Submission Request from VLP Magazine

Vermillion Literary Project, a literary organization at the University of South Dakota has asked us to post a request for your work!

The link to their submission process is here: http://orgs.usd.edu/projlit/submityourwork.html. The submission page notes that preference is given to works with a South Dakota or Midwest connection, but Sara Kniffen of the editorial staff says that "quality trumps all".

Let us know how it goes....

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

Iowa Writers' Workshop No fee short story collection book contest

Website: http://uipress.uiowa.edu/authors/iowa-short-fiction.htm

Deadline: Sept. 30th, 2009

Type: No-Fee Contest

Reading Fee: N/A

Prize: Publication

Looking for: Collections of Short Stories

Accepts: Snail mail submissions only

From their site:

The Iowa Short Fiction Award & the John Simmons Short Fiction Award

Eligibility

Any writer who has not previously published a volume of prose fiction is eligible to enter the competition. Previously entered manuscripts that have been revised may be resubmitted. Writers are still eligible if they have published a volume of poetry or any work in a language other than English or if they have self-published a work in a small print run. Writers are still eligible if they are living abroad or are non-US citizens writing in English. Current University of Iowa students are not eligible.

Manuscript

The manuscript must be a collection of short stories in English of at least 150 word-processed, double-spaced pages. We do not accept e-mail submissions. The manuscript may include a cover page, contents page, etc., but these are not required. The author’s name can be on every page but this is not required. Stories previously published in periodicals are eligible for inclusion. There is no reading fee; please do not send cash, checks, or money orders. Reasonable care is taken, but we are not responsible for manuscripts lost in the mail or for the return of those not accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. We assume the author retains a copy of the manuscript. Publication Award-winning manuscripts will be published by the University of Iowa Press under the Press’s standard contract.

Submission

Manuscripts should be mailed to: Iowa Short Fiction Award
Iowa Writers’ Workshop
507 North Clinton Street
102 Dey House
Iowa City IA 52242-1000

No application forms are necessary. Entries for the competition should be postmarked between August 1 and September 30; packages must be postmarked by September 30. Announcement of the winners will be made early in the following year. Previous Winners

Potential entrants wishing to read stories by previous winners may order The Iowa Award: The Best Stories from Twenty Years and The Iowa Award: The Best Stories, 1991–2000, both selected by Frank Conroy.

Paper Darts Magazine Call for Submissions

Fiction, Poetry, Plays & More

Website: http://www.paperdarts.org

Editor/Contact Name : Jamie Millard

Contact E-Mail : jamie[at]paperdarts.org

Deadline Date (if any) : n/a

Publication Type : Literary Arts Magazine

Website URL : Paper Darts Magazine

Genre(s) : Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Music, Video, Comics, Playwriting, Art.

What they're looking for in their own words:

Paper Darts is a Minneapolis based literary arts magazine looking to publish all types of genres from all types of people. We like unique, creative, sometimes disturbing types of work.

Sparklesoup seeks short fiction and inspirational manuscripts

Website: www.sparklesoup.com

Editor/Contact Name : Kailin Gow

Contact E-Mail : sparklesoup[at]aol.com

Deadline Date (if any) :n/a

Publication Type : Print and/or Electronic Book Publisher

What they seek in their own words:

1) Non-fiction - how-to, career, health, nutrition, diet, parenting, education, business, technology, inspirational, studying/school tips, beauty, fashion, biography of famous person, politics, science, home life.

2) Fiction - older tweens, teens, young adult, romance, mystery, chick lit, fantasy/adventure, science fiction, christian fiction.

Our books are distributed in the U.S., Canada, Asia, Europe, and South America, and recommended by Parents, Teachers, Schools, and Women's Groups. Because we have this core audience, we do not publish anything containing obscene scenes, lewd acts, degradation, anything that is beyond a PG-13 rating.
Details : Sparklesoup is expanding with new lines of books.

We are currently seeking shorter books (between 7,500 words to 40,000 words) based on 250 words per page for publication for our new Sparklesoup Sparkfire (romance books) and Sparklesoup SparkleLife (inspirational books) line (only as ebooks.) Longer length books (35,000 to 80,000) are currently sought in the fiction to non-fiction areas for print. Manuscripts must be completely written and edited.

Send an email inquiry with the following information in the body of the email to sparklesoup@aol.com.

1) 500 words synopsis
2) Why should this manuscript be published?
3) Number of pages and words of the manuscript
4) Author's bio, been published before, has an agent or rep?
5) 1st sample paragraph of manuscript

Please do not send manuscript. If there is interest, based on the inquiry, there will be a follow-up email asking for more material. If your manuscript is accepted for publication, please do not provide a cover for the book. We have a team of cover artists that will provide a cover for the book.

{out of nothing} call for submissions

Deadline: Oct. 1, 2009

Website: http://www.outofnothing.org (as a note, the website is a work of art in itself)

Type: Call for submissions

Reading Fee: n/a

Prize: n/a

Looking for:

Accepts: Electronic submissions, see http://www.outofnothing.org/809/guidelines-text.html

From their site:

call for submissions
{out of nothing}
no. 3 / that there were some ah-ness to things

Please view complete guidelines here:
http://outofnothing.org/809/

[out of nothing] (http://www.outofnothing.org) is an electronic
publication featuring new works in image, sound, text and the digital
arts, as well as works located at the inter-sections between these
media.

In general, [out of nothing] is interested in works that address, in
some manner:
* the vacuum
* salvage / remainders
* imaginary spaces possessed of imaginary dimensions
* darkness / lightlessness
* reduced or infinitesimal means
* the exponential
* self-abnegating symbols
* the blank
* obliteration
* the inconsequential
* refusal
* the contentless / general contentlessness
* the generic and / or undifferentiated and / or the contra-original
* adhesive agents in search of clients to bind
* none of the above or below

[out of nothing] is published in online installments, on an irregular but roughly quarterly seasonal basis that nevertheless remains chronically TBD. Each issue is theme-based, and is introduced by a special M.C.; or, emcee. Occasional print anthologies are also envisioned.

[out of nothing] is edited by Janice Lee, Eric Lindley & Joe Milazzo.

Boiling River online journal seeks poems

Deadline: Sept 15, 2009

Website: http://www.boilingriver.com

Type: Call for Submissions

Reading Fee: n/a

Prize: n/a

Looking for: An eclectic mix of poetry--any form, any topic, but it must push its own boundaries.

Accepts: Electronic submissions, see website

InkSpotter Publishing seeks submissions for breast anthology

Deadline: October 31, 2009

Website: http://www.inkspotter.com

Type: Call for Submissions

Reading Fee: n/a

Prize: n/a

Accepts: Email submissions in body of email only NO ATTACHMENTS.

Looking for:

InkSpotter Publishing is looking for submissions for an anthology celebrating the most female of body parts, the breasts. From light-hearted memories of the first buds of puberty to heart wrenching accounts of breast cancer, these stories will run the gamut of experiences and emotions. Send to submissions[at]inkspotter.com. We are NOT looking for salacious material. Please keep your submissions tasteful. Think in terms of what you would want your young
daughter (or niece) to be able to read.

Unpublished submissions are welcome from both women and men. Maximum 3,000 words for both fiction and non-fiction. Poems are also welcome, though a limited number will be used (no specific length requirements, but please, no epics).

Send your submissions in the body of an email (absolutely no attachments) to submissions(at)inkspotter(dot)com with "Submission for Wait a Minute" in the subject line. You may also submit via postal mail to:

InkSpotter Publishing

163 Main Avenue

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Canada B3M 1B3

If you require confirmation of receipt, include either a stamped postcard or
your email address (preferred).

Manuscripts will not be returned. Do not send your only copy.

Writers chosen for the anthology will be entitled to a share of profits.
Part of the proceeds will be donated to a breast cancer charity in Canada.
Finding the right words

Ms. Betty Dobson
Owner/Operator

InkSpotter Publishing

New L.A. writer

I started writing "for real" in January. Although I used an unusual process to get there, I now have a complete screenplay. Two weeks ago I began work on another one, and decided that one of Sanora's workshops might help ease me into my new effort. Grease the creative skids, if you will. Little did I realize how much the exercises would help stimulate the creative process. It's difficult to explain, but the exercises seem to be like watering a plant. In the past, the concept might have been there, but I needed a boost to begin that first sentence and it was always difficult for me to write with clarity. Or FINISH writing something at all! I especially love/hate the "freewrite" exercises. I always knew that "editing-as-you-go" was death, but the thought of surrendering to the freewriting process was terrifying! Don't lift the pen? Don't scratch out? No editing as I go? The truth is it enables the ideas to flow, by definition, unchecked. Don't get me wrong: writing is never (for me) smooth sailing, but I am now able to allow myself to just sit and write and see what happens. And what is happening seems to be pretty cool. Thanks, 'Nora!

Guest Blogger Coming Soon!

Carl Bartels, a Los Angeles cinematographer, is new student to LAwritersgroup.com and is joining our Official LAwritersgroup.com Blog roster! Carl recently joined the Thursday night writers group in Glassell Park and can't wait to share his experience and thoughts about writing. Keep an eye out for his postings!

Consequence Magazine call for submissions

Deadline: October 1st

Website: http://www.consequencemagazine.org/

Type: Call for Submissions

Reading Fee: n/a

Prize: n/a

Looking for: exceptional short fiction, poetry, non-fiction, interviews, and visual art

Accepts: Email submissions, Snail mail submissions, simultaneous submissions, but NOT previously published submissions

From their site:

CONSEQUENCE magazine, the literary, print magazine addressing the culture of war, publishes each spring. We focus on the personal and social consequences of armed conflict worldwide, and welcome multi-cultural perspectives.

Dossier call for submissions for online journal

Deadline: Ongoing

Website: www.dossierjournal.com

Type: Call for Submissions for Online Journal

Reading Fee: n/a

Prize: n/a

Looking for: Flash fiction, non-fiction, and poetry for the "Read" section of its website. Fiction and non-fiction should be under 1000 words.

Accepts: Email submissions

From their site:

Submissions of writing and art are welcome and should be sent to submissions@dossierjournal.com. For art, we strongly suggest that you include a link to your website. There are no guidelines or themes for submissions.

Interobang?! Zine call for poetry, prose submissions

Deadline: Sept. 1st - ooh only 5 days left!

Website: http://interrobangzine.com

Type: Call for Submissions

Reading Fee: N/A

Prize: N/A

Looking for: Poetry, Prose, and Photography Submissions

Accepts: Email Submissions, previous and simultaneous submissions

From their site:

Interrobang?! Zine, (http://interrobangzine.com) a small and independent arts magazine based in Providence, RI seeks poetry, prose and photography submissions for its second print edition, as well as multimedia (art, video, music) for its online edition at http://interrobangzine.com. Simultaneous and previously published submissions welcome. Send up to five poems and/or 3000 words of prose... unlimited multimedia submissions accepted.

Submit online with the genre of your piece in the subject line (for example, POETRY, if you're submitting poetry). Please put your name, address, and preferred email address in the message body so we can contact you to let know that we've received your piece, and for follow-up if your work is accepted. All photography and art should be submitted digitally. There are no constraints for the web, but for those who want to see their work in the print edition must submit line art, sketches, or black-and-white images with the understanding that we do not at present have sufficient funds to go above photostat/newsprint quality. Please note "For Print and Web" or "For Web Only" in your email.We ask that text submissions be submitted in .DOC or .RTF format. Photography and art should be attached as high-quality JPEG or PNGs. Music and video should be submitted in .MP3 and .MPG respectively.

Two New 8-Week Writers Groups Scheduled

We've now scheduled our Fall 2009 writers groups. Both groups are our 8-Week General Writers Groups that are open to writers of all kinds and levels, including (but not limited to!) fiction writers, essayists, non-fiction writers, novelists, and even screenwriters.

• Nicole's Group 8-Week General Writers Group in West Hollywood on Wednesday, September 23rd (this group is good for writers coming from West Hollywood, West Los Angeles, Miracle Mile/Fairfax District and the Southwest and Northwest San Fernando Valley (Encino, Woodland Hills, Reseda, Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood) and surrounding areas).
  

• Sanora's Group 8-Week General Writers Group in Glassell Park on Thursday October 15th (this group is good for writers who want to join a writers group who are coming from Glendale, Burbank, Los Feliz, East Los Angeles, Atwater Village, the Northeast and Southeast San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas)
  

See http://www.lawritersgroup.com for further details, or read more about how our Los Angeles writers groups work in this previous blog post.

Land of Lincoln issue, Crab Orchard Review call for submissions:

Deadline: Oct. 31, 2009

Website: http://craborchardreview.siuc.edu/guid2.html

Type: Call for submissions for writing from and about Illinois

Reading Fee: n/a

Prize: n/a

Looking for: Original, unpublished poetry, fiction, or literary nonfiction in English or unpublished translations in English

Accepts: Snail Mail Submissions

From their site:

Special Issue: Land of Lincoln ~

Writing from and about Illinois

CRAB ORCHARD REVIEW is seeking work for our Summer/Fall 2010 issue focusing on writing by Illinois writers and writing from writers outside Illinois about the people, places, past and present of Illinois.

All submissions should be original, unpublished poetry, fiction, or literary nonfiction in English or unpublished translations in English (we do run bilingual, facing-page translations whenever possible). Please query before submitting any interview.

For our general submission guidelines, check our Web site at

http://craborchardreview.siuc.edu/guid2.html

Mail submissions to:

CRAB ORCHARD REVIEW

Land of Lincoln issue

Faner 2380, Mail Code 4503

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

1000 Faner Drive

Carbondale, IL 62901

United States of America

The submission period for this issue is August 1, 2009 through October 31, 2009. We will be reading submissions throughout this period and hope to complete the editorial work on the issue by the end of February 2010. Writers whose work is selected will receive $25 (US) per magazine page ($50 minimum for poetry; $100 minimum for prose) and two copies of the issue. Include SASE for reply or for manuscript return.

How to Promote Your Book Online

How to promote your book online on our blog:

Guest blog posts are a great way to promote your book online. The LAwritersgroup.com blog invites guest blog posts on our blog.  This blog is for writers, often they are writers in the Los Angeles area but the blog is not focused specifically on Los Angeles Writers (although we do post the occasional LA specific post).  If you are an author who has published a book and would like to promote your book, whether it is a literary fiction novel, a mystery or horror or suspense genre novel, a book of essays, a young adult novel, a book of poems, or even a non-fiction book, we invite you to send us a guest post.  Our only requirement is that you provide useful content to writers, either a tip about writing, something inspirational or motivating, or what helps you in your creative process.  We prefer and will give priority to tips about writing.  We will include a 2 - 3 sentence bio and a link to your site / book /twitter if you submit them.

Why do this? More online exposure and links to your book!

Why do we do this To provide excellent content to our readers and help you promote your book online!

Here is where you can submit your writing-related guest blog post.

VERY IMPORTANT:

Please note that your blog post MUST BE about a subject of interests to writers, NOT promotional information about your book.  We will credit you and link to and mention your book but the blog must not be about your book.  It can be on a subject related to your book - for example:  If your book is about writing novels while sailing, then you can write some tips for sailors who are also writers.

Here is an example:  http://lawritersgroup.blogspot.com/2010/06/your-hyphenate-brain-how-fiction.html

After you're done, subscribe to our blog so you know when your guest post has been published.

Ginosko Literary Journal call for submissions

Looking for poetry, short-fiction, creative non-fiction & more:

Deadline: N/A

Website: http://www.ginoskoliteraryjournal.com , http://www.ginoskoliteraryjournal.com/submissions.htm

Type: Call for Submissions

Reading Fee: None

Prize: None

Looking for: Accepting short fiction & poetry, audio recordings, creative non-fiction, interviews, social justice concerns for the 9th issue of the literary journal ginosko, the summer issue.

Accepts: Email and Snail Mail Submissions

From their site:

Call for Submissions: Ginosko Literary Journal

Editorial lead time 1-2 months; accept simultaneous submissions and reprints; length flexible, accept excerpts.

Receives postal submissions & email—prefer email submissions as attachments in
Microsoft Works Word Processor or Rich Text Format. Copyright reverts
to author.Publishing as semiannual ezine, winter & summer. Selecting material
from ezine for printed anthology.

Check downloadable issues on website for style & tone:
http://www.ginoskoliteraryjournal.com/

Also looking for artwork, photography, to post on website and links to exchange.

Ginosko (ghin-océ-koe)
To perceive, understand, realize, come to know; knowledge that has an inception, a progress, an attainment . The recognition of truth by experience.

Member CLMP. Listed in Best of the Web 2008.

Theatre Company looking for One Acts

www.abovethecurvetheatre.com

"We are Above the Curve Theatre Company, a four-year-old, non-profit organization looking forward to putting up our Fourth Annual One Act Festival, comprised of original pieces. We generally shoot for one acts which are approximately ten minutes in length. We do not discriminate but we do like plays which have more female roles than male. Please do not hesitate to send us any type of one-act with any number of male or female characters.

You can email them to abovethecurvetheatre[at]gmail.com and we will read them and get back to you.

To learn more about us, you can visit www.abovethecurvetheatre.com

The festival is in November this year (either the first two or second two weekends of the month).

Thank you all very much for your contributions!

-Above the Curve"

via Craigslist.

Creative Screenwriting Cyberspace Open Competition

Write up to 3 brief scenes. Win a quick $3,000.

From their site: http://screenwritingexpo.com/writingtournament.2009.html:

Enter for just $12 by Sept. 16.

First Round Is Over The Weekend Of Sept. 18-21

The Premise For The First Scene Will Be Posted Here
And Also Be Emailed To Entrants Sept. 18 at 5 PM -- Details Below

The Prizes:

Grand Prize Is $3,000, plus...
Industry Recognition As The Top Creative Writer On A Deadline
Second Prize $500; Third Prize $250; See the full official prize list here
TO ENTER: click here to go to the Rules and Release page.
Read the Rules and Release and enter at the bottom of that page.

See their site for more information.

Writers Market Call for Article Submissions:

Writers Market is looking for articles for their Poet's Market and Writer's Market books.

Deadline: Sept. 1st, 2009

Website: WritersMarket.com

Type: Call for article pitches

Reading Fee: n/a

Prize: n/a

Looking for: Articls on writing for the Writers Market book and the Poets Market book.

Accepts: E-mail queries

From the editor:

"You know those great informational articles in the front of Writer's Market and Poet's Market? Well, I'm currently accepting pitches for the 2011 editions until September 1, 2009.

If you've got a great article idea (or ideas), send your pitch to robert.brewer@fwmedia.com with the subject line '2011 Writer's Market Query' for Writer's Market or '2011 Poet's Market Query' for Poet's Market.

I do NOT want fiction or poetry. I want article ideas that will help writers get their fiction, poetry, and nonfiction published, sold, promoted, marketed, etc. If you're unsure, pick up a copy of Poet's Market or Writer's Market to read what gets published in the front of the book."

Doug Fir Fiction Award

Every Story Begins Somewhere

At The Bear Deluxe Magazine, the Pacific Northwest’s leading environmental arts publication, many short fiction stories and their authors find their first recognition through the Doug Fir Fiction Award. Now in its third year, this annual contest celebrates writing related to the natural world, sense of place or environmental issues.

Deadline: September 8, 2009 (postmark)

Prize: $1,000 and publication

Judge: Jon Raymond, The Half-Life, Livability, (Bloomsbury), and the movies Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy

Word limit: 5,000

$15 reading fee

Mail formatted submissions and entry fee (check or money order in U.S. dollars) to Orlo/The Bear Deluxe Magazine, P.O. Box 10342, Portland, Oregon 97296 USA

Publication reach: 44,000

Open to all writers in English

Complete submission guidelines: www.orlo.org

Jerry Jazz Musician No Fee Fiction Contest

Deadline: September 30th, 2009

Website: http://www.jerryjazzmusician.com/mainHTML.cfm?page=fictioncontest.html

Type: Contest

Entry Fee: No fee

Prize: $100

Looking for: Fiction that is original, previously unpublished work of approximately one - five thousand words.

Accepts: email submissions.

From their site:

Three times a year, Jerry Jazz Musician awards a writer who submits, in our opinion, the best original, previously unpublished work of approximately one - five thousand words. The winner will be announced via a special mailing of our Jerry Jazz Musician newsletter. Publishers, artists, musicians and interested readers are among those who subscribe to the newsletter. Additionally, the work will be published on the home page of Jerry Jazz Musician and featured there for at least four weeks.

The Jerry Jazz Musician reader has interests in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theatre, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America. Your writing should appeal to a reader with these characteristics.

Writer Residency

Soapstone in Oregon is now accepting applications for 1 - 4 week residencies

From their site:

We will be accepting applications postmarked between July 1 and August 1, 2009 for residencies starting November 2009 to November 2010.

Information about our residency program can be found at www.soapstone.org.

Application forms can be downloaded at

www.soapstone.org/apply_pages/index.html.

Be sure to check out the link "Is Soapstone for You?"

Call for Poetry Book Submissions

Tupelo Press Open Submissions Month for Poetry

Deadline: July 31st, 2009

Website: www.tupelopress.org

Type: Poetry Book

Reading Fee: $25

Looking for: Book Length Poetry Collections, 48-90 pages

Accepts: Electronic Submissions

From their site:

Throughout July, Tupelo Press will hold open submissions for book-length poetry collections (48-90 pages). Aware of the current economy, we have reduced our reading fee from $35 to $25. We also now accept electronic submissions, which saves on photocopying and postage, via a special transfer site. This ensures correct formatting and provides automatic receipts and a log-in option to check the status of your manuscript. We will continue to accept submissions by postal mail as well.

Historically Tupelo Press has granted contracts each year to three to five poetry books submitted in July, for example Ted Deppe's ORPHEUS ON THE RED LINE, Karen An-hwei Lee's ARDOR, Mark Halliday's KEEP THIS FOREVER, Ellen Doré Watson's THIS SHARPENING, and Michael Chitwood's SPILL. Tupelo Press editors will read all manuscripts.

In addition to July's open submissions for poetry, fiction and nonfiction manuscripts are welcome year-round. Click here and scroll down to view the complete Submissions Guidelines for fiction and nonfiction.

See the Submissions tab on our website for complete guidelines.

Maternal Spark webzine seeks flash fiction from writing moms

Deadline: Ongoing

Type: Call for Submissions

Website: http://maternalspark.com/wp/?page_id=336

Looking for: Flash Fiction - No more than 500 words from moms or pregnant women only

Accepts: E-mail Submissions

From their site:

Maternal Spark is now accepting Flash Fiction submissions. Pieces should be no more than 500 words and must be a complete story from beginning to end with characters and a plot. Please note that while Maternal Spark is all about Creative Motherhood – your flash fiction can be about whatever topic you like. In fact, I encourage you to write about something other than Motherhood.

Please copy and paste your flash into the body of an email and send it to: heddy.e[at]gmail[dot]com

Include: Name, email address, link to your blog or website and short, 50 word bio.

Use the subject line “Flash Fiction“.

At this time, Maternal Spark is only accepting the writing of Moms. If you are not a mom (or pregnant) – I’m sorry you’ll have to try again later.

You will receive a response to your submission within 60 days. Please don’t worry about technical details too much. I’m really just looking for great stories.

I look forward to reading your work. Submit away!

The New York Songwriters Circle 2009 Songwriting Contest DL 10/1/09

Calling all songwriters!

Deadline: Submissions deadline is October 1st, 2009. All mail in submissions must be postmarked by September 23rd, 2009 to qualify.

Website: http://www.songwriters-circle.com/2009_about.htm

Type: Songwriting Contest

Submission Fee: $30 per one song submission / $50 per three song submission.

Prize: Over $25,000 in cash and prizes

From their site:

The New York Songwriters Circle | The 2009 Songwriting Contest: "With over $25,000 in cash and prizes, more opportunities and more great music then ever before we are excited to welcome you to the 2009 Songwriting Contest. With the most recent success of past winners Kate Voegele, Company Of Thieves and Mieka Pauley, we are once again on the search for the best songwriters out there today.

Submissions are now being accepted from songwriters worldwide in all musical genres. Whether submitting online or via mail, click here to submit your music.

All song submissions must be in English.

Our list of judges, prizes and sponsors is constantly growing so keep checking back for the latest updates.

All entrants receive a complimentary 6-month MoB membership to Broadjam.com (a $25 value)

Family Circle Fiction Writing Contest: DL Aug 31

http://www.parents.com/family-life/fitness/stress-relaxation/fiction-contest-winners/?page=12

Deadline: August 31st, 2009

Type: Contest

Reading Fee: None

Prize: One grand prize winner will receive $750, publication in Family Circle, a certificate for one online mediabistro.com course (valued at up to $610), and a one-year mediabistro.com AvantGuild membership ($49 value). Two runners-up will each receive $250 and a one-year
mediabistro.com AvantGuild membership ($49 value), and will have his or her story published on familycircle.com.

Looking for: Short fiction up to 2500 words

Accepts: Snail mail submissions

See the parents.com website for further details on the contest.

Juked fiction and poetry contest: DL Aug 31

http://www.juked.com/prize/

Deadline: August 31, 2009

Type: Contest

Entry Fee: $10 per entry. There is no limit on the number of entries you
may submit.

Prize: First prize for each genre: $500 and publication in our upcoming print issue, Juked #7.

Looking for: Previously unpublished fiction and poetry

Accepts: Simultaneous submissions are fine, but notify us immediately if your work has been accepted elsewhere. Submit by Snail Mail or Email.

From their site:

Fiction: send one story per entry. There is no length requirement.

Poetry: send up to five poems (no more than ten pages total) per entry.

We are currently accepting entries for our 2009 JukedFiction and Poetry Prizes. Winners in each of the genres will receive $500 and publication in print issue #7. Our final judges this year are Dan Chaon (fiction) and Dora Malech (poetry). This year we will also accept electronic submissions to help everyone cut down on costs.

Current and former students of the judges are not eligible to compete.

Include a cover page with your name, address, e-mail, telephone number and the title(s) of your story or poems. Do not put your name anywhere else on the manuscript.

We will notify via e-mail;do not include an SASE.

Results will be announced in October 2009.

See website for more details on how to submit.

Upstreet Mag Call for Submissoins

They're looking for quality submissions with edge - fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction:

UPSTREET: award-winning literary annual’s sixth issue seeks quality submissions with an edge—fiction, poetry, CNF. First five issues feature interviews with Jim Shepard, Lydia Davis, Wally Lamb, Michael Martone, Robin Hemley. Distributed nationally by Ingram, Source Interlink, and by Disticor in Canada.

Website for more information: www.upstreet-mag.org

Deadline: March 1, 2010

Payment: Author Copies

Friday Round-Up: Tweets and posts you may have missed

Here is a list of items we posted on the LAwritersgroup.com Twitter account this week, in case you missed them or don't yet participate in Twitter:

Key:
RT = Re-tweet, which means someone else tweeted something and we re-tweeted it.
@(name) = This is a user name on Twitter. If you click on it, you should be able to visit that person's twitter site and follow them if you so chose.

• Everything You Need to Know About Writing a Novel, in 1000 Words http://viigo.im/0cbC
  

• EventsForWriters: Happening Friday / Saturday Nights at Skylight Books: Skylight Books in Los F.. http://tinyurl.com/nlxklc
  

• We run peer writers groups to create new work & get feedback. New group on Wed July 15 at 7:30pm in WeHo. http://www.LAwritersgroup.com.
  

• EventsForWriters: The Fundamentals of the Fountain Pen Seminar at Vromans: Sat 7/25/09. http://tinyurl.com/lkx3g5
  

• Does flash fiction have formal structure? Find out here: Write Small, Think Big http://viigo.im/0aIr
  

• How to Establish a Connection With an Agent http://viigo.im/0aHq
  

• RT @inkyelbows: Tough Days for Literary Fiction http://ow.ly/gHjm Uplifting post by Darin Strauss
  

• Motes Books Seeks Submissions for Anthology: http://tinyurl.com/m4yzkw
  

• Sweetlit.com Call for Poetry and Creative Non Fiction Submissions: http://tinyurl.com/myzjv3

Sweetlit.com Call for Poetry and Creative Non Fiction Submissions

Website: http://www.sweetlit.com/

Type: Call for Submissions

Reading Fee: None!

Deadline: Accepts submissions all year

Prize: N/A

Looking for: Poetry, Creative Non-Fiction, Essays

Accepts: Electronic submissions

From their site:

The editors at Sweet understand that there are good works that get overlooked, and that often our decisions are based not just on quality but also on taste. That said: Sweet publishes emerging and established writers three times a year--September, January, and May.

Sweet seeks only poetry and creative nonfiction and anything in between. (Sorry fiction writers!) We read submissions all-year. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please notify us immediately if your work has been taken by another literary journal. (We would like to be the first to congratulate you!)

Friday Round-Up: Tweets and posts you may have missed

Here is a list of items we posted on the LAwritersgroup.com Twitter account this week, in case you missed them or don't yet participate in Twitter:

Key:
RT = Re-tweet, which means someone else tweeted something and we re-tweeted it.
@(name) = This is a user name on Twitter. If you click on it, you should be able to visit that person's twitter site and follow them if you so chose.

• RT @RoseGoddess: RT @delboy7: “It’s never too late to become the person you might have been.”
  
  
• RT @thecreativepenn: 36 - No, Make That 59 - Free eBooks For Authors http://short.to/ho27
  
  
• EventsForWriters: New 8-Week Writers Groups Scheduled: West Hollywood on Wed July 15 and Glasse.. http://tinyurl.com/nut9gb
  
  
• RT @JanuaryMagazine: Blog to Book: An Elegant Execution http://bit.ly/16d6bn from The New Yorker (via @selfpubreview )
  
  
• Amy Tan on creativity, 25 minute video from TED conference. Fun and inspiring! http://chilp.it/?3c53f7

• RT@WritersDigest:How to write a novel from Google's Autocomplete(humorous but also an unusually helpful creative prompt) http://bit.ly/1WwYB
  

• We're all for recycling but as writers, this just makes us sad: Books as planters http://viigo.im/07bt

• EventsForWriters: Vroman's Bookstore Open Mike Night on 8/1: Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena is .. http://tinyurl.com/nxho3b

Umbrella journal call for poetry and fiction submissions

Website: http://www.umbrellajournal.com/submit.html

Type: Call for Submissions

Reading Fee: n/a

Deadline: August 10, 2009

Looking for: Fiction, Poetry: Unthemed and themed poetry and prose (see below).

Accepts: Electronic submissions

From their site:

Umbrella, the "supremely rereadable electronic journal," is now reading for our fall issue, online September 1st, 2009.

For fall, we are reading both For the themed section, we are looking for poems that have something to do with school subjects, e.g., history, geography, science, math, languages, Psych 101, whatever and et cetera. Understand, we are not looking for retrospective poems that deal with your school days, but rather poems that encounter the subjects themselves. We welcome your submissions.

Please see the submit page for complete guidelines and specific needs and preferences.

The MOM Egg call for submissions

They are currently seeking submissions for a special online issue of The Mom Egg, a literary journal, to be released in Fall 2009. Deadline for poetry, fiction, creative prose and art for this issue is July 31, 2009. They are also accepting submissions of other material, such as reviews and interviews. Submission guidelines may be found on the website, www.themomegg.com.

The Mom Egg publishes work by mothers about everything, and by everyone about mothers and motherhood.

FC2 innovative fiction book contest

Ronald Sukenick/American Book Review Innovative Fiction Prize, Sponsored by Fiction Collective Two (FC2) and American Book Review:

Website: http://americanbookreview.org/contest.asp

Type: Book Contest

Reading Fee: $25

Prize: The Prize includes $1,000 and publication by FC2, an imprint of the University of Alabama Press. In the unlikely event that no suitable manuscript is found among entries in a given year, FC2 reserves the right not to award a prize.

Deadline: Contest Open from August 15 - November 1.

Looking for: Collection of Short Stories, one or more novellas, or a novel.

Accepts: Submissions by mail only. Submit either TWO hardcopies of the manuscript, or ONE hardcopy and one Word file of the manuscript on a labeled CD.

Want to read more short stories?

Check out Kevin Brockmeier's 50 Favorite Stories, courtesy of Oxford American.

This would be a fun list to save, then slowly search out and read each one. A fabulous summer project!

Wag's Revue Call for submissions for Issue 3

Website: http://www.wagsrevue.com/submit.php

Type: Call for Submissions

Reading Fee: None!

Looking for: Fiction, Poetry, Creative Non-Fictions

Accepts: Electronic submissions encouraged

From their site:

Aspiring to marry the rigors of print with the freedoms of the internet, Wag's Revue is an online quarterly of fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction. Its first issue featured new fiction from Brian Evenson, and interviews with Pulitzer Prize-nominated author Dave Eggers, n+1 co-founder Mark Greif, and author Wells Tower. The second issue, which just hit the net, features an interview with T. C. Boyle, creative micro nonfiction by Stephen Elliot, anagrams of Shakespeare sonnets by K. Silem Mohammad, and much more. Check out both issues at www.wagsrevue.com

Scion Press seeks Vampire Short Fiction and Poetry

For a print anthology, Deadline Aug 28, 2009

• Contact Name : Leslie Ormandy

• Contact E-Mail : ceo[at]scionpress.com

• Deadline Date (if any) : 28-Aug-2009

• Publication Type : Print Anthology

• Website : http://www.scionpress.com

• Genre(s) : creative fiction, horror, science fiction, fantasy

• Details : Scion Press is soliciting submissions for short fiction and poetry about vampires. We ask only that it be original, creative, and fun, and that your prose bring the vampire to life for the reader. We do not want derivative fiction or fan fiction. We want original to you. Length: Stories: under 8000 words, Poems: under 60 lines (and our personal preference is unrhymed). Submission via Snail Mail.
  

• Will consider simultaneous submissions

• Full guidelines at http://www.scionpress.com

• Postmark date: August 28, 2009

• Sign contracts by Sept 30, 2009

• Publication date: May, 2009

Chicken Soup for the Soul is looking for stories

They have many books in development and are looking for your inspirational stories!

Website: Chicken Soup for the Soul:

Type: Call for Submissions

Deadline: Multiple Deadlines, Depending on Book

Details from their site:

We have many Chicken Soup for the Soul books in development and are adding new titles all of the time. We are always looking for new stories and poems and hope you have some for us to consider. Take a look at the list of our future book topics to see if you have a story or poem on a subject we are looking for and then please submit it to us.

Twitter and Book Marketing:

Publishers Weekly has a short but interesting article called A Tweet Treat (#fb) about a new kind of author book promotions called Tweetfests.

Are you on Twitter? If you are an author, or an aspiring author, it might be time to start tweeting! Twitter is basically a blog that limits you to 140 character per post, and people can subscribe to your blog, or they can go to your twitter site and read your tweets. One of the wonderful aspects of twitter is that you can interact with your follower who can reply to your tweets (called @replies), or send you direct messages. Twitter also integrates with your cell phone so you can send and receive tweets as text messages - just be sure that you have an unlimited text plan before you sign up for that option.

How to start a twitter account:

1. Go to Twitter.com

2. Create an account

3. Find some people to follow either by seeing who on your email address book is on twitter by using their Find People Tool, or their search tool. When you follow people, they will usually follow you back.

4. Post some tweets.

That's it!

If you'd like to follow LAwritersgroup.com on twitter, once you've signed up for your own twitter account, go to http://www.twitter.com/lawritersgroup and click on Follow.

New Plains Review call for submissions

They seek quality fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction for its Fall 2009 issue. (#fb)

The New Plains Review is the recent literary home of such authors as Stephen Dunn, Billy Collins, Galway Kinnell, and Julianna Baggott. From their site:

We are interested in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction that is thoughtful and compelling, but otherwise we do not have any specific guidelines for style or subject matter. We no longer arrange issues with thematic topics. On occasion, we do publish issues with special sections; always look at our Special Section announcements on our website before submitting.

For more information on how to submit: http://www.libarts.uco.edu/english/newplains/index.htm