What do you read on your e-reader?

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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.