Breakdown website for writers will be one of our panelist’s at tomorrow’s Publishing Panel event at UC San Diego Extension.

Join us tomorrow morning for UC San Diego Extension’s first Publishing Panel where authors, publishers and agents will discuss the future of publishing and what local writers can do to prepare for the journey to publishing.

Time: Sa, December 5^th 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Room 129, UCSD Extension Complex, 9600 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA  92093

Map: http://extension.ucsd.edu/pdf/student/LaJollaDirections.pdf

Register Now!

The 2010 Clarion Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers’ Workshop will take place June 27 through August 7, 2010 at University of California, San Diego. The instructors will be Delia Sherman, George R.R. Martin, Dale Bailey, Samuel R. Delany, Jeff VanderMeer, and Ann VanderMeer.

The application period for the 2010 workshop is December 1 – March 1. Applicants must submit two short stories with their application. For information and applications, check the Web at http://clarion.ucsd.edu/ or email clarion@ucsd.edu

Established in 1968, the Clarion Writers’ Workshop is the oldest workshop of its kind and is widely recognized as a premier proving and training ground for aspiring writers of fantasy and science fiction. Many graduates have become well-known writers, and a large number have won major awards. Instructors are among the most respected writers and editors working in the field today. The six-week workshop is held on the beautiful beachside campus of the University of California, San Diego.
Clarion has been known as the “boot camp” for writers of speculative fiction. Each year 18 students, ranging in age from late teens to those in mid-career, are selected from applicants who have the potential for highly successful writing careers. Students are expected to write several new short stories during the six-week workshop, and to give and receive constructive criticism. Instructors and students reside together in campus apartments throughout the intensive six-week program.

La Jolla: On Tuesday, December 8, 2009, at 7:00 p.m., Warwick’s, 7812 Girard Avenue, will host local author Major Brian Dennis and his dog Nubs, who will discuss and sign Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle. This event is free and open to the public, although in order to be signed, books must be purchased from Warwick’s. For more information, please call Warwick’s at (858) 454-0347.

Background: Nubs, an Iraqi dog of war, never had a home or a person of his own. He was the leader of a pack of wild dogs living off the land and barely surviving. But Nubs’ life changes when he meets Marine Major Dennis. Through words and illustrations, this true account reminds young readers of the power of friendship.

Nubs was the leader of a pack of wild dogs living off the land and barely surviving. But Nubs’ life changed when he met Marine Major Brian Dennis. The two formed a fast friendship, made stronger by Dennis’s willingness to share his meals, offer a warm place to sleep, and give Nubs the kind of care and attention he had never received before. Nubs became part of Dennis’s human “pack” until duty required the Marines to relocate a full 70 miles away–without him. Nubs had no way of knowing that Marines were not allowed to have pets.

So began an incredible journey that would take Nubs through a freezing desert filled with danger to find his friend and would lead Dennis on a mission that would touch the hearts of people all over the world. Nubs and Dennis will remind readers that friendship has the power to cross deserts, continents, and even species.

Did you know that you can obtain a discount voucher to use toward UC San Diego Extension courses?

Through a reciprocal arrangement with the University, UC San Diego Extension offers a limited number of vouchers to full-time UCSD students for a discount toward Extension courses. For Winter 2010, we are offering the discount vouchers for full-time UCSD students from Nov. 30 – Dec. 4  on a first come, first serve basis.

Undergraduate students can pick up a voucher, with a valid student identification, and register early. Courses fill up quickly, so take advantage of this special offer. The Fall catalog is available online at extension.ucsd.edu.

Graduate students and medical students, please contact OGSR and the School of Medicine for informaiton about their complimentary vouchers.

Some restrictions apply, call 858-534-3400 for more information.

For news from our writing program, such as those all-important start enrollment date reminders, you can sign up for notification about our courses at http://extension.ucsd.edu/signup.

Remember to click on the programs that you are interested in receiving more information about!

Join us on December 3rd for a unique opportunity. Authors, publishers and agents from across California will discuss the publishing world today and help you discover your path to getting your books on the shelf.

Register Today!

Jo’el Roth has been selected to receive a University of California Alumni “Change the World” Scholarship from UC San Diego Extension to pursue a certificate in alcohol and drug abuse counseling to assist veterans.

All of the more than 1 million UC alumni are eligible to apply for merit scholarships of up to $5,500 to enter any continuing education certificate or special study program offered by UC San Diego Extension.

Roth, who earned her bachelor’s of arts degree from UCLA in 1977, is currently completing a master’s degree at San Diego State University in rehabilitation counseling. “This certificate will help augment my graduate studies and assist me with a career change from electronics to vocational counseling,” says Roth.

The UC San Diego Extension Scholarship Committee cited her “passion for helping returning veterans overcome alcohol and drug abuse.” Roth is currently volunteering in the field through an internship at Veterans Village San Diego, a 220-bed residential facility for veterans who are in recovery from substance abuse and homelessness. The facility provides a full range of life changing services to veterans of all eras. This includes rehabilitation, 12-step counseling and job search support.

All persons who have received a bachelor’s degree or a graduate degree from any UC campus are eligible to apply by completing an online “Change the World” Scholarship form from the extension.ucsd.edu/scholarships Web site before the next deadline date of January 15, 2009.

What does it mean to change the world? The definition is purposely broad, and can range from cultural enrichment to regional economic development. UC San Diego Extension is looking to reward alumni with the promise and potential to improve the quality of life in San Diego, and beyond. In the application essay, potential recipients can explain how they would help California build a globally competitive talent pool, accelerate economic vitality or foster community-building conversations if they receive this advanced training.

Certificate programs offer a practical, concentrated study in a specific professional area and most can be started any academic quarter. For the convenience of working adults, classes for most of UC San Diego Extension’s certificate programs and specialized study programs are held evenings and weekends on the UC San Diego main campus and three other locations in Sorrento Mesa, Rancho Bernardo and Mission Valley.

UC San Diego offers approximately 100 certificates or special study programs. Some areas of possible study for career changers or those wishing to add new skills to their resume include: Business; Digital Arts; Education; Engineering and Defense Technology; English Language Studies; Foreign Languages; Healthcare and Behavioral Sciences; Humanities and Writing; Information Technology and Software Engineering; Law; Leadership and Management Development; Life Sciences; Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health; Photography, Art and Music, and Public Service, Social Responsibility and Sustainable Business.

Certificate programs at UC San Diego Extension have never been more popular.  This past year UC San Diego Extension had approximately 54,000 enrollees, which translates to a record 22,600 students in more than 4,600 courses.

Pursuing a continuing education certificate on a part-time basis can be a cost-effective and time-effective way to gain applied knowledge for employment areas in higher demand.  According to a 2009 survey of 487 certificate graduates, 84 percent reported they accomplished the goals they set for themselves by obtaining an UC San Diego Extension certificate. Approximately 62 percent of certificate graduates are under the age of 39. Approximately 85 percent already have a college degree and 10 percent are alumni of UC San Diego.

The “Change the World” scholarships are automatically renewed, provided the recipient continues to pass their coursework and remains active in the certificate program. Scholarships cover tuition only, are non-transferable and carry no cash value.

Scholarships are awarded each academic quarter. Applications must be received by January 15, April 15, July 15, or October 15. Recipients and non-recipients are notified by email by March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. Applications will be considered for the upcoming quarter. The UC San Diego Extension Scholarship Committee will review scholarship applications four times a year and reserves the right not to award a scholarship.

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Tammy Greenwood’s new novel, The Hungry Season, will be published in February. The Hungry Season is a “story of hope, family, and above all, hunger—for food, sex, love and success—and for a way back to wholeness when a part of oneself has been lost forever.” She has posted information about the book on her website as well as a trailer to give you a little peek into the book. Enjoy!

Tammy is teaching a new course at Extension this winter quarter that focuses on developing characters for the novel. Join her on January 16^th for this exciting course

Characterization in the Novel

Many well-known authors have noted that each time they take on a new project, they must learn to live with the intimate details, personalities, and daily lives of their characters – whether they want to or not. Focus on the finer points of characterization – understanding their desires, motivations, and frustrations – while clearly predicting and communicating their histories and futures to your readers. Examine the motivations of your characters to assist in their authenticity. Learn how to face the challenge of creating and integrating the various elements into a cohesive and credible whole.

Register Today!

La Jolla: On Monday, November 16, 2009, at 7:30 p.m., Warwick’s, 7812 Girard Avenue, will host two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Jesse Katz, who will discuss The Opposite Field. This event is free and open to the public, although in order to be signed, books must be purchased from Warwick’s. For more information, please call Warwick’s at (858) 454-0347.

Background: Faced with the collapse of his son’s Little League program, consisting mostly of Latino kids in the largely Asian suburb of Monterey Park, California, Jesse Katz, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and a former staffer at the Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Magazine, finds himself thrust into the role of baseball commissioner for La Loma Park. Under its lights the yearnings and conflicts of a complex immigrant community are played out amid surprising moments of grace. Each day-and night-becomes a test of Jesse’s judgment and adaptability, and of his capacity to make this peculiar pocket of L.A.’s Eastside his home.   Through it all, Jesse’s emotional mainstay is his beloved son, Max, who quietly bests his father’s brightest hopes. Over nine springs and summers with Max at La Loma, Jesse learns nothing less than what it takes to be a father, a son, a husband, a coach, and, ultimately, a man.

Tue. Dec. 1 — The deadline for submission to the LOCAL AUTHOR SEARCH. The San Diego Public Library is searching for local authors who published a book in 2009. This is a great opportunity for San Diego’s literary talents to be recognized. If you are a local author or know of one, please call the San Diego Public Library at (619) 236-5847 and let us know. The 44th Annual Local Authors Exhibit will run through the month of February 2010. There will be a special preview reception for the authors on January 3, 2010. The publications will be displayed in the lobby of the Central Library located downtown at 820 E Street, San Diego, CA, 92101. If you have any questions or comments about this please contact the Exhibit Coordinator, Pamela Sanderson, at 619-236-5847 or psanderson@sandiego.gov.