Personal Narrative vs Memoir/Poetry and Prose

Thought for the Week: I still have a full deck; I just shuffle slower now.   ~ Unknown

Personal Narrative vs Memoir

This link describes the difference between personal narrative and memoir, and explains why memoir is more demanding for both writer and reader.

CRAB ORCHARD REVIEW

Submission deadline: November 3, 2012 (postmark)

Pays $50 minimum for poetry, $100 minimum for prose

For their Summer/Fall 2013 issue, Crab Orchard Review seeks work that focuses on the people, places, history, and changes shaping the states in the U.S. that make up the "Big Middle" of prairies, plains, mountains, and deserts that shape the middle and non-Pacific Coast West of the Lower 48 (Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, and Nevada).

Help for Writers/Harper Collins Wants New Writers

Writer’s Thought for the Week: …the story doesn't  happen on the page.  It happens in the reader's imagination. ~ Philip Gerard    

WRITER’S KNOWLEDGE BASE

Writer’s Knowledge Base is a free searchable collection of articles relevant to writers. Search on whatever you need help with and the site bring up a list of titles and links to articles.

If writing realistic dialogue is a challenge for you, search on “realistic dialogue” for a list of articles on the subject. You’ll find articles with such titles as “The Rhythm of Dialogue, “ “6 Fillers to Avoid in Dialogue,” and “Balancing Dialogue and Narrative,” among others.

If your plot seems dull and you need to increase tension, a search on “increasing dramatic tension” brings you “The Four Types of Dramatic Tension.” 

 

Need a quick explanation of ballistics for the mystery novel you’re writing? It’s in here.

HARPER VOYAGER

HarperCollins’ science fiction and fantasy imprint is accepting complete and unagented manuscripts now until October 14.

Voyager seeks an array of adult and young adult speculative fiction for digital publication, but particularly novels written in the epic fantasy, science fiction, urban fantasy, horror, dystopia and supernatural genres. After reading the guidelines, authors from around the world can submit their English manuscripts here.

Get organized/Fiction, nonfiction, poetry

Thought for the Week: You've got to get up every morning with determination if you're going to go to bed with satisfaction. ~ George Horace Lorimer

ASANA is a web-based task/project management program that’s free for individuals or small groups. You can track who is to do what.

People you work with would also register with Asana and e-mail updates are automatically added to your project file. Because you would check your Asana inbox for task updates, you won’t get distracted by other e-mails.

While writers often work alone, Asana can help by coordinating volunteer activities or family chores. Each team gets a Workspace. Workspaces contain Projects, and Projects contain Tasks. In each Task, users can add Notes, Comments, Files, and Tags.

CRAZYHORSE welcomes fiction, poetry, and nonfiction/essay from September 1 to May 31. Pays $20 per page of layout up to $200 maximum.

 

Say What?/Call for Poetry

Thought for the Week: Success is the child of audacity.  ~ Benjamin Disraeli

TEEN AND MILLENNIAL SLANG

What the dillio? Need to check on some teen slang for your writing? This teen slang dictionary may help, but keep in mind slang often varies from one region of the country to the next. 

This site gives a brief primer on what millennials are just sayin’.

THE PEDESTAL MAGAZINE

“From August 28-October 13, and again from October 28-December 13, we will only be receiving poetry submissions (no restrictions on theme, length, or style). There is no need to query prior to submitting poetry. Submit up to six (6) poems. Please submit all poems in one (1) file.”

 Pays $40 per poem.

After the release of the December issue, the magazine will go on brief hiatus. The "new" Pedestal will post sometime in Fall 2013 or Spring 2014.

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.

Poetry/Short Fiction Contest

Tomorrow, September 10, is the birthday of American poet, Mary Oliver. I became familiar with her work only recently.

I like her "Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." 

Good advice for a writer, don’t you think? 

JERRY JAZZ MUSICIAN NEW SHORT FICTION CONTEST 

Deadline: September 30, 2012

No entry fee. Only one story per author.

Prize: $100

The Jerry Jazz Musician reader has interests in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theatre, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America. Your story, 5000 words or less, should appeal to a reader with these characteristics.

E-Book Formatting/Calls for Submission

Thought for the Week: Expectation is one of the greatest sources of suffering.” ~Buddhist statement 

E-Book Formatting

Thinking of writing an e-book? Formatting can vary depending on where you choose to publish, but these links to articles (courtesy of BookBaby) give you an idea of what you’ll be dealing with. Save yourself some time later by following some of the advice while you write your book.

Chicken Soup for the Soul:  Autism or Asperger's

Deadline: September 30, 2012.  Planned publication April 2013

If you are the parent of a child with autism or Asperger's, Chicken Soup invites you to share your story about raising your child - the ups and downs, the effect on your family, your child's special attributes and talents, and the lighter moments too. You may use a "pen name" on your story. These stories will provide advice, comfort and insight to other parents in the same situation. 

Pays $200 on publication plus ten copies of the book in which your work appears.

Consequence Prize in Poetry 

Deadline: October 1, 2012 (received)
No entry fee

Each year a distinguished poet is invited to select the winner of The Consequence Prize in Poetry. 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 2013 issue of CONSEQUENCE Magazine. Consequence is a literary magazine that focuses "on the culture of war and social injustice."