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.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Recovery
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
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
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Is Your Character Strange?
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 E-mail one unpublished short story up to 1500 words no later than May 15, 2011.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
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
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Do Your Titles Need Help?
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.
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.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Crucible Poetry & Fiction Competition
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
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
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Bevel Summers Prize and Wergle Flomp Poetry
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.
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.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest
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.
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.
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