Story Institute Imagine, Enhance, & Grow Your Stories

Newsletters, Contests, and Book ideas from Story Institute.

Rebecca Laskowitz releases Class Of…

Rebecca first appeared on Story Institute as the winner of our short story contest.  Last year, we published her first novel, The Manuscript.  This year, Rebecca adds another thriller to the craft of writing, Class of… published through CreateSpace.

Check out, Class of…, a great second novel from the up-and-coming author, Rebecca Laskowitz.

Well, it has been a little while since we employed some navigation changes at Story Institute.  However, after the recent low participation in our writing contests, we’ve decided to take a look at how we structure things.  The links you will see along the top and the side are really an expression of where most of our Guests visit.  Since we may not have made it as easy for you to migrate efficiently, we are moving back to where we started.  Along the top, you will notice Story Ideas, Poetry Topics,Tale-ing Tips, and a couple of others that used to be along the side.  While there is still one day left for our Winter Holiday short story and poetry contest, we do not have enough entries to issue the prizes we posted for the event.

In fact, we have also been rethinking our forums as a result of the low participation…As of September 1st, we will be discontinuing them.  We will be working diligently to move content from all of the writers who shared their stories or poem to a page within the rest of the site.  If there is content we do not move, send an email to customerservice@storyinstitute.com…we’ll have a backup of the forums for just such emergent issues.

For those who have contributed, we hope you will still do so in the comment sections throughout the site.  We will be posting polls to better engage you, our Guest.  Tell us what you would like to see.  Tell us how we can continue to help you imagine, enhance, and grow your stories.  We appreciate your support during this transition and appreciate your continued connection to Story Institute.

While the news in the link below doesn’t effect the business here at Story Institute, it is an interesting sign into where the book industry is heading. With the many options for publishing and reading these days, paper book sales seem to be moving beyond the store and into the online arena. Traditional books also seem to be isolated to a few major retailers. Many of the mall stores seem to be closing or consolidating. The ebook option appears to be growing even without price cuts. The largest retailers are being more strategic in their placement of stores while competion dwindles. Many authors, popular and freshman alike, are moving to the self-publishing route. They get their story out there and reap a higher profit.

As writers, how are you handling the change in the book industry? Share you comments here.

Read the article here to find out more: Borders liquidation story

Over the next few weeks, Story Institute will be undergoing some minor updates.  Most of the improvements will occur behind the scenes.  However, if you notice anything odd, or you can not find your poem or short story, please let us know.  We have a daily and weekly backup to hopefully resurrect any missing items.

One of the updates is already in place.  You can now like us on Facebook, Tweet a specific storyline, or share an topic on Reddit.  Check out the like button on the right of most pages, or click on the link under a specific article.

If you have suggestions or requests, please feel free to send us an email at customerservice@storyinstitute.com.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.  We look forward to providing you with new storylines…

The web is a wonderful place to find resources and ideas. As an author, we never know when inspiration may hit, nor do we always get to choose the form. Below are some resources shared with us by Chadd Corrie, chadcorrie.com. These resources talk about another community from a large publisher (Penguin) for Genre Fiction, and how to build a book trailer.
 
Both links may provide you with that little push as an author to move on your next story. There are plenty of opportunities out there, including our own contest(click the word “contest” to the left and read more)…but, your stories need to be created and shared. These resources may provide you with ideas on how to build your marketing and share your next storyline…enjoy…
   
Penguin Launches Book Country, An Online Community for Genre Fiction
 
How to Make a Book Trailer for $5

Story Institute is proud to announce our newest short story and poetry contest.

From now until August 19th, we are honored to accept entries for this year’s themed poetry and short story contests.

Prizes and surprises will be announced along the way.

This year, we will sponsor a themed writing contest. The topic will be: Winter Holidays

2011 Submissions Due by: August 19th, 2011

The holidays bring together so much. We want to hear about your holiday poems, stories, and adventures. With the new guidelines release, please remember to register for our forum. Posting to the forum will be the only way to contribute and be considered for a Story Institute Contest. Follow the links below to register and start your writing contributions:

Story Institute Forum Registration
Poetry Contest Entries
Short Story Contest Entries

Check out the Poetry Guidelines and Story Story Guidelines for more, specific details…

We thought we could just let the RamblingVerser podcast series go gently into that good night. However, based on some feedback, we maybe reconsider brining it back for next year. To help make that decision, we are asking for your feedback. Please share your thoughts with us in the poll below.

Thank you for your time and consideration…

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If you would like to share additional feedback, please use the following link to give a more detailed view on the RamblingVerser series:
RamblingVerser Podtrac Survey

NASHVILLE, TN – September 10, 2010 – Story Institute, your online and in-print source for imagining, enhancing, and growing stories, is proud to announce the publication of Story Institute Presents: Ramblings & Verses Volume I: Let Me Not Begin Anew, edited by John E Murray, III.
 
Whether you share short stories, knit novels, or compose poetry, you are constantly in search of a subject. Where do you find your inspiration? Where do you search for the sanity that is the focus of your piece? The challenge usually is finding something, someone, or some essence worthy enough to place on paper so that the goodness spills over the page into the minds and hearts of your readers. This anthology is filled with inspirations from talented writers who have shared their work with Story Institute. Authors in this volume include: Teri A. Murray, Skyler Wolf Jones, Rebecca Laskowitz, Jill Eisnaugle, E.D. Arrington, Amy Priddy, Yael K. Miller, Cacy Ann Minter, Courtney Lyn Blystone, Bryan Kaminsky, Aaron Eugene Lee, Joy Sheppard, Suzanne Grenoble, Timothy Russell, Jamie Lyn Waters, Lamar Cole, Crystal Robin Rose, Michele Lee Moyer, Damien Livingston, Cathy P. Staley, Jody McMaster, Kaylee Lynn Gates, Hannah Ruth Steadman, Frank Kilbourn
 
About the Editor:
John E. Murray, III, educator, existentialist, executive, has grown into the world of one-liners, corporate america, and romantic poetry. Early influences blossomed from stories of belief, imagination, and excellence by Richard Bach, Walt Disney, Mark Twain, and James Baldwin. He has lived on a quiter Beale Street, swam in the bumpy Rock River instead of the mighty Mississippi, worked at the place where magic resides, and met the modern existentialist himself. He has taught literature, writing, technology application, and professional development at post secondary, collegiate, and corporate institutions. John is the creator of multiple, award winning verses, novels, business books, and the growing, EIII storytelling model. He currently resides in the Nashville, TN area with his wife, Teri, and two children, Kellie and Megan.
 
About Story Institute:
Since its basic beginnings in 2002 with Timeless Tales, Story Institute has grown to inspire, enhance, and grow your stories personally and professionally while helping share your success in print, online, and in person. Through short story and poetry topics, storylines, novel ideas, and contests, Story Institute encourages and assists the writer in most of us and the imagination in all of us.
Through Integrity, Ingenuity, Inspiration, Influence, Impact, and Excellence, Story Institute strives to:
* Evoke emotion within our customers that make connections to our communities
* Engage our customers, their families, and clients in active tales that connect their emotions to past knowledge and experiences.
* Empower our partners to use their new knowledge while growing their families, organizations, and stories into a world of their own.
 
Contact:
John E. Murray, III, Chief Story Symphonizer, Story Institute
615-431-WRIT (9748)
customerservice@storyinstitute.com
 
Authors who were notified of copies to be sent will receive their copy within the next week. Congratulations on some great writing!
 
Purchase it from our Store: Story Institute Presents: Ramblings & Verses Volume I
OR, through Amazon:Story Institute Presents: Ramblings & Verses: Volume I: Let Me Not Begin Anew (Volume 1)
 

NASHVILLE, TN – August 12, 2010 – Story Institute, your online and in-print source for imagining, enhancing, and growing stories, is proud to announce the publication of The Manuscript, a novel, by Rebecca Laskowitz.
 
The Manuscript features, Vincent Kraver, author of fifteen bestselling novels who found his niche in writing early in life. His talent helped build a life he never would have imagined. With a misguided mother and a transient childhood, Vincent’s eventual success would have been denied by everyone except himself.
 
In between family disputes and a demanding book signing schedule, Vincent finds himself engaged in the plot of someone else’s mystery. As he struggles to find information about the dark yet insightful other writer, Vincent learns more about his wife and two children than he ever intended.
 
Who is Kevin Larre? Why has he chosen Vincent as the subject of his writing? How does he know so much about Vincent’s life? What will Vincent do to find out the truth behind his own little mystery? Find out more in…The Manuscript…
  
About the Author:
Rebecca Laskowitz is an award-winning author who taps into familiar details that engage her readers. Her debut novel , The Manuscript, was written and accepted for publication when she was a senior at Ramapo College. Rebecca is currently crafting stories in New Jersey where she reside with her boyfriend Jacob. Her stories, short and long, are worth following for many years to come.
  
About Story Institute:
Since its basic beginnings in 2002 with Timeless Tales, Story Institute has grown to inspire, enhance, and grow your stories personally and professionally while helping share your success in print, online, and in person. Through short story and poetry topics, storylines, novel ideas, and contests, Story Institute encourages and assists the writer in most of us and the imagination in all of us.
 
Through Integrity, Ingenuity, Inspiration, Influence, Impact, and Excellence, Story Institute strives to:

 
Contact:
John E. Murray, III, Chief Story Symphonizer, Story Institute
615-431-WRIT (9748)
customerservice@storyinstitute.com
 
Purchase it from our Store: The Manuscript
OR, through Amazon:The Manuscript
 

Well, many things have been going on behind the scenes at Story Institute. We have been working with authors on their individual writing and concentrating on editing, designing, and publishing two new books. One will be from an author featured on Story Institute. The other book will be an anthology of the contest entries we have received over the last couple of years. We will be contacting each writer who is set to appear in the anthology. If you have entered our contests and have changed your email since entering our contests, please send us an update. If you do not hear from us by August 15th, 2010, your work may not have been selected for this book. We have tried to assemble the best work as well as keep some consistent themes and writing structures. As a reminder, per our guidelines:

Story Institute is under no obligation to publish every contest entry and can disqualify an entry at any time for any reason. The writer is under no obligation whatsoever to purchase a copy of the publication in which the short story or poem may appear. Purchasing the publication will not determine inclusion within the compilation. Publication will be determined on merit alone. Final compilations will be available for purchase on Amazon.com and other online retailers.

For Poems: All poems must be no more than 30 lines and no less than 5 lines.

For Short Stories: All short stories must be between 500 and 5000 words.

We hope you enjoy the new books and help support Story Institute and a fellow author by purchasing the works. More on each work will be featured soon. In the meantime, remember to Imagine, Enhance, and Grow your stories.

As we think of new ways to add to Story Institute, we were heard from a few people about hosting a themed writing contest. Are you interested…?

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We have two updates from Chad Corrie…Chad has appeared on many RamblingVerser Podcasts…If you are in the area, please stop by and support Chad…

Direct from www.chadcorrie.com:

Chad will be running another World Building Workshop at the Fridley Community Center starting on the last week of April.

Once again he will be running two workshops for different age groups. You can find out more about these workshops by going to the events page. If you or anyone you know of might be interested than you might want to register now and make sure you have a spot as space is limited.

If you like, you can also feel free to download the sign up sheet that the community center was nice enough to put together and send our way or you can contact them by the information provided on the events page.
ChadCorrieFlyer.pdf

AND…Episode 25 of The Works and World of Chad Corrie has posted…

Well, after much research and trials, we have decided on a new version of the Story Institute store. This updated version provides us with more ways to share stories and provide for a greater use of story resources members of our team have used.

Our FEATURED section includes the books from Story Institute authors and other specials currently being offered at Story Institute.

Our NEW BOOKS area includes books from authors we have interviewed or are among our favorite stories. Each of these books are new and some are even autographed.

Our PREVIOUSLY VIEWED BOOKS page contains previously viewed books found within the library of our team members. Quantities of each book are limited and prices are low. All books listed are in good to excellent condition.

Check out the new section and make suggestions by sending us an email: customerservice@storyinstitute.com

After a much too long of a hiatus, Story Institute’s RamblingVerser podcast will be returning to the air…or rather clouded waves…This season, we will bring back some familiar favorites such as the quote, poem, and topics of the week as well as add some structure to your storytelling and writing. We will be bringing in thoughts of imagination and assembling resources to help you on your writing adventure.

If you are an author and would like to share your work, send us an email at customerservice@storyinstitute.comwith a summary of your work and where we can purchase a copy. If you are a writer working on a new piece, share it in our forum. If you are looking for topics on which to focus your stories or poems, search our short story or poetry topics. After you write them, share it here or by email at customerservice@storyinstitute.com. If it relates to one of our topics, we will feature it on one of our shows.

Until the next episode, remember to imagine, enhance, and grow your stories.