Penguin Group Internship

If you are interested in working in the publishing industry, Penguin Group offers paid internships in several areas:

Internship Program

Penguin Group (USA) offers paid internship opportunities in various business areas such as contracts, editorial, graphic design, managing editorial, marketing, production, publicity, sales, subsidiary rights, and operations. In its January 2006 issue, Seventeen Magazine recognized Penguin as one of the 17 best internships in the country!

The internship program consists of three 10-week long sessions. During the spring and fall, interns work 14 hours per week. During the summer, interns work 28 hours per week.

A series of lunch events are planned for summer interns. Brown Bag lunches give interns the opportunity to learn about different departments, and group lunches are designed to allow interns to network with each other as well as employees across the company.

Semester Application Deadline
Spring 1/15
Summer 2/28
Fall 8/15

If you would like to apply for an internship, mail your resume and cover letter to:

Penguin Group (USA)
Human Resources Department
Attn: Internship Coordinator
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014

Please indicate the semester and business area(s) you are applying for in your cover letter.

Penguin Group (USA) values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Writing Competition: Fiction and Poetry

BkMk Press of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Announces

The G. S. Sharat Chandra Prize for Short Fiction

The John Ciardi Prize for Poetry

Next Postmark deadline: January 15, 2009

For the best book-length collections of poetry and of short fiction in English by a living author

Prize: $1,000 and publication of winning book for each prize

Submissions:

Manuscripts must be typed on standard-sized paper, in English. Poetry manuscripts should be approximately 50 pages minimum, 110 pages maximum, single spaced. Short fiction collections should be approximately 150 pages minimum, 300 pages maximum, double spaced.

Entries must include two title pages: one with author name, address and phone number; and one with no author information. Any acknowledgments should appear on a separate piece of paper.

Entries must include a table of contents.

Author's name must not appear anywhere on the manuscript.

Please submit your manuscript in loose pages, bound only with a clip or rubber band. We prefer that you do not staple or permanently bind your manuscript. Do not submit your manuscript by fax or e-mail.

Simultaneous and multiple submissions are acceptable. Please notify us of acceptance elsewhere.

A SASE should be included, for notification only. Note: No manuscripts will be returned.

A non-refundable reading fee of $25 in US funds (check made payable to BkMk Press) must accompany each manuscript. Entrants will receive a copy of the winning book in their genre when it is published.

Manuscripts must be postmarked no later than January 15, 2009.

Manuscripts will not be returned. No refunds will be issued.

Judging will be blind at all levels. Initial judging will be done by a network of published writers and editors. The final judging will be done by a poet and a fiction writer of national reputation. Winners will be announced in July 2009 and the winning entries will be published in 2010.

These competitions are held annually.

Your entry should be addressed to:

John Ciardi Prize for Poetry or Sharat Chandra Prize for Fiction
BkMk Press
University of Missouri-Kansas City
5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110-2499

(816) 235-2558*
Fax (816) 235-2611 (replace (at) with @)
bkmk@umkc.edu

Short-short Fiction Competition: Sonora Review

The Third Annual Sonora Review Short-Short Contest is now OPEN and accepting submissions.

Judged by Aimee Bender, the contest will look for and reward the best of the brief. Remember, however, in submitting your short-shorts that brevity alone does not a short-short make. Like all short fiction, the work must be a complete entity, whole unto itself; we want a complete work in 1,000 words or fewer. Dazzle us, razzle us, make us wonder at your compression, cheer at your ability to contain the power and beauty of the longest long story in the shortest short space.

Deadline

All entries must be postmarked by January 15th, 2009. Winners will be announced in early Spring 2009, concomitant with the publication of Sonora Review No. 56. Also, the winning short-short and select runners-up will be published in Sonora Review No. 56.

Entry Fee

$15.00*
*This includes a one-year subscription. That's the chance to win the prize (see Item 4) AND two issues (starting with SR 56) at a rather nifty and thrifty discount. Payable by check or money order made out to Sonora Review. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable, but fees are non-refundable. Cover letter must include name, address, phone number, and title(s) of stories submitted.

Rules, Regulations, Restrictions

Entrants may submit up to 3 pieces for each entry fee. All pieces MUST be 1,000 words or fewer. Any pieces over the word limit will be immediately disqualified. No long-work-in-short-clothing will be considered for the contest. The editors of Sonora Review will read the entries and select ten finalists, which we will then give to the contest judge for her consideration. She will then choose and rank her top four stories. All ten finalists will be considered for publication in Sonora Review 56. Sonora Review reserves the right to publish any, all or none of the stories selected in the top ten.

Prize

For the winner: $1000.00 (USD) and publication in Sonora Review, including 2 (two) contributor's copies. The authors of any published stories will each receive two contributor's copies.

How to Submit

Mail your story or stories to the address below, along with a check for $15.00 made out to Sonora Review. All entries must be postmarked on or before January 15th, 2009.

Sonora Review Contest
Department of English
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721

Questions?

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at:
sonora(at)email(dot)arizona(dot)edu
Replace the words in parentheses with the appropriate symbols.

Call for Submissions: Steel Toe Books

Steel Toe Books selects manuscripts through open reading periods. Our
next open reading period will be January 1-31, 2009. In an effort to
diversify our catalog, during this reading period we will only be
considering manuscripts by ethnic minorities and first-generation
immigrant, non-native speakers of English.

During our October 2008 open reading period, we received 52 manuscripts,
from which we selected one for publication (Domestic Fugues by Richard
Newman).

The complete guidelines are posted here.

Black Wednesday

If you haven't heard the news yet, you will soon. It's all over the blogosphere and on the writing forums. Yesterday, December 3, 2008, was one of the worst days in the recent history of book publishing.

Publishing houses are laying off staff, freezing acquisitions, and even closing down or consolidating their publishing lines. The market you may be planning to submit to today could be gone tomorrow.

The best advice I would give anyone who is writing a book? Sit tight. If you haven't queried agents yet, don't. Now is the time to work on your craft or to start a new project.

If you have an agent who hasn't subbed to publishers yet, talk to her/him about waiting until the dust settles. The industry is in a huge state of flux. The last thing you want to happen is to have your book lost in the confusion.

By this time next year, we may be seeing an entirely new model of book publishing. There could be new submission standards, new kinds of contracts, new publishing houses, and new means of distribution.

So...wait.

You can read more about Black Wednesday and what is happening in the publishing industry, here and here.

The Best Gift You Can Give

As almost everyone is aware, the economy is in serious trouble. We hear daily reports of failing banks, massive layoffs, stock prices dropping, etc. The economic crisis has also hit the publishing industry.

The big publishing houses are laying off staff; indie presses are closing; and bookstores are showing record losses. All of this is grim news for the writer shopping a first-time book to agents and/or publishers. What can you do, as a writer, to help the publishing industry (and provide future markets for your work)?

Buy a book.

One of the reasons publishers are suffering is that book publishing is a returnable industry. Stores are allowed to return unsold books for a full refund. It works this way: Major Bookstore orders 50 books from Happy Publishing. They pay Happy Publishing $50. Three months later, Major Bookstore hasn't sold any of the books. They return the books (usually with covers damaged to mark them as previously purchased) to Happy Publishing for the full refund of $50. Happy Publishing eats the cost of producing and marketing 50 books. This means that Happy Publishing is going to have to cut costs to make up for the loss. What do they do? Publish fewer books.

And that affects you, the writer. Your unpublished book that is making the rounds has just lost a potential market.

Returns affect every level of the book publishing industry. Returns for a romance line can create cuts in the cookbook line.

What can you do to keep the publishing industry alive?

Buy a book this holiday season.

Buy a cookbook, a novel, a self-help book, or a children's book.

Buy your books online or in a store. Every book purchase reduces the rate of returns.

DON'T buy gift cards, address books, blank books, or those beautiful lined notebooks used for personal journals.

DO buy a book that has text and/or pictures.

A book is relatively inexpensive and provides hours of pleasure, entertainment, or education. A book lasts longer than most video games. A book can be inscribed with a personal note to the receiver. A book inspires the imagination and challenges the intellect.

This year, every single person on my gift list will receive at least one book.

The "Buy A Book" campaign is spreading around the Internet. If you are a writer and have a blog or Website, pass it on: Buy A Book!

To read more about how book returns affect the publishing industry, go here.

Call for original plays--Desert Foothills Theater (DFT)

The Desert Foothills Theater (DFT) is currently looking for two plays for their “Arizona Series” for our next two seasons. DFT is in the Cave Creek/Carefree/North Scottsdale area and has been producing plays for over 30 years.

Interested playwrights may submit only one play. To qualify for the Arizona Series, a play must either be written by an Arizona playwright or written with the subject of the play being directly related to Arizona.
To be considered for the Arizona Series, you must submit the following to the chairman of DFT’s Artistic Committee (AC) no later than Wednesday, December 3, 2008, noon:

- a 1-page synopsis of the play (No name on the synopsis)
- your bio
- a 10-page writing sample from that play (No name on any page)
- if submitting a musical, one original song with lyrics on CD
- your contact info including mailing address, cell phone and e-mail.
Submissions will be read without the playwright’s name on the script to eliminate bias for known playwrights. The AC will judge submissions and chose the top three. These plays will then be submitted in their entirety to the AC for a final selection. The developmental process may include staged readings to allow writers continued development of their work.

DFT’s Artistic Committee will make their decision and contact all applicants no later than February 5, 2009. Playwrights will be paid royalties for each performance of their play; DFT usually performs a show 10 times. Pay will be in the $50-$75 range per performance.

Submissions can be sent to:
Alexx Stuart
7137 E. Canyon Wren Circle
Scottsdale, AZ 85266
If any questions, please contact:

Alexx Stuart-DFT Artistic Committee Chairman
Writer/Producer
Darknight Productions
Comedy, Mystery and Music with Dinner
480-595-7346
Email: alexduck (at) cox (dot) net
Remove extra spaces and replace (at) with @ and (dot) with a .
You can read more about Dark Night Productions here.

Espy Foundation Residency

The Espy Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing and encouraging the literary and visual arts. Month-long residencies are available three times per year: Spring, Summer, and Fall. Residents will share accommodations in and near the beautiful village of Oysterville, WA, a National Historic District located on the southwest coast of Washington state. In addition to lodging, residents will receive a weekly stipend for food. Residents are responsible for their own transportation to and from Oysterville and are encouraged to have a car available for the duration of the residency.

Deadline for Application
February 1, 2010 for Summer Residency (June 2010)

Applications must include an application form and all other required materials stated in the form. Sponsor letters must be postmarked on or before the deadline. In addition, there is an application fee of $20.00 (to be included with the application).

Mail the completed application form, project description, work samples, and application fee to:
The Espy Foundation
P.O. Box 614
Oysterville, WA 98641

Sponsor letters should be sent directly to the above address by the sponsor.

For more information and an application form, go here.

Poetry Contest: Write an Inaugral Ode

Write an Inaugural Ode

Write an inaugural ode, suitable for reading aloud on January 20, 2009. It must consist of sixteen lines broken into four quatrains, rhyme scheme optional. The ode must include one line lifted from a poem in The Best American Poetry 2008 or from the book's foreword or introduction, and it must also include at least three of the following words: honor, integrity, faith, hope, change, power.

The contest will be judged by a former Best American Poetry guest editor whose name will be revealed when the winner is announced.

PRIZES:

The winning poet's name will be announced on the Best American Poetry website and The Best American Poetry blog. The winning poem will be posted on the website. The winner of the contest will receive a cloth bound copy of The Best American Poetry 2008, autographed by the series editor and several contributors, as well as other books, courtesy of Scribner. The winner will also receive a broadside of the winning poem created by artist Jenny Grassl.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS CONTEST.


HOW TO ENTER:

Your poem must be typed in Times New Roman 12 pt. The line from The Best American Poetry 2008 should appear in the poem as well as at the bottom of the page with its source noted. Send your poem as a Word attachment to an e-mail to (replace (at) with @)

Write "Poetry Contest" in the subject line, and include the title of your poem along with your name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number in the body of the e-mail. The title of your poem should be in the body of the e-mail and on the attachment with your poem. Do not put your name or other identifying information on the attachment. Any submission that reveals the poet's identity on the attachment will be disqualified. The deadline for entry is midnight, eastern standard time, December 5, 2008.


RULES:

Any U.S. resident age eighteen or over can enter, except employees of Scribner, the Best American Poetry website manager and designer, the contest Judge(s), and faculty of The New School Writing Program, or any member of their immediate family. Entries that are lost, late, misdirected, garbled, or incompletely received, for any reason, including by reason of hardware, software, browser, or network failure, malfunction, congestion, or incompatibility at the website or elsewhere, will not be eligible. The contest sponsor in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person tampering with the entry process, the operation of the website, or otherwise in violation of the rules. It further reserves the right to cancel, terminate, or modify the contest not capable of completion as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, force majeure, or technical failures of any sort.

The winner will be notified by email or telephone. If the winner cannot be reached or does not respond within three (3) days, an alternate winner may be selected, at the sole discretion of the Judge(s).

Subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Void outside the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and where prohibited.

The Prize is not transferable. There will be no substitutions of the prizes except by the Sponsor and at the Sponsor's discretion.

All entries become the property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned.

Except where prohibited: (i) acceptance of the Prize constitutes consent to use winner's name, likeness, and winning entry for editorial, advertising, and publicity purposes, without further compensation; (ii) winner may be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility and copyright transfer/liability/publicity/permission release. Affidavits and releases must be returned within thirty (30) days of attempted notification or an alternate winner may be chosen.

This contest is entirely the work of the Best American Poetry web site and blog management and has no relation to the campaign organization and transition team of President-elect Barack Obama or to any project thereof.

Copyright © 2008 David Lehman

Call for Submissions: Kaleidoscope Magazine

KALEIDOSCOPE MAGAZINE call for submissions on the theme of "Giving & Receiving Care: A Delicate Balance."

Deadline 3/1/09

Exploring the Experience of Disability through Literature and the Fine Arts

Guidelines for Submission
Kaleidoscope Magazine has a creative focus that examines the experiences of disability through literature and the fine arts. Unique to the field of disability studies, this award-winning publication expresses the experiences of disability from the perspective of individuals, families, healthcare professionals, and society as a whole. The material chosen for Kaleidoscope challenges and overcomes stereotypical, patronizing, and sentimental attitudes about disability. Although content always focuses on a particular aspect of disability, writers with and without disabilities are welcome to submit their work.

The criteria for good writing apply: effective technique, thought-provoking subject matter, and in general, a mature grasp of the art of story-telling. Writers should avoid using offending language and always put the person before the disability.

Kaleidoscope is published twice a year, in January with a submission deadline of August 1, and in July with a submission deadline of March 1.

Gail Willmott, Editor-in-chief
701 South Main Street
Akron, OH 44311-1019
Phone: 330-762-9755
Fax: (330) 762-0912
Email: kaleidoscope@udsakron.org

Kaleidoscope accepts:
Non-fiction – articles relating to the arts, both literary and visual, interviews, or personal accounts—5,000 words maximum/double spaced.

Fiction — Short stories with a well-crafted plot and engaging characters—5,000 words maximum/double spaced.

Poetry – Poems that have strong imagery, evocative language – six poems maximum.

Book reviews – Reviews that are substantive, timely, powerful works about publications in the field of disability and/or the arts. The writer’s opinion of the work being reviewed should be clear. The review should be a literary work in its own right – 5,000 words maximum/double spaced.

Visual arts – Art of all media, from watercolor and charcoals to collage and sculpture; six to twelve works maximum. We accept black and white glossy photos, 35mm slides, or color photos. Any art submitted digitally must be in a high-resolution (minimum of 300dpi) .tif formatconverted to CMYK (we cannot guarantee color accuracy of RGB files) or grayscale to ensure the best print quality. The photos should have minimal background with the art as the main focus. Include captions on the photos stating the size, medium, and title of work.

Publishing information
Considers unsolicited material (always include SASE)
Accepts simultaneously published work
Acknowledges receipt in two weeks
Rejects or accepts within six months
Reserves right to minor editing without author’s approval; substantive editing with approval

Payment information
Payment is made upon publication and varies from $10 to $125.
Contributors receive two complimentary copies of the magazine.
Copyright reverts to author upon publication.

Call for Submissions: The Other Journal

The Other Journal seeks submissions of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction for our upcoming issue on Death and Dying.

Deadline: December 15, 2008

All submissions should be sent via email to (replace (at) with @)

with "TOJ Submission" written in the subject line. Please indicate the genre of your submission in the subject line of your email and submit your work as Microsoft Word or rich text format documents. Submissions that are pasted directly into the text of an email rather than an attached document may not be considered.

We accept poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Send up to six poems or one piece of prose at a time. Fiction submissions may include short stories or self-contained novel excerpts, and creative nonfiction submissions may include personal essays or memoirs. Because we are an online journal, we take a special interest in short prose submissions, especially pieces that are less than 2,500 words. We will consider simultaneous submissions, but please indicate they have been simultaneously submitted elsewhere and let us know right away if you are withdrawing them from consideration.

For more info

Editorial statement:

The Other Journal welcomes the submission of critical essays, reviews, creative writing, and visual or performance art that encounter life through the lens of theology and culture; we seek pieces that consider the interaction of faith with contemporary life, art, politics, sexuality, technology, economics, and social justice. We are particularly interested in works which present creative, alternative views that may otherwise fall outside the margins of mainstream narratives. And although we primarily focus on perspectives within the Christian tradition, we invite dialogue with all who are interested in exploring the ongoing role of faith and spirituality in the world.

The Other Journal
Mars Hill Graduate School
2501 Elliott Ave
Seattle, WA 98121

Call for Submissions: Poetry Anthology on Collecting

Call for Submissions for New Poetry Anthology on Collecting


Muse with us about the why and how of what we collect.

Proposed anthology looking for poems that draw us out
of the expected and into the anthropology of collecting:
Take us from the universe of small things to universal
themes. Dazzle us!


Think:

bottle of dress buttons santos or bultos
spongeware bowls basket of mushrooms
heirloom seeds microscopes and maps
dreams & stars pioneer diaries


Please send up to 3 poems, each no longer than 32 lines,
with a 3-5 line bio and SASE, to A. Watson, P.O. Box 370627,
Denver, CO 80237. Deadline: March 31, 2009.

Free Free Book Proposal Guide: Thomas Nelson Publishers

Thomas Nelson Publishers has put together an excellent primer on writing the book proposal. Using a hypothetical book, this ten-page guide takes you step by step through the process, showing you exactly what you need to have in a nonfiction book proposal.

You can download the free guide here.

Enjoy!

Call for Submissions: Santa Clara Review

Submit your Fiction, Nonfiction, or Poetry to the Santa Clara Review!

Santa Clara University's literary magazine is now accepting submissions for its Winter and Spring issues.

This bi-annual publication was established in 1869 and features creative writing, art, photography, and interviews.

The submission deadline for the next issue is
Wednesday, October 26th

Multiple pieces may be submitted. There is no word count limit. Pieces submitted after this date will be considered for the spring issue.

Submit online at www.santaclarareview.com

Or mail to:

The Santa Clara Review
Santa Clara University
500 El Camino Real, Box #3212
Santa Clara, CA 95053

NYC Writing Workshop

One-Day Workshop in New York City

Please join award-winning writer/journalist Michael P. Geffner, former Simon & Schuster book editor Marcela Landres, and literary agent Regina Brooks for three infinitely enlightening hours on the world of big-time publishing.

What: Publish or Perish: Building the Professional Writing Life; Learning How Editors Think; Finding, Impressing and Landing a Literary Agent

When: Sunday, Nov. 2nd, 1-4PM (with 4-5PM for eye-opening one-on-one consultations)

Where: A gloriously-serene restaurant in Forest Hills, Queens (easy to reach by car or subway)

Cost: $99.00

Pre-Registration Required before Oct. 20th: Please email mgeffy@gmail.com for details

Bios:

Michael P. Geffner has written for Details, Texas Monthly, The Village Voice, USA Today, The Sporting News, Los Angeles Magazine, and The Associated Press. His work has been acknowledged for excellence by The Society of Professional Journalists, the Associated Press Sports Editors, Best American Sports Writing, New York Press, and the New York Publishers Association.

Marcela Landres is the author of the e-book How Editors Think: The Real Reason They Rejected You, and is the publisher of Latinidad, an award-winning e-zine which was chosen as one of the 101 Best Web Sites for Writers by Writer's Digest Magazine. She speaks frequently for organizations such as the New York Round Table Writers' Conference, Columbia University, and The National Association of Latino Arts and Culture.

Regina Brooks is the president of the Serendipity Literary Agency LLC., where she represents a diverse base of award-winning clients in adult fiction, nonfiction, and children's literature, including: three-time National Book Award finalist, author Marilyn Nelson; and Oprah Book List pick Sundee Frazier. Brooks has held senior editorial positions at John Wiley and Sons and McGraw-Hill, is the author of Never Finished! Never Done!, and has been featured in Essence, Publishers Weekly, Sister to Sister magazine, and the Writers Digest Guide to Literary Agents.

For an additional charge of $30, you can reserve a 15-minute private consultation with any of the speakers. Book writers should submit no more than 10 double-spaced pages of a manuscript plus a one-page synopsis by Friday 10/24, so it can be forwarded well in advance to Ms. Landres (she does not accept poetry or children's books) or Ms. Brooks. Journalists should submit to Mr. Geffner their query letters and/or resumes of no more than one page, or a story of no more than 10 pages double-spaced. You should include your name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address on the first page of each piece of work.

Note: These one-on-one sessions are open only to workshop attendees!

Best of the Blogs: Call for Nominations

CNF is seeking narrative blog posts to reprint in The Best Creative Nonfiction, Volume 3, edited by Lee Gutkind, forthcoming in August 2009 from W. W. Norton.

We’re looking for: Vibrant new voices with interesting, true stories to tell. Narrative, narrative, narrative. Posts that can stand alone, 2000 words max, from 2008. Something from your own blog, from a friend’s blog, from a stranger’s blog.

The small print: We will contact individual bloggers before publication; we pay a flat $50 fee for one-time reprint rights. Deadline: October 31, 2008.

Nominate online

Thanks for your help!

PS--if we choose a blog you nominate, we'll send you one of our nifty "You Can't Make This Stuff Up!" mugs as a special thank-you!

Call for Submissions

Call For Submissions: The New Anonymous

Announcing The New Anonymous (yet another literary magazine!), a print journal whose contributors and editors will remain forever nameless. Not only will all work be published anonymously, but The New Anonymous blindly screens and edits its submissions, i.e., the submission, editorial, and publishing process is anonymous from beginning to end. Our goal is to serve as a safehouse where writers—both up-and-coming and well established—can not only question the creative process but also, in the words of Freud, "play."

We are now reading submissions in all genres for our upcoming debut issue and hope you'll join us in this unique endeavor. The deadline for submissions to be included in this issue is December 1. For submission guidelines and more information, visit our website

Deadline for this issue: December 1

Questions? E-mail us :

thenewanon(at)gmail.com (replace (at) with @)

Call for Submissions

Chickenpinata, a journal of poetry wants your poems!

We are a new, online poetry journal that will feature accessible poetry from emerging writers. We want what's fresh, new, and fun. We are especially interested in work by women.

Generally, we appreciate shorter pieces, but if you wow us with a longer poem (say, up to two pages), we won't turn you away. Of course we love lush language, sound, and metaphor, but please, skip heavy allusions and other overly "poetical" styling. (One word about accessibility: We like clarity and crisp, sensory language, but we don't want to read "empty" or vapid writing.) We have no limits on form or content--it just has to be quality.

Please send a submission of one to four unpublished poems as an .rtf or .doc file (or within the body of your e-mail) to submissions (at) chickenpinata (dot) com. Replace the "at" with @ and dot with a period and remove all extra spaces. Please include full contact information (name, address, phone number, etc.) within your e-mail. Simultaneous submissions are fine. Just please let us know immediately if your work is taken somewhere else.

For Issue One, please expect a submission response by December 15, 2008. Chickenpinata will launch its first issue in January-February, 2009.

Fiction Chapbook Contest

Fiction Chapbook Contest

Keyhole Magazine is sponsoring a fiction chapbook competition. The prize includes $250 and 25 copies of the chapbook.

Judge: Michael Martone

Deadline: December 1, 2008.

Michael Martone's most recent books are Racing in Place, a book of essays, Double-wide, his collected early fictions, and Michael Martone, a memoir done in contributor's notes. With Lex Williford he recently edited The Scribner's Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction and The Touchstone Anthology of Contemporary Creative Nonfiction. He lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama where he teaches at the University of Alabama.

Guidelines:
Manuscripts must be between 30 and 50 pages--not including the title page, table of contents, etc. Simultaneous submissions are allowed. Entries cannot have been previously published as a collection/chapbook. If any part of your entry has been previously published, please include acknowledgments.

The reading fee is $15. Payment accepted through PayPal at

http://www.keyholemagazine.com/contest

Entrants will receive further instructions via email after payment is processed.

Follow your bliss...

...at any age.

There has been a great deal of talk recently about the novel, The Heretic's Daughter, by Kathleen Kent (Little, Brown). The book is receiving rave reviews and was featured on the publisher's fall catalog cover.

I haven't read the book (yet), and I don't know the author, but I wanted to mention something else that I find remarkable about the publication of this book.

This a debut novel. Not only is this Kathleen's Kent's first book, it is her first publication of any kind.

Kathleen Kent spent five years writing and researching the story, based on a personal family history.

Kathleen Kent is 54 years old.

Think of this for a moment: Kathleen Kent spent the first 50 years of her life raising a family and working in a field that had nothing to do with writing. She began writing at an age when many people are thinking about early retirement. Not only did she begin her writing career at a fairly late age, she put the time and energy into it to produce an excellent book and make good things happen. Kathleen Kent has set an example that every aspiring writer should emulate.

Whatever your age--whether you are 20 or 70--do not let your doubts and fears hold you back from pursuing your dreams. If you have decent health and a strong mind, you, too, can make good things happen.

If writing is your passion, here are few easy pointers to remember:

Write every day. Musicians know that practice improves the craft. Pablo Casals, one of the greatest cellists in the world, continued to practice cello several hours a day well into his 90s. When he was asked by a friend why he still worked so hard on the cello, he said, "I think I'm improving." Writers need to remember this lesson. Practice, practice, practice.

Read--a lot. Why re-invent the wheel when you can learn the tricks from the masters? Read the classics, great works of literature, and works in the genre you write. Study the techniques of craft and apply them to your own work.

Believe in yourself and treat your writing as something essential in your life. We do first what is most important to us. If you are serious about your writing, then put it at the top of your priority list.

Happy writing! And, if you get a chance, take a look The Heretic's Daughter. It sounds terrific.

Mike's Writing Newsletter

The September issue of Mike's Writing Newsletter is now available. Don't miss my new article, "Your Writing Space," a piece about organizing your writing workspace.

You can subscribe to Mike's Writing Newsletter for free by sending an email here.

Get your free copy today! It's a great writing resource, filled with interviews, articles, helpful links, job listings, and writing resources--a must for every writer's bookshelf.

Beginning Fiction Writing

I will be teaching a four-hour workshop on Beginning Fiction Writing on September 27, 2008. The full information is below:

Beginning Fiction Writing
Saturday, September 27, 2008
10:15 a.m.--3:15 p.m. (one hour break for lunch)
Fee $35.00 Peoria resident; $40.00 non-resident

Sunrise Mountain Branch Library
21200 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria, AZ
TelReg: 623-773-7725
Online: http://recreation.peoriaaz.com
Class Code 49686


You've always wanted to write a novel or short story, but where do you begin? This class will cover the basics of good fiction-writing. We will cover such topics as developing plot and conflict, creating interesting characters, writing believable dialogue, and more. There is $2.00 supply fee payable to the instructor at the start of class.

9th Annual WD Short Short Story Competition

Call for entries for the 9th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition

Guidelines
1. The competition is open to mss. of 1500 words or fewer. Type the word count on the first page of your entry, along with your name, street address, daytime phone number, and email address.
2. Entry fee: $12.00 per manuscript
3. All entries must be in English. They should be type-written, double-spaced, and printed on one side of the paper. Manuscripts must be stapled. Manuscripts will not be returned.
4. Postmark Deadline: December 1, 2008
5. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped postcard if you want to be notified of your manuscript's receipt.

For more information and the online entry form, please go to:
http://www.writersdigest.com

Mini-NaNoWriMo Wrap-up

As some readers may remember, I posted at the beginning of this month that I had joined a writing challenge with some of my writing colleagues. We set up a mini-NaNoWriMo with a goal of 800 words a day, or 5600 words a week. The challenge was set to run from the beginning of August through the end of the month.

So, how did I do?

First, I want to say that the process was extraordinarily educational in that I learned a lot about my own writing process. I learned what worked for me and what didn't. I developed a solid discipline that helped me write through distractions, health issues, and family demands. I discovered that I wrote better in shifts--dividing my 800-word goal up into two shifts of 400 words. And I learned to listen to what the story was trying to tell me.

I didn't write every day. In fact, I had a week and half during which I did no writing at all. Part of that time was lost to injuries from a serious fall, and part of the time was given up to help move my son into his college dorm room. And yet, despite these diversions, I feel that I did well.

I finished two chapters of my novel and wrote half of another one.
I wrote a column for Mike's Writing Newsletter.
I wrote two critical essays for my MFA program.

In all, I completed 12,966 words in four weeks for an average of 3242 words per week. It's not 5600 words a week, but it's not bad.

And I'm pleased, so pleased that I plan to set this for my daily goal next month as well. Tomorrow, I begin the edits on those chapters I finished. Then it's back to writing new words, new material. Yes!

Finally, I'd like to send my congratulations to all of my writing friends who participated in the challenge. Every one of you is a winner!

Call for Submissions: New Plains Review

Call for Submissions:

The New Plains Review is seeking stories, essays and poems on the subject of
writing workshops and MFA experiences for its fall issue, devoted to the
theme of how writers grow--or not--in educational settings. Submit original
work by email to Editor Douglas Goetsch at douglasgoetsch(at)gmail.com

(replace (at) with @)(as Word attachment or typed into the body of the email);

or send hard copy to:

Submissions, New Plains Review, 100 N. University Dr., Box 184, Edmond, OK,
73034. Deadline is Sept. 24, 2008. Note: We will gladly consider previously
published work if the author owns the rights to it.

Online Marketing

Writer's Digest and The Penguin Group are offering The Penguin Author's Guide to Online Marketing that you can read and/or download FREE. The PDF file contains some good, basic advice about how to create an Internet presence to market your book.

Go here for your free download and to learn more about marketing your book on the Internet.

Essay Contest

Tiny Lights Essay Contest

Essay Contest Guidelines
14th Annual Contest Deadline: February 16, 2009

Tiny Lights invites entries that feature a distinctive voice, discernable conflict and an eventual shift in the narrator’s perspective. We are looking for writers who weave the struggle to understand into the fabric of their essays.This year, we are introducing a special prize of $300 for short essays (no more than 1,000 words).We can only consider unpublished work, or previously published material for which the author holds rights. Rights revert to author after publication in Tiny Lights.

Each essay must be accompanied by an entry fee. $15 for first essay, $10 each additional essay. Make checks payable to:

Tiny Lights Publications. Mail to: P.O. Box 928, Petaluma, CA 94953.

SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) with sufficient postage required for contest notification and/or manuscript return. Multiple submissions OK.

Essays may be submitted in one of two categories:

STANDARD (no longer than 2,000 words) or

FLASH (no more than 1,000 words)

Please indicate preferred category on ms.

Entries should be typed and double-spaced.

Cover letters are optional, but the first page of the manuscript should include author’s name, complete address, e-mail, phone number, and essay word count.

Personal essay requires writers to communicate the truth of their experiences to the best of their abilities. While no theme restrictions apply to this contest, we will not consider essays that celebrate brutalitiy or the explicitly pornographic. Tiny Lights does not accept poetry, short stories, or material written for children. Entry fees for inappropriate submissions may not be returned.

Entries must be postmarked by Feburary 16, 2009.

Prizes will be awarded as follows:

First Place: $400

Second Place: $300

Third Place: $200

Two Honorable Mention Prizes: $100.

Three FLASH prize of $100 also offered. Awards will be determined by a panel of judges. Final authority rests with the Editor-in-Chief, Susan Bono.

Winners will be posted at

www.tiny-lights.com by April 10th, 2009

Winning essays may be edited before publication. Final copy must be approved by writer. No essays published without author’s permission.

All contestants will receive Tiny Lights’ contest publication featuring the winning entries.

Call for Submissions: EcoPoetry

EARTH'S BODY: AN ECOPOETRY ANTHOLOGY

Coeditors Ann Fisher-Wirth and Laura-Gray Street are soliciting submissions for an international anthology of ecopoetry. Their guidelines and requirements:

We are looking for a wide and varied array of submissions. Our working definition of "ecopoetry" is flexible; it includes not only what might be called nature poetry, and not only poetry that focuses on environmental issues, but also experimental poetry--poetry that explores language in its relations with the other-than-human. We welcome work by emerging as well as established poets. We welcome serious poems, playful poems, poems in open or traditional forms. Depending on limitations of space, we will consider not only short poems but also poems of several pages. The anthology will include only living poets or poets who were alive as of July 2007, and will include only poems either written in English or already translated into English; for poems not written in English, both the original and the translation must be submitted, and if accepted, both will be published. We will consider work that has been previously published.

The deadline for submissions is DECEMBER 15, 2008. Please send up to six poems to BOTH Ann Fisher-Wirth and Laura-Gray Street. You may send them as email text or by snail mail. If they come as email text, make sure the spacing and lineation travel accurately. WE WILL NOT OPEN ATTACHMENTS. Please also include a short bio and a cover letter, and an SASE for our reply.

Ann Fisher-Wirth
English Department Bondurant C-135
University of Mississippi
University, MS 38677
afwirth(at)olemiss.edu (replace (at) with @)


Laura-Gray Street English Department
2500 Rivermont
Randolph College
Lynchburg, VA 24503

lstreet(@)randolphcollege.edu (replace (at) with @)


We look forward to reading your work!

Too many writers? Not enough readers?

Are there too many writers competing for the same publication slots? What about readers? Who reads fiction or poetry? If you write fiction or poetry, do you read the literary magazines? Do you subscribe to any of them?

I visit a lot of writing forums on the Net, and it's appalling to see how many people are writing novels, short stories, poetry, and memoir, and yet...They never read anything in their genre of choice. If we don't read the work of our colleagues, how can we expect them to read ours?

Statistics show that reading is far down the list of popular leisure activities, but writing--as a hobby and as a profession--is growing.

Your thoughts? What can writers do to encourage people to read more?

For an interesting discussion related to this topic, visit the SpeakEasy at Poets&Writers. Log into the Fiction forum and look for the question, "Too many writers?"

More on Mini-NaNoWritMo

After my triumph last week, this has been a week of disasters and recoveries. I started the week with an accident that left me with some serious road rash on my knees and a nasty bump on my head. I had a bad fall in the parking lot when I was taking my dog home from the vet. Suffice it to say, tangled leashes, panicky and sick dogs, and distracted owners don't mix.

My injuries meant a couple of slow days, but now I'm back on track. My writing word counts so far:

Tuesday, 8/12--787 words
Wednesday, 8/13--708 words
Thursday, 8/14--798 words

The best part of this experience is seeing the chapters of my novel add up. Onward and upward!

Mini-NaNoWriMo Update

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I made a commitment with several of my fellow writers to meet a minimum word count goal for the week of Aug. 1-8. All of us are facing deadlines and viewed this as a means to motivate us to get the work done.

So, how did I do?

The weekly goal was 5600 words, or 800 words a day.

My final count for the week? 5720 words.

I learned a few things from this effort:
1. I can write more if I relax about the editing during that first draft.
2. I can write under tremendous pressure and confusion. During this same week, our dog had surgery, requiring a lot of TLC.
3. I sometimes write better when I plan less, letting the story dictate to me.

It has been a good week. I'm pleased.

Now, I'm off to produce the next 5600 words and a new chapter or two of my novel.

Happy Writing! May all of you reach your goals this week, too.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn

The great Russian author, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, died yesterday at the age of 89. His life and struggle should be viewed as an inspiration to anyone who wants to write. Some interesting facts about him:

When he criticized Stalin in a personal letter to a friend in 1945, he was sentenced to eight years in a labor camp. Three years later, he was sent to live in exile in Kazakhstan, where he wrote his first novel. He memorized most of what he wrote so that it wouldn't be lost if it were seized.

His work was originally banned in Russia and after he was finally able to return to his homeland, most of his countrymen had never read any of his books.

And yet, despite his hardship and suffering, he never stopped writing. He was award the Nobel Prize for literature in 1970. Here is what Solzhenitsyn had to say about his writing:

"During all the years until 1961," Solzhenitsyn wrote in an autobiography written for the Nobel Foundation, "not only was I convinced that I should never see a single line of mine in print in my lifetime, but, also, I scarcely dared allow any of my close acquaintances to read anything I had written because I feared that this would become known."

To learn more about this wonderful author, go to:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080804/ap_on_en_ot/obit_solzhenitsyn

Mike's Writing Newsletter--August Issue

The August issue of Mike's Writing Newsletter is now out. This month, Mike interviews the Producer and Filmmaker, Laura Friedman. And don't miss the article about the BEA convention. I have two articles in this issue: "Seven Things You Should Know About Your Book," and "Writer's Block? Tear Down the Wall!"

Each monthly issue is filled with interviews, articles, and helpful resources. And it's FREE! To start your subscription to Mike's Writing Newsletter, send an email request to: mgeffner@earthlink.net

You won't want to miss a single issue.

My Own Mini-NaNoWriMo

Most writers are familiar with the famous NaNoWriMo, the month in November when thousands of people pledge to write 50,000 words in 30 days. Yesterday, I joined with some of my writer friends to form our own personal NaNoWriMo.

But NaNoWriMo takes place in November, you say. Why do this in August?

Well, one of our the most successful members of our little group mentioned that her publisher wants revisions on 35,000 words by the end of August and put out a plea for others to join her in making similar commitments. Another participant in our merry band said her agent wanted her to make substantial changes to her next novel. And still another member mentioned that she was preparing a collection of short stories for a competition with a pressing deadline. I added that my mentor wanted a complete draft of my novel by the first of December. In short order, we had almost ten people discussing deadlines and goals, and thus, our private NaNoWriMo was formed.

The leader of our group put together a few rules for us to follow. They were so well-crafted that I thought I would share. To find the goal for the daily word count, she averaged the goals of the various participants.

The Rules
Word count goal for each week--5600 words. That is an average of 800 words a day. If you go over the average on one day, you can carry them over to the next. If you don't make the goal, you keep on slogging through.

Any genre, any combination of genres, is acceptable. You can combine two 100-word poems with a 600 words from a short story to meet your daily goal.

Commit to one week at a time. You can quit after one full week, but no quitting mid-week. If you commit to a week, you stick it out until the end.

Support your fellow writers. Be sympathetic if they're struggling but keep encouraging them to meet the goal.

On Aug. 31, we will all celebrate!

So what is your mini-NaNoWriMo goal?

Anyone who wants to join me in writing 5600 words a week is welcome to post his efforts and successes in the comments session. I will be there to cheer you on!

My word count for 8/1/08: 1894 words

Residency (literary and visual arts)

Residency Near Salida, Colorado

Colorado Art Ranch and Art Works for the Heart of the Rockies will host 5 visual and literary artists near Salida Colorado. The residency begins September 28, 2008 and ends October 30, 2008. Deadline for applications is August 1, 2008.

For more information, please visit Colorado Art Ranch Next Residency

The Cliffside home sits above the Chalk Creek Valley and just under the 800 feet tall Chalk Cliffs. The home is a Frank Lloyd Wright design which makes all the spaces functional and useful. There is no internet access, but several sites in Salida have free Wi-Fi.

Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort is just down the hill, you may drive up to the famous ghost town of St. Elmo or go hiking along the Colorado Trail. Salida and Buena Vista are 15-20 minutes away.

This residency is a bit isolated. It's too far to walk into town. It usualy works out that there is at least one car at the residency, and there will be plenty of opportunities to get groceries. There is a small art supply store in Salida, but it is best to bring what you need. This residency is ideally suited for artists who work outdoors or have minimal studio needs. However, we will find studio space to match artist needs.

Residents will be able to attend the Artposium in Denver, and will have transportation and housing for that event.

Backspace Writers Conference

August 7 & 8, 2008 • Radisson Martinique • New York City



The 2008 Backspace Writers Conference brings together literary agents, acquisitions editors, best-selling authors, and publishing professionals for a two-day, two-track program of workshops, panels, and networking in the heart of the publishing world.

Come meet the people who can make a difference in your career!

Keynote Speakers: Mark Tavani, Senior Editor, Random House; John Searles, author, books editor Cosmo Magazine


Literary Agents : Richard Curtis, Simon Lipskar, Jeff Kleinman, Emmanuelle Alspaugh, Paige Wheeler, Laney Katz Becker, Maya Rock, Michael Bourret, Scott Hoffman, Ronnie Gramazio, Elisabeth Weed, Stephany Evans, Holly Root, Alyssa Eisner Henkin, Matthew Mahoney, Eric Myers

Authors: M.J. Rose, Harry Hunsicker, Jason Pinter, Jackie Kessler, Heather Brewer, Gail Konop Baker, Laurel Corona, Lisa McMann, Jenny Gardiner, Danielle Younge-Ullman, Claudia Gray, Marlys Pearson, Jessica Keener, Elizabeth Letts, A.S. King, Robin Slick, Susan Henderson, Pam Jenoff, Trish Ryan, Leora Skolkin-Smith, Caroline Leavitt, Reed Farrel Coleman, Chris Grabenstein, William Powers, Carolyn Burns Bass, John Robison, Jon Clinch, Linda Gerber, Claudia Gray, Douglas Clegg


Editors and Other Publishing Professionals : Hilary Rubin Teeman (editor, St. Martin's), Charis Conn (contributing editor, Harper's Magazine), Kristen Weber (senior editor, New American Library), Rachel Kahan (senior editor, G.P. Putnam), Courtney Bongiolatti (associate editor, Simon & Schuster), Bella Stander, Jerry Gross, Lauren Cerand, Eileen Winnick


Registrations accepted up to and including the day of the conference.

Julia Peterkin Fiction Award

Submission Guidelines for the Julia Peterkin Award

Eligibility

The 2009 Julia Peterkin Award is open to all writers of fiction writing original works in English. Previously published works are eligible for inclusion in the submission.

Manuscript Format Guidelines

Entries must be typed on quality paper, 8 1/2 by 11. Photocopies or copies from letter-quality printers are acceptable. Each entry must include one short story or chapter from a novel--a maximum of 15-18 pages. In addition, include a cover page with the writer’s name, address, daytime phone number, and title of submission. Also include a one-page biography. Author’s name should not appear on the manuscript.

Entry Requirements

An entry fee of $15 made payable to: Converse College English Department.
Deadline: Feb. 15, 2009.

Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like direct notification of contest results. Results will be mailed in May of 2009. No manuscripts can be returned.

Send one copy of the manuscript prepared according to format guidelines.

The winner will receive $1000 and travel expenses for a reading at Converse College. Winner must be willing to read in the Fall 2009 Visiting Writers Series.

Send entries to:

The Julia Peterkin Award
Converse College
Department of English
580 E. Main Street
Spartanburg, SC 29302

Saving Your Work

Perhaps the greatest nightmare every writer fears is that sinking feeling you have when your computer crashes and you haven't saved your work. Hours of writing and editing are lost in a single electronic failure. As someone who has lived through more than her share of computer crashes and viral infections, I thought I'd pass along some tips for backing up your writing.

The first thing to remember is that not all is lost when a computer crashes. Some systems have automatic backups and temp files where you may be able to find MOST of your recent writing. You can also hire computer experts (for about $100-200 in my part of the country) to run a save disk that will back up everything they can find on your computer so you can transfer to a working system. In fact, when I had a computer crash a couple of years ago, the computer geek I called saved all but the last day's files from my dead computer.

But what can you do to prevent the loss in the first place? Back up your writing. Make it habit. Do it after every writing session or after a certain period of time. But do it. Accidents and failures happen, and you don't want to be in the unhappy position of trying to salvage possible years worth of effort.

There are several easy ways to back up your writing. Perhaps the most popular choice is email. You can email copies of everything you write to a Web-based email account where you can access it from any computer. Another popular back-up technique includes using a flash drive (also known as a thumb drive), a device that plugs into your computer and downloads all selected documents into its memory. Some people like to back up their work on CDs. I would also like to recommend another excellent resource for baking up your writing (that's free): Google Documents. If you Google "Google Documents," you will find an online server that stores all sorts of documents, everything from MS Word docs to PowerPoint. It's easy to use, password protected, and holds tons of material.

What are the risks of the various means of backing up your work?
Email--Be sure that your email service is accessible from the Web and not just a local network. Also, you should confirm that the email server can handle attachments and doesn't have limited storage options.
Flash Drive--The greatest risk of the flash drive is that it's easy to lose. Don't depend on these for your only back up resource. It's also important to know that not all flash drives are compatible with all systems. A flash drive compatible with MS XP make not be compatible with MS Vista, for instance.
CD--The most obvious risk of using a CD for a back-up system is that CDs are easily damaged and/or corrupted. I've had installation CDs fail after a couple of years, even though they were stored in their original jewel cases and seldom used.
Google and other online services--Make sure they are password protected. An online server should also have a long shelf life on the Internet. You don't want to place your work on a server only to discover that it has closed up shop after a year.

And sometimes, when the work is lost forever, it's good to remember that you can write it again--perhaps even better than the first time. Hemmingway once lost a manuscript on a train, never to see it again. But he believed the book he wrote to replace that one was a much better work.

Happy writing!

Jeanne

Upcoming Writing Classes

I have three writing classes scheduled for summer and fall. The very popular "Secrets of Getting Published" is slated for Monday, July 28, 2008, 5:45-7:45 p.m. and Monday, October 13, 2008, 5:45-7:45 p.m. Both classes will be held at Sunrise Mountain Branch Library, 21200 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria, AZ. This is a class designed for those who are considering publishing short fiction, children's fiction, nonfiction, novels, or memoirs. If you are looking for answers to the publishing process, you will find them here. We will cover such topics as query letters, agents, editors, markets, submission procedures, and more. There is a $2.00 supply fee payable to instructor for resource materials and handouts.
Fee: $ 20.00 Peoria resident; $25.00 non-resident
Tel. Reg. 623-773-7725
Online: http://recreation.peoriaaz.com

I will also be teaching my "Beginning Fiction Writing" class September 27, 2008 at Sunrise Mountain Branch Library from 10:15 a.m.--3:15 p.m. There will be a one-hour break for lunch. This workshop will teach the fiction writing techniques the professionals use. We will discuss the basic elements of a good story: plot and conflict, interesting characters, strong settings, and believable dialogue. We will also explore potential markets for your work. There is a $2.00 supply fee payable to instructor for resource materials and handouts.
Fee: $40.00 Peoria resident; $45.00 non-resident
Registration information is the same as listed above.

Hope you can join me!

Maui Writers Conference

The 2008 Maui Writers Conference & Retreat is just around the corner! Sponsored by Writer's Digest, this conference is a great way to network and learn about the writing industry. The location isn't too bad, either. The details:

Maui Writers Conference
Labor Day Weekend--Friday, Aug. 29 to Monday, September 1, 2008
Honolulu, Hawaii

Writers Retreat
Friday, Aug. 22 to Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008
Honolulu, Hawaii

Early registration deadline for both: July 1, 2008. After July 1, the rates go up.

Conference includes panel discussions and workshops with authors, agents, and editors. Private consultations with agents and editors are available for an additional fee.

Retreat includes workshops on bestselling fiction, literary fiction, scriptwriting, narrative nonfiction, and self-help writing.

For more information, please visit: http://www.mauiwriters.com

Hidden River Arts Writing Awards

I recently received notice of two writing competitions sponsored by the Hidden River Arts organization and thought my readers might find these of interest:

William Van Went Memorial Fiction Award
$1000 for an unpublished short story or novel excerpt up to 25 pages
Entry fee: $15.00
Deadline: June 20, 2008

Hidden River Arts Playwriting Award
$1000 for an unpublished, not previously produced full-length play
Entry fee: $15.00
Deadline: June 20, 2008

For more information about both of these competitions, please visit the Hidden River Arts Website at: http://www.hiddenriverarts.com/

Summer Submissions

The summer can be a difficult time to find markets for fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, as many of the literary magazines are closed to submissions during the summer months. However, the magazines listed below either accept submissions year round or during part of the summer.

My thanks to several kind posters on the Speakeasy Forum at Poets & Writers for sharing this useful information. Be sure to check the guidelines at the magazines' Websites. Submission periods and guidelines are subject to change. You can find links to these markets at one of these places:

Duotrope Digest

Newpages

The summer submission list:

American Short Fiction
Another Chicago Magazine (reads Feb. 1-Aug. 31)
Apalachee Review
A Public Space
Baltimore Review
Black Warrior Review
Chattahootchee Review
Cimarron Review
Columbia Review
Conjunctions
Crazy Horse
Florida Review
Fourteen Hills
Granta
Hanging Loose
Harvard Review
Hayden's Ferry Review
Louisville Review
MacGuffin
McSweeney's
Malahat Review
Meridian
Michigan Quarterly Review
Missouri Review
Modern Review
New Orleans Review
Nimrod
Noon
Northwest Review
Orchid
Paris Review
Pleiades
Redivider
southeast review
Southern Humanities Review
The Journal
Threepenny Review (Jan.-Aug.)
Willow Springs
Yale Review
Zoetrope (Jan.-Aug.)

Happy writing! May all of your submissions turn into acceptances.

Questions about writing? Just ask!

One of the many functions I seem to perform on the Internet is the role of the "answer lady" when it comes to the craft and business of writing. Although I don't claim to have all the answers, I will do my best to respond to your questions. If I can't give you the answer, I will refer you to a resource where you can find more help.

Unlike my Website, which is less interactive in nature, this is the place to post your questions.

Do you want to know--
How to write a synopsis? Where to find legitimate agents? How to format a ms.? Where to find freelance nonfiction markets? Where to find information on MFA programs? How to write a query letter?

Just ask!

Mike's Writing Newsletter

What is Mike's Writing Newsletter? It's a monthly e-zine of almost fifty pages filled with interviews, articles, inspiration, and markets. And it's completely free! My column, "Jeanne's Writing Desk," appears in each issue. To subscribe to the newsletter or to read it online, be sure to visit: http://mikeswritingworkshop.blogspot.com/

You won't want to miss a single issue.

Coming up in the next issue: "Painless Pruning." Learn how to edit and cut your prose the easy way.

Upcoming Writing Classes

You've written that nonfiction piece, short story, or novel, but what do you do with it now? How do you get your work published? Do you need an agent? What do editors really want?

My next writing class, "Secrets of Getting Published," will answer those questions and more. In this intensive two-hour workshop, we will discuss query letters, submission procedures, agents, markets, and more--everything you need to know to become successfully published.

Secrets of Getting Published
Monday, July 28, 2008
5:45 p.m.--7:45 p.m.
Sunrise Mountain Branch Library, 21200 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria, AZ

Fee: $20.00 Peoria resident; $25.00 non-resident
Plus a $2.00 supply fee for materials and handouts

Tel. Reg. 623-773-7725
Register Online: http://recreation.peoriaaz.com

Hope to see you there!

Changing Hands Writing Workshop

Changing Hands Writing Workshop

Time: Monday, May 19, 2008 6:30 p.m.
Location: Changing Hands Bookstore

Workshop: Writing about Setting • 6:30-8:30pm
Frequent New Yorker magazine contributor Marisa Silver, author of the acclaimed
novel The God of War, leads a workshop about the elements of writing about
setting. "Place can provide a springboard for character development and the
development of action," Silver says. "Setting is really a function of the
characters who see it, live in it, and interact with it."

In addition to elaborating this principle through interactive writing exercises,
Silver will discuss the publishing process and read from The God of War, which
Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls, calls "[A] novel
of great metaphorical depth and beauty. It stays with you like a lesson well and
truly learned."

Cost: One copy of The God of War ($23). Registration and pre-payment required at
480-730-0205. More info: www.changinghands.com

Testing the waters

Hello! Welcome to my new blog about the writing biz and the writing life.

Keep your eyes open here for new posts about writing, writing markets, articles on the craft and business and writing, and more! And be sure to visit my Website at:
http://www.jeannelyetgassman.com

Jeanne