Ever wondered how many hats one woman can wear? Go ahead and think about that one. Pamela Jaye Smith is, amongst other things I’m sure, a writer, mythologist, international speaker and consultant, and award-winning writer-director with over thirty years experience in the entertainment industry. Pamela is a Senior Producer at RGO Media Associates and Consulting Producer for High Tech Media. That would be a couple of hats too many for me.

Moving right along, let’s mention a few of Pamela’s favorite things: MYTHWORKS is Pamela’s consultation and information company featuring “Applied Mythology for more Powerful Reality”. She teaches and consults on story, communication, leadership, and creativity. MYTHWORKS also consults with organizations and individuals redesigning themselves and their images.

Clients and credits include Microsoft, Disney, Paramount, Columbia-Sony, Universal, RAI-TV Rome, UCLA, USC Film School, American Film Institute, Thot Fiction Marseille France, Master Writers Conference Lido-Venice Italy, Natl. Film Institute of Denmark, Creative Screenwriting EXPO, Pepperdine University, Natl. Assoc. of Broadcasters, and various film festivals and story conferences.

Others include the Institute for Global Transformation, the Consciousness Expo, American Assoc. of University Women, Junior ROTC, General Motors, Boeing, Hyundai, Hughes Space & Communi-cations, the FBI, and the U.S. Army. In 2005 she was a Roundtable Speaker at the Future of Consciousness Conference sponsored by the Institute for Global Transformation (www.IFGT.org & http://www.ifgt.org/IGTWEB_UPDATE/FOCcover.html)

Ms. Smith belongs to a Boeing Think Tank on Workforce Development and Birth2Work, an organization dedicated to Redefining Community Leadership with a focus on education. During the 1990s she served on the U.S. Army’s Advanced Warfighting Working Group.

Read more here …

And then … BOOKS!

1. Beyond the Hero’s Journey
Refine and focus your story theme.
Select an appropriate sub-plot to enhance your story.
Use the Plot Points as guidelines for plot drivers, incidences, and scenes in your story.
Use symbols and images to spark audience recognition.
Maintain your originality while tapping into the timeless power of these classic myths.
Take your place in the long line of myth-makers who create moving and memorable stories that engage and entertain your audience.

2. Inner Drivers
From patterns of speech to styles of walking, writers can use Pamela Jaye Smith’s guide to structure character arcs, devise backstories, up the conflict, pair up couples, and form ensembles — all with unique, believable characters.

3. Pitching Tips From Classic Writers
Pitching Tips from Classic Writers gives you seven specific tips for your story and yourself, with examples and worksheets.

Pitching Tips from Classic Writers includes the opening (story pitch) from the Roman poet Virgil’s classic hero’s journey tale, The Aeneid. It is offered as a perfect pitch for the one hundred thirty page story. And by the way, it’s a really good read, with war, love, betrayal, fickle gods, and the founding of Rome.

4. Power of the Dark Side
Who doesn’t love the Dark Side? Darth Vader, Cruella De Vil, Tony Soprano – everybody loves a great villain. And every story needs dramatic conflict – internal and external – to really resonate. This comprehensive, accessible book gives you tools to write the most despicable villains.

Conflict is the very heart and soul of drama, and Smith’s latest work explores character conflict and the various ways to portray it both in scripts and on the stage.

Defining the Dark Side helps you select and clarify the worldview that influences your character’s actions.

5. Symbols, Images, Codes
Words can communicate at one level. But if you want to reach down into a person’s soul or touch an audience in a profound way you need to use Symbols, Images and Codes.

Lots of interesting stuff here. Many things to discuss. Pamela’s schedule is pretty full but she’ll join the OCCW conference this May 18 and 19th, 2012 in beautiful Newport Beach.

There’s so much more to this Lady. And if you would like a consultation, get to the conference early and sign up. Pamela Jaye will help you clarify your theme, protagonist, antagonist, dangers, symbolism, and solution so that you can create a solid, understandable, and engaging pitch to potential buyers, producers, and publishers.

Just a reminder that you still have time to enter the various writers contests. Here’s a list with deadlines.

1. Book Proposal Contest: Deadline is April 30th, 2012 (this is an extended date).
Download the PDF to find out where to send your submissions.

2. Fiction Writing Contest: Deadline is May 10th, 2012
View prizes and submission guidelines

3. Memoir Writing Contest: Deadline is May 5th
Cash prizes; First place, $250; Second place, $150; Third place, $75

4. Westbow Writing Contest: Deadline is May 5th
First Place: Free Bookstore Advantage Publishing Package ($2999 value); Second Place: 50% off Bookstore Advantage Publishing Package ($1,499.50 value); Third Place: 20% off any WestBow Press Publishing Package (excluding the Essential Access)

Submit your manuscript to …
WestBow Writing Contest
OC Christian Writers Conference
P.O. Box 1173
Orange, CA 92856

So there you have, you still have time to enter these contest, but you know, deadlines in schedule are closer than they appear.

Don’t forget the various writing contest and awards available to those attending this year’s conference in Newport Beach. The Beverly Bush Smith Aspiring Writer Award was set up to memorialize not only her but her spirit and willingness to help new writers. Therefore, it makes sense that the winner of this award would be the type of writer Beverly would have singled out to help and encourage on their writing journey. For further information about Beverly go to the OCCWF website.

Deadline to submit your entries is April 30, 2012. This award is open to all genres. Make sure you send no more than five pages of your unpublished manuscript with a cover letter and the following:

• name
• address
• phone number
• email address
• age
• A brief paragraph telling us why you want to be a Christian writer and whom you wish to reach with your writing.

Even though the preferred submission method is by e-mail to Bonnie Hanson at bonnieh1@sbcglobal.net you can also do snail mail. Just take note of that deadline. For electronic submissions …

• Place “Writers Award” in the subject line.
• Include your personal information and brief paragraph in the body of the email (see “To be considered for this award” criteria above).
• Either cut and paste your manuscript into the body of the email or add it as an attachment.

U.S. Postal Guidelines:

• Print your writing entry and cover letter (see “To be considered for this award” criteria above).
• Must be postmarked no later than April 30, 2012 for consideration.
• Send to:

Beverly Bush Smith Writer Award 
3330 S. Lowell St.
Santa Ana, CA 92707

So there you have it. First prize is $300; Second prize is $100 and Third prize is $50.