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Online publication Coal Hill Review is seeking submissions of previously unpublished poetry until May 1, 2008 for its spring issue.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.

Some Thoughts On Writing Free-Verse Poetry

Full-time author and anthologist Lawrence Schimel has published over 47 books in a variety of genres and media. Here he takes the time to share some thoughts about writing free-verse poetry. He includes useful tips & suggestions that, even if only one of them proves helpful to you, is surely worth the time to read.

Inconceivable? Quite the opposite!

Conceive magazine is for any woman contemplating or trying to start or expand a family, by natural conception, fertility treatments & assisted reproductive technologies, or adoption. They are focused on all aspects of fertility, conception and adoption. If you post your story on their website, they will contact you if they decide to feature it in their magazine. And yes: they pay!