Janet Hartman Writer in Port

Amazon Publishing and Flash Quarterly

2012-01-29T12:30:00.000-08:00

Quote for the week: The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. ~ Mark Twain

I’ve lost count of how many people have predicted the death of print books following the success of e-books. Not everyone shares that view.

One big name that disagrees is Amazon. Why else would that famous dot-com giant start a Montlake Romance imprint, mystery thriller imprint Thomas & Mercer, plus fantasy/sci fi/horror imprint 47North?

Books published under these imprints are available in Kindle, print and audio formats at www.amazon.com, as well as at national and independent booksellers. The Amazon Publishing family also includes AmazonEncore, AmazonCrossing and Powered by Amazon.

10FLASH QUARTERLY

http://10flash.wordpress.com

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

Each quarterly issue includes ten stories, all written around a common prompt that authors are encouraged to freely interpret.

April 2012 — The falls are beautiful this time of year. First Date Accepted: January 1, 2012.
July 2012 – So this [fill in the blank] walks into a bar … First Date Accepted: April 1, 2012.
October 2012 – A Bridge Too Far. First Date Accepted: July 1, 2012.

Submissions will be accepted for each issue after the First Date Accepted until they have purchased ten stories. When that happens, they post a notice online.
10Flash publishes speculative flash fiction stories — fantasy, horror, science fiction, suspense or 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.

History vs Historical Fiction/Poetry Book Award

2012-01-22T01:00:00.000-08:00

Writer’s Thought for the Week: The sole substitute for an experience which we have not ourselves lived through is art and literature. Alexander Solzhenitsyn

HISTORY VS HISTORICAL FICTION

Those of us who write historical fiction sometimes get so involved in researching the time period that we put off the actual writing. Once we start writing, another trap exists: telling the reader too much of what we learned. We must stay focused on the story as the essence, not the history.

When fiction becomes a vehicle for facts, the magic fades and readers withdraw from the author’s imagined world. When facts are used to enliven the lives of characters, the imagined world expands and envelopes the reader.

EMILY DICKINSON FIRST BOOK AWARD

Deadline: February 17, 2012 (postmarked)

"The Poetry Foundation seeks one book-length poetry manuscript to be published by Graywolf Press as the winner of the Emily Dickinson First Book Award. The competition is open to any American citizen forty years of age or over who has not previously published a book-length volume of poetry. In addition to publication and promotion of the manuscript, the winner will receive a prize of $10,000." No entry fee.

Nature Poetry Contest and a Poetry/Short Prose Contest

2012-01-15T01:00:00.000-08:00

Writer’s Thought for the Week: Books are the compasses, telescopes, sextants, and charts which other men have prepared to help us navigate the dangerous seas of human life. ~ Jesse Lee Bennett

Friends of AcadiaNature Poetry Prize

Deadline: January 30, 2012

"Established in 1998, the Friends of Acadia Poetry Prize is awarded biannually to promote and recognize distinctive nature poetry. Three winning poems will be published in the Friends of Acadia Journal (print and online), and awarded prizes by category: 1st place–$350/2nd place–$250/3rd place–$150." You may submit up to three nature-based poems. No entry fee.

The Binnacle Annual Ultra-Short Competition

Deadline: February 15, 2012

The Binnacle's Ninth International Ultra-Short Competition is looking for prose works of 150 words or fewer and poetry of sixteen lines or fewer and fewer than 150 words. All works should have a narrative element to them.

"A minimum of $300 in cash prizes will be awarded, with a minimum prize of $50. At least one of the prizes will go to a University of Maine at Machias student."

You may submit up to two works, total, prose and/or poetry. No entry fee.

Amazon No Fee Novel Awards/The First Line

2012-01-08T01:00:00.000-08:00

Thought for the New Year: The road to success is not a path you find but a trail you blaze. ~ Robert Brault

THE FIRST LINE

Spring deadline: February 1, 2012
Spring Prompt: "There are a few things you need to know before we start."

All stories must start with the appropriate first line, and you cannot change it in any way unless otherwise indicated. Stories chosen are paid $30 and published online and in a chapbook by TheFirst Line. The story should be between 300 and 3,000 words. “We are open to all genres. We try to make TFL as eclectic as possible.” Also pays $20 for 500 to 800 word critical essays about your favorite first line from a literary work.

Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award

No Fee to enter. Jan. 23 – Feb 5, 2012 submission period.

This award brings together talented writers, reviewers, and publishing experts to find and develop new voices in fiction. The 2012 international contest will award two grand prizes: one for General Fiction and one for Young Adult Fiction. Each winner will receive a publishing contract with Penguin, which includes a $15,000 advance. Manuscripts submitted as entries to the Contest cannot be actively shopped by agents during the contest period, which runs from January 23, 2012 to June 16, 2012.

Funds for Writers/Hockey Anthology Submission Call

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Writer’s Thought for 2012: Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently. ~ William Arthur Ward

Funds for Writers creator, Hope Clark, is offering her paid subscription newsletter, Total Funds forWriters (TFFW), for only $9 until January 5. I’ve been a subscriber for years and have given a subscription as a gift. It is the only “for pay” newsletter I get.

TFFW arrives bi-weekly by e-mail and has succinct info on contests, grants, markets, and publishers. It also includes an editorial from Hope that may be about what’s new in publishing, marketing your work and /or yourself, staying motivated, or whatever topic grabbed her attention that week.

Are you a hockey mom or dad? A hockey fan? Chicken Soup for the Soul is looking for true stories, 1200 words or less, for their planned anthology, Hooked on Hockey. They pay $200 plus ten copies of the book for each story accepted. You retain the copyright to your work. Submission deadline is January 30, 2012.

Free Writer Info/Holiday Flash Fiction call

2011-12-25T01:00:00.000-08:00

Writer’s Thought for the Week: Santa’s helpers are subordinate clauses.

Is your writing is on hold because you’re too busy having a Merry Christmas, celebrating another holiday, or just plain enjoying some great seasonal food? They sound like good excuses to me.

If you’ve overindulged and need a break, take a rest at the Gotham Writers' Workshop web site. You will find many articles on various aspects of writing, plus information on their online and NYC classes.

If the holidays inspire you to write something short and quick, Earthbound Fiction wants Fantasy, Sci-Fi, or Mystery flash (500 words or less) with a holiday theme. Payment is via PayPal only. The deadline for holiday themed stories is December 31, 2011.

Submission Call: Alternate History Anthology

2011-12-17T16:57:00.000-08:00

Thought for the Week: Success is being praised by others...Always aim for achievement and forget about success. ~ Helen Hayes

Alternate History Anthology

Deadline: January 15, 2012

Candlemark and Gleam seeks submissions for an alternate history anthology, Substitution Cipher, a collection of tales of deceit, betrayal, and espionage, in worlds that could have been our own.

Submit stories between 6,000 and 20,000 words, in any genre appropriate to espionage: psychological or action thrillers, war stories, dystopias, and picaresques are equally valid submissions. All stories must take place on an alternate Earth, and the changed timeline must have some bearing on the plot of the story. Any historical time period and geographical area is acceptable, from the invention of war up to the present day.

Pays $75 and two contributor copies of the print book (the anthology will be published in both print and digital form).

Poetry Prize/Bonafide Books

2011-12-11T09:52:00.000-08:00

Thought for the season: One joy scatters a hundred griefs. ~ Chinese proverb. Whatever holiday you choose to celebrate this time of year, I wish you joy.

FRANKLIN-CHRISTOPH POETRY PRIZE

Deadline: December 31, 2011

No entry fee to compete for $2,500 in total prizes, including the $1,000 cash grand prize. 10 Merit Award Winners will receive $150 Franklin-Christoph writing instruments. Submit an original, unpublished poem on any theme. Limit of two entries per contestant. Entries should not exceed 100 lines each.

BONA FIDE BOOKS

Deadline: January 1, 2012

Seeks literary essays 5,000 words or less for a collection about life and work in our eastern national parks east of the Mississippi. Whether you spent your time hitting the trails or alligator-proofing your cabin, we would love to read your experiences, cerebral and corporeal alike. From the Everglades to Acadia, we want to hear the societal, environmental, and existential implications of living in the park. What happened there? How did you get hooked? What keeps you coming back? If your essay is accepted, you receive $100 plus one copy of the book.

WordTech Poetry/Solstice Publishing

2011-12-05T18:00:00.000-08:00

WordTech Communications welcomes submissions of book-length (minimum 48 single-spaced pages) poetry manuscripts from residents of the United States. Our six imprints focus on lyric, narrative, formal, social, and experimental poetry.

The poets we publish must be active partners in the marketing and promotion of their books, especially by doing readings and similar events. If you are uncomfortable with the public presentation and promotion of your work, you may be better off with another publisher.

All chosen manuscripts are published under a royalty contract. The current reading period closes December 31, 2011.

Solstice Publishing

We invite all authors to submit including unrepresented authors and new unpublished authors. Discovering talented new authors is a major focus for Solstice. We publish Mystery/Suspense/Thriller; Horror and Paranormal; Action, Adventure, and Western, Romance; Fantasy and Science Fiction; Young Adult 12 - 16 years; Non-Fiction.

“Solstice Publishing is the fastest growing mid-market publisher in the USA. We opened our doors in 2008. With over 80 authors covering every category of fiction and rapidly expanding into nonfiction, Solstice is quickly gaining a reputation for fast paced suspense thrillers, sizzling romance, action adventure, science fiction, and a spooky collection of horror and paranormal reads. Critically acclaimed authors have achieved top spots on best seller lists, become screenplays, and won movie deals with top Hollywood studios.”

Thought for the week: Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm. ~ Winston Churchill

Poetry Primer/Micro Fiction Award

2011-11-27T01:00:00.000-08:00

Guide to Verse Forms

Aimed mainly at the would-be poet, this site contains advice on all types of verse forms from abhanga to zejel.

The 5th Annual Micro Award
Deadline: December 31, 2011

The Micro Award is presented annually for a work of prose fiction written in English, of any genre, not above 1000 words in length. Stories must have been published originally in 2011. Qualifying venues are any form of print or electronic publication designed for public display. Self-published stories are eligible. The author of the winning story shall receive $500 US.

Thought for the Week: Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being. ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

E-book Signing and an Anthology

2011-11-20T01:00:00.000-08:00

Signing E-books: One of the complaints about e-books is that authors can’t sign them. Thanks to Autography.com, authors can now not only sign e-books, they can create autograph pages and include digital pictures or stock photos. The pages can then be e-mailed and downloaded into e-books on readers’ devices.

E-book signings can take place any time, anywhere, and the author and reader don’t have to be in the same place at the same time. Autography supports epub and mobi formats, allowing customers to enjoy their personalized e-books on every major e-book e-Reader platform including the Amazon Kindle™, Barnes and Noble Nook™, Apple iPad™/iPhone™, and the latest Android tablets and smartphones.

Anthology: Trust & Treachery: Tales of Power, Intrigue, and Violence anthology seeks mystery, fantasy, sci fi, and horror stories that are 1000-5000 words in length. Deadline Dec. 15, 2011. No romance, young adult, or erotica.

Pays $20 per story on January 1, 2012 or on acceptance, whichever comes later. Although the emphasis is on short stories, they will also accept select poems with payment at $5 per poem.

Thought for the Week: The greatest secret of success in life is for a person to be ready when their opportunity comes. ~ Benjamin Disraeli

What's on your first two pages?

2011-11-13T17:39:00.000-08:00

Writer's Thought for the Week: Write about the truest thing you know. ~ Ernest Hemingway

First pages checklist

Award-winning author and sought-after workshop presenter Linda Rohrbough presented a special version of her Writer’s Toolbox workshop sponsored by Carteret Writers in Morehead City, NC yesterday. She wowed the audience at the first workshop of hers I attended in 2009, and she wowed this group as well.

She has free articles available on her website and on the Pikes Peak Writers Blog. The Pikes Peak link takes you to an article with a checklist of the common nineteen things found in the pages of best-selling novels found in bookstores during a certain period of time. It’s an interesting list and some of the entries surprised me. Food, for instance. Food is a common thread in Southern literature and something we all relate to, but would you expect to find in the first two pages of a book? Just for fun, check out the list and see how many you have.

MUSEIT UP PUBLISHING

This relatively new publisher (March 2010) is open to short stories, novellas, and novels until Dec.1, 2011. They will again be open to submissions on Feb. 1, 2012. They consider romance, paranormal, fantasy, mystery, suspense, thriller, YA, MuseItYoung for 10 to 14 year olds, horror and dark fiction, science fiction. The Muse It Up Publishing Blog gives you specifics on what individual editors seek. If you have what they’re looking for, send it in before Dec. 1.

Their MuseIt HOT imprint takes erotica and is currently open to submissions with no deadline specified..

Ghost Stories/Creative Nonfiction

2011-11-06T01:00:00.000-07:00

Thought for the week: People can lose their lives in libraries. They ought to be warned. ~ Saul Bellow

Glass Woman Prize Call for Ghost Stories
Deadline: November 18, 2011

This no entry fee competition offers a $100 prize for a ghost story written in English by a woman. The definition of "ghost story" is up to the author and the sponsor looks forward to the many embodiments and disembodiments of this theme. The preferred length 1000 to 3000 words, but stories of any length may be submitted. One submission per author. The winning story will be offered non-obligatory publication on the Glass Woman Prize page.

CREATIVE NONFICTION anthology

Deadline: November 30, 2011

Creative Nonfiction seeks submissions by and about nurses for their Becoming a Nurse anthology. What motivates nurses to enter, and to stay in, this demanding profession, and how are their daily lives affected by ongoing changes in the healthcare system? Becoming a Nurse will present readers with the world of medicine from the perspective of nurses in hospitals, in-home care programs, long-term care facilities, hospices, and the armed forces as they tell stories that recall and recreate the most salient moments of their careers. Submissions should be 2,500-5,000 words.

Note: This publisher accepts queries year-round for sections of their magazine as well as general un-themed submissions up to 5,000 words.

Digital Glossary/Vestal Review Call for Submissions

2011-10-30T16:55:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

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

http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com/

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

2011-10-09T06:32:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-02T00:05:00.000-07:00

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.

Why "deadline" and Pedestal call for submissions

2011-09-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

Thought for the week: The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects the wind to change. The realist adjusts the sails. ~ William Arthur Ward

Why do we call it “deadline”?

All writers deal with deadlines. If you frequently submit to contests or magazines, you live by those dates. Miss one and you either are disqualified or have an annoyed editor on your hands.

As much as we dread them now, deadlines used to be worse. During the American Civil War, prisoners were kept in wooden stockades. A railing marked the limit of the detention area. If a prisoner crossed the line marked by the railing, his captors assumed he was trying to escape and he was shot on sight. Both the Union and the Confederacy used the term and, as you might suspect, there is disagreement over which side used it first.

PEDESTAL MAGAZINE

http://www.thepedestalmagazine.com/submitguidelines.php

Deadline: October 14 for October 2011 issue.
Poetry submissions: "open," no restrictions on style, theme, length, or genre.

Fiction submissions: Maximum length=1,500 words. The story must contain the sentence, "Nobody thought that was where it was supposed to go."

Pays $.05 per word for fiction, $40 per poem.

The December issue will feature speculative fiction: science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, surreal, and experimental. All fiction submitted between October 28 and December 14 should be speculative and not exceed 2,000 words.

Hope Clark, Essay Contest, and Nashville Review

2011-09-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

Writer’s Thought for the Week: Books don't get written by talking about them, by looking for a 'secret formula' or by agonizing over them. Books get written by gluing one's behind to the chair and writing them. ~ Mercedes Lackey

Hope Clark, editor and founder of FundsforWriters, is the guest at the Writers Chatroom Sunday, Sept. 18 at 7:00 pm U.S Eastern time. The chat is moderated and no password is needed to enter. Join the chat and ask any writing related question you have. For details and info on Hope and future guests, see http://www.writerschatroom.com/schedule.htm

10th Annual FundsforWriters Essay Contest
http://fundsforwriters.com/annualcontest.htm

Deadline: October 31, 2011 (received, by midnight ET)

This year’s theme is “diligence”: “Your definition of diligence…might involve a personal relationship, a child, a career, a manuscript. Maybe you weathered a difficult phase in your life, and now… you’ve come out on the other side relieved yet wiser, stronger and empowered.”

You may choose to pay a $5 entry fee or not. Without an entry fee, writers are eligible for cash prizes of $50/$25/$15 for 1st/2nd/3rd. With a fee, prizes are $400/$100/$50. Winners will be published in the Dec. 2, 2011 FundsforWriters newsletters. Other submissions will be considered for publication but will be paid the standard rate of $45 if selected.

Nashville Review

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/english/nashvillereview/submit

The current submission period ends October 1. This journal publishes flash, short stories, novel excerpts, poetry, creative nonfiction, and comics. Fiction and nonfiction may be up to 8,000 words. You may submit up to 5 poems at a time. Pays $100 for fiction, nonfiction, and comics, $25 per poem. No reprints.

Their other submission periods are Jan. 1 to Feb. 1 and May 1 to June 1.

Legal Matters/Short Short Fiction Contest

2011-09-11T03:00:00.000-07:00

Thought for the Day: Accepting the unacceptable is the hardest lesson to learn and the most important to achieve inner peace. ~ Char Wilson, artist

Legal Matters

Legal Write Publications has a Twitter account @LegalWritePub on articles and blogs that deal with the legal side of writing, as well as a blog covering copyright and related issues: http://legalwritepublications.com/blog/. Their web site offers free e-reports on the benefit of copyright and what it does NOT protect: http://legalwritepublications.com/freebies/

Esquire/Aspen Writers’ Foundation Short Short Fiction Contest

http://www.esquire.com/fiction/short-short-fiction-contest-2011

Deadline: October 7, 2011

Win a trip to New York to study with Colum McCann, and a scholarship to the Aspen Summer Words Fiction Workshop if you can beat Colum McCann (in 78 words). Entries must be 78 words, in honor of Esquire's 78th birthday, and will be judged on plot, characterization, theme, and originality.

Ten winners will receive reimbursement up to $500 for round trip economy plane fare to New York for a fiction workshop, taught by Colum McCann, and a literary party. Winners also receive reimbursement for up to $500 for two nights lodging in New York City. One of the ten finalists will be selected as the Grand Prize winner of a full scholarship for the advanced fiction workshop at Aspen Summer Words (June 17 to 22, 2012).

The contest is sponsored by Hearst Communications.

Got a Yarn? and Anderbo No-Fee Novel Contest

2011-09-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

Writer’s Smile for the Week: There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are. ~ William Somerset Maugham

The Yarn web site http://yareview.net/ targets writers of young-adult literature. (They define young-adult as age 14 and up.) The web site includes interviews with published authors. If you have published a young-adult book, you can request an interview by e-mailing the editor at kerri@yarereview.net.

They also publish fiction, essays, and poetry but currently offer no payment.

ANDERBO NO-FEE NOVEL CONTEST
http://www.anderbo.com/anderbo1/andernovelcontest-02.html

Deadline: September 21, 2011

Submit the first 36 pages (up to 9,000 words) of your unpublished novel. The contest will be judged by the anderbo.com editorial staff; they guarantee to choose and use one manuscript-excerpt. The sponsor of this contest, Mercer Street Books & Records, will pay an honorarium of $500 to the winning author upon publication on Anderbo.

A win may or may not lead to full publication of your novel, but it would be a plus to mention in a query letter.

Irene Who?/Emotional Titles and Inkwell Submissions

2011-08-30T17:05:00.000-07:00

Sorry I’m so late with this week’s post. Hurricane Irene got in the way, or should I say I was in HER way? The eye of the storm passed over Beaufort, NC last Saturday bringing sustained winds of 85 mph with higher gusts. I was without power or cable for two and a half days and am just now getting back to normal. Thankfully, neither home nor family suffered any damage. We were very lucky to have a strong category 1 storm instead of a category 3. Irene was a messy guest, though, and the cleanup after her visit continues.

If you were in Irene’s path, I hope she left you unscathed.

Thought for the week: We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don't like? ~ Jean Cocteau

Advanced Marketing Institute has a free Emotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer for analyzing the emotional marketing value of a headline or title. You just type in your headline, select the type of business or industry you are targeting, and it gives you an "emotional rating" for the title based on your word choice.

The rating includes an explanation of which emotion your headline most impacts: intellectual, empathetic, or spiritual. It takes only seconds and is helpful in creating a good title or headline. You can try it here: http://www.aminstute.com/headline.

Inkwell is open for unsolicited poetry, prose and artwork submissions until November 15. Submit previously unpublished work only. Submissions for the spring 2012 issue may be on any subject. The fall 2012 issue will focus on the theme “Living On the Edge.” Pays $10 per printed page plus two copies. http://www.inkwelljournal.org/submit.html

Homophones and Consequence Poetry

2011-08-21T17:09:00.000-07:00

Writer’s thought for the week: “Literature is the art of writing something that will be read twice.” ~ Cyril Connolly

Homophones are words that sound identical but are spelled differently. Think bored and board or foul and fowl. If we choose the wrong one, a spell-checker is no help.

Working with a critique group, I’ve noticed that some writers, myself included, tend to make the same mistakes with these words. To and too are common mistakes, as are for and fore. To weed out embarrassing mistakes before hitting “send”, we need to be aware of this pitfall.

A good tactic is creating a list of words you frequently misspell to develop your own private checklist. You can start by reviewing a list of the 100 most common homophones.

Consequence Prize in Poetry
http://www.consequencemagazine.org/poetrycontest.html

Deadline: October 1, 2011 (received)

This prize recognizes exceptional work addressing the consequences of armed conflict or social injustice. The award for best poem includes a cash prize of $200. The winning poet and three finalists will have their work published in the Spring 2012 issue of CONSEQUENCE Magazine.

There is no entry fee and you may submit up to three poems of any length.

No Excuses/Mainly Murder Press

2011-08-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

Thought for the week: “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” ~ Albert Einstein

NO EXCUSES

Let’s face it, we all make excuses at times for why we cannot write.

A writing group in Kabul, Afghanistan has over 1,000 members and published 50 books in various languages in spite of the war. They are unable to sell most of their books – freedom of expression is not widespread and threats to writers are constant.

I don’t know about you, but my excuses pale in comparison. Was the expression “If they can do it, I can do it” ever more appropriate?

MAINLY MURDER PRESS
http://mainlymurderpress.com/store/submissions.php

Opens for submissions in October 2011. This publisher is a traditional publisher and does not publish e-books. I like the fact that authors retain e-rights - the ability to sell e-rights later could prove very valuable. Their niche has been mystery novels with an emphasis on New England-based stories by New England authors, but as of January 2011 they began considering stories written by others and set outside the region.

They consider cozies, quirky character studies, hard-boiled detectives, or lively amateur sleuths. Mainly Murder Press charges no fees of any kind to authors for publishing services.

The Writer free info and Iowa Short Fiction Award

2011-08-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

Writer's thought for the week: "Write a novel if you must, but think of money as an unlikely accident." ~ Pearl S. Buck

The Writer magazine web site restricts some of its content to magazine subscribers. If you don't subscribe, you can still access a number of articles here: http://www.writermag.com/Articles.aspx?categoryId=FFA92DA8-8F8A-4EE1-A270-0412DAE83EB2 Articles with a "W" in a gold square next to the title are restricted; all others are public access.

IOWA SHORT FICTION AWARD

http://www.uiowapress.org/authors/iowa-short-fiction.htm

Any writer who has not previously published a volume of prose fiction is eligible to enter. Writers are still eligible if they have published a work in a small print run. The manuscript must be a collection of short stories in English of at least 150 word-processed, double-spaced pages. Stories previously published in periodicals are eligible for inclusion. Award-winning manuscripts will be published by the University of Iowa Press under the Press's standard contract.

Links to stories from previous winners are on the web site.

Self-Publishing considerations and Calyx Books open for submission

2011-07-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

Writer's thought for the week: “Literature is strewn with the wreckage of those who minded beyond reason, the opinion of others.”   Virginia Woolf

Thinking of self-publishing? Here are some things to consider: http://www.terrylinks.com/getpublishednow

CALYX Books is open to submissions for book manuscripts of novels, novellas, and linked short story collections of any genre until August 31, 2011. http://www.calyxpress.org/submission.html

Submissions should include three chapters or sections (approximately 15,000 words), a table of contents (if appropriate), and a synopsis. All manuscripts should be double-spaced and include page numbers, the manuscript title, and the author's name. Submit a cover letter with biographic information, list of previous publications (if desired), and contact information.

Send materials to: CALYX Books
                            PO Box B
      Corvallis, OR 97339

Free Agent Advice and Three Chicken Soup Books Seeking Submisions

2011-07-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

Thought for the week: "There are only two ways of living, one is as if nothing is a miracle, the second is that everything is a miracle. I believe in the latter." ~ Albert Einstein

Evan Marshall, agent and author of The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing, has a 73-page free download of tips on writing and publishing your novel. You can download THE MARSHALL PLAN® FICTION MAKEOVER: 52 Ways to Instantly Improve Your Novel here: http://www.writeanovelfast.com/FictionMakeover.pdf

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL

The Chicken Soup folks have three anthologies open for submissions until August 7, 2011. Submit true stories, 300 to 1200 words.
http://www.chickensoup.com/form.asp?cid=possible_books

Boost Your Brain Power! Who doesn't want to be smarter, think faster, have a better memory? We're seeking stories about people who have improved their ability to think and use their brain in some way and as a result, improved their life. Your stories will provide the inspiration and motivation to those looking to get more from their grey matter.

Say Goodbye to Stress! We're seeking stories about people who have felt or feel stressed out, found a way to resolve their stress, learned to rethink their stress, improved their lives by handling stress, etc. Your stories will provide the inspiration and comfort to those who are stressed out.

Say Hello to a Better Body! It can be hard for women over 50 to lose weight and stay fit. We're looking for stories from women over 50 who have found answers. How did you find the motivation to lose weight and get fit? Are there special routines that you have found that make it easier to maintain your weight and fitness? Did you find ways to make self-care more of a priority?

Write a Book/Direct a Movie plus On the Premises Fiction Contest

2011-07-18T11:21:00.000-07:00

Writer's thought for the week: It grieves me to think how far more profound and reverent a respect the law would have for literature if a body could only get drunk on it. ~ Mark Twain

Directing a movie vs writing a book

Sinbad (his real name) is a local author in Beaufort NC who self-published his novel and is now even more adventurous: He is producing, directing, and starring in a movie based on his book, The Sword of Tortuga. He plays James, a washed up Errol Flynn type B-movie actor who encounters real life intrigue and murder during a reenactment of Beaufort's pirate invasion. As an extra in some of the scenes, I realized that directors have to think about the same things writers do. Just as directors have to communicate the desired result to his or her actors, writers must convey our mental images to our readers.

Last week we did a cocktail party scene aboard a large powerboat. I was part of a group of three extras directed to chat among ourselves in the stern of the boat, drinks in hand. We did so. Artificial rain and lightening are evident, but we are dry, sheltered by the deck above us.

Writers also need to set the scene and let our readers know where we are.

Cut. New directions: The microphone is very sensitive and picks up every noise. Just pretend you are chatting.

Just as the actual words of the side conversation did not need to be heard, dialogue that does not move things along or deepen characterization does not belong in our writing.

While we pretend to chat, a character named Julie leaves the main cabin and walks past us to the far stern of the boat. She does not acknowledge us, but I, as the closest one to her as she walks by, decide to look at her before turning my head back to the conversation with my companions. I also occasionally react to the lightening. Apparently this is okay with the director because the camera keeps rolling awhile before he says "cut."

While writers can use plain narrative, it is better to show things through our characters. How are different characters reacting to each other? How do they react to the environment? Two characters may be at the same picnic, but maybe only one notices the surrounding plants while the other concentrates on his drink and the other partiers.
Next, the director informs us that we need to react more because James and Julie are engaged in a loud argument just a few feet away from us. Until then, my group of three knew nothing about a fight or another character in the scene. All we saw was a young woman standing alone at the back of the boat because the director/camera man is also the one playing James. The actual fight where she yells at him and slaps him across the face is filmed later.

It's unlikely that we would forget to introduce a character, but things can get choppy when we are revising a manuscript. If we change the sequence of events and are not careful, it's possible that our readers wonder about a character who suddenly appears out of nowhere unless the surprise is part of the plot we make it clear that other characters are surprised by this, too.

Do the similarities between writing and directing make me think I'm ready to direct a movie? Not on your life!

In case you're curious about Sinbad and his movie, here's a link: http://www.pirate-privateer.com/adventures_movie.html

On the Premises Contest #15
Deadline: September 30, 2011
Theme: Myths and Legends

Some kind of myth or legend must be important to your 1,000 to 5,000-word story. "Family legends" are fine. The judges won't care whether the myth or legend is true as long as your story is fiction.

Prizes: $180 for first, $140 for second, $100 for third, $40 for honorable mention. On the Premises will publish between zero and three honorable mentions.

Details: http://www.onthepremises.com/current_contest?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Contest+%2315+launches!+July+2011+%27%27On+The+Premises%27%27+newsletter&utm_campaign=Contest+%2315+launches!+July+2011+%27%27On+The+Premises%27%27+newsletter&utm_term=Current+contest

WriteOnCon free conference and The Road of Eerie

2011-07-10T18:54:00.000-07:00

Writer's thought for the week: Writing time is like closet space: you use whatever you have and then want more. ~ Susan Kelly

WriteOnCon

This free online children's writers conference will be held Aug. 16 – 18. The conference offers hourly events including live chats, blog posts, and videos created by agents, editors, and authors in children's publishing.

The curriculum is focused on picture book, middle grade, and young adult writers. However, much of the information provided applies to all writers, and many of the publishing professionals who participate cross over. To register or get more information, goto writeoncon.com.

If you missed last year's WriteOnCon, the videos and audios are available here: http://writeoncon.com/about/schedule/

The Road of Eerie Deadline Sept. 15, 2011

http://www.readingwriters.com/contest.htm

Somewhere in a sleepy town or a hectic city or a vibrant field or a shaded wood... lies an old road, a neglected road, a downright eerie road. But on Halloween—the eeriest day of the year—it will become a rediscovered road. And your protagonist will never be the same. What's the story?

No entry fee to submit a short story (1,000 words max.) electronically. Attachments accepted. Only one story per author. Open to writers worldwide. Your story must not have been previously published.

The prize is $100 and publication in The Verb.

July 4th and Rhymes with ?

2011-07-03T13:55:00.000-07:00

July 4th makes me reflect on my ancestors and the first time they saw the Statue of Liberty as they sailed into the harbor. My father left struggling post WWI Germany in 1930 for the opportunities available in the U.S.. My maternal grandparents left the Czech republic in 1911 seeking a stable future away from European wars. They all found what they were after.

Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can. ~ Mary Frances Berry

This quote applies to writers, too. One day some writing friends and I sat around sharing some of the excuses we come up with to not write. Laundry, walking the dog, grocery shopping, and phoning a friend were popular. Too often, we let our writing slip to the bottom of the priority list as we did "just one more thing" before writing. Some days the desire "to have written" is there, but less so than the desire "to write."

Sometimes I grant myself a writing vacation and take a week to read some of the books on my list. You do have a list, don't you?

Other days I find the discipline to make myself write even though inspiration is lacking. Often when I do that, I find that my muse awakens and I actually accomplish something. I just need to remind myself of one reason why I can.

Rhymes with ?

Several years ago, a poetry judge for a writing contest gave low marks to poems that rhymed and said many writers who submitted needed to take a poetry writing class. I rarely write poetry, but I felt like saying, "Well, excuuuuse me! Some of us are old-fashioned and enjoy reading poems that rhyme." I think writing a good poem that rhymes is much more challenging than writing a prose poem.

If you write poems that rhyme or maybe just want to include a fragment with rhyming words in your fiction, this site that might help: http://words-that-rhyme.com. You enter a word and the site returns a list of words that rhyme with it.

It isn't foolproof, though. Many of the responses simply have the same letter combinations but are pronounced differently. For example, when I entered the word "allow" one of the responses was "below." Depending on the effect you are after, similar but non-rhyming words still may be useful.

Free Copyright Webinar and Main Street Rag Call for Submissions

2011-06-27T18:37:00.000-07:00

Writer's thought for the week: "Some say writing inspiration comes from sunny days, cuddly kittens and children romping through fields of daisies. Those people have somebody else paying the bills." ~ Karuna Eberl

Questions about copyright? The Arts Council of New Orleans web site has a free on demand 25 minute presentation on copyright. It covers the importance of registration, registering using the online eCo system, the need for work for hire agreements, derivative works, and public domain. You can listen to it here:
http://artscouncilofneworleans.adobeconnect.com/copyright_webinar_final_webinar_2011

MAIN STREET RAG is open for submissions for three themed anthologies and a novella series.
http://www.mainstreetrag.com/MSR_Short%20Fiction%20Anthology.html
http://www.mainstreetrag.com/MSRNovella.html

The reading period for all four runs through 9/15/11, but will end for the anthologies as soon as they have accepted enough to fill a book.

The anthologies are:

The List: We’re looking for stories with lists in them—any kind of list, serving any purpose. We want fiction that explores how lists can help to structure or lend meaning to a story. We want to see work that examines what our habit of list-making reveals about our lives. Send us your fiction with odd, funny, heartbreaking, mundane, or mind-blowing lists.

Just Tattoos: How do tattoos haunt, hurt or give meaning to the character's story? Who wears or inks these tattoos? What defines the human body and art?

Secrets: Tell us how someone is changed by the secrets they keep; or how secrets from the past haunt the present. Pass along a secret that startles and intrigues, or show us what happens when a secret is held too tightly.

Novellas should be between 30,000 and 50,000 words.

Ploughshares open for subs; Tips on story analysis

2011-06-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

Why do you write? "The truth, the unvarnished truth, is that I haven't a clue. The answer to that question lies hidden in the same box that holds the origin of human creativity, our imperative need as a species to communicate, and to be touched." —Gloria Naylor

Ploughshares is opens for submissions from June 1 until January 15.
http://www.pshares.org/submit/guidelines.cfm

This journal "welcomes unsolicited submissions of fiction, poetry, and a limited amount of nonfiction." Snail mail submission is free but there is a $3 fee for online submissions. Submit one prose piece or one to five poems. Pays: on publication: $25/printed page, $50 minimum per title, $250 maximum per author, plus two copies and a subscription. They say their backlog is heaviest in the fall, so the earlier you submit, the better!

Interesting web site: Author Lisa Cron's web site has a list of questions to ask yourself about your story: http://www.wiredforstory.com/writingtips/
While you're there, take a little time to browse this interesting site.

Orion Magazine Open for Submissions June 15

2011-06-09T16:49:00.000-07:00

Writer's Thought for the Week: "What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure." ~ Samuel Johnson

Orion Magazine
h http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/mag/guidelines_for_article_submissions/

Due to the high volume, Orion now only accepts submissions twice yearly, during designated submission windows. The next submission period will be June 15-30, 2011. Manuscripts received during this time will receive a response by September 30, 2011.

Orion welcomes "thoughtful submissions concerning the collision of nature and culture, the commingling of people and place." Orion considers unsolicited essays, narrative nonfiction, interviews, profiles, short fiction, and picture essays. They also consider submissions for their Place Where You Live and Coda departments. Sample articles are available on their web site.

No more than two submissions of no more than 6,000 words each per person. Feature articles range from 1,500 to 6,000 words, departments from 350 to 1,200 words. Lead time is typically six to nine months. Pays $400 to $1,000 for feature pieces, $50 to $450 for shorter texts. They purchase first North American serial rights, as well as exclusive worldwide electronic rights for sixty days and nonexclusive permanent web rights for their electronic archive.

iPhone Workshop and In the Snake

2011-06-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

Writer's thought for the week: "Words are but air; the pen leaves a mark." ~ Anonymous

Author and speaker Linda Rohrbough developed an iPhone version of her workshop "Pitch Your Book".
http://www.lindarohrbough.us/index.php/iphone-app
It has Apple's approval and is available for $3.99.

I don't have an iPhone but I attended this workshop at a writer's conference. I almost didn't go because I didn't have a book to pitch, but none of other workshops in that time slot interested me. Linda's workshop was the best one of the whole conference. She taught us a simple, effective three-step formula for talking about your book with an agent or editor.

Conferences can be expensive and time-consuming, and I often find that I am only interested in certain parts of them. Will other iPhone apps for writers be available soon? I might just have to get an iPhone. I'm not saying conferences have no purpose. You can't ask an iPhone app questions. Well, you could, but you won't get answers. You're not networking while listening to your iPhone, and you won't get a one-on-one in-person session with an editor or agent that way either. But $3.99 for a workshop in my home or office instead of getting dressed up and driving somewhere? Sounds good to me.

In the Snake
http://www.inthesnake.com/submissions/

This new ezine wants short stories for their first issue scheduled for October. All genres accepted but no explicit sexual descriptions or excessive violence. "We are very interested in stories that focus on the evolution of characters, questions of identity, and perception of self." Pays $50 per story on acceptance for one-time Web publication rights.

Threepenny Review

2011-05-23T18:06:00.000-07:00

Writer's Thought for the Week: "This manuscript of yours that has just come back from another editor is a precious package. Don't consider it rejected. Consider that you've addressed it 'to the editor who can appreciate my work' and it has simply come back stamped 'Not at this address.' Just keep looking
for the right address." —Barbara Kingsolver

THE THREEPENNY REVIEW is open to submissions through August.
http://www.threepennyreview.com

Submit only via snail mail or their submission system. No e-mail submissions, no simultaneous submissions, and no reprints. Do not submit more than one story or article, or more than five poems, until you have heard back about your previous submission.

Critical articles should be about 1200 to 2500 words, Table Talk items 1000 words or less, stories and memoirs 4000 words or less, and poetry 100 lines or less. Pays $400 per story or article, $200 per poem or Table Talk piece for first serial rights in both print and digital editions. Selected sample content is available on their web site.

Short Story Month

2011-05-13T18:01:00.000-07:00

Writing tip: "Never be ashamed of your subject, or of your passion for your subject. Your 'forbidden' passions are likely to be the fuel for your writing… Your struggle with your buried self, or selves, yields your art." ~ Joyce Carol Oates

The Emerging Writers Network has declared May "National Short Story" month. Here are two opportunities that include short stories as well as other forms.

The Gulf Coast Writers Association will accept submissions for its fourth print anthology of short fiction (up to 3,000 words) and poetry (up to 40 lines) between June 1 and September 1, 2011. Stories must be set in Mississippi and clearly capture a Southern tone. They accept most genres. Both unpublished and previously published work are accepted. Payment for selected work is $25 and one copy or five copies for one-time publication rights.

Shock Totem considers original, unpublished stories of dark fantasy and horror—mystery, suspense, supernatural, morbid humor, fantasy, etc. Stories must have a clear horror element. Looking for short stories up to 5,000 words (firm), tightly woven flash fiction up to 1,000 words, and microfiction up to 200 words. They also look for nonfiction: journalism about real horrors such as disease, poverty, addiction.
Pays 5 cents per word (3 cents for reprints) with a $250 cap on all accepted stories.

Black Orchid Novella Award

2011-05-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

Thought for the week: "Writing is not the lottery. New writers have to be realistic about what it takes to get published. But there is one similarity to the lottery: You have to play to win." ~ Lori Perkin

BLACK ORCHID NOVELLA AWARD
http://www.nerowolfe.org/htm/neroaward/black_orchid_award/BO_award_proc.htm

Entries must be 15,000 to 20,000 words in length and postmarked by May 31, 2011. Each entry must be an original unpublished work of fiction that conforms to the tradition of the Nero Wolfe mystery series:

       1. "traditional" in flavor
       2. The sleuth's deductive abilities solve the crime. No coincidences.
       3. The killer is known to the victim. No random psycho shootings.
       4. The characters must have an engaging relationship.
       5. Some wit is required.

No entry fee. The winner will be offered a standard Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine contract.

The Wolfe Pack, founded in 1977, is a forum to discuss, explore, and enjoy the 72 Nero Wolfe books and novellas written by Rex Stout. The organization promotes fellowship and extends friendship to those who enjoy these great literary works of mystery through a series of events, book discussions, and a journal devoted to the study of the genius detective, Nero Wolfe, and his intrepid assistant, Archie Goodwin. The organization has more than 500 members worldwide.

Easter Bunny and Wiley Wabbit

2011-04-23T23:39:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder where the Easter Bunny came from? He arrived with German immigrants, the same ones who brought us Kris Kringle and the Christmas tree. The "Osterhase" or Easter Hare follows the same rules as Kringle: He visits children's home the night before the holiday and leaves presents for good children only.

Traditionally, children built nests of clothing in corners or secluded areas of their homes where colored eggs would be found on Easter. The nests evolved into the Easter basket which is often hidden Easter morning for children to search and find.

In honor of Elmer Fudd's "Wiley Wabbit"", this week's market is

WILEY WRITERS
http://www.wilywriters.com/blog/?page_id=1234

They publish only short fiction (1,000 to 5,000 words) that falls under the genre umbrella of speculative fiction: horror, fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal romance/mystery/adventure. Monthly issues are themed and April through November 2011 themes are listed online. Pays $50 and up.

Thought for the week: Life is made up of small pleasures. Happiness is made up of those tiny successes. The big ones come too infrequently. And if you don't collect all these tiny successes, the big ones don't really mean anything. ~ Norman Lear

All Things Come to Those Who Wait

2011-04-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

When trying to decide "Kindle or Nook", one of the things I liked about Nook was its ability to access e-books from public libraries. I still went with the Kindle, partly because my local library did not participate in an e-book lending program.

Today, I saw this Associated Press announcement:

"Amazon says its Kindle e-reader will get the ability to load e-books from 11,000 U.S. public libraries later this year.

Most U.S. libraries already provide e-books, which work with nearly all e-readers except the Kindle. They're also accessible on many smartphones and tablets like the iPad.

Amazon.com Inc. says it's working with OverDrive Inc., which runs the e-book systems of public libraries to make the system compatible with the Kindle."

Maybe by the time Kindle supports e-books, my library will be ready to lend them.

Thought for the week: Talent is long patience. ~ Gustave Flaubert

Recovery

2011-04-14T18:01:00.000-07:00

Sorry I'm so late this week. I'm still fighting "The Cough" which has been making the rounds here in Beaufort. It laughs at cough drops but temporarily yields to Nyquil. I hope I will soon be on the road to recovery.

Do you have a recovery or success story to share? If so, the Soaring Above Essay Contest may be for you. The winner gets a hot air balloon ride for two as well as publication in Twin Feather Publishing's upcoming book. Two honorable mentions receive certificates and possible publication. Submit your 1000 to 5000 word story by snail mail.

Thought for the week: "The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today." ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Is Your Character Strange?

2011-04-05T13:15:00.000-07:00

Do you have a character with an obvious quirk? If so, check out the current contest at Reading Writers. This contest seeks stories in which the protagonist aggressively seeks a goal while those around him/her try not to react to the eccentricity. E-mail one unpublished short story up to 1500 words no later than May 15, 2011. The winner will receive $100 and be published in The Verb. Check out the link above for more details and even a bio of the judge.

Thought for the week and your quirky character: "We all want to be accepted, but in the end it is the truly original that are remembered." Mary Moquin

Do Your Titles Need Help?

2011-03-29T04:18:00.000-07:00

Writer's thought: A perfectly healthy sentence, it is true, is extremely rare. For the most part we miss the hue and fragrance of the thought; as if we could be satisfied with the dews of the morning or evening without their colors, or the heavens without their azure. ~ Henry David Thoreau

Headline or Title Helper
http://www.aminstitute.com/headline/

The Emotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer is a free tool that analyzes and scores the emotional marketing value of a headline. It's handy for finding good fit alternatives for speeches, blogs, newsletters, and articles. Just type in your headline and you receive an "emotional rating" for the title based on your word choices. It takes just a few seconds.

This tool also tells you how your words have the greatest impact:

Intellectual: require reasoning or careful evaluation

Empathetic: bring out strong positive emotional reactions in people

Spiritual: have the strongest potential for influence and often appeal at a deep emotional level.

Crucible Poetry & Fiction Competition

2011-03-21T18:56:00.000-07:00

Thought for today: If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember this whole thing was started by a mouse. ~ Walt Disney

http://www.barton.edu/academics/english/crucible.htm

Manuscripts will be accepted only through May 1 of each year. Winners will be notified by October of the same year. Crucible will receive first publication rights to winning entries, after which rights will revert back to the author. Winning entries will be published in the fall issue of Crucible published by the Barton College Department of English. Fiction must be limited to 8,000 words or less. Poetry must be limited to five poems.

Prizes and Categories
Poetry:
• $150.00 First Prize
• $100.00 Second Prize

Fiction:
• $150.00 First Prize
• $100.00 Second Prize

Bevel Summers Prize and Wergle Flomp Poetry

2011-03-13T12:25:00.000-07:00

Thought for today: "Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." Sir Richard Steele

The 2011 Bevel Summers Prize for the Short Short Story
http://www.wlu.edu/x32988.xml

This no fee contest is open to all authors of stories of up to 1,000 words. Stories should be sent to Bevel Summers/Shenandoah, Mattingly House, 2 Lee Ave., Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
24450 and must be received by March 31. Send two copies, one with name and contact information, including e-mail address, and a duplicate with no identifying information, along with an SASE for notification. The winner will receive a $250 prize and be featured prominently on Shenandoah's first online issue.

10th Annual Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest
http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/wergle/we_guidelines.php

Who could resist checking out what Wergle Flomp is all about?

There is no fee to enter but you may submit only one humorous poem of any length. Unpublished as well as previously published work is accepted. The online submission deadline is April 1, 2011.

1st prize: $1,500; 2nd, $800; 3rd $400; 12 honorable mentions receive $75 each. All winners will be published online, but authors retain copyright. You may read previous winning entries on the web site.

L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest

2011-03-06T18:26:00.000-08:00

Today's smile: "Dear Editor: Why do you keep sending my stories back? You're supposed to print them and make me rich and famous. What is it with you?" This letter to the editor was written by that famous writer and philosopher Snoopy, while sitting atop his doghouse. How many homo sapien authors can relate to this canine author's angst?

L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest
www.writersofthefuture.com/contest

Free quarterly contest for new and amateur writers of science fiction and fantasy short stories or novelettes. Authors retain publication rights. The current quarter ends March 31.

Prizes are awarded each quarter: $1,000, $750, and $500. An annual grand prize of an additional $5,000 will be awarded to one of the four first place winners. The quarters begin on Oct. 1, Jan. 1, Apr. 1, and July 1. The year ends on September 30, but this international contest has been running for years.

Send only one story per quarter, maximum 17,000 words. Entrants may not have professionally published a novel, short novel, novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium. Professional publication is defined as payment and at least 5,000 copies or 5,000 hits.

Ninth Glass Woman Prize

2011-02-28T06:13:00.000-08:00

Sorry guys, this contest is for women only, but you can still check out the thought for the week.

NINTH GLASS WOMAN PRIZE
http://www.sigriddaughter.com/GlassWomanPrize.htm

No entry fee.
Deadline: March 21, 2011

Prizes will be awarded for an original or previously published short work of fiction or creative non-fiction (prose) written by a woman. Your story should be between 50 and 5,000 words. The subject is open, but must
be of significance to women. Only one submission per person.

Top prize: $500. Second Prize: $100, Third Prize: $50. First through third prizes also include possible, but not obligatory, online publication. This year's contest includes two additional awards of $100 each.

Thought for the week: “Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing left to add but when there is nothing left to take away.” ~ Antoine de Sainte-Exupery

Patchwork Path and the Eric Hoffer Award for Short Prose

2011-02-21T18:35:00.000-08:00

Two stories of mine were accepted by Patchwork Path last October for their Mother's Life anthology, planned for April 2011 release. I just learned last week that Patchwork has canceled publication of any new books. That includes Mother's Life, even though it was past the first edit and in the design phase. I inquired whether a later date was planned or, per my contract, if all rights had reverted back to me. All rights are now mine. I just wish they had made the decision before the deadline for submitting to Chicken Soup for the Soul's anthology about mothers.

I can still look forward to Chicken Soup's My Dog's Life anthology with my "Cairn Mind Meld" story about my cairn terrier. It should be available in April.

Hoffer Award
www.hofferaward.com/HAprose.html

No fee to enter. Only one entry per author.
Deadline: March 31, 2011

This contest offers $500 and anthology publication for short fiction (under 10,000 words).

Kenyon Review Contest and Creating Suspense

2011-02-14T13:48:00.000-08:00

Creating suspense is an effective way to grab readers and keep them turning the page. Some writers do this by withholding information from the reader, but this technique can alienate your audience. A far better method is creating tension by what you tell your reader.

Linda Rohrbough, well-known public speaker and publisher author, has an excellent article on how to do this here: http://lindarohrbough.com/home/pdfs/How_Not_to_Cheat_Your_Reader_by_Linda_Rohrbough.pdf

KENYON REVIEW CONTEST
http://www.kenyonreview.org/contests-sf.php

This no-fee contest has a February 28, 2011 deadline and is limited to writers 30 years of age or younger at the time of submission. Your story must be 1,200 words or less.

Only one entry allowed per author. You must use their electronic system to submit.

The Kenyon Review will publish the winning short story in the Winter 2012 issue, and the author will be awarded a scholarship to attend the 2011 Writers Workshop, June 18-25, 2011 in Gambier, Ohio.

Sisters in Crime Study

2011-02-07T20:38:00.000-08:00

Even if you don't write or read mysteries, the study recently released by Sisters in Crime of those who read mysteries is interesting. The study is based on 1056 respondents who purchased a book in 2009 and the first half of 2010.

37% described themselves as avid readers (almost always reading a mystery) and 51% as frequent readers (read mysteries often but not exclusively.) 64% are female. 47% are age 60+.

For all genres, women continue to buy the majority of books, but men's share of books is higher in dollars than in units. Mysteries are acquired mainly by purchasing in stores, followed by borrowing from the library, followed by purchasing online. 35% of mysteries are purchased by readers who live in the South. Readers over 60 are
more loyal to the author or character than younger readers.

To check out the full report and learn how mystery buyers differ from fiction buyers in general, what types of stories and which authors different age groups prefer, what influences mystery book sales, and more, go to
http://www.sistersincrime.org/associations/10614/files/ConsumerBuyingBookReport.pdf

Carteret Writers Contest

2011-01-31T06:51:00.000-08:00

Contest guidelines
This contest is sponsored by the writers group in my area so I know it's legit. Last year's contest drew a total of 213 entries, so the competition in terms of numbers is not as stiff as some other contests. It's an all-volunteer effort done primarily as a service to writers and last year was the first time the group did not lose money on it.
Cash prizes are offered in each of five categories: fiction, nonfiction, flash fiction, poetry, and children's: 1st place: $100; 2nd place: $50; 3rd place: $25.
Entries are by snail mail only and must be received by 1:00 PM March 8, 2011.

Motivational thought: "When your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it." Jonathan Winters

Two Contests: Poetry and Fiction

2011-01-23T13:08:00.000-08:00

More snow yesterday. Good time to snuggle inside and write. Neither of these contests charges a fee.

SPIRIT FIRST POETRY CONTEST

http://www.spiritfirst.org/poetry_contest.html

Deadline: January 31, 2011.
First Prize: $175; Second: $125; Third: $75
Special Category: Spoken Poem: $75

Poetry submissions may be of any length and any style but they must have a theme of meditation, mindfulness, stillness, or silence. Poems may reflect any discipline, any faith, or none. They must be previously unpublished. No more than three submissions per author.

Winning poems will be published on the Spirit First website, in the Spirit First blog, and in the Spirit First newsletter.

HIGHLIGHTS 2011 FICTION CONTEST

http://www.highlights.com/highlights-fiction-contest

Deadline: postmarked by January 31, 2011

Submit an unpublished story up to 750 words about an embarrassing moment. No crime, violence, or derogatory humor.

Three prizes of $1,000 each. Note: The three winning stories become the property of Highlights for Children, but the generous prize for 750 words seems worth it. All other submissions will be considered for purchase.

Orion Magazine

2011-01-16T12:16:00.000-08:00

Orion magazine is open to submissions January 15-30, 2011.

If the New Year makes you philosophical about people and nature, this could be a market for you. The magazine welcomes submissions concerning the collision of nature and culture, the commingling of people and place. Published bimonthly, Orion considers unsolicited essays, narrative nonfiction, interviews, profiles, short stories, photo essays, and portfolios of fine art. No unsolicited poetry. Orion is typically forward-looking, anticipating the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for people and nature.

Feature articles range from 1,500 to 6,000 words, departments from 350 to 1,200 words. Lead time is typically six to nine months. No more than two submissions up to 6,000 words each per person. Pays $400-$1,000 for features, $50 to $450 for shorter texts for first North American serial rights, as well as exclusive worldwide electronic rights for sixty days and nonexclusive permanent web rights for their electronic archive.

Agent Databases

2011-01-09T11:51:00.000-08:00

If you pursue the traditional publishing route for your book and want an agent, here are two free searchable agent databases that may help. Happy hunting!

AgentQuery.com

This searchable database of agents was voted one of Writers Digest's Best Web Sites for Writers for the 6th year in a row in 2010. Search criteria include AARP member or not, keywords you enter, genres within fiction or nonfiction, e-mail or snail mail queries, and actively seeking new clients. Besides the database, the site has articles on submission, publishing, and resources.

Another searchable agent database is at 1000literaryagents.com/find-literary-agents.php.

Kindle lending is now live

2010-12-30T12:47:00.000-08:00

Have you heard the news? As Amazon said they would, they now have e-book lending enabled for Kindle. I haven't tried it yet, but here's the link with how-to information:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_200549320_receive?nodeId=200549320

There are some publisher restrictions on which books are eligible for lending.

Year End Sale at Wooden Horse

2010-12-26T09:31:00.000-08:00

WOODEN HORSE PUBLISHING

http://www.woodenhorsepub.com/about.html

If you write for magazines, check out “the Horse.” Meg Weaver’s free weekly e-mail has highlights on what’s happening in the industry, including which editors have moved where and details on selected magazines. The Horse has a searchable database of over 2,000 magazines with contact information, guidelines, reader demographics, and, if available, editorial calendars so you can submit when and where you have the best chance for acceptance. The free newsletter updates you when magazines submit new editorial calendars. You can sample what the database offers for just $1.99 for 24 hours. If a manuscript has been rejected and you don’t know where else to submit, the database is a great resource. Yes, you might find this information online by checking web sites and writing for editorial calendars, but the database is a big timesaver.

They have a winter sale going on at least through the end of 2010. Here are the coupon codes for the database discount: 1 year: Regularly $149; use coupon C1B354EM1Y and pay only $119; 6 months: Regularly $89; use coupon C1B354EM6M and pay only $79.

King On Writing

2010-12-25T12:47:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of the library, I read Stephen King's On Writing about five years ago and thought it contained good advice. I asked Santa for a copy of the new 2010 edition and I was not disappointed.

I took some time this afternoon to relax and read a portion and found a quote on page 57 from his first editor that is worth sharing: "When you write a story, you're telling yourself the story. When you rewrite, your main job is taking out all the things that are not the story."

What do you read on your e-reader?

2010-12-19T08:48:00.000-08:00

Because I've been very good this year, Santa agreed to bring my gift early: the $189 Kindle "latest generation" in white. I chose white instead of graphite because many people reported the printing on the keys wearing off on the graphite version. So far, I've read only fiction on it, and I think that will be my pattern.

I don't often reread a novel, so buying one at a reduced price or downloading one for free makes sense. But as a writer of nonfiction, I sometimes purchase books for research purposes. I want to be able to easily flip back and forth between sections or have multiple sources open at one time for comparison. Even using the Kindle notation feature, it isn't so easy to jump around inside a book to the chapter you want. It's a lot easier to leave a sticky note on a key section or sections. Later I can just pick up the book and instantly go to the marked page. On the Kindle, I have to turn it on, find the book in my list, and hope I remember what kind of notation I made on the section so I can find it easily.

I do love reading fiction on my Kindle. I don't miss the "book experience" as I thought I might. The Kindle is easier to hold than a book, and there are no bookmarks to fall out. I read faster, probably because the line length is shorter so there is less eye movement. (At least that jives with the Evelyn Wood speed reading theory.) Because they were free, I've read books I never would have read otherwise. When I did not like the free books and quit reading part way through, at least I had not wasted nay money. Being able to download classics for free saves me trips to the library. In its neoprene sleeve, my Kindle is easy to safely tuck in my purse so I have something enjoyable to read while waiting at the doctor's office.

Do you have an e-reader? What do you read on it? Are you happy with it?

Outshine Twitterzine

2010-12-10T05:36:00.000-08:00

OUTSHINE
www.shineanthology.wordpress.com/outshine-submission-guidelines/

OUTSHINE is a Twitterzine looking for prose poems of optimistic, near future (2010 – 2060) Sci-Fi that fit within the 'tweet' limits, i.e. maximum 140 characters long. Haiku is fine, too. They publish (Tweet) one poem a week with a short author bio, and you are free to submit one per week.

Pays $5 for each accepted poem through PayPal. That pay sounds low until you calculate the amount per word.

Writer Humor

2010-11-30T06:46:00.000-08:00

In case you feel any holiday stress during December, here's a video to give you smiles. So you want to be a writer.

Buy a Book, Save a Bookstore

2010-10-31T14:17:00.000-07:00

This idea and great cause is courtesy of Tin House. Buy a book at an independent bookstore and save your receipt.

Tin House Books will take unsolicited manuscripts through November 30, 2010, provided they are accompanied by a receipt from a bookstore.

Tin House magazine will take unsolicited submissions through December 30, 2010, provided you include a receipt or a scan of a receipt from a bookstore.

If you cannot afford to buy a book or cannot get to an actual bookstore, you may explain why in haiku or one sentence (100 words or fewer). They will consider the purchase of e-books as a substitute only if you explain why you cannot get to your neighborhood bookstore, why you prefer digital reads, what device, and why.

Happy Halloween! Make your local goblins happy.

Holiday Story Contest

2010-10-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

Do you have far to go for the holidays? You could win round trip holiday travel expenses plus $1,000 in spending money.

Folgers is sponsoring a holiday story contest and there is no fee to enter. In 200 words or fewer, answer the question, "What is the best part of wakin' up at home for the holidays with Folgers® Coffee?"

Folgers will award five contest winners, plus up to three family members or friends, travel to and from their holiday destination. Entries will be evaluated based on relevance to the theme of the contest, creativity, and clarity of expression.

Submit using their online form that has an automatic word counter. The deadline is November 30, 2010 at noon.

In the Soup!

2010-10-13T08:54:00.000-07:00

My "Dog Day Surprise" true story of what happens when two dogs visit Santa is in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Gift of Christmas. This is my first time "in the Soup." I received my copies from Simon & Schuster last week. They have a cheery old-time Christmasy cover and a ribbon bookmark. The book should be available soon exclusively through Wal-Mart.

If you're not a Wal-Mart fan, wait a little longer and look for Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tales of Christmas which will be sold exclusively through Barnes & Noble. My story is in there, too. The two books have many stories in common.

According to the publisher, all stories are "Santa friendly."

CRAB ORCHARD REVIEW

2010-10-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

Call for Submissions: http://craborchardreview.siuc.edu/special.html
Guidelines: http://craborchardreview.siuc.edu/guid2.html

Deadline: November 1, 2010 (postmark; does not accept e-mail submissions)

Currently seeking work for their Summer/Fall 2011 issue focusing on writing exploring the people, places, history, and new directions that have shaped and are reshaping the American South. All submissions should be original, unpublished poetry, fiction, or literary nonfiction. Novel excerpts are acceptable, as long as they stand on their own as fiction. Pays $25 per page ($50 minimum for poetry; $100 minimum for prose). Submit only one piece during each submission period.
Crab Orchard Review is published twice per year, under the auspices of the Department of English at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and with partial funding from the Illinois Arts Council, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Craigslist Chronicles

2010-09-28T06:20:00.000-07:00

A Word With You Press launched a new contest: Write a fact or fiction short story, 600 words max, featuring Craigslist in some way. You may use real ads or make up your own.

The winner receives $100 cash and possible inclusion in an anthology.
Deadline: October 15, 2010.

For more info, go here.

On the Premises Contest #12

2010-09-24T16:56:00.000-07:00

Current contest
About their contests

No entry fee. One submission per author.
1st prize: $180; 2nd prize: $140; 3rd prize: $100; honorable mention: $40
Between zero and three stories will be chosen as honorable mentions.
Deadline: September 30, 2010
Word limit: 1,000 to 5,000 words

The premise is STRENGTH. One or more characters must either exemplify strength themselves, or encounter someone, something, or some place that exemplifies strength. The strength can relate to any attribute that could reasonably be described as “strong”—it can be physical, emotional, olfactory, etc. Questions? Contact them at Questions@OnThePremises.com. Send submissions to Entries@OnThePremises.com or use their template .

GROANOLOGY 2: MONSTERS, MADNESS, AND MAYHEM

2010-09-12T17:18:00.000-07:00

http://libraryofthelivingdead.lefora.com/2010/07/01/groanology-2-a-horror-comedy-submissions-now-open/

Deadline: September 30, 2010
Word count: 1,200 to 3,200
Payment is one cent per word and one contributor copy.
No reprints.

The editors of this horror/comedy anthology say, "Send us your neurotic nightmares, your Freudian fiends, your tortured soulless souls. We want to read about the heartache, the headache, and most of all that pain in your funny bone that occur when monsters are plagued with psychiatric illnesses …Don't feel limited to depression and anxiety…We'd like to see some submissions that really go whole-hog (like you’d expect from a zombie pig with delusions of grandeur…you know, just for example)." Submit via e-mail. Here's a list of psychiatric disorders to get you started: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mental_disorders_as_defined_by_the_DSM_and_ICD

Iowa Short Fiction Contest

2010-09-04T17:24:00.000-07:00

http://www.uiowapress.org/authors/iowa-short-fiction.htm

No entry fee
Deadline: September 30, 2010 (postmark). No e-mail submissions.

Do you have a bunch of short stories you want to publish? This contest is for you. Any writer, worldwide, who has not previously published a volume of prose fiction is eligible to enter. A small print run of self-published work is not considered publication. Your manuscript must be a collection of short stories in English of at least 150 word-processed, double-spaced pages. The University of Iowa Press will publish the award-winning manuscripts under the Press's standard contract.

CREATIVE WRITERS CIRCLE SHORT STORY CONTEST

2010-08-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

Something different: a contest that rewards winners with cash and cookies.

http://creativewriterscircle.com/index.php?p=1_3_Contests

Deadline: August 31, 2010
No entry fee; one entry per person
1st place: $50; 2nd place: $25

This contest has the longest prompt I have ever seen – a 232-word paragraph - that must be the first paragraph in your story of 3,500 words or less. Winning stories will be featured on the web site. Each winner will also receive one dozen gourmet cookies. A minimum of 50 people must enter or the contest will be canceled.

Write On Con - Free Online Kidlit Conference

2010-08-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

http://writeoncon.com/

August 10 – 12, 2010
This online conference is free. The curriculum focuses on picture book, middle grade, and young adult writers. However, they say much of the information provided will apply to all writers, and since the conference is free, any interested writer is encouraged to attend. To accommodate day jobs, the schedule will feature more static elements during working hours, and all live events have been saved for the evenings. Transcripts for most sessions will also be available for download. Lots of agents and published authors are participating.

Past Loves Day Contest

2010-07-30T17:23:00.000-07:00

http://www.ourpastloves.com/contest

No entry fee.
Deadline: August 17, 2010
Prizes: 1st place, $100; 2nd, $75; 3rd, $50

Write your true story about a former sweetheart in 700 words or less. How did that person's presence in your life change you? Your story may be heartwarming or humorous. Winning stories will be published on the web site, anonymously if you wish. You can read the previous winners on the web site. Honorable mentions are also posted, but you can request that your story not be posted unless you place in the top three.

Writers of the Future

2010-07-11T16:06:00.000-07:00

L. RON HUBBARD'S WRITERS OF THE FUTURE CONTEST
http://www.writersofthefuture.com/index2.htm

No fee. One submission per entrant per quarter. (Contest repeats quarterly.)
Deadlines: postmarked by June 30, 2010 or September 30, 2010
Quarterly prizes: 1st: $1,000; 2nd: $750; 3rd: $500. Quarterly first prize winners automatically compete for an annual prize of $5,000. The current year ends September 30.

All types of science fiction, fantasy, and dark fantasy are eligible, up to 17,000 words, but no excessive violence or sex. Entrants may not have professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium. This contest defines professional publication as payment and at least 5,000 copies, or 5,000 hits.

Short stories from the yearly winners are published in the annual Writers of the Future anthology.

Necromancers Short Story Contest

2010-07-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

RISE OF THE NECROMANCERS SHORT STORY CONTEST
http://www.pillhillpress.com/flesh--bone-rise-of-the-necromancers.html

Deadline: July 31, 2010
No entry fee. One story per person.
1st place: $125, 2nd: $50, 3rd: $25. Winners and runners up receive a copy of the anthology.

Send your fiercest, most magical dark fantasy story about necromancers and the undead rising. Stories may take place any time (past, present, future, alternate) at any place (Earth, imaginary places, Grandma's kitchen sink, etc.). Stories may be told from the perspective of good or evil or anywhere in between. They prefer stories in the 3,000-6,000 word range, but will accept 2,000-10,000 word stories.

Free Download from Donald Maass

2010-06-19T13:39:00.000-07:00

Although written in 1996, the information in The Career Novelist: A Literary Agent Offers Strategies for Success is still valid. The book covers a wide range of topics such as pitching errors, choosing an agent, the marketing game, collaborations, and electronic rights. You can download a free copy by going to: www.maassagency.com/books.html

2010-05-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

FREE PODCASTS ON WRITING CRAFT - FICTION AND POETRY

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/podcasts/media/more/writingchallenges

This web site from the UK Warwick Writing Programme has free podcasts on various aspects of writing fiction. The site also includes a link to a poetry podcast series: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/podcasts/media/more/slowpoetry/

2010-05-22T10:45:00.000-07:00

THE BORDIGHERA POETRY PRIZE
http://www.gioseffi.com/Prize.html

No fee.
Deadline: postmarked by May 31, 2010
Prize: $1,000 plus publication in a bilingual edition by Bordighera.
Winners will be announced by October 30.

This competition seeks the best manuscripts of poetry in English by an American poet of Italian descent, to be translated upon selection by the judges into modern Italian, for the benefit of American poets of Italian ancestry and the preservation of the Italian language. The poet must be a U.S. citizen of Italian descent and surname or maiden surname.

To enter, submit ten sample pages of poetry in English. The final booklength manuscript should not exceed 48 pages to allow for up to 48 additional pages of Italian translation. Your poems may have appeared in magazines, anthologies or chapbooks. The publisher will commission a translator unless the author is qualified to do the translation.

Both the author and translator will share in the royalties per Bordighera's standard contract.

Hillerman Mystery Competition

2010-05-06T17:10:00.000-07:00

2010 HILLERMAN MYSTERY COMPETITION
http://www.wordharvest.com/novel_contest.php

Deadline: June 1, 2010. No e-mail submissions
No entry fee. Limit of one entry per writer.
Prize: publication with St. Martin's press and a $10,000 advance.

The competition is open to any professional or non-professional writer who has never published a mystery novel and who is not under contract with a publisher for publication of a mystery. All submissions must be original, unpublished book-length works (no less than 220 typewritten pages or approximately 60,000 words).

Novella Contest

2010-04-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

FAILBETTER NOVELLA CONTEST
http://www.failbetter.com/Novella.php

Your novella must be 8,000 words or more and suitable for serial publication. For the contest, send only the first 5,000 words. You must submit via e-mail, either pasted in the body of your e-mail or as an RTF or TXT attachment. Limit of one entry per person.

Note: All entries are considered for publication, but they do not pay for regular submissions. If you only submit to paying markets, don't let the no pay possibility stop you here. They would need to contact you for the full manuscript if they wanted to publish your novella, so you could withhold it.

The prize is $500. There is no entry fee and the deadline is May 15, 2000.

Paul Goodman Essay Contest

2010-04-12T18:39:00.000-07:00

PAUL GOODMAN ESSAY CONTEST
http://dissentmagazine.org/essaycontest/

Original 1000 to 3000 word essays in the spirit of Goodman’s "utopian essays and practical proposals." What is one of the pressing social and political issues of our time, and how would you address it?

Deadline: May 1, 2010. No entry fee.

The winning author will receive a $1,000 cash prize and his/her will be published in Dissent. Two runner-up essays will be published on the Dissent web site and receive $250 and a signed DVD copy of the film.

Essays should be sent in PDF or DOC format to essaycontest@paulgoodmanfilm.com.

Essay picked for anthology

2010-04-05T17:41:00.000-07:00

My memoir essay, "School Days," will appear in the From the Porch Swing anthology to be released by Silver Boomer Books later in 2010. It recalls how I played "school" as a child with my 74-year-old grandfather and what I learned from him.

Haiku Poetry Contest

2010-03-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

HAIKI NOW! CONTEST 2010
http://www.thehaikufoundation.org/contest/haiku-now-contest-2010/#submit

Deadline: March 31, 2010. No fee.
You may enter up to one unpublished poem in each category: traditional, contemporary, innovative.

First-prize winners in each category receive $100. Honorable mentions receive $25. All winning poems will be featured on The Haiku Foundation web site and permanently archived.

The web site has sample poems for the three categories. Submit via online submission only using the links embedded in the How to Submit section of the guidelines.

2010-03-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

RAY BRADBURY CREATIVE WRITING CONTEST
http://www.waukeganpl.org/programs/bradcontest.html
http://www.waukeganpl.org/programs/2010rbflyer.pdf

Deadline: postmarked by March 19, 2010. (No e-mail submissions.)
No fee, but a limit of one entry per individual
Categories: Creative writing (poems, essays, short stories), visual arts, multimedia

The three categories are divided into separate ones for high school students and adults, and Illinois residents and non-residents for a total of twelve categories. Creative writing entries may be no longer than two pages.

The theme for this year's contest is the relationship between life and death. The non-Illinois resident winner in each of the twelve categories receives $100. The Illinois resident winners receive $200.

The winning entries will be announced April 14.

Carteret Writers Contest Closes March 9, 2010

2010-03-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

Hope you sent your submissions in. Cash prizes for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, flash, and children's. http://www.carteretwriters.org

F.I.S.H.

2010-03-01T10:36:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I attended the final performance in the world premier run of F.I.S.H. in New Bern. Leslie Tall Manning, a former member of Carteret Writers, wrote the story line to link the songs written by Andrea and Phil Owens.

It was very well done, combining humor and philosophy. "We fish are upheld and supported on all sides. We lean confidently and harmoniously upon our element. We move in all dimensions, and whatever course we take, the mighty waters out of reverence for our virtue change shape accordingly." Isak Dinesan, "The Diver"

Don't give up

2010-02-19T06:26:00.000-08:00

Jack Canfield, who co-wrote "Chicken Soup for the Soul" with Mark Victor Hansen, said their manuscript was rejected by about 140 publishers, whose criticism included the assertion that "It's a stupid title."

2010-01-27T06:29:00.000-08:00

When I started writing a weekly column for Long Ridge, I wondered if it would take away from my writing time. Instead, writing up market opportunities for other writers has increased my output. When I take a second look at them, I'm discovering that markets I thought were not a fit for me actually peak my interest to try something new.

I guess it's that old adage - what you give comes back to you.

More time for writing

2010-01-13T12:08:00.000-08:00

I got a robotic vacuum, a Roomba, for Christmas. It vacuums another room while I'm on the computer. I love it, and the dog doesn't seem to mind. After it bumped into her a few times, she learned that SHE has to get out of ITS way because it will not change course.

Great workshop and site for writers

2010-01-06T08:09:00.000-08:00

At the NC Writers Conference last November, I attended Linda Rohrbough's workshop called Learn How to Talk to an Editor or Agent About Your Book. It was fabulous. If you are a writer and have the chance to attend one of her workshops, do it.

In the meantime, take advantage of the free articles on her web site, www.lindarohrbough.com

I'm a columnist!

2010-01-02T07:54:00.000-08:00

For the new year, I'm starting a blog and a new writing venture. Beginning January 2010, I'll be writing a weekly column for the Long Ridge Writers Group newsletter. The newsletter is distributed by e-mail and included on their web site, www.longridgewritersgroup.com.