While going through some papers in my home office yesterday afternoon, I came across an old one that listed 3 websites to check out for contests and such. I'm not really sure where it came from, and I may have even typed it up for myself, but as usual with websites like these, one just leads to another and another. I was on my laptop for what seemed like hours, searching to find posts that appeard to be good ones to pass along to my writer friends. (*How many of you out there visualize what I do when I read "....was on my laptop"....and especially "...for hours"??*)
Anyway.....I found a few that seemed interesting! Be sure to read all the rules and guidelines. Listed in no particular order, they are:
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Writer’s Digest Your Story Contest
Deadline: Bimonthly on the 10th
Entry Fee: FREE
Guidelines: http://www.writersdigest.com/YourStory/
Here’s an opportunity to get published both in Writer’s Digest magazine and on their website Every other month, they give a prompt for a story. Using that prompt, you can write any type of flash narrative you like, up to 750 words. According to their guidelines, they are looking for inventiveness, creativity, and humor. Look in the current print issue of Writer’s Digest for the latest contest prompt. If you don’t want to buy it, many libraries carry copies at the circulation desk. Contest #19 ended on July 10, 2009, so the next two contest deadlines should be September 10 and November 10, 2009. The online submission form makes entering a simple process. Don’t’ forget to read past winning entries before you submit your story to “Your Story.”
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The First Line Winter Writing Contest
Entry Fee: FREE
Deadline: November 1, 2009
Guidelines: http://www.thefirstline.com/
“Waiting for change always seems to take longer than you would expect.”
Use this first line, verbatim, create a story between 300 and 3,000 words to enter in the First Line Writing Contest. This is a quarterly contest, so if you miss the deadline for the May contest, there will [...]
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Writers of comedic essays, articles, short stories, poetry, shopping lists and other forms are invited to submit. Entry Fee: $5.00
Deadline: December 1, 2009 (snail mail, postmark date) no submissions online
Mona founded the Foster City (CA) Writers Contest, taught creative writing for San Mateo County and published humorous articles and essays in newspapers and magazines. Her son Brad founded the Prize in 2000 and judges the submissions.
Works up to 750 words in length should be typed, double-spaced, accompanied by a money order or check for $5 to cover administrative costs, payable to "The Mona Schreiber Prize." No limit to entries but each must have a separate fee. Put contact information directly above the title and text on your first page.
No SASEs, please. Include e-mail address for notification of winners. All entries must be postmarked by December 1 for a December 24 announcement of three winners: 1st: $500. 2nd: $250. 3rd: $100. Entries are not returned and must be unpublished. Winners will have their entries posted on www.brashcyber.com. All other rights belong to the authors. Humor is subjective. Uniqueness is suggested. Weirdness is encouraged.
This contest does not accept e-mail submissions. All entries must be mailed to: The Mona Schreiber Prize for Humorous Fiction and Nonfiction, 15442 Vista Haven Place, Sherman Oaks, California 91403 USA
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Flannery O'Connor Contest
Prize: $1,000.00. Entry fee: $0.00. Deadline: 10-31-2009.
Shenandoah announces a special issue centering on the works of Flannery O'Connor in celebration of the journal's 60th anniversary. The editor seeks essays, poems, short stories, reviews, photographs and other artwork about, related to or in honor of the fiction and life of Ms. O'Connor. Any queries about particular submissions should be directed to rodsmith@wlu.edu. A prize of $1,000 will be awarded to the best O'Connor-related work published in the issue, which is planned for Fall, 2010. http://www.wlu.edu/x33932.xml
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** You've may have noticed that these are all No Entry Fee, or Very Minimal Entry Fee contests. I purposely chose them because of that. **
ALL WHO WANDER ARE NOT LOST.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
** A New Day - A New Week - Beautiful Music **
I felt like changing my play list again this morning. It might be because it's a rainy, cloudy day. It might be because I was being lazy and didn't feel like doing much of anything else....I'm not sure, but I do know, I felt like it was time to put away the summer tunes.
For this play list, I've chosen just a few, but very beautiful songs. I'm sure I'll be adding more, as I remember other ones that I love, too.....
Relax and Enjoy!
For this play list, I've chosen just a few, but very beautiful songs. I'm sure I'll be adding more, as I remember other ones that I love, too.....
Relax and Enjoy!
Friday, September 4, 2009
** The End of Quite a Week **
This past week has been very eventful and memorable......full of highs and lows. The highs were the fun lunches (which I have one more to add), the wonderful writing news I received, seeing grandson Scotty and giving him his 9th birthday presents. Etc...
The other fun lunch for the week was with a wonderful friend, Sharon, at none other than Bread Co......only this time it was in South County, not in St. Peters. Had a great time....some serious discussions and many laughs, too.
The lows of the week were 2 separate days of battling headaches......on Wednesday, the 2nd and again today, although today's wasn't nearly as bad as Wednesday's was. That should definitely take care of my "headache quota" for a long time. I really hate it when one is so bad I have to lay down and hope to sleep until it goes away.
I've been plagued with various types of headaches for years; have tried to analyze why I get certain ones at certain times, have had different prescriptions, etc.....and it really all comes down to "Who knows why I get them when I do?"
I say, "Headaches, be gone! For I have way too many things to accomplish in the next few days, and therefore do not care to be in any pain!"
The other fun lunch for the week was with a wonderful friend, Sharon, at none other than Bread Co......only this time it was in South County, not in St. Peters. Had a great time....some serious discussions and many laughs, too.
The lows of the week were 2 separate days of battling headaches......on Wednesday, the 2nd and again today, although today's wasn't nearly as bad as Wednesday's was. That should definitely take care of my "headache quota" for a long time. I really hate it when one is so bad I have to lay down and hope to sleep until it goes away.
I've been plagued with various types of headaches for years; have tried to analyze why I get certain ones at certain times, have had different prescriptions, etc.....and it really all comes down to "Who knows why I get them when I do?"
I say, "Headaches, be gone! For I have way too many things to accomplish in the next few days, and therefore do not care to be in any pain!"
Thursday, September 3, 2009
** Tiny Lights: A Journal of Personal Narrative **
I have an essay published on http://www.tiny-lights.com/, in the section called Search Lights and Signal Flares. They pose monthly questions and the one for 8/15/09 was:
"What helps you remember?" Mine is titled: "Unless I Forget"
Writers can click on: http://www.tiny-lights.com/searchlights.php to read questions and answers, past and present, and also view the newest question: "How do you keep track of your work?" The answers are due 9/15/09.
Sign up for their e-mail newsletters and/or subscribe to their printed issue too.
It's a fabulous "tiny" site!!
"What helps you remember?" Mine is titled: "Unless I Forget"
Writers can click on: http://www.tiny-lights.com/searchlights.php to read questions and answers, past and present, and also view the newest question: "How do you keep track of your work?" The answers are due 9/15/09.
Sign up for their e-mail newsletters and/or subscribe to their printed issue too.
It's a fabulous "tiny" site!!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
** September 1st....What a Day It's Been! **
My lunch date today was more fun and interesting than I could've possibly imagined! Thank you so much Dee, Delores and Susan for being so thoughtful and surprising me the way you did!
Plus I listened to one beautiful CD, by Sarah Brightman, all the way to and from, even though I brought 6 CD's with me. Drivers along certain highways probably heard the music and singing blasting from my car as I sped along........some of that singing wasn't from the CD.....it was from me! .....sorry about that...What can I say? I've mentioned that I actually believe I can sing!
And the "piece de resistance" was the e-mail I received, saying a story I wrote for an anthology, is in the top 101 finalists!! Hopefully, I'll know for sure within the next 30 days!!
I'm doing that happy dance again!!
Plus I listened to one beautiful CD, by Sarah Brightman, all the way to and from, even though I brought 6 CD's with me. Drivers along certain highways probably heard the music and singing blasting from my car as I sped along........some of that singing wasn't from the CD.....it was from me! .....sorry about that...What can I say? I've mentioned that I actually believe I can sing!
And the "piece de resistance" was the e-mail I received, saying a story I wrote for an anthology, is in the top 101 finalists!! Hopefully, I'll know for sure within the next 30 days!!
I'm doing that happy dance again!!
* Happy September 1st *
It's another beautiful day in the neighborhood......as Mr. Rogers always sang!
I have many exciting things going on right now, even though none of them include being published, at the moment anyway! I was contacted by a high school english teacher today about speaking to a few classes on creative writing and newspaper writing, which also includes my motivational speaking about going for your dreams in life.....at any age.
Also, I'm meeting a newly acquired friend for lunch today! I'm looking forward to it, of course, but an extra bonus is that it's probably an hour's drive and I'll have enough time to listen to a favorite CD or two! Most of my driving usually consists of a few minutes here and there, so that calls for the radio, or the sounds of silence.
Other opportunities are hovering, too.....but I can't say anything yet about them. ;-)
I have many exciting things going on right now, even though none of them include being published, at the moment anyway! I was contacted by a high school english teacher today about speaking to a few classes on creative writing and newspaper writing, which also includes my motivational speaking about going for your dreams in life.....at any age.
Also, I'm meeting a newly acquired friend for lunch today! I'm looking forward to it, of course, but an extra bonus is that it's probably an hour's drive and I'll have enough time to listen to a favorite CD or two! Most of my driving usually consists of a few minutes here and there, so that calls for the radio, or the sounds of silence.
Other opportunities are hovering, too.....but I can't say anything yet about them. ;-)
Monday, August 31, 2009
* Online Course: Writing for Children *
Online Writing Course:
One of my writer friends, Margo Dill, is teaching Writing for Children: Everything You Wanted to Know About Writing Short Stories, Articles, and Fillers.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This class will teach the basics of writing for children’s magazines, crafting short stories, nonfiction articles, poetry, and fillers. The student will come away with a short story and cover letter, nonfiction query letter, and a filler or poem. She will also have a list of potential markets, fitting her manuscripts. The instructor will also share an organizational tool for submissions and information on finding other children’s writers and networking.
STARTS: Wednesday, September 30 (Limit 15 students) COST: $200, which includes access to a Google group, ability to upload work to Google group for discussion with instructor and other class members, a free first-page critique from the instructor and a free query or cover letter critique from instructor, private email discussions with instructor as needed.
To sign up, go to this link: http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html#MargoDill
To learn more about Margo, check out her blog: http://margodill.com/blog/
One of my writer friends, Margo Dill, is teaching Writing for Children: Everything You Wanted to Know About Writing Short Stories, Articles, and Fillers.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This class will teach the basics of writing for children’s magazines, crafting short stories, nonfiction articles, poetry, and fillers. The student will come away with a short story and cover letter, nonfiction query letter, and a filler or poem. She will also have a list of potential markets, fitting her manuscripts. The instructor will also share an organizational tool for submissions and information on finding other children’s writers and networking.
STARTS: Wednesday, September 30 (Limit 15 students) COST: $200, which includes access to a Google group, ability to upload work to Google group for discussion with instructor and other class members, a free first-page critique from the instructor and a free query or cover letter critique from instructor, private email discussions with instructor as needed.
To sign up, go to this link: http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html#MargoDill
To learn more about Margo, check out her blog: http://margodill.com/blog/
Sunday, August 30, 2009
** I'm Feelin' Mellow Yellow **
This morning I decided I should try to find the actual name of the beautiful little yellow birds in my photo at the above right...... I really didn't look very long, though, because I got sidetracked gazing at more and more photos of beautiful little yellow birds on various sites.....
......which then reminded me of an old instrumental song I heard often as a young child: Yellow Bird. Then it all came back to me.....an old vinyl LP, played many times on our Hi-Fi. The album was recorded by, none other than...... Lawrence Welk.
My parents watched his weekly TV show unfailingly on our old black and white set in the 1950's.
My next thought was to see if I could find that song & add it to my End of Summer playlist. Surprised and pleased....I found it (by Arthur Lyman) and it's number 41 on my summer playlist. I may add it to my newest one, Beautiful Music, because it would cerainly fit right in.
......which then reminded me of an old instrumental song I heard often as a young child: Yellow Bird. Then it all came back to me.....an old vinyl LP, played many times on our Hi-Fi. The album was recorded by, none other than...... Lawrence Welk.
My parents watched his weekly TV show unfailingly on our old black and white set in the 1950's.
My next thought was to see if I could find that song & add it to my End of Summer playlist. Surprised and pleased....I found it (by Arthur Lyman) and it's number 41 on my summer playlist. I may add it to my newest one, Beautiful Music, because it would cerainly fit right in.
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