Groovy Software for the Writer

I just got back from lunch with my writer friend, Adele Slaughter. She told me about this great tool on Scrivener that counts your word usage - not just the number of words, but the number of times you use a specific word. And it gives you an entire list of words that are repeated and the number of times they are used.

In other words, how many times does the word "love" come up in your poetry manuscript? Why is this important? Well, if you want to be a more specific writer and, even more important, a more interesting writer, this tool is invaluable. Find the word you repeat, replace it with a more specific word or even better, cut it altogether - all in the name of clearer communication.

I actually purchased Scriveners about a month ago. It's inexpensive, $39.95 and it offers a screenwriting format, index card feature and the ability to move things around; like change the order of your poetry manuscript at the touch of a button instead of the tedious cut & paste, or re-order chapters in the same way. I also love its short story template (ready for submission).

L.A. Review Call for Submissions

The Los Angeles Review, a twice-yearly literary journal published by Red Hen Press, invites our members to submit work during their reading period for their Spring 2010 issue.

Many magazines solicit work primarily from academic programs or from writers in their immediate regions, but The Los Angeles Review takes pride in reaching out to writers wherever they may be working, and actively encourages submissions from writers who may not be well-served by other publications.

Submissions are open until December 1. Full guidelines are available here.

Tweetlove

A. How can we not love someone who uses an interrobang as their logo?

B. Fake anything often rules. Hello... Fake fur. Fake purebreds (muts). Fake milk (soy). Fake eyelashes (ok maybe not so much fake eyelashes).

C. Fake AP Style handbook on twitter? We're in love.

Check them out: http://twitter.com/FakeAPStylebook. Here are a few sample @FakeAPStylebook tweets:

To denote air quotes, "use quotes."

"Buggy jockey" is an insulting term to the Amish and should only be used in the online edition.

And while you're in the mood to laugh, run on over to our other favorite tweeter: Justin from http://twitter.com/Shitmydadsays. It's a 29 year old guy who moved in with his with his dad (so he says) and tweets what his dad says, which rumor on the internet street says it apparently got him an agent and a possible book deal. The tweets are hilarious. The guy has nearly 700,000 followers. Impressive.

Submit yourself to mythium

How can we not love a litmag that says: "Submit! ...seriously, we mean surrender to us. Right Now!"

Click on over to mythium and do as they command: Send them original, unpublished fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, or even novel and memoir excerpts.

Their reading period for the Spring 2010 issue began on October 1st.

LA Comedy Scripts Screenplay Competition Deadline Approaching

For all you screenwriters out there, don't forget that the deadline for the L.A. Comedy Scripts Screenplay Competition is November 2nd. Details below:

Editor/Contact Name	: Jeannie Roshar
Contact E-Mail	: jeannie[at]lacomedyshorts.com
Deadline Date (if any)	: 02-Nov-2009
Publication Type	:
Website URL	: L.A. Comedy Scripts Screenplay Competition
Genre(s)	: Comedy Short Screenplays Comedy Feature Screenplays Half-Hour Comedy TV Pilot Scripts
Details	: L.A. Comedy Scripts is now accepting submissions for the 2010 season! The L.A. Comedy Scripts Screenplay Competition is held in conjunction with the L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival. Comedy screenwriters from around the world compete for over $10,000 in cash and prizes, including travel, accommodations and two VIP passes to the festival in Los Angeles, CA. In 2009, winning scripts were read and requested by some of the biggest names in the industry, including: * The Gersh Agency * Mosaic Media Group * Benderspink * ICM * UTA * Principato-Young Entertainment * Generate * Underground Films * The Gold Company * 3 Arts Entertainment * Larger Than Life * Stars Road Entertainment * Manus Entertainment * Gunn Films So, you think you're funny? Submit your feature-length/short comedy screenplay or your half-hour comedy TV pilot script today! Regular Deadline: November 2nd, 2009.

Lung Poetry Journal Call for Submissions

Lung Poetry Journal, a Los Angeles based literary journal, seeks poetry and flash fiction under 250 words for their upcoming journals.

Lung Poetry Journal : Submit:

From their site:

Issue 03 Submission Deadline: Dec. 5th, 2009
Issue 03 Publication Date: Dec. 10th, 2009

Lung seeks previously unpublished poetry that invokes emotion but avoids the trappings of mediocrity. We cater to fresh, innovative voices that have something original to say. We avoid didactic, esoteric or highly abstract material.

Literary Journals Associated With MFA Programs

When looking for places to submit work, Poets & Writers put together a fabulous list of Literary Journals run by MFA students:

Literary Journals Associated With MFA Programs | Poets & Writers

Do you listen to music when you write?

I'm wondering how many of us pop on the tunes when writing. I was doing this tonight and realized I have to be very careful what I listen to because my mood changes with each song, and my mood affects my writing. Verbs get darker with a depressing song. Characters feel suddenly empowered when an inspirational song cycles through the play list. A violent song will give a character the urge to stab the person they happen to walk past.

I can often write with background noise. TV on, no problem. Neighbors slamming doors and having obscenely loud conversations just outside my window - no sweat. But music? Music infiltrates. I've even caught myself absentmindedly injecting the words to a song into my prose - which I go back and change, of course.

I deeply connect with music, and yet I don't listen to it enough. I love it, but now I know why I don't turn it on as often as I think I should, especially when writing. It's an emotional experience for me. Each song crawls into my nervous system and takes control of my dopamine and serotonin receptors and adjusts them accordingly. Writing does the same thing to me. Maybe that's why they don't mix so well in my world.

Do you write with the tunes on in the background? What's your experience?

Writers Group Starts Wed Sept 23, 2009!

Wondering what we do in our groups?


Upcoming Los Angeles Writers Groups:
Our groups meet once a week from 7:30 - 10:00pm for eight consecutive weeks.

Wednesday, September 23rd in West Hollywood
Thursday August 20th, 2009 in Glassell Park

What can I expect from the group?

Our groups focus on finding new ways to create new and unexpected material through creative writing prompts. Our tagline, Fill Your Notebook (TM) says it all. We are about filling your notebook with new writing so you can go back, pick the pieces you like best, and refine them. You can either bring works-in-progress into the group for feedback or you can wait until the end of group and go through everything you've written. Our peer feedback process is a constructive and guided process. We have rules we follow that keep the feedback process from degenerating into arguments or defensive posturing and everyone participates in the feedback process, whether you bring work in or not.

What kind of work can I bring in for feedback?

You can bring anything in for feedback. Poetry, essays, non-fiction, chapters from your novel, short fiction, memoir, whatever. We've even had people bring in query letters for feedback. We've had people bring in notes for a project. We've had people bring in segments from a one-man show. Anything you're working on that you think feedback from fellow writers would be valuable, bring it on it.

For even more information on how our groups work, visit these links:

How our writing groups work
LAwritersgroup.com

Mid-American Review accepting poetry, fiction submissions

Deadline: Ongoing

Website: http://marsubmissions.bgsu.edu/

Type: Call for Submissions

Reading Fee: n/a

Prize: n/a

Looking for: Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction

Accepts: Online submissions or snail mail submissions

From their site:

Mid-American Review is now accepting online submissions for its 30th anniversary
double issue. The journal will continue to accept snail-mail submissions as
well.

The MAR Submissions Manager site can be accessed through the MAR website, www.bgsu.edu/midamericanreview, or it can be accessed directly at marsubmissions.bgsu.edu.

Submissions are accepted year-round, although summer response times can be slower. The anniversary issue will feature a mix of work by former contributors and newcomers to MAR, and we have a special interest in introducing previously unpublished writers to a wide audience.

Traditional submissions will always be gratefully accepted at this address:

Mid-American Review
Department of English
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green OH 43403