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
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
All Things Come to Those Who Wait
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.
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.
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.
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