Getting Ideas/Micro Fiction Contest

Thought for the Week: Life is part positive and part negative. Suppose you went to hear a symphony orchestra and all they played were the little, happy, high notes? Would you leave soon? Let me hear the rumble of the bass, the crash of the cymbals, and the minor keys." ~ Jim Rohn

IDEAS

Do you ever run out of ideas? Need a plot twist for your novel or inspiration for new stories to write in 2013? Maybe this list of prompts can help.

 

THE MICRO AWARD
Deadline: December 31, 2012
No entry fee

Prize: $500 US

The Micro Award is presented annually for a work of prose fiction 1000 words or less, written in English, of any genre. Stories considered for the 6th Annual Micro Award must have been published originally in 2012. Qualifying venues are any form of print or electronic publication designed for public display. Self-published stories are eligible.

Bread Loaf/Iowa Review

Writer’s Thought for the Week: Creative work…is like a faucet: nothing comes unless you turn it on, and the more you turn it on, the more comes. ~  Brenda Ueland

Bread Loaf Conference

If, like me, you did not attend the Bread Loaf conference in Middlebury, Vermont, you can capture some of the experience thanks to Chloe Yelena Miller. 

You may listen to some of the readings and sessions here.

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.

Free time tracking/Call for prose poems and flash

Writer’s Thought for the Week: The best kind of writing, and the biggest thrill in writing, is to suddenly read a line from your typewriter that you didn't know was in you. ~ Larry L. King

Myhours.com has free web based time tracking software for both personal and business use. Currently it’s free, but in the future they will charge for business accounts. The personal account features are all a writer should ever need. If you are billing clients by the hour, the software adapts to different country date and currency formats.

The Marie Alexander Series is open to submissions during the month of July. An award of $500 and publication will be given for a chosen collection of prose poems or flash fiction written by an American writer. Submit a manuscript of at least 48 pages, one poem per page, along with a cover letter with complete contact information and an SASE for notification only.

Writing Short/New Mystery Imprint

Writing Short

“Short” is in. Two weeks ago, I wrote about flash novels and shared a flash novel contest. Novella markets are growing. Flash fiction now has more paying markets than it did four years ago. For the beginning writer or for the writer short (pun intended) on time, writing “short” is a great option. You may not earn a lot per piece, but the rate per word is often very good.

Pamelyn Casto publishes a free monthly newsletter devoted to flash fiction and flash markets. To subscribe to her free e-mail newsletter, send an e-mail to FlashFictionFlash-Subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Dutton Guilt Edged Mysteries is an imprint of Penguin that publishes modern crime and detective fiction between ten thousand and fifty thousand words. The imprint is being relaunched in 2012 as a yearlong special imprint and will publish crime short stories and novellas as eBooks.

Writer’s Thought for the Week: If you get one good line a day, you’re doing well. ~  Billy Roche, Irish playwright

Amazon Publishing and Flash Quarterly

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.

Free Writer Info/Holiday Flash Fiction call

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.

Poetry Primer/Micro Fiction Award

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

Digital Glossary/Vestal Review Call for Submissions

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

Digital Glossary

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

Vestal Review  Deadline November 30, 2011 for the next issue

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

Submission Calls: Short Story and Flash

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

Third Annual Beginner's Short Story Contest

http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com/

Deadline October 20, 2011

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

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

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

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

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

10Flash Quarterly

http://10flash.wordpress.com 

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

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

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

Hope Clark, Essay Contest, and Nashville Review

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.

Short Story Month

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.

Carteret Writers Contest

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