March 16: Bellday Poetry Prize, Poetry Book Contest

THE 2009 BELLDAY POETRY PRIZE
http://www.belldaybooks.com/contest.html

Bellday Books will publish the winning book and award $2,000 and 25 copies of the book to the winning author.

CONTEST FINAL JUDGE: Linda Gregerson
Linda Gregerson has published 4 books of poetry, including Magnetic North, Waterborne, The Woman Who Died in Her Sleep and Fire in the Conservatory, and several books of criticism. She has won fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Institute for Advanced Studies and National Endowment of the Arts. She teaches creative writing and Renaissance literature at the University of Michigan.

Submission Deadline: Postmarked March 16, 2009

Contest Rules:

Submit manuscript of 60-90 pages of original poetry in English. The manuscript must not have been published in book or chapbook, but may contain poems that have appeared in print or on the Internet.

Manuscript must contain 2 title pages: Name and contact information should appear on first title page only. Name should not appear anywhere else in manuscript. Manuscript should be typed, single-spaced, paginated, and bound with spring clip.

Include a table of contents page, but no acknowledgements.

Enclose an SASE for announcement of the winner.

Manuscript cannot be returned.

Check or money order for $25 reading fee, payable to Bellday Books.

Bellday Books reserves the right not to select an award winner, in which case all reading fees will be refunded.

CONTEST MAILING ADDRESS:
Bellday Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 2
03687
Pittsburgh, PA 15230

Questions may be directed to: office@belldaybooks.com

CutBank Contests

Do you have a story that is bold and outside-the-box?

CutBank Literary MagazineUniversity of Montana: CutBank is pleased to announce the second annual Montana Prize in Fiction, the Montana Prize in Creative Nonfiction, and the Patricia Goedicke Prize in Poetry. We are honored to have three talented judges participating in the inaugural year of these contests. The Patricia Goedicke Prize in Poetry will be judged by Noah Eli Gordon. Joy Williams will select the winner of the Montana Prize in Fiction. The winner of the Montana Prize in Creative Nonfiction will be selected by Brian Bouldrey. Submissions are accepted December 1 through February 29. Winners receive $500 and publication in CutBank 71. All submissions will be considered for publication in CutBank. The contests' $13 entry fee includes a one-year, two-issue subscription to CutBank, beginning with the prize issue, CutBank 71. Please send only your best work. With all three of these awards, we are seeking to highlight work that showcases an authentic voice, a boldness of form, and a rejection of functional fixedness. Submissions are accepted December 1 through February 29.

Fiction book contest: OSU Prize in Short Fiction

Do you have a collection of short stories or novellas?

The Ohio State University Prize in Short Fiction 2009: The Ohio State University Press and the M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing at OSU invite submissions for the 2009 Ohio State University. Each year, a readers' committee of OSU fiction writers and a final judge select one manuscript for publication by The Ohio State University Press. The winning author receives publication under a standard book contract, which includes a cash prize of $1,500 as an advance against royalties. Entries must be between 150 and 300 typed pages (approx. 40,000 to 80,000 words) and may include short stories, novellas, or a combination of both. Novellas must not exceed 125 pages (approx. 35,000 words); a single novella is not an eligible submission. Previously published stories may be included, with appropriate acknowledgments.

Manuscripts must be postmarked in the month of January and be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of $20 (U.S. dollars). Send check or money order (no cash) made payable to The Ohio State University.

• The competition is open to all writers in English, published or unpublished.
• No translations unless done entirely by the author.
• Current students and employees of The Ohio State University are not eligible.
• Entries must be postmarked during the month of January 2009. Entries postmarked after January 31, 2009 will not be accepted.
• Manuscripts must be typed. Clear photocopies of typed manuscripts are acceptable.
• Please do NOT send your only copy, illustrations or other irreplaceable material, as MANUSCRIPTS CANNOT BE RETURNED.
• Judging is anonymous, so your name or other identification should only appear on the cover page, and nowhere else in the manuscript. Your submission should include a cover sheet with name, street and email address, and phone numbers and a title page which lists title and approx. word count only (NO name, no other identifying information)
• Please include a nonrefundable handling fee of $20.00 (U.S. dollars)
• with each manuscript (US check or money order payable to The OhioState University). If you wish, include a stamped, self-addressed postcard to confirm receipt of your manuscript, and a stamped, self-addressed business-sized envelope so we can notify you of the results. OSU Press assumes no responsibility for lost or damaged manuscripts. Manuscripts will not be returned.Further details about the prize, eligibility, submission formats and previous winners can be found on the Ohio State University Press website

The winning entry will be announced during May, 2009.
2008 Winner: Paul Eggers' The Departure Lounge.

Mail to:
Fiction Editor
The Ohio State University Press
180 Pressey Hall
1070 Carmack Road
Columbus OH 43210-1002

Were you born between 1960 and 1982?

Anthology seeks work from writers born from '60 to '82:

In Our Own Words: Call for submissions for A Generation Defining Itself: Volume 8. This book series is a platform from which a generation (born 1960 to 1982) is speaking out about its realities, dispelling the narrow, simplified stereotypes created by the mass media and commercial marketing. Beginning to finalize the selection of texts. Will still consider texts sent by December 31st. All genres sought, from poetry and lyrics to prose and essays. Target is 150-200 writers, approx. 300 pages, and release by end of first quarter 2009. Submission Guidelines.

Call for Submissions from Westsiders

Are you a writer who lives on LA's westside?

http://www.forthmagazine.com: FORTH Magazine is the Westside's first and only Arts and Literature magazine for and by local artists and writers. Launching January 2009, FORTH is a free publication and needs the community's support to really make an impact in displaying and uniting the local arts community.

SUBMIT WORK: Forth is seeking submissions from Westside Locals only. Looking for writing and art of all types. Writing pays 10cts/word (500 words max). Almost any genre of poetry or prose, including: Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, Creative (Subjective/Gonzo) Journalism, Humor, or Social / Political commentary. NO standard, dry journalism or run-of-the-mill personal memoirs. Most Important: Be creative, insightful, and well-written. PUSH THE LIMITS. We like edgy as well as intellectual. Send us your best.

One for the Kids!

Bill Adler is working on a book called Kids' Letters to President Obama.

They are looking for letters from children ages 5 - 15 to be put into a book Kids' Letters to President Obama, which will be published by Random House in 2009.

Children can write a letter to Barack Obama that is up to a page long. The letter can be about anything he or she would like to say to the new President. Letters could give the President advice, or talk about problems that the President should address, or ask Obama questions about his childhood or why he wanted to be president. Or the letter could be about your own child life and feelings about the future. In short, whatever kids are interested in is fine for a letter.

The letter should begin with "Dear President Obama" and should be emailed to obamakidsletters@gmail.com (obamakidsletters @ gmail.com) or sent by regular mail or fax to:

Bill Adler

Adler & Robin Books, Inc.

3000 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20008

Fax: 202-478-5211

Call for Submissions « maganda magazine

Maganda Magazine, a once-a-year student publication at Berkeley is now accepting fiction and poetry submissions for their upcoming issue. From their site:

Call for Submissions « maganda magazine
What is today’s generation marked by?
Invention. Innovation. Invigoration.
The energy to fight for a cause
The spark to cause an effect
The power to effect change

The people living in today’s world share much more in common than merely existing at the same time. We share a history: chapters both ugly and triumphant, events that have occurred both within and outside of our control. In the end, our future is still to be determined by our decisions.

As the electric current of ideas rapidly fires through the generator of our collective minds, we gain the power to make a difference, to mark a place in history, not only in continuing the pursuits of previous generations but in creating entirely new possibilities.

What will this generation be defined by?

GENERATE
produce
cause

What does it mean to you? What do you generate? How do you perceive generation in the world today?

Generate your ideas through your own means of artistic expression and submit to {m}22.

...calling for submissions of any media, from prose to poetry to photography to artwork and music.

Deadline: DECEMBER 19, 2008

Call for submissions: Kaleidoscope

KALEIDOSCOPE MAGAZINE call for submissions on the theme of "Giving & Receiving
Care: A Delicate Balance." Deadline 3/1/09. Guidelines available at
www.udsakron.org and http://www.udsakron.org/kaleidoscope.htm.

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.

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.

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.

The Warren Adler Short Story Contest

The Warren Adler Short Story Contest

Fall 2008 Contest Theme: Short Fiction in Varied Genres

Following the success of the Summer 2008 Warren Adler Short Story Contest, Mr. Adler is sponsoring another international competition. The theme is simply short fiction in all of its varied genres. We are looking for original, imaginative pieces featuring compelling characters and creative plots. Whether you specialize in mainstream fiction, romance, horror, fantasy, science-fiction, satire, mystery, or any of their subcategories, we want to read your work.

Entries must not exceed 2,500 words. Stories from all the points of the globe will be considered provided that they are written in English. Mr. Adler will select which story will be awarded the Grand Prize of $1,000.

Although Mr. Adler will have already chosen the winner, the five finalists' stories will be posted on the Warren Adler website on January 19, 2009. The People's Choice winner will be determined by public voting. Warren Adler's top choice, along with the People's Choice winner, will be announced on February 2, 2009.

Submissions will be accepted from October 1, 2008 to January 16, 2009. The entry fee is $15. Five cash prizes will be awarded.

* 1st Prize: $1000
* People's Choice Prize $500
* Remaining finalists receive $150 each

Authors retain worldwide publishing rights.

Contest Rules:

* Contest is open for worldwide entries from October 1, 2008 until January 16, 2009
* A $15 fee in advance is required for each story submission.
* Stories must be submitted online
* Each story can be no longer than 2,500 words and must be written in English and previously unpublished.

Call for Submissions: Toasted Cheese

Toasted Cheese is accepting submissions. Here are excerpts from their website:

What we accept:

TC accepts previously unpublished flash fiction, fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry. Our maximum word count for fiction and creative nonfiction is 5000 words; for flash fiction our maximum is 500 words.

Toasted Cheese accepts submissions on a rotating basis. Our reading periods are:

• March issue: October 1 - December 31
• June issue: January 1 - March 31
• September issue: April 1 - June 30
• December issue: July 1 - September 30

Check their site for further information on how to submit.

Share Your Stories Anonymously or Publicly, Win Prizes

FieldReport lets you record and share the true stories of your life, as publicly or anonymously as you like. Our blind community review process highlights our members' most intriguing stories, without regard to popularity or clicks. The highest-ranked stories in each of FieldReport's 20 subject categories win prizes in regular qualifying rounds, and go on to compete for grand prizes--including the world's largest prize for a single piece of writing and a $25,000 TeenReport scholarship. Membership and entry are free. Sign up now.

Website: www.fieldreport.com

Press Release about them:
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS122423+16-Jul-2008+PRN20080716

Article about them in the SF Chronicle:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2008/09/22/moneytales.DTL

The Other Journal issue on Death and Dying Seeks Submissions:

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

More upcoming issues and deadlines:
Issue #14 - Death - December 15, 2008
Issue #15 - Beauty & Aesthetics - March 15, 2009
Issue #16 - Race in America - June 15, 2009

From their site:

Audience

The audience of The Other Journal includes church leaders and theologians, scholars and students, hipsters and artists, bookworms and movie buffs, ragamuffins and the unchurched, and Web surfers of every stripe.

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.

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.

For more info:

http://theotherjournal.com/info.php?page=submissions

Online journal seeks submissions: Tattoo Highway

Tattoo Highway, an online journal of prose, poetry and art, is now reading for TH/18: "Diners, Dives & Michelin Stars" ~ the food issue. Deadline January 15, 2009.

GENERAL GUIDELINES: Our tastes are eclectic. We like fresh, vivid language and we like stories and poems that are actually about something -- that acknowledge a world beyond the writer's own psyche. If they have an edge, if they provoke us to think or make us laugh, so much the better. We strongly suggest reading a previous issue or two before submitting.

While we particularly welcome poetry and short "screen-reader-friendly" prose or cross-genre pieces (1000 words), we do on occasion publish longer work. We encourage hypertext and new media (Flash .swf) submissions, also photographs and original graphics.

All readings are "blind" (authors' names and other identifiers are removed). Writers may submit up to 5 poems, prose poems or flash fictions (500 words max), or 2 longer prose pieces. While we prefer to see work that has not been previously published, we do consider work that has appeared in small-circulation print journals. Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please let us know promptly if you place a piece elsewhere.

As always, we're featuring our contest: "A Picture Worth 500 Words." Details on website.

See their website for further information on submitting.

Remembering Parallelism

The Writer's Digest site contains a plethora of great blogs and articles on writing. Here is an refresher article on Minding your P's and Q's when it comes to good sentence structure with an eye toward parallelism. Never a bad thing to remember.

Writer’s Digest - Using Parallelism in Your Writing

Pillars Playwriting Prize

This just in from Georgia College and State University: Pillars Playwriting Prize

Email: kbermanth@aol.com
What: Pillars Playwriting Prize

Presenter: Georgia College and State University Theatre Department in collaboration with the Creative Writing Program in the Department of English, Speech, and Journalism.

Deadline: December 1, 2008

We are now accepting full-length scripts for a playwriting festival prize for 2009-2010. The competition is open to all playwrights. All scripts entered in the contest must remain unpublished and unproduced. Produced is defined as any production to which tickets are sold. Translations, adaptations and musical texts are not eligible. Scripts submitted will not be returned.

The winning script will be produced as a part of the Georgia College and State University, Department of Music and Theatre, mainstage season. An honorarium of $2000.00 will be awarded for a short residency and presentations of workshops early in the rehearsal process. Submitting playwrights should be open to some minor revisions and to working in an educational setting during the 2009-2010 school year. Playwrights will return to the campus for the opening. Travel expenses will be included. A $20.00 reading fee is charged in order to pay the reading teams a stipend for their work. Checks should be made payable to the GCSU Pillars Playwriting Prize.

Please submit the complete script in the standard format along with a cover letter and brief biography, resume or CV of no more than two pages by the deadline of December 1, 2008 to the following address: Georgia College and State University Department of Music and Theatre Pillars Playwriting Prize Karen Berman, Theatre Chair Porter Hall CBX 066 Milledgeville, GA 31061 or call (478) 445-1980 for rules and more information.

Call for Submissions: Werewolf Queer Fiction

This just in from the folks at Queered Fiction who are looking for a very specific kind of story:

Queer Wolf

A gay moon rising ...

An anthology of gay werewolf tales for publication early 2009.
QueeredFiction is looking for contemporary, urban fantasy set within a fictional city (unnamed and not location specific) centering on a community of gay werewolves. Your submission should be a short story between 4,000 and 10,000 words. We are seeking sensual fiction with positive images of gay characters. We're not looking for clichés.
We do not want horror or science fiction. We do not want reprints. We are seeking first world rights for this anthology which will be published as an ebook and/or potentially as a print softcover.

Your submission should be via email to editor@queeredfiction.com with Queer Wolf submission in the subject line. Please embed your short story within the body of the email and provide a brief author bio. Payment will be a 50% royalty split between contributors. Submission period closes 30th November 2008.

Editorial comment on Queer Wolf
What are we looking for? Aside from queer characters, queer community and queer relationships - we're looking for a great fantasy story about werewolves. Red ones, white ones, gray ones and black ones but most certainly queer ones - living together in a community. We'd like to see a community of gay and lesbian werewolves, a queer community background with the emphasis up to the author/story/characters as to whether there is a predominant lesbian or gay main character (or whether that role is dually shared by two).

As a queer publisher, QueeredFiction would like to have an emphasis on the queer community as a whole, rather than by segments. So ideally the perfect submission would have 'queer characters' in the forefront and in the background ... just mainly prominent!

About QueeredFiction

We are coming out from between the pages and delivering great queer genre fiction 2009!
QueeredFiction is a start up small press publisher that will focus on the Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual 'Genred' market. We will begin publishing in 2009, delivering Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror with strong Queer content, characters and genre elements most of all we intend publishing great QueeredFiction.

No one steps out of the closet in a day QueeredFiction is a new born queer small press publisher and we're making our first steps into the world to claim our own vibrant place in the genre GLB niche market. We intend to publish between four and eight titles in 2009, in both eBook and Paperback formats.

www.queeredfiction.com

Any queries can be directed to info@queeredfiction.com for the attention of the publisher, or via the editor@queeredfiction.com for attention of the editor.

TheDoubleAgent.com is Looking for Writers to Write about Writing

While currently based in Australia, the Double Agent is currently looking for writers for the LA edition of the Double Agent, so they contacted us. While this gig is no pay, and we generally don't advocate no pay gigs, this seems like a decent website, and might be an opportunity for writers who are looking to develop clips. Here's what the editor had to say:

I'm currently looking for writers who can write about writing. Over the coming months, I want to turn The Double Agent into a kind of creative hub, where artists blog about art, actors about acting, and writers about writing. I'm looking for writers who are confident in sharing their knowledge and experience with other writers, and they don't have to be ten-times-published authors, they can be college students who are just starting to find their voice, poets who have never been published before, or high school English teachers (although a couple of ten-times-published authors would be nice).

Content wise, I'd only be looking for a 500 - 1,500 word piece once every three weeks, and, as long as the theme is writing, it can be about anything - matters of style, inspirations, or the time that you got ripped off by Author House. The bonus is that, as The Double Agent grows, the contributing writers will be put in touch with a network of creatives from around the world, get to bounce ideas off once another, and, last but not least, I give fantastic references that often use the word 'atomic'.

Contact Simon at thedoubleagentadmin@gmail.com for more information.

Narrative Travel Writing Contest

Narrative Travel Writing Contest

Deadline: December 15, 2008

Travel writing contest calls for submissions on the 'dangerous world'. Professionals, freelancers and writers worldwide are invited to submit their travel stories to the 2009 Narrative Travel Writing Contest, organized by TransitionsAbroad.com.

The theme for this year's contest is "Travel in a Dangerous World."

Submissions should address whether the world is truly more dangerous than it has ever been, or if governments and media have exaggerated the threats. Stories will be judged based on their sensitivity to the people and culture being described, ability to engage the reader, and literary quality.

The first, second and third-place winners will receive US$500, US$150, and US$100 respectively. TransitionsAbroad.com will publish the top three winners' entries as well as those of the selected runner-ups. For more information, visit www.transitionsabroad.com.

Tips on Collecting Payment for your Writing Work

Women on Writing has an article that contains valuable tips on how to collect payment for your freelance writing efforts, not the least of which is to get the payment terms in writing. Check out the rest of the tips here: http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/2008/10/collection-tips.html.

ASA International Screenplay Competition Late Deadline is November 30

For the screenwriters out there, it's not to late to submit your screenplay to the ASA International Screenplay Competition, since they have a late entry deadline. Here are some of the details from their website:

Entry Deadline: October 31, 2008
Late Entry Deadline: November 30, 2008

The ASA International Screenplay Competition, co-sponsored by Gotham Writers' Workshop, is an industry leading competition because it was designed and is maintained first and foremost with you the screenwriter in mind. We pride ourselves on offering a competition that is only one of eight to be awarded an A+ grade by Creative Screenwriting, a structured judging program, and a notification system to let every entrant know where they stand and how the competition is doing. We know you have a choice of screenplay competitions to enter and we want the ASA International Screenplay Competition to be your choice. Thank you for considering our competition. We look forward to reading your screenplay!

Our prizes are geared towards: significant financial reward - our winner receives $10,000 plus all finalists receive a cash award as well. industry recognition - we promote the winners in a number of ways including an ad in the Hollywood Reporter; an international press release; direct mailings to more than 6,500 studios and production companies; and the presentation of awards at the ASA Screenwriting Hall of Fame Awards during the San Diego Film Festival / ASA International Screenwriters Conference writer development - finalists receive a full script consultation or script critique from a top Hollywood consultant; the winner receives a script development trip to Hollywood; and we get the winning scripts into the hands of Hollywood decision makers from studios to production companies, and agents to managers. Every Quarterfinalist receives a professional script critique. student support - for all full-time students entering our competition, we offer a discounted entry fee AND in addition to having your script considered in the regular competition, we will also have your script judged in a special side competition (at no extra cost) where your script competes against other student entries. The winning student entry receives $500 cash!

Ink-Filled Page call for submissions

This just in from Ink-Filled Page:

Ink-Filled Page is a quarterly literary journal produced by Indigo Editing & Publications, www.indigoediting.com. The journal is published online quarterly, and we print an anthology annually. Our most recent quarterly issue was released in October and is available at www.indigoediting.com/ifp.

Literary Submissions

Fiction submissions can be short stories or novel excerpts, and the nonfiction section is open to personal narratives and essays. While all genres are welcome, special interests include:

• travel
• multicultural themes
• feminism
• magical realism

We are specifically looking for fresh, untold stories and unique voices that draw us into the world of the story. While we know and love many Jo(h)ns, we are inundated by character Jo(h)ns. We ask that you only submit characters by that name if it is necessary for the story.

Limit submissions to 5,000 words, one submission per candidate. Authors who submit more than one piece will not be considered. Electronic submissions only.

Poetry and short story contest: Central Coast Writers

Spring 2009 Central Coast Writers Contest
From their site:

Poetry and Short Story winners will each receive $500

Their winning work will be published in the Spring 2009 Homestead Review produced by Hartnell College. Note: All contest entries will be considered for publication in Hartnell College's Spring 2009 Homestead Review.

Contest Rules

Eligibility: Open to all work not previously published. Simultaneous submissions allowed, but you must notify us if your work is accepted elsewhere.

Entry Fee: Short stories: $15 per story. Poetry: $5 per poem.

Multiple Entries: You may enter as many times as you wish.

Maximum Length: Short story: 4000 words. Poetry: no restriction.

Submission Period: August 15, 2008 through November 15, 2008 (by postmark)

Notification: Winners will be notified by March 31, 2009 and announced in Scribbles, the Central Coast Writers branch monthly newsletter.

Finalist judges will be Homestead Review editors Maria Garcia Teutsch and Dr. Jessica Breheny, published authors in their respective genres of poetry and fiction.

For further details on submissions, see the above link.

2009 BlueCat Screenplay Contest CALL FOR ENTRIES

The 2009 BLUECAT SCREENPLAY COMPETITION is now open for submission of feature length screenplays!

Winner receives $10,000
Four finalists receive $1500
Every writer who submits to BlueCat receives a written script analysis of their screenplay
Entry fee $50

EARLY DEADLINE: December 1, 2008
*Screenplays submitted by Dec 1 will receive their analysis by Jan 5

SUBMIT YOUR SCREENPLAY:
http://www.bluecatscreenplay.com/submissions/call_for_entries.php
www.bluecatscreenplay.com
www.myspace.com/bluecatscreenplay

Short fiction contest: Write2Help.org

Write2Help.Org Fall 2008 Short Fiction Contest:

Proceeds benefit World Relief, a worldwide humanitarian effort based out of Baltimore, MD.

Topic: Write a short story (1500 words or less) about an exciting or awakening experience in childhood.

Prizes: 1ST Place - $1,000
2ND Place - $250
3RD Place - $100

Deadline: December 20, 2008

Entry Fee: $10

Website: www.write2help.org

Online journal seeks poems by women

Poems by women are sought for the January issue of Women Writers.net E-Zine.
Deadline for this issue is November 30.

You may submit 3-5 poems.

NO previously published, but simultaneous submission is fine as long as you let us know immediately if accepted elsewhere. If accepted, the poems will be published as a collection. In other words, we will either accept or reject the poems as a group. We will not decide on each poem individually.

See their contributor guidelines for more information.

Publish Your Letter to President Obama

Skyhorse Publishing, publishers of several books, is currently asking for submissions for a new book called Letters to President Obama, Americans Share Our Hopes and Dreams with the First African-American President.

For information about submitting, go to www.letterstopresidentobama.com.

About Skyhorse, from their website:

Skyhorse Publishing was launched in September 2006 by Tony Lyons, former President and Publisher of the Lyons Press, and its first titles were published in March 2007. After just one year in business, the company has over 120 titles in print.

Free Screening: "The Battle Over Citizen Kane"

Citizen Kane is on many people's list of Top 10 movies, and even if it's not on yours, chances are good that you've seen it, and probably more than once. If it's been too long since you've seen it on a big screen, LACMA is providing the opportunity to view it as it should be viewed this November 29th, at 7:30PM. Prior to the showing of Citizen Kane they are offering a free screening of the documentary: The Battle Over Citizen Kane at 5:00PM. This Academy Award-nominated documentary tracks Citizen Kane's passage from script stage, through early previews (Hedda Hopper called it "a vicious and irresponsible attack on a great man") up to its release and devastating aftermath, and seems like something no movie buff would want to miss.

Writer's Digest Short Short Story Contest

The 9th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition is accepting entries until December 1st, so get out that magnifying glass and find your best teeny tiny story. Here's what they're searching for and what your big prize could be:

We're looking for fiction that's bold, brilliant... but brief. Send us your best in 1,500 words or less. But don't be too long about it—the deadline is December 1, 2008. The Grand-Prize winner will receive $3,000 (that's $2—or more—per word). Plus, the 1st- through 25th-place manuscripts will be printed in the 9th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition Collection,
published by Trafford Publishing.

Prick of the Spindle Accepting Submissions ~

Prick of the Spindle is a quarterly online journal that is open to both traditional and experimental forms. They accept submissions year-round, and there is no reading fee. In their own words:

We have a special bent toward fresh and innovative voices that use language in unique ways. Editors are currently reading submissions in all categories for Vol. 2.4, forthcoming December 23, 2008. If you are interested in being considered for publication in Prick of the Spindle, please take care to read the guidelines for submitting your previously unpublished work.

They do not publish children's or young adult's fiction, and do not lean toward genre fiction "unless it is especially well-written with a contemporary flavor." There is no length requirement for fiction, and they are open to publishing novella-length pieces (traditionally defined as consisting of anywhere from 17,500 to 40,000 words). They are also seeking reviews in the realms of academic literature, fiction, and poetry. Reviews can consist of works of literary criticism, book reviews, and academic analysis or essays.

Damselfly Press - Call for Submissions

Damselfly press is an online journal that promotes writing by women "whose voices have not yet been heard." According to their mission statement:

damselfly press seeks to promote exceptional writing by women whose voices have not yet been heard. We welcome work from female writers of all backgrounds and experiences. We accept fiction, poetry, and nonfiction that is honest and daring, and explores the relationship between dualities. Joy, pain. Boldness, vulnerability. Sacred, profane. Be passionate about your writing, and explore the truth that lies within. There is truth even in fiction; make us believe what you have to say.

About submitting:

Damselfly press, an online literary journal for women selected as Best of the Web 2008 by Dzanc Books, is pleased to announce the publication of our fifth issue and call for submissions for the sixth issue. We are seeking electronic submissions of original fiction, poetry, and non-fiction by female writers slated for online publication in January 2009. The deadline to submit for the sixth issue is December 15th, 2008.

Check their site for further submission details.

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest

Dream Quest One is sponsoring Poetry and Writing (Fiction/Non-Fiction) Contests. In their own words:

Deadline: December 31, 2008
Open to anyone who loves to express their innermost thoughts and feeling into the beautiful art of poetry or to write a short story that is worth telling everyone! And to all who have the ability to dream. Write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash prizes. All works must be original.
Write a poem, thirty lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed. And/or write a short story, five pages maximum length, on any subject or theme, creative writing fiction or non-fiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries and screenwriting). Also, must be typed or neatly hand printed. Multiple poetry and short story entries are accepted. All winners will be announced on January 31, 2009.
Prizes:

• Writing Contest First Prize is $500. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $100.
• Poetry Contest First Prize is $250. Second Prize: $125. Third Prize: $50.

Entry fees: Writing Contest entry fee: $10 per short story.
Poetry Contest entry fee: $5 per poem.
To send entries: Include title(s) with your story (ies) or poem(s), along with your name, address, phone#, email, brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself), on the coversheet. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Fees payable to: “DREAMQUESTONE.COM” Mail to:
Dream Quest One
Poetry & Writing Contest
P.O. Box 3141
Chicago, IL 60654
Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com for further details or to enter!

Ambrosia - Call for Submissions

Do you write haiku?

Ambrosia - Call for Submissions:

"You are invited to submit haiku for the Winter 2009 issue of Ambrosia. The submission deadline is January 1, 2009. Submissions will NOT close earlier than the deadline.

Ambrosia is a quarterly journal—a print literary journal, a PDF ebook, and a digital online magazine—dedicated to publishing and promoting fine English haiku in traditional style.

Ambrosia specializes in fine single haiku in tercet form. Senryu are not wanted. Collaborations and sequences are generally not wanted. All selection decisions will be made at the sole discretion of the editor.

Previously unpublished work, not on offer elsewhere, is solicited."

Franklin-Christoph No-Fee Poetry Contest ~

If you have two original, unpublished poems that are less than 100 words, why not send them to the Franklin-Christoph Free Poetry Contest? You may email your entries to clientservice(at)franklin-christoph(dot)com or snail mail (postmarked by the November 30th deadline) to: Franklin-Christoph Poetry Contest, 7511 Mourning Dove Rd, Suite 104, Raleigh, NC, 27615. In addition to seeing your work published Franklin-Christoph.com, prizes are:

• First Prize: $1000 cash
• 10 Merit Award Winners: $150 Franklin-Christoph writing instruments.

Winners will be announced by February 14, 2009.
Please go to their website for the rest of their contest rules and guidelines.

Beautiful Vowels

Take a quick peek at this BBC News article about a new fiction book that manipulates the use of vowels. Entitled "Euonia", the only word in the english language that contains all five vowels, the author has divided the book into five sections, each section using only one vowel in every word. The article quotes from each of the books sections - it's quite a feat. The comments are fun to read, too.

Use These Words ...

The second issue of Use These Words is on the horizon, and they're accepting submissions until January 1, 2009. All you need to do is use all of the following words in a poem (up to 5 poems), and email them to usethesewords(at)gmail(dot)com.

• Pillow
• Tantrum
• Silver
• Roof
• Vacant
• Atlas
• Break

Don't forget to send a brief contributor's note.

First Edition Publishing - No Fee Contest

First Edition Publishing - New Fiction, New Writers is currently looking for no-fee contest submissions for their monthly contest for possible publication in upcoming issues.

"Whether you've written a short story, poem, complete novel, script, play or book review we want to hear from you. We run a monthly competition in each of these categories that is completely FREE to enter. Our team of judges will pick the best each month, and we will publish a selection of them in the next available issue of First Edition Magazine. There are cash prizes for the very best in each category. No matter which category, if chosen you can boast that your work has been published and read by tens of thousands of people, and you may even win some cash if you're the very best!

Categories we are looking for:
# Short Stories
# Serialisations of Complete Novels
# Poetry and Prose
# Plays and Scripts
# Reader's Reviews"

Storyscape Journal Seeks Outside the Box Submissions

Storyscape Journal, The Literary Journal of Champions is seeking submissions. According to their site:

"Storyscape, a new literary journal that is story-centered, asks for your submission. We want your:

Short story, long story, overheard story, invented story, true story, false story, poetic story, oral story, historical story, crafted story, stolen story, visual story.

Just captivate us with the strength of the story. The premise of the journal is to expand the notion of what stories are while shaking up the labels we use to define them. To this end, we've come up with 4 sections of the journal: Truth, Untruth, We Don't Know and They Won't Tell Us, and Stories without Words. You label your own piece, which means you decide what 'the truth' means to you. All we want is to lean back, relax, and listen to your story.

We now have a rolling submission policy. The next issue will be published online in winter of 2009."

We e-mailed the editor, Anne Hays, for some clarification on the kinds of stories listed above and we got a very speedy response! It turns out that they have shortened the list to invented story, true story, overheard story, visual story, poetic story, audio story, found story, and given story. Their website will reflect this change soon.

Here is her answer to exactly what kind of stories move them:

Our actual categories/genres for the pieces are simply, "Truth," "Untruth," and "We Don't Know and They Won't Tell Us." The listed suggestions above are simply meant to convey that we are looking for a wide variety of storytelling methods. It's definitely not meant to limit people's options in an any way!

Here is an example of something we loved: In our last issue, Kimiko Hahn wrote two pieces specifically for us. In one piece she rewrote the same poem three times while changing and lengthening the ending. In her other piece, she interspersed attempts at writing a poem with diary entries in which she pondered the creative process, and where her work was heading. I was happy she sent these specific pieces, rather than simply sending us one solid "traditional" poem, which, if you look at our suggestion list of categories, we do potentially publish.

Our vision for this journal seems to be so outside what people think of when they think of "stories" that we are constantly re-explaining the vision, and looking for better ways to encourage creativity. At the end of the day, as is the case with all journals, the pieces in it speak louder than we can in terms of what we'd publish. Check out Chris Haske's piece in our current issue--it's totally genius. Or look at Amber Boardman's. And we are absolutely looking for people to push the envelope harder. What does that cliche even mean? We are looking for people to rip the envelope up into shreds and create new envelopes.

See Storyscape's submissions page for further information on how to submit, and thank you to Anne Hays for her responsiveness and clarity.

Bantam Spectra No-Fee Short Fiction Contest

Bantam Spectra, a division of Random House, Inc., is holding a new no-fee short fiction contest for science fiction, fantasy, and horror writers:

"Presenting a new short fiction contest for unpublished writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

For its third edition of Spectra Pulse, Bantam Spectra is allowing unpublished writers to get their work featured alongside some of the most well-respected names in science fiction and fantasy.

One lucky winner will receive $100 and have his/her story published in the Summer 2009 issue of Spectra Pulse, Bantam Spectra’s exclusive magazine distributed at Comic-Con San Diego and select conventions and bookstores (available July 2009)."

Check out the site for submission details and official rules

Deadline: 1/31/09, winners announced April 2009

How to Speed Read

Who wouldn't love to read faster? Check out Wired's wiki on how to do just that. They even include a link to a site called SpreedNews.com that actually helps you learn to speed read by reading the news in quick short phrases. It's a super-fun, super-quick way to get the day's news and gauge and improve your reading speed! Warning: Do it in short spurts. I did it for way to long and walked away with a bit of a headache. Or maybe I just needed to eat.

Save 30% on Selected Writing Reference Books

Writers Market / F&W Publications is offering the following discount on reference books such as the 2009 Writer's Market and other selected publications:
Use coupon code "T6REF" to receive

We've put together our Top 6 Essential Writing References that we think belong on every writer's bookshelf. Use coupon code "T6REF" to save 30% on these selected titles from Writer's Digest Books now through November 5!

Writing and Drinking

LA Observed: Undercover work for writers who drink: LA Observed has an interesting blog entry about a compay called Barfly Staff Monitoring Service who is looking for writers to go to bars and write articles about their experience. The catch? You have to have bartending experience and be able to take notes while flying under the radar.

Damselfly Press Accepting Submissions ~

Damselfly Press is accepting submissions of Fiction, Non-Fiction and Poetry until December 15, 2008 for their next issue, to be published on January 15, 2009. In their own words:

Our fifth issue honors women of all experiences, ages and backgrounds. We are pleased to feature fiction, non fiction, and poetry that is excellently crafted, thematically diverse, and accessible.

• We read year round.
• Please send online submissions only with the genre in the header of the e-mail.
• Submissions must be in a Microsoft® Word document or .RTF attachment.
• Please include writer’s contact information on a separate cover page.
• We are unable to provide compensation to writers for accepted submissions at this time.
• If a writer’s work initially appears in damselfly press and is later published elsewhere, we request an acknowledgement.
• Fiction- Send 9-10 pages of fiction not to exceed 2,500 words max. Submitters may send up to two fictional stories per submission to the fiction editor.
• Poetry- Send 1-3 poems per submission to the poetry editor.
• Nonfiction- Send 3-10 pages of nonfiction not to exceed 2,500 words max. Submitters may send up to two nonfiction submissions such as memoir or personal essays to the nonfiction editor.
• Writers must include bios not to exceed 50 words.
• We do not accept previously published work.
• For writers whose work has been accepted by our journal, please refrain from re-submitting up to a year after publication.

Ellipsis Press is Looking for Novels that Look Normal. But Aren't.

According to their website:

Ellipsis Press is interested in novels that are structurally innovative.

We like: novels that look normal but aren’t (more than those that look weird but are actually quite normal); those that are successful at bypassing or evolving the seemingly necessary but often tired elements of character and/or plot; and those that respond in some way to the history of the novel as genre and form.

Writers who have studied the traditional elements of the novel and experimented with them to emotionally moving and/or extraordinary ends are invited to submit for publication.

Send your whole manuscripts as a .rtf attachment by email only to editors [at] ellipsispress [dot] com.

We are not interested in poetry, short story collections, or non-fiction at this time. Due to time constraints we can respond only to those submissions we wish to pursue. These responses will be made within four months time.

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"

Poetry Cemetery

The next issue of Poetry Cemetery will be it's last, unfortunately, unless they can find someone to take over. In the meantime, they are accepting submissions until November 15, 2008. Send a maximum of 5 poems in the body of your email to poetrycemetery(at)live(dot)com, with "Submissions" in the subject line. They ask that you include titles, even if the title is simply "untitled," to make it easier for them to distinguish where one poem ends and the next begins. Also, please let them know if the poems you're sending have been published elsewhere, and DON'T send them anything that is excessively vulgar, pornographic, or "otherwise offensive to the masses."

Local Poetry Readings

The Valley Contemporary Poets presents:

Tuesday, October 21
Fernando Castro
9:00 pm
open reading sign up 8:30 pm
Cobalt Cafe
22047 Sherman Way in Canoga Park, Canoga Park (just west of Topanga Canyon)
Free – one drink minimum, open reading

Sunday, November 2nd
S.A. Griffin
Dennis Cruz
Rafael Alvarado
3pm
Tarzana Community and Cultural Center
19130 Ventura Blvd
Tarzana, CA 91356

Narrative 30 Below Contest - No Fee!

This is the last week to enter Narrative Magazine's 30 Below Contest for writers and artists, ages 30 and under.

First Prize is $1,500
Second Prize is $750
Third Prize is $300

Ten finalists will be named, and all entries will be considered for publication.

Open to writers, visual artists, photographers, performers, and filmmakers. We are interested in narrative in the many forms it takes: the word and the image, the traditional and the innovative the true and the imaginary.

Entry deadline: October 27.
No fee to enter.

Writer’s Digest - The Anatomy of a Writer's Website

Many writers who find themselves in a place where they need to promote themselves and their work get overwhelmed by the thought of creating their own website. If you find yourself in this position, click on over to Writers Digest. They have an article called The Anatomy of a Writer's Website with tips and lots of resources on how to easily create your own writers website, and what kind of content to include.

Get Ready for NaNoWriMo

Don't forget that November is just around the corner, so if you're looking for motivation to write that novel that's been churning and baking in your loins, then run over to NaNoWriMo.org and log in to solidify your November commitment to write that story. Your goal? 50,000 words by November 30th.

Of Unknown Authorship: The New Anonymous Accepting Submissions ~

The New Anonymous is an annual literary journal that not only publishes all works anonymously, they blindly screen and edit submissions as well. In fact, the entire process is anonymous from beginning to end, thus freeing writers from their own generative forms and creative dispositions, creating, in effect, a safehouse where writers can not only question their creative process, but, in the words of Freud, "Play." You may send as many submissions as you like, (but please: no more than 1 piece of prose/fiction or 7 poems per email) to: thenewanonmediator(at)gmail(dot)com. Do not include your name anywhere in the document. Please go to their website to see the rest of their "very unique" requirements for submission.