Posts Tagged ‘submissions’

The Millions: An “Indispensable Literary Site”

March 29, 2015

THE NEW YORK TIMES CALLS THE MILLIONS “the indispensable literary site.” You might want to subscribe to the blog—and get “indispensible” coverage on books, arts, and culture, including THOUSANDS of relevant book reviews—or you might consider submitting work of your own. If you’d like to write for THE MILLIONS, you’ll find an email link on the About page that invites you to contact Max!

* * *

Writing coach

Need help with your book? I’m available for book coaching and manuscript review!
Click to read Should I Hire a Writing Coach in THE WRITER magazine.

* * *

Whistling for Literary Submissions

March 2, 2015

IT’S (SORT OF) SPRING! TIME TO SHOVE YOUR WORK OUT OF the nest. Here are some resources that will help your stories, poems, and essays fly in the right direction:

NEW PAGES lists literary magazines, alternative periodicals, contests, and more. Visit their classifieds for submissions calls.

POETS & WRITERS has an excellent classifieds section, too, with calls for anthologies, books, chapbooks, and work for magazines.

Finally, THE REVIEW REVIEW helps writers identify appropriate markets—and also provides a way for writers to keep in contact with editors! As site creator Becky Tuch says, A story might not be right for a magazine, but [writing] a thoughtful review will be sure to make editors aware of your writing skills. Great classifieds, too!

* * *

Writing coach

Need help with your book? I’m available for book coaching and manuscript review!
Click to read Should I Hire a Writing Coach in THE WRITER magazine.

* * *

Opportunities for Women Writers

January 10, 2015

The Center for Women Writers at Salem College, in Winston Salem, North Carolina, has announced an international literary contest. They will present awards in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Thanks to Danielle Moroux for sharing this with us. It’s always great to see opportunities for women writers!

Literary Contests and Opportunities for Women Writers

Literary contests can offer writers a wonderful opportunity to share their work, gain recognition, and connect with a larger writing community. And when an organization like the Center for Women Writers sponsors a competition, it’s also an opportunity to celebrate and encourage women’s literary voices.

For writers of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, contests can provide an incentive to finish a piece that’s been languishing in a drawer or sitting half-polished on a computer. After all, there’s nothing quite like a submission deadline to help move a writing project from “someday” to “done!”

But entering literary contests involves more than simply sending off your favorite piece.

First, take a careful look at the guidelines. Does the contest accept your particular genre? Are there word-count restrictions or eligibility requirements? Is there an entry fee? Knowing what’s expected before you submit can save time, money, and disappointment.

Next, give your work one more thoughtful read. Check for awkward sentences, inconsistencies, and those pesky little errors that somehow survive even the most careful revisions. Better yet, ask a trusted writing friend to take a look.

Women’s community leads to opportunities

Opportunities for women writers come in many forms. There are literary contests, writing residencies, grants, fellowships, workshops, and publication in journals and anthologies. Organizations dedicated to supporting women writers can provide something equally valuable: a community in which women’s stories, experiences, and perspectives are encouraged and celebrated. Whether you’re just beginning your writing journey or have been publishing for years, seeking out these opportunities can help you develop your craft, build confidence, and connect with other writers who share your creative ambitions.

Danielle’s generosity in passing along this contest announcement is a lovely example of writers supporting writers.

Whether you’re entering a literary contest or cheering on someone who is, there’s something wonderful about being part of a community that wants to see its members succeed.

The contest deadline has been extended to January 31st, 2015, so click here and take a look-see! Best of luck!

Opportunities for women writers abound! Entering a literary contest, preparing a story or essay for publication, or working on a book-length manuscript? A writing coach can help you strengthen your work and prepare it for submission. If you’d like some editorial guidance and support, visit my contact page, and let’s connect! You might also be interested in my books: Plotting Your Novel with the Plot Clock and Jamie Helps Mel Write a Novel.

Short Story Contests

December 16, 2014

AS PART OF THE LAKE COUNTY LIBRARY BOOKFEST 2015, Writers One Flight Up is sponsoring another in a series of short story contests. Each of the three, top-placed contestants will win a fifteen-minute interview with both agent Lucienne Diver of the Knight Agency and Random House author Amy Christine Parker.

Stories must be 2500 words or less in the genres of fantasy, science fiction, urban fantasy, paranormal, or romantic fantasy. Find more information at the events page of Writers One Flight Up. Deadline for submission is midnight, February 13, 2015.

Short Story Contests: More Than Just a Prize

Short story contests can offer aspiring writers something even more valuable than a cash prize: an opportunity to connect with people in the publishing industry.

The Lake County Library BookFest 2015 short story contest is a great example. Instead of offering the usual monetary award, the contest gives its top three winners an opportunity to talk with a literary agent and a published novelist. For a writer hoping to break into publishing, that’s an exciting prospect!

A conversation with a literary agent can offer insight into what agents look for in a manuscript. You could learn how they evaluate potential clients and what writers should know about the submission process. Likewise, talking with a published author can provide a firsthand perspective on the challenges and rewards of bringing a book into the world.

No losers!

And even if you don’t win, entering short story contests can be a valuable exercise in developing your craft.

Writing a complete story in 2,500 words or fewer requires discipline. You need to establish characters, introduce conflict, develop a compelling narrative, and arrive at a satisfying conclusion. All without wasting words.

For writers working in fantasy, science fiction, or paranormal genres, that can be especially challenging. Worldbuilding is important. But in short fiction, you have to reveal just enough of your imagined world to make the story believable without overwhelming the narrative.

So if you’ve been thinking about entering a short story contest, consider what you might gain beyond the prize. A polished manuscript, experience meeting a deadline, and another completed piece of writing are accomplishments worth celebrating!

Short story contests offer wonderful opportunities to sharpen your writing skills and share your work with new readers. Are you polishing a short story or working on a novel? A writing coach can help you strengthen your manuscript and move toward publication. If you’d like some support along the way, visit my contact page, and let’s connect. You might also be interested in my books: Plotting Your Novel with the Plot Clock and Jamie Helps Mel Write a Novel.

The Emma Press Poetry Submissions

November 15, 2014

The Emma Press Poetry submissions are open.

The Emma Press, whose charming subtitle is “Small Press, Big Dreams,” seeks submissions of poems about “urban myths and legends,” for a new anthology inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses. For The Emma Press poetry submissions, poets are encouraged to send in poems which tell new stories and include some kind of transformation, as a nod to the original text.

Publisher Emma Wright says, “The Metamorphoses is often considered Ovid’s masterpiece. The requirements are quite exacting, but I think poets like a challenge and will hopefully come up with some brilliant stories.”

Writing Poetry Inspired by Myths and Legends

What a wonderful invitation for poets! Myths and legends have been inspiring writers for centuries, and there’s no reason those ancient stories can’t find new life in the modern world.

Ovid’s Metamorphoses is filled with tales of transformation, in which people and other beings undergo extraordinary changes. But transformation doesn’t have to mean turning into a tree, a bird, or a constellation. It can also be emotional, psychological, or spiritual. A character might emerge from an experience with an entirely different understanding of themselves or the world around them.

And what about urban legends? Every city has its mysterious stories, whispered warnings, and peculiar local lore. These contemporary myths offer fertile ground for poets who enjoy combining the familiar with the fantastic.

If you’re looking for inspiration, start with a story you’ve heard but never quite believed. What if it were true? What if the person at the center of the legend experienced a remarkable transformation? How might you tell that story in a poem?

You might also experiment with retelling a familiar myth from an unexpected perspective. Give a minor character a voice, move an ancient story into a modern setting, or imagine what happens after the original tale ends.

The possibilities are nearly endless. And sometimes an intriguing writing prompt is all it takes to send your imagination somewhere entirely unexpected!

The Emma Press Calls for Poetry Submissions

The deadline for submissions is December 31st, 2014. To submit, you must be a member of the Emma Press Club, which involves buying a book, ebook, or set of postcards from the publisher’s website. Find full submissions guidelines at the Submissions page.

Have poems to share? Among many other publishers, The Emma Press calls for poetry submissions this year. If you’d like support as you complete or polish your poems, visit my contact page, and let’s connect. You might also be interested in my books: Plotting Your Novel with the Plot Clock and Jamie Helps Mel Write a Novel.

Entering Writing Competitions

October 25, 2014

Literary Journals Sponsor Competions

Entering writing competitions can be a terrific way to get your work out into the world, challenge yourself to polish a piece until it shines, and maybe even earn some recognition along the way. Literary journals often sponsor competitions that offer cash prizes, publication, and the opportunity to get your writing in front of established editors and authors.

Columbia University’s 2015 Writing Competition is one such opportunity, with prizes for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Below are the details, along with some tips for choosing and entering writing competitions that can help you make the most of your submissions.

Columbia University’s prestigious Columbia: A Journal of Literature and Art is accepting original work for their 2015 Writing Competition. Categories include Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction. Entry fee is $15, and one winner from each genre will receive a $500 cash prize along with publication in their Issue 53.

Familiarize yourself with previous issues to get see what they publish. This year’s guest judges will be:

Fiction: Dewitt Henry
Nonfiction: Emily Bestler
Poetry: Beth Ann Fennelly

Fiction and poetry entries should not exceed 7500 words. Poetry entries may be up to 5 pages. Previously published work is not eligible. Deadline is December 1, 2014.

Tips for Entering Writing Competitions

Writing competitions can be a terrific way to challenge yourself, gain recognition for your work, and potentially find new readers. Whether you’re submitting fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction, a little preparation can help you make the most of the opportunity.

First, do your homework. Before entering a writing competition, spend some time reading work the sponsoring publication has previously published. Every literary journal has its own sensibility, and getting familiar with its editorial preferences can help you determine whether your writing might be a good fit.

Next, pay close attention to the submission guidelines. Word counts, formatting requirements, eligibility rules, and deadlines aren’t suggestions! A wonderful piece of writing can be disqualified simply because it doesn’t follow the rules.

And don’t forget to consider the entry fee. Some writing competitions offer substantial prizes and valuable publication opportunities, but entering multiple contests can get expensive. Choose the ones that make the most sense for your work and your budget.

Finally, remember that submitting your writing is an accomplishment in itself. Winning is wonderful, of course, but the process of polishing a piece, meeting a deadline, and sending your work into the world helps build the confidence and discipline every writer needs.

So find a writing competition that appeals to you, follow the guidelines, and give it a shot. Your work deserves a chance to be read!

Contests like Columbia University’s 2015 writing competition can be a great place to submit your work. If you’d like to learn more about choosing worthwhile contests or other publication opportunities, visit my contact page, and let’s connect. You might also be interested in my books: Plotting Your Novel with the Plot Clock and Jamie Helps Mel Write a Novel.

Red Flags: Writers Take Warning

August 31, 2014

IN HER RECENT ARTICLE FOR AUTHORS PUBLISH MAGAZINE, “Red Flags: A Guide to Avoiding the Wrong Publisher,” Emily Harstone breaks down some quick ways to keep yourself out of trouble when it’s time to shop your manuscript. She links to Preditors and Editors and other good resources and encourages you to do your homework before you stick that query in the (e)mail. Check out “Red Flags”: Writers, take warning!

Warning: Find the Right Home for Your Book

Most writers who finish a manuscript feel the same mix of pride and hope. You want someone to say yes. That wanting is natural, and it’s also what makes the wrong offers hard to turn down.

The simplest guide is the direction the money moves. A literary agent earns a commission, usually fifteen percent, only after selling your book. A traditional publisher pays you, through an advance or royalties. If someone asks you to pay for reading your pages, representing you, or “producing” your book, you’re dealing with something else. Vanity presses charge authors to print books, and often describe the cost as an investment. Hybrid presses fall in between. Some are open about what you pay and what you receive, and those are the ones worth a conversation.

A reputable agent is glad to answer questions. Ask who they’ve sold to recently. Ask for their agreement in writing and read it slowly. Look them up on Publishers Marketplace, and see whether they belong to the Association of Authors’ Representatives. A reputable publisher can show you their books in real bookstores and libraries, not only on their own website.

Red Flags: Writers Take Warning

Writer Beware, sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, keeps a free list of complaints and warnings about agents and presses. A few minutes there can save you a year of disappointment.

The pull is often toward the first person who shows interest. Quick, warm replies feel wonderful. A real agent may take weeks or months to answer, and a “no” from a strong agent is worth more than a “yes” from a poor fit.

Your book deserves a home that wants it for its own sake. Waiting costs you nothing, and the right match is worth it.

There is so much to know about writing and publishing a book. Knowing how to spot red flags (writers, take warning!) is just one of the skills that will help. If you’d like to learn more, visit my contact page, and let’s connect. You might also be interested in my books: Plotting Your Novel with the Plot Clock and Jamie Helps Mel Write a Novel.

Writing to Abstract Art!

August 23, 2014

AUTHOR KRIS WALDHERR POSTED A LINK to a wonderfully fresh Ploughshares article titled “Writing with Abstract Art.” In the article, writer Anca Szilagyi discusses approaches to ekphrastic writing, or, writing about art. In this post, we’ll explore writing prompts: responding to abstract art. Read on for some get-your-motor-running writing prompts that are a sure bet to spark some surprising work!

Writing Prompts: Responding to Abstract Art!

If you’ve never tried ekphrastic writing, you’re in for a treat. The idea is simple: choose a work of art, spend some time looking at it, and let your imagination take over. You might find yourself describing what you see, but the real fun begins when you move beyond description and discover what the artwork suggests to you.

Abstract art is particularly interesting as a starting point for creative writing because it doesn’t necessarily offer a recognizable scene, character, or story. Instead, you’re working with colors, shapes, textures, and the feelings they evoke. There’s no obvious narrative to follow, which means you’re free to invent one of your own.

Try Writing to Abstract Art

Try choosing an abstract painting. (Find a likely candidate online, in a book or magazine, or at a local art gallery or museum.) Look at it for a few minutes without writing anything. Notice where your eye goes first. Does a particular color suggest a mood? Does a shape remind you of something familiar? What might be happening just outside the edges of the canvas?

Now start writing. Don’t worry about making sense or getting it right. Follow whatever associations come to mind, even if they seem peculiar or completely unrelated to the artwork. You might discover the beginnings of a poem, a scene for a story, or an entirely unexpected character.

And isn’t that one of the best things about writing? You never quite know where it will take you.

A Home for Your Art-Inspired Poems

EKPHRASIS: a Poetry Journal, is “looking for well-crafted poems, the main content of which addresses individual works from any artistic genre.” Further, they explain, “Ekphrastic verse transcends mere description: it stands as a transformative critical statement, an original gloss on the individual art piece it addresses.”

Check it out! Give it a go! Might be a market for your mini-masterpiece!

Writing and the visual arts are best friends. And simple writing prompts based on a piece of art can launch a memoir, a novel, a collection of essays! If you’d like to learn more about ways to inspire a book project, visit my contact page, and let’s connect. You might also be interested in my books: Plotting Your Novel with the Plot Clock and Jamie Helps Mel Write a Novel.

Previous 1 2