Digital Glossary/Vestal Review Call for Submissions

Thought for the Week: Do not follow where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Digital Glossary

If you have trouble deciphering technical jargon, or if you momentarily forgot what SEO stands for, the MPA Digital Glossary may help. It’s a collection of over 400 words, phrases and acronyms relating to the technology and use of computer networks and mobile devices.

Vestal Review  Deadline November 30, 2011 for the next issue

The theme of the next issue of Vestal Review is a twist on classic fairy tales. Submit a flash fiction story (500 words or less) about the new adventures of Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White or any other well-known fairy tale character. No more than two submissions per author. Submit between now and Nov. 30, 2011. Pay varies depending on story length, 3 cents a word is a minimum pay.

Iowa Review Submission Call/Dishwater Words

Writer’s Thought for the Week: There is no greater joy than that of feeling oneself a creator. The triumph of life is expressed by creation. ~ Henri Bergson

THE IOWA REVIEW
 
Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome during the fall semester only--September, October, and November. The Iowa Review publishes short stories, flash fiction, graphic novels, self-contained novel excerpts, and plays; poetry of all kinds, including verse plays and longer work; and all manner of creative nonfiction, including personal essays, lyric essays, memoirs, and literary journalism. 

Pays $1.50 per line for poetry ($40 minimum) and $0.08 per word for prose ($100 minimum). They also publish 750-1,000 word reviews of book-length fiction, poetry, and nonfiction on their website.

DISHWATER WORDS

When editing your work, watch out for "dishwater words" like "there is" or “went.” If you went somewhere, how did you go? Did you walk, saunter, fly?

Hope Clark shared her personal list of words that “tell” instead of “show” on her blog. Why not download it and add your own nemeses to the list?

Submission Calls: Short Story and Flash

Writer's Thought for the Week: Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. ~ Robert Brault

Third Annual Beginner's Short Story Contest

http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com/

Deadline October 20, 2011

A contest for beginner's only. If you have sold a book or a short story you don't qualify. If you have self-published, you do qualify. This is an honor system. The sponsors say this is a small contest and your chances of winning are good.

They consider stories in any genre, 1,000 - 1,750 words. No entry fee, but since we are a charity that sponsors cancer patients in writing courses, we're asking for $1 - $5 donations through credit card or PayPal at http://creativewritinginstitute.com/donate.php . If you can't donate, you're still welcome to enter. Up to two entries per person

Prizes: 1st place winner will receive cash (up to $100, depending on donations received) OR a free, tutored writing course at Creative Writing Institute, valued at $200. Also, a copy of Word Magic and Word Trippers.

2nd place: Two tutoring sessions with Deborah Owen, and a copy of Word Magic by Cindy Rogers.

3rd place: One tutoring session with Deborah Owen, and a copy of Word Trippers by Barbara McNichol.

10Flash Quarterly

http://10flash.wordpress.com 

http://10flash.wordpress.com/guidelines/ 

The theme for the January 2012 issue is “It’s the end of the world as we know it.” Submissions will be accepted until they have purchased ten stories. When that happens, they  will post a notice online.

10Flash publishes speculative flash fiction stories — fantasy, horror, science fiction, suspense, crime and slipstream — between 800 and 1,000 words.  “We may fudge on the bottom number, from time to time, but the top limit is firm.”  Pays $20.

Call for Mystery Novel Submissions

St. Martin's Minotaur/Mystery Writers Of America 1st Crime Novel Competition
 
Open to any writer who has never published a novel in any genre. Authors of self-published works only may enter as long as the manuscript submitted is not the self-published work and is not contract with a publisher for publication of a novel. Entrants must request an entry form by November 15, 2011 and entries must be postmarked by November 30, 2011.

Murder or other serious crime must be at the heart of your story. Your manuscript must be no less than 220 pages or 60,000 words.

If a winner is selected, Minotaur Books will offer him or her its standard author's agreement with the entrant for publication of the winning manuscript. After execution of the agreement by both parties, the winner will receive an advance against future royalties of $10,000.

Helpful Web Sites

While you’re polishing your mystery novel, check out these web sites.

This forensic database has links organized by categories such as arson, fingerprinting, and firearms.

Written by a librarian and published mystery writer, the Blood at the Source site offers pointers on how to research mysteries. 

Thought for the Week: The art of using moderate abilities to advantage often brings greater results than actual brilliance.  ~ Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Query Help and Free Query Critique

Thought for the week: If you wish to succeed in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother, and hope your guardian genius. ~ Joseph Addison

Query letters 

You’ve slaved over your book. Now it’s done and you have to pitch it to agents or editors via the query letter. Because you know so much is riding on the query, it can be agonizing to write. “How to” articles and books don’t all agree on how to write one and real life experience proves there is no one right way.

One author wrote two versions of her query and could not decide which one to use, so she used both. As she sent them, she alternated between versions. After a number of months, she received two offers of representation, one from each version of her query letter. So don’t be too hard on yourself. There’s more than one way to grab an agent or an editor.

Smart writers start working on their query before they finish their books. It can help you focus while you write your book, and your query will be ready to go as soon as your book is done.

If you need help with your queries, here are some resources:

The 10-Question QueryChecklist

Pointers on the perfect Novel Query

You can send your fiction or nonfiction book query letter to Marla Miller at The Writer magazine website and she critiques it online for free. Click Marla Miller to read or view her most recent critique.

If you want Marla to critique your query, send it to marketingthemuse@gmail.com. Use the subject line "The Writer Query Letter Critique." Queries for nonfiction and fiction (all genres) are welcome, and critiques are free.