Free Movie Screening!

For foreign film aficionados, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art will be showing a series of Korean director Lee Chang-dong's films from Thursday, January 3rd, to Saturday, January 5th. His debut film, "Green Fish," which follows a young man who returns home from military service and joins a criminal gang, screens at 5:00 PM on January 5th, and admission is free! Just click on the link, and scroll down for details.

Find the Fastest Respondiing Literary Agents

Do you have a manuscript and are you looking for an agent? Submit to the fastest responders first by checking out who has the fastest response rate at LitMatch - Literary Agent Directory, Response Times and Submission Tracking

From their blog:

"Up ‘til now, we’ve been focused on making the site as useful as possible for the individual user tracking submissions in our system. But now that we have a strong base of submission information to draw from, we’re proud to be able to add these statistics to our ever-growing set of literary agent research tools and offer them to our registered and unregistered users alike!
This upgrade covers all the basics, breaking down the responses for both agencies and individual agents, with separate stats for email and postal mail responses."

Writing Anger -- Some Helpful Insights

Writing about emotions can be more difficult than experiencing them. In Emotional Rollercoaster: Writing Anger, professional freelance writer Apryl Duncan makes clear the reasons why every writing teacher we've ever had says, "Show, don't tell."

Summarize What You Read For Fun And Profit

Brijit is a privately-owned, angel-financed online media startup with teams based in Washington, DC, Mountain View, CA and Beijing. Founded in 2006, they employ a distributed team of editors and writers.What they do is publish on-line summaries of magazine articles and TV news shows in order to provide guideposts to readers who simply don't have much spare time. Their goal is to make it easier for all of us to discover and access the world's best content, quickly and inexpensively. You can go to their website, search for topics that interest you to find a brief summary and a link to the article referred. Toward this end, they will pay $5 for your summaries of 100 words or less.

Killer First Lines

A good first line gets your attention by striking a nerve. In this informative article, Susan Sundwall shares some insightful pointers on writing a first line that will get your reader's attention and quickly pull them into your story, making them want to learn more.

Agni Literary Magazine

"Agni" is not only the name of the Vedic guard of fire. It's also the name of a print and online publication that accepts submissions of poetry, short fiction, and essays between September 1st and May 31st. The print magazine is published twice yearly, in spring and in fall, while their website is updated monthly with new, online-only, fiction, poetry, essays, reviews, and interviews. They pay $10 per printed (or printed-out) page for prose, and $20 per printed page for poetry (with $150 maximum). They will consider novel excerpts provided they are cohesive enough to stand alone.

Clean Sheets Erotica Magazine

If sexuality is featured in your writing, you may be able to market your work to Clean Sheets Erotica Magazine. They are accepting submissions for their upcoming Sex & Spirituality anthology, to be published next summer. They are looking for stories and poems that invoke spirituality along with sexuality. Stories should be less than 5000 words and can be much shorter. Payment is $50 per story, $25 per poem, plus 2 copies of the book. Deadline is March 1, 2008.

Reverse Dictionary

I just discovered this fabulous online writing tool, a reverse dictionary! Type in a concept and out pops related words. I'm sure everyone in the world already knows about it, but I just discovered it - it's mucho fun!

OneLook Reverse Dictionary

Apple Valley Review Accepting Submissions

Apple Valley Review, an online literary journal, is published twice a year, in spring and in fall. They accept submissions of poetry, fiction, and essays year round and are looking for work that has both mainstream and literary appeal. Prose should be from 100 to 3000 words (shorter pieces stand a greater chance of being published), novel excerpts must be self-contained, and preference is given to non-rhyming poetry under two pages. The deadline for submissions to their spring issue is February 15, 2008. Although they are not currently a paying market, all work published in the Apple Valley Review will be considered for the annual Apple Valley Review's Editor Prize of $100 plus a book of poetry or fiction.

Premier Book Awards

Premier Book Awards is now accepting entries for the 2008 Awards in both fiction and non-fiction.

With so many new titles published every year it is increasingly difficult for any given title to stand out. One of the best ways for a book to gain credibility, exposure, and increased sales is to win an award for writing excellence.

These awards were established to recognize meritorious works by writers who self-published or had their books published by a small press or independent book publisher. POD books are welcome. The contest is open to selected book length fiction and non-fiction titles with a 2007 or 2008 copyright, published in the English language and targeted for an adult audience in the North American market. There are $100 cash awards for the winners in each category, plus a $500 award each for the best fiction and best non-fiction of the year. Winners also receive a certificate suitable for framing and Premier Book Awards will issue a press release to announce the achievement. Check out the website for details: www.PremierBookAwards.com

Poets&Writers Submissions Calendar

Quick reminder to check out the Poets&Writers, Inc. Grants & Awards Submissions Calendar. Lots of great stuff listed there!

Groovy Writer Hangout: Cafe Muse in Los Angeles

Cafe Muse, a groovy cafe/coffeehouse in Hollywood, just wrote us to let us know about her newly opened we-heart-writers-and-artists cafe:

"I am writing because I wanted to let you know that we just opened a new writer-friendly cafe/coffeehouse in Hollywood. It's called Cafe MUSE, and it's located at 6547 Santa Monica Blvd, in the heart of Hollywood's Theater Row. I wanted to let you know that it's a great place for writers to work because we keep it very quiet, we have free Wi-Fi, and some electric outlets for patrons to use. We are an artist's cafe, being the Muse and all... and so I'd love it if you'd pass it on to your writers that we welcome them at the cafe!! We also have really great food (healthy, mostly veg) and really yummy organic coffees & teas. We always hope that all patrons will buy food and beverages, of course, so we can continue to keep our doors open, but we welcome the coffee-refillers, as well! It's a beautiful, serene, and comfortable environment, with a very creative vibe. There are a lot more details, as well as pictures and our menu, up on our website... www.CafeMuseLA.com."

Call for Film and Video Interpretations of Poetry

Split This Rock Poetry Festival: Call for film and video
"Deadline: postmarked by January 30th, 2008
Entry fee: $15.00 (non-refundable)
Notification by February 15th, 2008
Festival dates: March 20th-23rd, 2008
Poems of Provocation & Witness
Poets have long played a central role in movements for social change. Today, at a critical
juncture in our country’s history, poetry that gives voice to the voiceless, names the unnamable, and speaks directly from the individual and collective conscience is more important than ever. The festival will explore and celebrate the many ways that poetry can act as an agent for change:reaching across differences, considering personal and social responsibility, asserting the centrality of the right to free speech, bearing witness to the diversity and complexity of human experience through language, imagining a better world.

Film & Video Submissions:
We are looking for artistic, experimental, and challenging film/video interpretations of poetry
that explore critical social issues. Selected work will be screened during the Split This Rock
Poetry Festival film program. Entries must be submitted on DVD (NTSC only) or CD (.mov format only), no HD formats. Please note: videos with h264, divx compression or any format not mentioned above will not be accepted.

• Running time for entries should not exceed 15 minutes.
• All entries must be in English.
• All work submitted must be original. If portions of the submitted work contain material from
• third parties, author must have and be able to provide written permission to use such material.

All entries must include:

• - Completed entry form
• (download at: http://www.poetrycenter.org/calls/Split_this_Rock-ENTRY.pdf)
• - $15 entry fee (check made payable to: The Poetry Center)
• - A short synopsis, artist's bio, and artist's statement (on one page only)

Please label all DVDs and CDs with title, running time, director’s name and contact email.
Please mail entries to: For more information:
The Poetry Center of Chicago www.SplitThisRock.org
37 S. Wabash, Suite 704
Chicago, IL 60603
info(at)splitthisrock.org
www.poetrycenter.org
Attn: Francesco Levato/Split This Rock submission
NO PHONE CALLS ACCEPTED"

Call for Submissions: Cold-Drill

cold.drill: "cold-drill is published annually by the MFA Department of Boise State University and is actively looking for fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction from the traditional to the experimental for our 38th issue. We strive to publish work that goes beyond the obvious and that provokes and stimulates us and our community of readers. We are also interested in innovative and interesting visual art. We take great pride in our design and the finished product, which includes first-time published writers side-by-side with established authors and poets, and feel that a journal should be both visually appealing and mentally stimulating. Submissions are read from September 15 through January 5."

Call for Poets: 2008 Julia Peterkin Award

Information on the Julia Peterkin Award from the English Department of Converse College: "2008 Julia Peterkin Award The winner of the 2007 Julia Mood Peterkin award is Sharon May of Paradise, California. Eligibility The 2008 Julia Peterkin Award is open to all poets. Works previously published in periodicals are eligible for inclusion in the submission. Only original works in English may be submitted. 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 should include up to 10 pages of poetry (blind submissions ), along with a cover page including the writer’s name, address, daytime phone number, and titles of submission. Also include a one-paragraph biography. Entry Requirements
* A handling fee of $15 made payable to: Converse College English Department.
Deadline: February 15, 2008.
* Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like direct notification of contest results. Results will be mailed in May of 2008. No manuscripts can be returned.
* Send one copy of the manuscript prepared according to format guidelines.
* The winner will receive $1,000 and travel expenses for a reading at Converse College. Winner should be willing to read at Converse during Fall 2008."

Tongue & Groove: Reading in Los Angeles

"Tongue & Groove"
A monthly offering of short fiction, personal essays, poetry, spoken word and music. This month featuring: Jose Montoya "In Formation: 20 Years of Joda", Richard Montoya -Culture Clash, Luis Rodriguez "Always Running", Mario Rocha and Pocho Joe.

Sunday the 9th of December
6:00-7:30 pm
The Hotel Café
1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
1/3rd of a block below Hollywood Bl.
Hollywood, Ca 90028
$5.00

Leave yourself time to find parking and get there early. Seating is limited and we're starting at 6:05!

* For more info on the writers go the blog on www.tongueandgroovela.com

Conrad Romo (323) 937-0136
www.hotelcafe.com

Bluecat Screenplay Competition

This just in from the folks at BlueCat:

2008 BlueCat Screenplay Competition CALL FOR ENTRIES

The BlueCat Screenplay Competition is open for entries of feature length scripts for our tenth year!
*Grand Prize:$10,000
*Four Finalists: $1500
*Every writer who enters receives written script analysis

EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: JAN 2, 2008
All screenplays submitted by JAN 2 will receive their analysis by FEB 1
(entries must be received by midnight Wed, Jan 2)

Entry fee $50
SUBMIT NOW: http://www.bluecatscreenplay.com

Since 1998, BlueCat has become the screenwriter's screenplay contest, with unmatched and genuine support for all writers. More community than contest, BlueCat writers rally, stopping, listening and looking for their space to grow as screenwriters.

BlueCat Screenplay Competition
Hollywood, CA 90038
www.bluecatscreenplay.com
www.myspace.com/bluecatscreenplay
info@bluecatscreenplay.com

So Many Contests, Plenty of Time ~

You name it, ByLine has a contest for it. Poetry? Fiction? Articles? Creative Non-fiction? Character Sketches? Genre fiction? Humor? Memoir? Regarding eating or guilt, it's all there on their website. Entry fees are low: from $3 to $5, and prizes range from $10 to $40, plus publication. And what particularly appealing, they have contests scheduled all the way up until June 2008!

Franklin-Christoph Free Poetry Contest

Plenty of time left to fine-tune up to 3 of your poems and submit them to the Franklin-Christoph Free Poetry Contest: the deadline isn't until December 31st. First prize is $1000 and publication on Franklin-Christoph.com. 5 Merit Award winners will each receive a $290 1901 fountain pen (or alternate FC product of your choice of equal or lesser value), and publication on Franklin-Christoph.com. They are open to all poetry, on all subjects, short or tall, large or small. No fee? Possible $1000? Maybe a really cool pen? Being published? Nothing to lose!

Wild Violet's Poetry and Short Fiction Contests

Wild Violet, an online literary magazine, in it's quest to bridge the gap between academia and pop culture, is sponsoring its fifth annual writing contests. Deadlines for online entries is December 31st. There's a $5 entry fee for poems (up to 200 words, please), and stories (up to 2,500 words). First prize for both poetry and fiction winners is $100 cash and publication. Two Honorable Mentions will also receive publication.
In addition, they accept submissions year-round, but, since they are a non-profit enterprise, payment is in the form of a bio on their contributors page and a link to your website, if you have one. They accept submissions of:

• Poetry
• Fiction
• Creative Non-Fiction
• Political Essays
• Humorous Essays
• Artwork
• Photography
• Reviews
• Interviews
• Cuttings (thoughts and observations)

Don't Trust Anyone Over ... ?

Do you remember turning 30? Looking forward to it? Dreading it? Well, Arc Poetry Magazine turns 30 on December 31, 2007, and they are accepting submissions for a reflective issue on what turning 30 is all about. Unpublished poems of any age, size or shape are welcome, as long as they reach them by their 30th birthday, and they pay $40 a page!

J.D. Vine Publications Writing Competitions Are Now Open!!

Looking to get your work into print and maybe pick up some money for it as well? J.D. Vine Publications offers unique writing competitions for publication in The Creative Writer. If you have good pieces of fiction and poetry they want to see them published! The winner of each competition also becomes the Featured Author or the Featured Poet of the next edition, but not only the winners get published! The books are composed of pieces by many of the writers who enter the competitions! You may submit online or via regular mail. The deadline is December 31, 2007. There is a small entry fee: Fiction $5.00, Poetry $2.00, and there are no word count limitations.

Local L.A. Event

Readings & Conversation: Red Hen's Monday Evenings at the Geffen

Monday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m.

The Geffen Playhouse, in an effort to reach out to the Los Angeles community, partnered with Red Hen Press to create our new series Red Hen’s Monday Evenings at the Geffen, hosted by Kate Gale and select moderators. Given the flowering of literature, music and theatre in this most auspicious city for the arts, we are pleased to give writers a stage to speak their voice. In the tangled palm trees and afternoon sun, some of us pause to pick up a pen, and with our pen to call for action. As the great Raymond Chandler so aptly put it, “When in doubt, have a man come through the door with a gun in his hand.” Sometimes that gun is a new way of looking at education, sometimes it’s an idea about poetry. Sometimes it isn’t a gun at all. We invite you to come through the door into our world of ideas. Welcome to Red Hen Press’s Monday Evenings at the Geffen.

Jennifer Egan is a novelist, journalist and short story writer. Her novel, The Keep, was a New York Times Notable Book for 2006, and Look at Me was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2001. Egan is the recipient of fellowships from the NEA and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, and was a fellow at the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library. She lives in Brooklyn.

Janet Fitch is the author of the novels Paint It Black, published in 2006, and White Oleander, an Oprah Book Club selection. Her short stories have appeared in such publications as Los Angeles Noir, Black Clock, Room of One’s Own, and Black Warrior Review. She teaches creative writing at USC and the Squaw Valley Community of Writers.

Sarah Goodyear has written for the Village Voice, Time Out New York, Ms. magazine, and many other publications. View from a Burning Bridge, published by Red Hen Press in spring 2007, is her first novel. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her family.

Moderator: Jonathan Kirsch is the author of A History of the End of the World: How the Most Controversial Book in the Bible Changed the Course of Western Civilization and nine other books, including The Harlot by the Side of the Road: Forbidden Tales of the Bible He is a book reviewer for the Los Angeles Times, a broadcaster for NPR, and an attorney specializing in publishing law and intellectual property.

Geffen Playhouse
Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater
10886 Le Conte Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024
For Tickets Call: 310-208-5454
Admission: General $20
Students & Seniors $15
Seating is limited and on a first come basis.

Write To Win!

If you're a writer who doesn't always know where to begin a story, this contest is for you! Writers' Journal's Write-to-Win Contest provides starter phrases! Deadlines and starter phrases for the next 3 contests are as follows:

• December 20th, 2007: "The plane landed, but ..."
• February 20th, 2008: "Someday, your curiosity ..."
• April 20th, 2008: "They both stared at ..."

There's a maximum of 1500 words, and the entry fee is only $5. First prize is $150 and the winning entry will be published in the Writers' Journal. Honorable mentions will get one-year subscriptions.

Short Story Competition

Zadie Smith is judging a short story competition with a 5,000 pound prize (that's about
$10,000 dollars). Best of all? Entry is free. That's right, while every other contest will
charge you $15 or $20 bucks, this one doesn't cost a cent. And, if that isn't enough to get
you to apply, the winner and 10 runners up all get published in a book.

Here's the link:

http://newshortstories.homestead.com/

BlueCat Screenplay Competition

2008 BlueCat Screenplay Competition CALL FOR ENTRIES
*Grand Prize:$10,000
*Four Finalists: $1500
*Every writer who enters receives written script analysis
Early Bird Script Analysis:
All screenplays submitted by DEC 1 will receive their analysis by JAN 5
All screenplays submitted by JAN 2 will receive their analysis by FEB 1
Entry fee $50
EARLY DEADLINE: Dec 1, 2007
SUBMIT NOW: http://www.bluecatscreenplay.com

Writers Digest Poetry Competition

This just in from Writers Digest:
We're pleased to announce the only WD competition exclusively for poets, the Writer's Digest Poetry Awards! Regardless of style—rhyming, free verse, haiku and more—if your poems are 32 lines or fewer, we want them all. Submit your entries by the December 20, 2007 deadline ... and your words could be worth cold hard cash!

First Place: $500
Second Place: $250
Third Place: $100
Fourth Through Tenth Place: $25
Eleventh Through Twenty-Fifth Place: $50 gift certificate to Writer's Digest Books

Plus, the names and poem titles of all First- through Tenth-Place winners will be printed in an upcoming issue of Writer's Digest, and all winners will receive a copy of the 2008 Poet's Market. Click here for guidelines and to enter online!

Audio Short Stories To Go

Sniplets is working to establishing themselves as a new short story publisher with a goal of becoming the best place to find short stories to download to your MP3 player, cellphone, or "whatever." They will pay $50 to $150 upon publication of stories between 50 and 10,000 words. They welcome the work of new as well as established authors, but don't want anything hateful, pornographic, or excessively violent. All genres, including some poetry, are welcome.

Story Quarterly Fiction Contest

The SQ Fiction Contest
FINAL WEEK — the deadline for submission is November 30.
The contest offers a First Prize of $2,500, a Second Prize of $1,500, and a Third Prize of $750.
Additionally, ten Finalists will each receive $100.
Winners will be announced by December 31.
Log in and enter at StoryQuarterly.com.

Glimmer Train Press - Contest

The November Short Story Award for
New Writers closes on November 30.
We welcome your submissions online: www.glimmertrain.org, then hit the
yellow Submissions tab.

"Read this article," he said. "Why?" I asked. "It's good," he replied.

Both fiction and news writing work better when you let your characters use their own words to tell your story. This article by Andrea Di Salvo explains why, and gives some pointers on using quotes to give a creative twist to your writing.

Los Angeles Open Mic

This just in:
On November 20th, The Valley Contemporary Poets presents Carine Topal at the :

Cobalt Café
22047 Sherman Way in Canoga Park,
(just west of Topanga Canyon)
9pm
Free – one drink minimum
Open Mic

Short Short Story Competition

Writer's Digest's 8th Annual Short Short Contest is happening now! They are looking for work that is Bold, Brilliant, but Brief: 1500 words or less, and the deadline is December 3, 2007. You may enter online or via regular mail, and the entry fee is $12 per manuscript. There will be prizes: 1st Place: $3000, 2nd place: $1500, 3rd place: $500, 4th through 10th place: $100, and 11th through 25th place: a $50 gift certificate for Writer's Digest Books.

Women: Write Your Way To Starting Your Own Business!

The Mirassou Winery, a longtime supporter of Women in Business, is sponsoring an essay contest that will net the winner $50,000 in seed money to start her own business. The deadline for their Make Your Dreams Come True With Mirassou contest is December 15, 2007. Your personal essay of 500 words or less should include 1) a description of the new business, 2) consumer appeal to the new business, and 3) a plan to implement the new business.

Dream Quest One Poetry & Short Story Contest

Dream Quest One's poetry and short story contests are open to everyone, and you may write about any subject or theme you like. Short stories should be 5 pages or less; poems should be 30 lines or less. There is a small entry fee, ($10.00 per short story, $5 per poem), and you may enter as many times as you like. Cash prizes for poetry contest winners range from $50 to $250, and short story winners will receive from $100 to $500. The deadline for both contests is December 31, 2007.

VERY Short Story Contest

If you've got a short piece that you've been concerned is not long enough to be published, here's the contest for you: Lunch Hour Stories is accepting submissions for its annual VERY Short Story Contest through December 31st of each year. Winners are considered for prizes as well as publication as part of an anthology in December of the following year. Your stories should be previously unpublished and up to 500 words. There is a $5 reading fee per story or poem, for a chance to win $25, $50, or $100.

Short Story Competition ~

Win big bucks! The L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers and Illustrators of the Future contest awards prizes every quarter, with the next contest deadline being December 31st. Each quarter prizes up to $1,000 are awarded. At the end of the year, a Grand Prize of $5000 is awarded to the Best Short Story and the Best Illustration of the year. All types of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Dark Fantasy are welcome. There's no entry fee for this contest. Simply submit your original prose, up to 17,000 words, by midnight at the end of the quarter, for your chance to win $500, $750, $1,000 and $5,000!

Where Will Love Blossom Next In Your Life?

Life coach Melissa Rosati, whose clients are writers, authors and creative artists, shares this insightful essay about her experience in discovering her own writer's voice. If you believe that "there is no end to the journey inward," you will enjoy reading the starting places she provides for that endless journey.

How to Begin? Where to Go?

Need a little help getting started on your fiction writing? Annette Beveridge-Young, a freelance writer and editor at Savannah Publishing, has compiled this list of 15 suggestions to help writers flesh out your characters and bring the settings of your stories to life.

Eliminating Obstacles ~

If you're interested in writing but just can't seem to find time to indulge in your creative outlet, this article by Mui Tsun, the creator of Inspire Software, might help you to overcome some of the obstacles life places in our way.

For Women Entrepreneurs

If you or someone you know is

• A small business owner who has been in business for several years, or
• Are either dreaming of starting your own business or have been in business less than 2 years, or
• Are a home-based business owner, or
• Are interested in purchasing a franchise or business opportunity

you may be able to pitch a story and parley your insights into a money-earning venture at WomenEntrepreneur.com. They are looking women-specific content that includes challenges women face, why women start businesses, and articles that are written in a voice that appeals specifically to women.

Free Entry Short Story Competition

The deadline for Words Magazine Short Story Competition is not until December 30th, so you have plenty of time to polish your work, up to 2000 words, for a chance to win £100 (or equivalent in your currency, which, in the USA, equals $206.729). You may enter as many times as you like.

Boulevard Online not only accepts submissions, they are sponsoring a short-fiction contest that will net the winner $1500. Entries must be previously unpublished, and the $15 entry fee includes a one-year subscription to Boulevard. Your entry must be postmarked by December 15, 2007, so there's plenty of time to polish up your best work and get it to them. The winning story will be published in the Spring or Fall 2008 issue.

Tongue in Groove Reading - Sunday, Oct. 28

TONGUE and GROOVE- Readings and Music
at the Hotel Cafe, Sunday October 28th - 6:00 to 7:30pm
www.hotelcafe.com


"Tongue & Groove"
A monthly offering of short fiction, personal essays, poetry, spoken word + music. This month: featuring the following writers: Seth Greenland "The Bones", Michael C. Ford "Emergency Exits", Vicki Whicker and others share a poetic collaboration from "Big City Mantra", Kristine Kimmel, Besskepp, and musical guest Chuck Bramlet.

Here's the brilliant and eclectic mix lined up for this months installment of T&G. Seth is gonna read a piece included in the latest Black Clock. He's funny as hell. Besskepp is coming from Pomona to fill the spoken word quotient, another writer is flying in from Central America for his contribution, and Michael C. Ford has been on the scene since reading for Jim Morrison and with Bukowski. The hilarious Kris Kimmel fills the personal essay/story telling slot, and for music Chuck Bramlet is the Johnny Cash for the new millennium. Each and every one is a treasure to behold.

Please invite your friends and family and tell them to get there early before we fill up.

Sunday the 28th of October
6:00-7:30 pm
The Hotel Cafe
1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
Hollywood, Ca 90028
$5.00


Conrad Romo (323) 937-0136 conrad.romo@gmail.com http://www.tongueandgroovela.com

Nothing Cute Or Sweet ~

Kate Harper Designs is a greeting card company that sells to over 2,000 retail stores throughout the country. They will pay $25 for slogans and card samples, up to 20 words, that have an edgy twist and humor. Say what you really think, and don't be afraid to push beyond greeting card stereotypes.

Helpful Hints For Writing Better Poetry

Kara Ziehl has compiled this Top 10 list of tips for writing better poetry. Clear and to-the-point, these helpful suggestions can guide us to streamlining and strengthening our use of words to make them more forcefully felt.

Coal Hill Review Seeks Submissions

Online publication Coal Hill Review is seeking submissions of previously unpublished poetry until May 1, 2008 for its spring issue. They are looking to gather a wide range of diverse voices and styles, and to explore work outside the traditional limitations of popular trends.

A Chance to Thank Those Who Protect and Serve ~

Our LAPD is having an Open House on November 10! Bring your family to the Free Entertainment and Free Food and see first hand how our mounted officers do field operations! Watch as mounted police capture hardened criminals, and see the canine guard dogs bring down bad guys! Watch a SWAT raid, drive the bomb squad robot, pet the horses and meet some of the LAPD officers who put their lives on the line for us every day. Take this opportunity to meet officers in a friendly environment -- one that doesn't involve you being pulled over for speeding or reporting a robbery.

Call for Holiday Stories

This just in from Helen:

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Christmas Traditions: True Stories of Holiday Celebration

Send submissions to: Helen Kay Polaski (Szymanski) at hkpolaski@yahoo.com

Christmas Traditions: True Stories of Holiday Celebration will be filled with stories that touch the mind as well as the soul as they take the reader on a magical journey through Christmas—past and present—while giving the reader ideas for traditions they might be interested in adapting in the future. Each story will focus on either a well-known holiday tradition or a unique tradition known only to a particular family or community, as well as a touching story that circulates around each individual tradition. (I love traditions and can’t wait to see how your family celebrates Christmas!)

Stories must be first person, true accountings of either shared or unique traditions celebrated by families, communities, and/or groups during the Christmas holiday season, and all must be based on strong individual family/community dynamics, specific geographical location, and/or different cultures and religion. Approximately 70-80 stories (700-1,200 words) will be gathered. (When writing your story please keep in mind that Christmas is the most magical time of the year. I want to see the magic unfolding on the page before me as I read, and so do my readers.)

Payment: upon publication, $75 and a copy of the book (for each accepted story)
Deadline: November 15, 2007

Heart of Glass?

Glass: A Journal of Poetry, is seeking submissions for their first issue. They are looking for poetry that relates to the artistic and creative purity of glass. All styles, forms and schools of poetry are welcome. Payment is in the form of online publication, and there are no submission deadlines, although they do not accept submissions between June 1 and August 31.