Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Cliches
A cute column by Gregory Pence, titled Let's Think Outside the Box, appears in Aug. 6, 2007 issue of Newsweek on the use of cliches.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Ventura County Writers Club Contest
The Ventura County Writers club is seeking entries for a short story contest. The deadline for submittals is September 1.
Submissions may be in any genre, but must be an original short story and may not have been previously published in any newspaper, magazine, or book, whether for pay or not.
First, second, and third prizes are $500, $250, and $125. The story of the first place winner will be published in the Arts & Living section of the Ventura County Star in a November weekend edition. All three winners’ stories will appear in the on-line edition of the Star.
For contest rules and other information, please click here.
Submissions may be in any genre, but must be an original short story and may not have been previously published in any newspaper, magazine, or book, whether for pay or not.
First, second, and third prizes are $500, $250, and $125. The story of the first place winner will be published in the Arts & Living section of the Ventura County Star in a November weekend edition. All three winners’ stories will appear in the on-line edition of the Star.
For contest rules and other information, please click here.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Podiobooks
It used to be, that novels were often distributed one chapter at a time.
Podiobooks.com distributes audiobooks in a similar way, using podcasts as the medium. The site features a small but growing collection of titles, most of them indie works read by their authors. After registering (it's free), just click subscribe to download chapters using your preferred podcatcher. (You can also download individual chapters directly from the site.) If you like a particular book, you can make a donation to the author, who keeps 75 percent of the proceeds.
Podiobooks.com distributes audiobooks in a similar way, using podcasts as the medium. The site features a small but growing collection of titles, most of them indie works read by their authors. After registering (it's free), just click subscribe to download chapters using your preferred podcatcher. (You can also download individual chapters directly from the site.) If you like a particular book, you can make a donation to the author, who keeps 75 percent of the proceeds.
Thanks!
Thanks to members for allowing Jim Stevens to film the July 21st meeting and for those who came early or stayed late to be interviewed. Jim is creating a documentary of the club to be aired on Channel 10, Oshkosh Community Access Television (OCAT). And we thank him for choosing our club as the subject of the documentary!
Friday, July 20, 2007
Cup Of Comfort Calls For Submissions
Here are some calls for submission for upcoming Cup of Comfort books. There are'nt even on the Cup Of Comfort website yet. This is your chance to get published, tell your story, and share with others going through a difficult time.
CALL FOR INSPIRING TRUE STORIES: ALZHEIMER’S, BREAST CANCER, DIVORCE
The bestselling Cup of Comfort book series is seeking submissions for publication consideration in three new books. Stories must be true, uplifting, and 1000 to 2000 words. For writer’s guidelines: www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm.
A CUP OF COMFORT FOR CHILDREN AND SPOUSES OF PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S
What happens when the person who raised you or the person with whom you raised your children slowly becomes a child who doesn’t know you? What if that loved one changes so drastically that he or she is virtually a stranger to you? What if that person is difficult to deal with and requires substantial assistance? How will the reality of having a spouse or parent with Alzheimer’s affect you and your family—emotionally, financially, physically, socially, personally, professionally? The inspiring stories in this collection will answer those questions and more—and will show how love prevails and how lives thrive when a spouse or parent has Alzheimer’s.
$500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy of book.
Submission Deadline: October 1, 2007
A CUP OF COMFORT FOR DIVORCED WOMEN
Divorce in the 21st century should come with an instruction manual, a release valve, and a support system. This anthology will serve essentially those three purposes, in the form of comforting, insightful, and inspirational stories about surviving and thriving during and after divorce. We seek uplifting, contemporary stories on a wide range of topics of importance to divorced women—including but not limited to: dating, children, relationship with ex, in-laws, finances, friends, solitude, personal transformation, healing, revenge, mending fences, the ex’s new wife or lover, empowerment, rediscovery of self. The majority of stories will be written by women who are or have been divorced. Stories can be poignant, irreverent, humorous, witty, or wise.
$500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy of book.
Submission Deadline: November 1, 2007
A CUP OF COMFORT FOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS
It has been said that “stories are medicine” and that “one of the most valuable things we can do to heal one another is to share our stories.” This collection will include compelling, inspiring, and uplifting personal essays about the experiences and emotions of living with—and living after—breast cancer. Possible story themes include but are not limited to: diagnosis, treatment, emotional impact, support systems, healthy lifestyle practices, emotional healing, coping mechanisms, impact on loved ones, effect on friendships, effect on career/work, effect on romance/intimacy, life lessons learned, personal transformation, silver linings, gratitude, triumph over trials, body image, and more. All themes and writing styles considered, as long as the story is positive.
Exclusively for the Breast Cancer Survivors volume, Adams Media is working in partnership with Redbook Magazine and will award a $5,000 grand prize, a $5,000 donation to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in the grand prize winner’s name, and bonus prizes to three runner-up stories.
Submission Deadline: December 31, 2007
CALL FOR INSPIRING TRUE STORIES: ALZHEIMER’S, BREAST CANCER, DIVORCE
The bestselling Cup of Comfort book series is seeking submissions for publication consideration in three new books. Stories must be true, uplifting, and 1000 to 2000 words. For writer’s guidelines: www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm.
A CUP OF COMFORT FOR CHILDREN AND SPOUSES OF PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S
What happens when the person who raised you or the person with whom you raised your children slowly becomes a child who doesn’t know you? What if that loved one changes so drastically that he or she is virtually a stranger to you? What if that person is difficult to deal with and requires substantial assistance? How will the reality of having a spouse or parent with Alzheimer’s affect you and your family—emotionally, financially, physically, socially, personally, professionally? The inspiring stories in this collection will answer those questions and more—and will show how love prevails and how lives thrive when a spouse or parent has Alzheimer’s.
$500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy of book.
Submission Deadline: October 1, 2007
A CUP OF COMFORT FOR DIVORCED WOMEN
Divorce in the 21st century should come with an instruction manual, a release valve, and a support system. This anthology will serve essentially those three purposes, in the form of comforting, insightful, and inspirational stories about surviving and thriving during and after divorce. We seek uplifting, contemporary stories on a wide range of topics of importance to divorced women—including but not limited to: dating, children, relationship with ex, in-laws, finances, friends, solitude, personal transformation, healing, revenge, mending fences, the ex’s new wife or lover, empowerment, rediscovery of self. The majority of stories will be written by women who are or have been divorced. Stories can be poignant, irreverent, humorous, witty, or wise.
$500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy of book.
Submission Deadline: November 1, 2007
A CUP OF COMFORT FOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS
It has been said that “stories are medicine” and that “one of the most valuable things we can do to heal one another is to share our stories.” This collection will include compelling, inspiring, and uplifting personal essays about the experiences and emotions of living with—and living after—breast cancer. Possible story themes include but are not limited to: diagnosis, treatment, emotional impact, support systems, healthy lifestyle practices, emotional healing, coping mechanisms, impact on loved ones, effect on friendships, effect on career/work, effect on romance/intimacy, life lessons learned, personal transformation, silver linings, gratitude, triumph over trials, body image, and more. All themes and writing styles considered, as long as the story is positive.
Exclusively for the Breast Cancer Survivors volume, Adams Media is working in partnership with Redbook Magazine and will award a $5,000 grand prize, a $5,000 donation to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in the grand prize winner’s name, and bonus prizes to three runner-up stories.
Submission Deadline: December 31, 2007
Flash Fiction Contest
Whim's Place holds quarterly flash fiction contests; the next contest ends Nov. 1, 2007.
Stories must be 500 words or less. Any story exceeding the 500-word limit will automatically be disqualified. The work must be your own; if your submission is a reprint, the original publisher must be given credit.
Each entry fee is $5 USD, and you may enter as many stories as you like. Payment method: PayPal, check or money order.
Entries will be judged based on style, originality, technical skills, and content.
Write about any topic, any genre. Judging will be done by the Whim's Place editors and one special judge.
For complete rules, click here.
Stories must be 500 words or less. Any story exceeding the 500-word limit will automatically be disqualified. The work must be your own; if your submission is a reprint, the original publisher must be given credit.
Each entry fee is $5 USD, and you may enter as many stories as you like. Payment method: PayPal, check or money order.
Entries will be judged based on style, originality, technical skills, and content.
Write about any topic, any genre. Judging will be done by the Whim's Place editors and one special judge.
For complete rules, click here.
Personal Essay Contest
Memoirs, Ink. is holding their fourth annual Personal Essay Contest. They are looking for original, well-written personal essays, memoirs, or stories that are based on autobiographical experiences. The narrative must be in first person, other that that, the contest is open to any type, genre or style of story.
Entry fee is $15; deadline is Aug. 1, 2007.
For complete contest rules and entry form, click here.
Entry fee is $15; deadline is Aug. 1, 2007.
For complete contest rules and entry form, click here.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Family Circle Fiction Contest
"Family Circle" magazine is sponsoring a short story fiction contest. The deadline is Aug. 31; one grand prize and two runners-up will be awarded.
Authors must be 21 or older. Submissions must be original short stories of no more than 2,500 words, typed on 8.5 x 11 paper. Include your name, address, daytime telephone number and e-mail address (optional) on each page and send to:
Family Circle Fiction Story Contest
c/o Family Circle Magazine
375 Lexington Avenue, Ninth Floor
New York, NY 10017.
Complete rules are here.
Authors must be 21 or older. Submissions must be original short stories of no more than 2,500 words, typed on 8.5 x 11 paper. Include your name, address, daytime telephone number and e-mail address (optional) on each page and send to:
Family Circle Fiction Story Contest
c/o Family Circle Magazine
375 Lexington Avenue, Ninth Floor
New York, NY 10017.
Complete rules are here.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Writing Scams
At the July 7th meeting, we talked about writing contests that are actually scams. Listed below are some of the resources that were mentioned in the discussion:
Writer Beware - Located on the website of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc., one of the best sites to check on writing scams and literary fraud, including contests, print-on-demand publishers and literary agents.
Writers Beware also has a companion blog hosted by A.C. Crispin and Victoria Strauss.
"The Street-Smart Writer: Self-Defense Against Sharks and Scams in the Writing World," by Jenna Glatzer (2006) is also a great resource; available at the Oshkosh Public Library.
Elite Skills provides a list of poetry contests to avoid. Most of these are poetry contests sponsored by publishers, where winners (everyone who enters) are then solicitated to buy a copy of an anthology in which their poem will appear.
Writer Beware - Located on the website of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc., one of the best sites to check on writing scams and literary fraud, including contests, print-on-demand publishers and literary agents.
Writers Beware also has a companion blog hosted by A.C. Crispin and Victoria Strauss.
"The Street-Smart Writer: Self-Defense Against Sharks and Scams in the Writing World," by Jenna Glatzer (2006) is also a great resource; available at the Oshkosh Public Library.
Elite Skills provides a list of poetry contests to avoid. Most of these are poetry contests sponsored by publishers, where winners (everyone who enters) are then solicitated to buy a copy of an anthology in which their poem will appear.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Oshkosh Area Writers Club is 10 a.m. Saturday, July 7 in the lower level meeting room of the Oshkosh Public Library. Dixie J. is the spotlight author; her novel can be downloaded from the OAWC message board. Also, copies of the club anthology, "Hearts We Know By Stories," will be available for $9.
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