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.*

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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. 

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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

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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)

Letters Here, Letters There, and Contests

Sometime in the past year, writer and blog friend C. Hope Clark, posted about some of the letters on her keyboard being totally worn off. If I remember correctly, she also shared photos of them. I got such a kick out of it that I sent her a few alphabet stickers to cover those keys. 


Some of the letters on my laptop keyboard have now disappeared to the point of needing replacements. Although I know what letters belong to those blank and almost-blank keys, I'd still like to be able to look down every once in a while and see them again. So, I'm borrowing Hope's concept and sharing mine....with before and after pictures. 

BEFORE

AFTER

As you can see, I use the E, A, and S keys regularly. And the A has grooves on it, from my left pinky fingernail. Weird, huh? The W and D are getting a little worn, but they're okay for now. On the right side of my keyboard, the O, N, and K are getting pretty worn, too. Interesting.....

What about you? What are the keys you see wearing off the most?? It can give us an insight into how we write. 

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And speaking of writing...Please check out Tiny Lights - A Journal of Personal Narrative. I have an answer included in: "As a writer, what are your priorities?" Don't forget....anyone can submit an answer each month! Your award? Getting published in an online journal. Getting your name "out there."

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 A couple of writing contests I came across:

WRITER ADVICE ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST-EVER

Scintillating Starts

A new contest from Writer Advice

 PURPOSE: To win recognition for the opening of your unpublished manuscript or to get additional perspective, depending on where you are. If your opening is shared on Writer Advice, you’ll be able to tell prospective agents, publishers, and book buyers that you were one of the winners of Writer Advice’s First Scintillating Starts Contest. 

HOW IT WORKS: Submit the opening chapter or paragraphs. Show us how you grab the reader. Entice us. Make us want to know more.

We’ll send you an insightful, practical evaluation and publish the first paragraphs of the works we believe are strongest. $250 in prize money will be divided among those published.

JUDGE(S): TBA.

DEADLINE: October 15, 2012

FEE: $20

QUESTIONS? Write to Lgood67334@comcast.net. Please send your work through Submittable, only.

Questions? Click HERE.

Note from me: I think this sounds like a great contest! What a fabulous name for it! I plan on entering.

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1^st Annual WNBA National Writing Contest 

The Women's National Book Association

http://www.wnba-books.org/contest 

Small fees and $250 cash prize plus publication. (This was found on Writer Advice.) Click on link for complete information.

"If writers stopped writing about what happened to them, then there would be a lot of empty pages." - Elaine Liner

* Lynn Goodwin - Part 2 *

Welcome back to Part 2 of Lynn Goodwin's questions and answers blog post! Yesterday, we had questions 1 through 4. Today we'll finish with questions 5 through 9. Don't forget to leave a comment or ask Lynn a question, either on this post or yesterday's, to be eligible for the book give-away. *And if you leave a comment on both blog posts, you'll be entered twice.*

* I forgot to mention when the drawing will be. I'll take comments until midnight CDT, today, 3/27/12. Winner will be announced tomorrow. *

5)     5) I noticed your Brag Board and Announcements. I’m sure many of my readers would love to have some of their accomplishments listed there.

I agree. Send them to me. The address is on the website, and accomplishments are posted for 90 days. Send your friends in to see them.

6-A) Do you still need some volunteers for your site?

      Absolutely. We need volunteers to write both book and website reviews, to clean up and expand the Resources page, and always, always, we need people to help us publicize the e-zine. Send me a letter of interest that includes a bit about your writing and publicity background and a resume.

  

6-    6-B) Any paid positions available?

There are no paid positions at this time, but sometimes good volunteers work their way into paid positions, if they are reliable, meet deadlines, and have a unique voice that does not require much editing.
 

7)     7) You offer manuscript consultation. Do you prefer reading/editing a certain genre?

I'm happy to read and respond to almost anything including long and short fiction, creative non-fiction, memoir, articles, blog posts, academic papers, college application essays, and even poetry unless it's obscure. To determine whether the writer and I are a match, I read a short sample at no charge. Find out what we offer at: http://www.writeradvice.com/manuscriptconsultation.html. Questions? Please ask. My address is in the middle of the page. 
 

8)    8) It looks like you also accept book reviews. Tell us about that.

I'm always looking for good reviewers. I have lots of books sent from Random House and its subsidiaries. A Random House Book Rep, who gave presentations for Project Second Chance, the Contra Costa County Library's Adult Literacy Program, recommended me as a reviewer and years later I'm still getting and using books, but they send me more than I can ever read, so I'm happy to pass some on to others who want to review for Writer Advice. If a reviewer has recently read a book she likes, and it's not more than three years old, I'm happy to look at that as well.

Reviews run approximately 250 words, are balanced but lean towards positive comments, and should give us a sense of why the reviewer recommends a particular book. Read some samples by clicking on Hooked on Books. Query before submitting.

My address is not in the book reviews themselves, but you can find it in the ads column on the left. If you'd like to advertise your own book or writing service, we offer very reasonable rates. Please ask.

 

9)    9) You were a judge for Tiny Lights – what year, and which contest?

  Lynn: I think I judged for Tiny Lights in 2007. I remember reading some wonderful pieces.

  Becky: I'm curious because I’m one of Susan Bono’s regular Searchlights & Signal Flares contributors.
   
   Lynn: I've probably read something you've written there, though I haven't received anything from Susan for a while. If you think we might like to rerun one of your pieces on the Writing Advice page, please let me know.

  

Thanks so much for asking these questions, Becky.

If you're reading this, I hope you'll check us out at www.writeradvice.com. Enter the contest if it appeals. Consider reviewing either a book or a writing-related website for us. Consider using your public relations skills to bring us a wider audience. You never know where volunteer opportunities will lead, so let's find out if we want to work together.

Thank you again, Lynn, for being such a wonderful guest! I've learned a lot from you and also plan on submitting to your contest and brag boards, etc.

"Keep reading, writing, revising, and sharing. No one has your voice but you." - Lynn Goodwin

* Lynn Goodwin - Writers Advice *

I'm delighted to introduce Lynn Goodwin, author of You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers. Lynn also runs Writer Advice which is just bursting with information!

Today, I'm posting the first half of my interview with Lynn, and the second will follow tomorrow. I'm sure you'll enjoy everything she has to share with us.

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1) Welcome Lynn! First and foremost, because of the April 18th deadline, please tell us about your current Flash Prose Contest.

Thanks for asking, Becky. This is the seventh year Writer Advice is running a Flash Prose Contest. I decided to call it Flash Prose after realizing that there are many compelling memoirs that read like fiction, and their authors have as much chance of winning as those who send compelling prose. 

We're searching for flash fiction, memoir, and creative non-fiction that grabs, surprises, and mesmerizes readers in 750 words or less. If you have a story or memoir with a strong theme, sharp images, a solid structure, and an unexpected discovery, please submit it to the WriterAdvice Flash Prose Contest. Complete details are at www.writeradvice.com. The judges will be former winners, and you can read their winning stories by clicking on Archives. 

If you have any questions before submitting, please e-mail me. My address is in the last paragraph of the announcement about the contest at www.writeradvice.com. Can't find it? Write directly at Lgood67334@comcast.net. 

       2) What are some of your favorite “writerly” websites, besides your own, of course! (I noticed you have some listed on your website.)

As you noted, we have lots of resources listed on the website. It's been a couple of years since I've checked all the sites to make sure they work. In addition, I've reviewed many I like on Website Reviews, http://www.writeradvice.com/websitereviews.html.

Truthfully, my favorites vary depending on my needs. I like the interaction available at Story Circle Network, http://www.storycircle.org/index.php, and WOW! Women on Writing, http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/. Both cater to women telling their stories, and so does The National Association of Memoir Writers, www.namw.org/. 

Obviously I'm interested in memoir, personal writing, and life stories. I like the outreach at Red Room, www.redroom.com. 

I wrote about Book Slut, http://www.bookslut.com/, quite a while ago, and I'm delighted to see they're still in operation. I used to be a huge fan of Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/ , but lately I haven't had time to visit much even though I greatly respect all the reviewing they encourage. I also like IndieBound, http://www.indiebound.org/, though we have not reviewed it yet. 

More faves, for varying reasons: HARO, www.helpareporter.com/, Media Bistro, http://www.mediabistro.com/, and The Writer's Almanac, http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/. So many websites, so little time. No wonder I don't get more writing done.

3) What are some of your favorite books on craft? Favorite memoirs?

I love Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, because she helps writers find their voice. Pat Schneider also helps both writers and writing teachers find and enhance their voices in Writing Alone and With Others. Annie Lamott's Bird by Bird is a classic that crosses the lines between writing and memoir. Ditto for Natalie Goldberg's Wild Mind. There are more, of course, but I'm sticking to "some."

Caroline Kraus's Borderlines is a memoir that I can't forget along with Kelly Corrigan's The Middle Place. For a treat read Rachel Sarah's Single Mom Seeking, Veronica Chater's Waiting for the Apocalypse, Sybil Lockhart's Mother in the Middle, and Kathy Briccetti's Blood Strangers. Whenever I interview an author, I feel like I get inside information and I care more about the book because of it.

      4-A) How long have you been writing?

I've written intermittently since Mr. Stewart had us write a story a week in sixth grade. I became obsessed with journaling when my mother was in the last years of her life and needed my help. Journaling saved my sanity then. I decided to share the process with others in a book called You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers. It's a valuable resource. Copies available on Amazon.  

 

      4-B) Did you grow up loving books?

I loved the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, Mickey Mouse Club magazines, Stranger than Science, Nancy Drew (a forbidden pleasure), and anything in our 19-volume 1957 World Book Encyclopedia.

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Thank you so much, Lynn! You've provided so many wonderful sites and other important information. We'll all look forward to Part 2 of the Q&A tomorrow, which will be questions 5 through 9.  

* There's also a book give-away! To enter all you have to do is leave a comment about this interview, or ask Lynn a question. You can do that here, or in tomorrow's Part 2 comments, or both. Two Comments DO give you Two chances. No other rules! * So, please come back tomorrow. *

A quote from Lynn, regarding her manuscript consultations:

"I tell you WHAT I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT. This often opens doors for writers. I plant seeds, you nurture them, and your writing blossoms." - Lynn Goodwin

* Writerly News *

The past seven days have been crazy busy. I keep telling myself I am NOT going to schedule any more than TWO things a week.....meetings, lunches, even errands. I obviously need to stay home to do my writing and those pesky housewifey-type duties, but the biggest reason is I have such a Low Energy Level. I've always been like this and even took naps when I was in high school.


Yesterday, the end of an already busy week, I attended our monthly Saturday Writers meeting, which was awesome. Immediately after that, many of us went to Pasta House for a late lunch. Mmmm...good. By the time we left all I wanted to do was head home and take one of my 3-Hour Naps!  Yes, that is the typical nap I take/need. (I don't want any comments about how "lucky" I am that I can do that, because I don't work full time....blah, blah, blah. Believe me, I rather have tons of energy, than feel the way I do.)

So, why am I telling you all this? I passed up the opportunity last night, to see Anne Lamott at the St. Louis County Library. I LOVE Anne Lamott! She is a fabulous writer, but I could not get up in time to see her. It kills me that I wasn't able to attend, but I know in my heart, that I'll see her some other time.

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Tomorrow and Tuesday, I'll be blog hosting Lynn Goodwin, author of You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers. Lynn also runs Writer Advice which is a fabulous website for....writers!
It's filled with all kinds of information; Resources, Markets, Bragboards, Manuscript Consultation, and a current CONTEST, just to name a few. Lynn is a powerful writer and a delight to work with. Please stop back by tomorrow and Tuesday!

“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” -Oprah Winfrey