* WE INTERRUPT THIS BLOG BREAK FOR WRITERS EVERYWHERE *

Happy October 1st 2014!

Writerly News

 

Hello Everyone ~ Although I have missed blogging, being away from it this past month has been good for me. One less thing to stress about.

 

I'd like to be able to announce that I've gotten tons of writing accomplished....but I haven't. I HAVE, though, succeeded in doing some really good marketing in my area. My memoir is now being stocked in two more local gift shops, J and I have many more places to call on.

 

More about all that at a later time. Today I want to share contests and calls for submissions I've recently come across. 

* * Note: I will be sending out my 2nd newsletter sometime very soon. If you haven't signed up yet and would like to, please go to my website and fill out the info: http://www.beckypovich.com/contact-me-for-newsletter-comments-and-book-clubs.html 

 

 

 

Publishing Syndicate: This is the Not Your Mother's Book On... _ _ _ _ _ publisher. They always have call outs but the current ones look like these three.

NYMB...On Sex: Immediately!

NYMB...On Military Life: January 1, 2015

NYMB...On Menopause: January 1, 2015

 



 

Page & Spine; a weekly literary magazine, is having their First Annual Christmas Contest!  They will pay $100 for the Best Story, plus another $100 for the Best Poem! There's only a $5.00 entry fee for each item submitted. Their website also says: showcasing emerging writers. I really don't know anything about them, but it's a legitimate site! So, go for it! I'd love to hear from anyone who enters!

 

 

The Copperfield Review; A Journal for Readers and Writers of Historical Fiction, is now accepting historical short fiction, poetry, and history-based nonfiction for Copperfield‘s first anthology. I think this sounds so exciting, because I don't remember ever coming across an anthology for historical fiction writers! (It also says they have changed their guidelines, so be sure to read everything. I didn't look enough to notice if there was an entry fee or not, either.)

 

 

The Furious Gazelle; Halloween Contest. Deadline October 24th. (I'm getting lazier as I type, so look it up for more info!) J

 

Chicken Soup for the Soul FOOD Contest: Yes, Chicken Soup has a food contest! This link takes you to the information which is listed on Facebook. The deadline to enter is December 29th. It sounds like a lot of fun. I keep forgetting about it, but I want to enter, too.

 

 



Chicken Soup for the Soul: Calls for Submissions (Writing!) 

 

Dreams & Premonitions - Deadline 12/31/2014

Hope & Miracles - Deadline 10/30/2014

Inspiration for Nurses - Deadline 11/30/2014

Living a Life of Purpose by Volunteering - Deadline 12/31/2014

Stories about the Christmas Season - Deadline 1/31/2015

Support for Therapists/Mental Health Professionals - Deadline 12/31/2014

Thanks to My Mom - Deadline 10/20/2014 (I think this is a new, extended date.)

Time to Thrive - Deadline 12/31/2014

 

 

 

Okay everyone out there who writes or even thinks about writing - -  there's a little bit of everything right here for you to try!!

 

 

I've noticed I have some new Blog Followers and as always I want to acknowledge them. I'm not sure but I think I have three new wonderful blog friends......

 

 

* Welcome to my newest followers: Beauty Ink, Michael Mixerr, and Sherri Ellis at Mama Diaries. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you! *

 

 

In honor of it being October 1st, and because of my love of autumn and the stunning colors the leaves become, I'm ending with a quote about....Trees!

 

 

 

 

 "Listen to the trees as they sway in the wind. Their leaves are telling secrets...." -- Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration



* LIVING THE WRITER'S LIFE: CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS & CONTESTS *

The Mark Twain House & Museum’s Inaugural "Royal Nonesuch" Humor Writing Contest for writers of all ages from all corners of the globe......THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED! 


Although, I didn't see it listed anywhere on the website except for these small words in the Guidelines: Ends in 4 days, 11 hours, I received an e-mail yesterday, stating that the deadline has been extended to July 14th, 2014

So, there's still time for those interested in submitting a humorous story!

~~~

 

Blue Mountain Arts is looking for greeting card poetry/prose! The earliest deadline is July 15, 2014 for their "Christmas & General Holiday" cards. Scroll down to the bottom of the Writers Guidelines page to find out about the other upcoming cards.

 

 

Blue Mountain Arts is also having its Twenty-fifth Biannual Poetry Card Contest. Deadline is December 31, 2014.

 

 

~~~

 

And of course, there's always submissions going on at NYMB...Not Your Mother's Book, which wants "....only hip, fun, modern and very-much-today type stories that will entertain our readers."

 

And at Chicken Soup for the Soul, which most people are familiar with.

 

~~~



 

 

 

A clean corner of my desk...a long time ago!

 

* Welcome to my two newest followers Sherry at The Charm of Home, and Fabby at Fabby's Living. I hope you'll both stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! *


 

"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by." -- Douglas Adams

 

 

"One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple." -- Jack Kerouac



* A GIVE-AWAY - BOOKS & MORE *

Welcome to my newest Give-Away! It's been way too long since I had one, so I decided now is the time!

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stay at Home Moms

(I did not submit to this one, but I won it somewhere.)

A Slob in the Kitchen

by Karen Duffy

is a really fun cookbook! It's full of easy recipes, anecdotes, and quotes. I even bought two of these: one for myself and one for a give-away! 

A favorite quote from my childhood listed on page 125:

"I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." -- Wimpy (from Popeye)

Not Your Mother's Book...On Dogs

(Some of my writer friends have stories included, and I have one, too.)

Two great booklets for your home:

Taste of Home Freezer Meals

&

101 Ways to Decorate with Candles

Two tiny plaques approx. 3" x 2"

with wire hangers. 

(Would be adorable as gift tag add-ons, or hanging in a small area.)

The "rules" are simple. Just leave a comment here and be one of my followers. I'll allow comments until midnight Sunday, July 21st. Thanks in advance to everyone who will join in the fun!

Oh, one more thing! I will also add a couple of surprise items to the winner. Ooooh, what could they be? 

AND, finally....this Give-Away is open to my followers in ANY country!


"A disaster or unexpected event is an open invitation to let your imagination shine through." -- Karen Duffy

* More Calls for Submissions! *

Are you tired of reading about opportunities for writers? I hope not! I just came across a couple of new ones and wanted to share the information. 

How would you like to write a 3 - 5 minute manuscript that could be read by the Petaluma Readers Theatre? Click on the link to learn all about it.

~~~~~

Quite a few of my writer friends and I have blogged about Publishing Syndicate's anthology series: Not Your Mother's Book. A new title was just announced today: Not Your Mother's Book On...Senior Moments.  Oh yeah....I think many of us have stories we can write about for that! When you click on the link and arrive at their website, be sure to scroll down, reading all the anthology titles on the left. Give it a try! You've got nothing to lose,other than a possible publication! Two of their books have deadlines that are almost here: 

NYMB ...On Being a Mom: August 1, 2013 

NYMB ...On Family: August 1, 2013

~~~~~

Tiny Lights is currently accepting submissions for its quarterly Flash in the Pan. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page for the guidelines. 

~~~~~

Tiny Lights also accepts "answers" to questions posed by Editor-in-Chief, Susan Bono, in Searchlights & Signal Flares. My answer to What keeps you honest? can be found here. The next question that needs to be answered is What do you wish you could write about? ANYONE can submit their answers to these questions, and EVERY ONE OF THEM will be posted online at Tiny Lights: A Journal of Personal Narrative. I can't imagine why any writer wouldn't want to give it a try.

~~~~~

I think that's it for tonight. I'll announce my give-away in my next blog post.

"Writing became such a process of discovery that I couldn't wait to get to work in the morning:  I wanted to know what I was going to say."  ~ Sharon O'Brien

* Books * Dogs * A Give-Away *

It's been such a long time since I've had any kind of contest or give-away, I decided the time is NOW!

Do you love books?

Do you love to read books?

How about dogs?

Do you love dogs?

Do you love to read books about dogs and the people who love them? 

~~~

If you answered YES to any of these questions, please keep reading!

A true story I wrote about our first dog, Rocky, ("Rocky Loses by a TKO") is included in this fun and fabulous anthology. I will give one away in a random drawing consisting of people who leave a comment (and also become my follower if you aren't already) on this particular post.

My oldest son, Scott, & Rocky - 1982

We got Rocky when he was just a pup! 

And, boy, did he get into all kinds of trouble!

A couple of wedding photos that Rocky tried to eat! 

I mention this in my story.

Rocky and me - 1988

By this time, my youngest son, Mark, was 6 months old.

Rocky and Mark 1988

When we brought little, newborn Mark home from the hospital, Rocky immediately became very protective of him. They were pals until the day we had to say good-bye to Rocky when Mark was 10 years old. 

If you read my blog post from May 1st,you'll remember Tracie Hotchner, the Radio Pet Lady. I'll be calling into her show It's a Dog's Life ** A Brand New Show **"Your Dog's Best Friend" tomorrow evening, May 23rd, around 7:05 pm (CDT). If it's at all possible, please be sure to listen to the live podcast!

You don't have to listen to be part of the give-away, though! (If you'd like, you can always listen to show archives on Tracie's site, too.)

* Adendum Thursday, May 23rd 10:35pm CDT:
As you can see, I crossed out the name of the originally planned show, and added the Brand New Show: "Your Dog's Best Friend", which had its first broadcast this evening! I was "on" between 7:30 to 7:43pm. Please listen to the archive show, which should be posted on the podcast archives soon!
In this case, the "best friend" of your dog, is Sarah Hodgson: "dog trainer and people trainer for dogs"!

SO.....what do you need to do to be included in the give-away drawing? I'm making "the rules" very easy. You don't have to repost it, twitter it, facebook it, or go to any trouble. 

I just ask that you leave a comment at the end of this post, and become my follower, if you aren't already. That's it! 


Comments can be left until midnight Saturday, May 25th. (CDT) I'll make the random drawing after that and post the winner on Sunday's post. Any questions? Just ask!

Thanks and maybe you could tell your dog-loving friends about it, too! 
~~~

P.S. If you're a writer, the publisher, Publishing Syndicate, is accepting stories for a multitude of various upcoming anthologies. Check it out!

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ~ Anatole France

* Calling All Writers *

Recently I've come across various Calls for Submissions and Contests for Writers. You don't have to be a professional, published writer, either. That's the best part. So, come on everyone, give it a try, especially the ones that are free to enter. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain!

Chicken Soup for the Soul:  (You'll find all the info you need when you click this link) *As always, Chicken Soup does not charge a fee to submit your stories, and below are their current anthologies with deadlines approaching.

Devotional Stories for Wives 

The deadline date for submissions is February 28, 2013.

Holiday Stories 
The deadline date for story submissions is February 28, 2013.

Lemons to Lemonade 
The deadline date for story and poem submissions is February 28, 2013.

Messages from Heaven: Love Never Dies 

The deadline date for story and poem submissions is March 31, 2013.

Multitasking Mom's Survival Guide 
The deadline for story and poem submissions is June 30, 2013.

~~~

These next ones came from Lynda Schab's blog On The Write Track. I asked Lynda's permission to share these and she "Sure, Becky!" One of the things I like about these is that they're wholesome places to submit. Example: the Romance Short Stories is for an anthology and says they're looking for: "Clean, sweet, wholesome romances. No steamy love scenes, no erotica. We want clean, sweet, beautiful stories. (and) If it has a natural Christian element to the story, that's great, but it is not a requirement."    Go to Lynda's blog for complete information!

*Romance Short Stories
*The "JOY" Contest
*ACFW Genesis Contest 
*FaithWriters Page Turner Contest 
*FaithWriters Paid Blogging Contest
*FaithWriters Writing Challenge 
*Highlights for Children

(some of these have fees, others are free)

~~~

How many of you get the weekly Writer Gazette E-Newsletter? It's loaded with all kinds of info, and there's a complete list of contests and calls for submissions on their website. 

~~~

Okay, here's a really cool anthology for us women who grew up in the 60s and/or 70s. Times They Were A Changing I've been reading about this for MONTHS, and still have not submitted anything. Well...it's now or never for me...and all of you, because the deadlines is THIS TUESDAY! THE 15TH!  They're accepting poetry and prose. Click on the link for full details. 

~~~

* Welcome to my newest follower Teresa Coltrin of Journaling Woman. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! *

~~~

One more thing, since I  haven't had a give-away in a long, long time.... (Didn't I at one time, have a give-away once every month??)

I'll have one today! All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post.

Don't have to be a follower or any other rules. I'll choose a winner by random drawing, and the winner will receive.....a copy of the new anthology, "Not Your Mother's Book...On Dogs." A story of mine is included, titled, "Rocky Loses by a TKO."

Everyone is eligible.....Even my around the world blog friends!!  

I'll draw the winning name on Tuesday the 15th at midnight. 

Winner will be posted on Wednesday, the 16th. 

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." -- C.S. Lewis

Writing Contest & Calls for Anthologies

As promised yesterday, I'm sharing some contest information and calls for submissions. I've already mentioned some of these in the past, but want to post a reminder since deadlines are coming up. 

First: Lynn Goodwin at Writer Advice has a fascinating contest with a deadline of October 15, 2012. That's just a little over a month away! Can you believe it? The name of the contest is Scintillating Starts. Isn't that cool? If that doesn't spark your interest, I don't know what will! 

                                WRITER ADVICE ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST-EVER

Scintillating Starts

A new contest from Writer Advice

*Winners will share prize money and have their first paragraphs published on the website.*

~~~~~~

I interviewed Lynn this past March and she shared so much information and "writerly" sites with us. Click HERE to read Part One of the interview. Part Two   can be found on the next day's post. 

~~~~~~

Chicken Soup for the Soul has a call-out for your stories! Click on the link to find out all the details, but until you do, here's a little info:

Lemons to Lemonade - deadline February 28, 2013

Holiday Stories - deadline February 28, 2013

Devotional Stories for Wives - deadline February 28, 2013

20th Anniversary Reader's Choice - deadline January 15, 2013

Raising Kids on the Spectrum - deadline September 30, 2012

~~~~~~

There are many call-outs from Publishing Syndicate for the NYMB (Not Your Mother's Book) anthologies! I'm highlighting FOUR of them below. One for friend Linda O'Connell, one for friend Dianna Graveman, and two for new-friend Pat Nelson!

Linda O'Connell is developing and seeking sassy, snappy, sincere and humorous submissions for, Not Your Mother's Book on Family. Deadline is October 1, 2012! So Hurry!

 http://publishingsyndicate.com/publishing_syndicate/submissions/title_descriptions/family.html 

Dianna Graveman is seeking first-person funny and downright embarrassing submissions for Not Your Mother's Book on Being a Mom. Deadline is October 1, 2012! So Hurry!

http://publishingsyndicate.com/publishing_syndicate/submissions/title_descriptions/moms.html 

Pat Nelson is looking for stories about you and your parents or you and your children for the parenting book and you and your grandparents or you and your grandchildren for the grandparenting book.

Pat is offering a free critique of your parenting or grandparenting story. If you would like to receive one, submit your stories directly to Pat:  PatsStorystorm@gmail.com during the month of September. She will return your story to you with her suggestions. Then, make any desired changes and submit to Publishing Syndicate for parenting, and to PublishingSyndicate for grandparenting. OR you may submit them directly to, without Pat's critique. 

These two books have an Open Deadline as of now, but it's always a good idea to submit your stories early! *

*Welcome to my newest follower, Beth I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you! *  

"I couldn't be me, without you being you, allowing me to be me." -- Becky Povich (said to The Ronald one evening when discussing my writing)

Writerly Tidbits

I know..... I'm supposed to be on a Big Blog Break....which I'm really doing, but I wanted to share a couple of Writerly Tidbits.


Remember three weeks ago when I wrote about my dog story "Rocky Loses by a TKO," not making it into a Chicken Soup for the Soul book? Well, I submitted it to Not Your Mother’s Book…On Dogs by Publishing Syndicate. On Tuesday afternoon I received an e-mail and Permission Release Form announcing it "made it through the first consideration round." 

So, since I believe in my story and I enjoy a virtual roller-coaster ride every now and then, I'm very happy I resubmitted it. Time will tell whether it actually makes it into the book or not, but that's okay, too. I've learned to add patience to my list of qualities I'm trying like crazy to learn to be patient, which is so necessary for writers...and people in general!


If the series Not Your Mother's Book.... sounds familiar, it might be because you've read about it on other blogs recently. Dianna Graveman and Linda O'Connell are working with Publishing Syndicate on three of their many upcoming books. Be sure to visit the website and/or the two blogs.

~~~~~

My other Writerly Tidbit is that I won a book on Writer Unboxed! I first heard about this blog/website when I attended the Donald Maass Workshop last month in St. Louis. He is one of many contributors. 

My name was drawn by random in the post by Chuck Sambuchino, titled What Are the Best Writers' Conferences to Attend? I left a comment along with lots of others, and my name/number was drawn!

I had two choices of books: "2012 Guide to Literary Agents," or "Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript, 3rd Ed." I chose the manuscript book and will be happy to share info here on my blog....when I can! 

If you're a writer and/or love to read, please check out all the links I've provided. There's a wealth of information there.

Thanks for stopping by. Now, I'm really not going to post for quite some time. I mean it! 

"A leaf fluttered in through the window this morning, as if supported by the rays of the sun, a bird settled on the fire escape, joy in the task of coffee, joy accompanied me as I walked." -- Anais Nin