Queer, Here, and Accepting Submissions!

Queer Collection is accepting submissions for the June 2009 publication of The Queer Collection: Prose and Poetry 2009. They are looking for original prose and poetry by and for a gay, lesbian, bi, transgender and queer audience. Poems may be up to 40 lines, the prose word-count limit is 3000 words, and you may submit up to 5 pieces for consideration. Authors whose work is selected for publication will receive $25; there is no entry or reading fee. Mail your submissions, along with a cover letter and bio to Gregory A. Kompes, Editor, Queer Collection, Fabulist Flash Publishing, P.O. Box 570368, Las Vegas, NV 89157. Please go to their website for the rest of the submission guidelines.

Support Local Poets

The Valley Contemporary Poets present a special night of poetry with Jamie O’Halloran on Tuesday, August 19
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

Jamie O’Halloran is an honored past director of the Valley Contemporary Poets who has been published with the VCP Press imprint. She is the recipient of several awards for her poetry including the Ann Stanford Poetry Prize and has been nominated three times for the Pushcart Prize.

The Best Advice You Ever Had ~

FundsforWriters, (and its annual sponsor IdeaWeaver), is announcing its 7th Annual FundsforWriters Essay Contest. FundsforWriters changes its theme every year; this year they are offering two topics to choose from that have one thing in common: write about the best advice you ever had.

• Topic 1: The Best Advice I Ever Had and Ignored
• Topic 2: The Best Advice I Ever Had and Followed.

FundsforWriters is "all about the writer," so your essay should be writing-related, or, at least will tie back into a writing lesson. The deadline is October 31, 2008, essays should be 750 words or less, and you have both No Fee and $5 Entry Fee options, (the $5 entry fee option has bigger prizes). Those that select the $5 entry fee option will also receive the ebook of their choice.
$5 Entry Fee Category:

• First Place: $200
• Second Place: $20 - and a free copy of IdeaWeaver software (a $49.95 value)
• Third Place: $10

No Entry Fee Category:

• First Place: $50
• Second Place: $20
• Third Place: $20

The same piece cannot be entered in both categories. Submit your entry in the body of an email to hope(at)fundsforwriters(dot)com. Please go to their website for the rest of the contest guidelines and to read previous winning essays.

WRITERS' Journal Poetry Contest ~

There's a small $3.00 entry fee for this one, but sometimes you have to "give a little to get a little," and who knows where this could lead for you, yes? The deadline for Writer's Journal Poetry Contest isn't until August 30, 2008, so you have plenty of time to fine-tune a poem of 25 lines or less. (Maybe bring one to your writer's group for them to critique!)

• 1st Prize: $50 plus publication in Writers' Journal
• 2nd Prize: $25 plus publication
• 3rd Prize: $15 plus publication
• Plus Honorable Mentions

Send your entries to "Poetry Contest," Val-Tech Media, P.O. Box 394, Perham, MN, 56573, with a check or money order payable to WRITERS' Journal. There's a few more guidelines, so please go to their website before you mail them your work.

What Was The Most Important Day In Your Life?

If you can think of many, select one of them, write a 1500-or-less-word essay (or polish up one you already have), and enter it in Real Simple's Life Lessons Essay Contest, for a chance to win a $3000 prize and have your essay published in Real Simple! The contest ends September 9, 2008, but they are accepting snail mail entries as late as September 16 (if they are postmarked by September 9); mail to: Essay Contest Real Simple, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, 9th floor, New York, NY 10020. Email entries can be sent to lifelessons(at)realsimple(dot)com.

Is It Truly Better To Have Loved And Lost?

No matter how you answer that question, you probably have a short story, either written or not-yet-written, that could illustrate your point. If you do, If Only I Could Tell You ... Where Past Loves and Current Intimacy Meet is sponsoring it's 2nd annual Past Loves Day contest whose deadline isn't until midnight, August 17, 2008. Tell them, in no more than 700 words, as though you were telling a best friend, about how this past love influenced your life.

• First Prize: $100
• Second Prize: $75
• Third Prize: $50

All winners and Honorable Mentions will receive a copy of If Only I Could Tell You ... Where Past Loves and Current Intimacy Meet. Winners will also have their stories posted (anonymously, if requested) on their website.
Send your entry to: contest(at)ourpastloves(dot)com or: CONTEST, Spruce Mountain Press, 61 Katuah Road, Plainfield, VT 05667.
Winners will be announced on Past Loves Day, September 17, 2008. There is no fee to enter.

A Call For "War" Poetry

Among the horrible things people do to each other, war is one of the worst. It's a tough issue to address, but if you can delve into it and come out with a poem, this may interest you. WaterWood Press is accepting war poetry until September 1, 2008 for its upcoming softcover anthology: Against Agamemnon: War Poetry. They are seeking 1 to 3 previously unpublished poems (up to 30 lines) from any good poet, (known or unknown), in any style. They ask that you do not send poems about 9/11, as those will not be considered. Unless you are submitting from a foreign country and sending via US Mail is unpractical or too expensive, submissions will be accepted only via snail mail: WaterWood Press, 47 Waterwood, Huntsville, Texas, 77320 -- Attn: 2008 War Poetry Editor. Poets whose poems are selected for publication will receive a copy of the anthology as payment. Please go to their website for further submission guidelines, which include a recommendation of other works you may wish to refer to (#11).