Writer's Faire '08 ~

If you enjoy being surrounded by hundreds of fellow-writers who are interested in learning more about perfecting their craft, this Sunday's free UCLA Extension Writer's Faire, an annual gathering of the writer's community, is just the thing for you! Featuring 24 mini-panels that will focus on every aspect of writing, from "Getting Started as a Writer" (at 11:00 AM) through "Living Your Live as a Writer" (at 3:00 PM), this festive occasion will give you the opportunity to explore many different realms of writing. Screenwriting, fiction writing, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, writing for the youth market, getting published, getting produced, getting started, getting into an MFA program, getting to the heart of a story – all will be explored at the Faire! Six panels will be run simultaneously in six different classrooms, so you are sure to find discussions that will interest you! Seating is first-come, first-served, so arrive early to get a prime spot. After the panels, you can talk with the instructors in the courtyard, get writing advice, and have them sign a favorite book (their publications will also be available). This is also a great opportunity to meet and network with other writers and make new friends!

Peace, Love and Rock 'n' Roll: Woodstock Revisited

Where were you in 1969? If you were at Woodstock and can come up with a true 850 to 1100 word story, you might want to submit it to Literary Cottage's Woodstock Revisited Anthology Contest. You'll have to hurry, though: the deadline is September 7, 2008. Adams Media will pay authors $100 per story, plus one copy of the anthology. Not only that, Literary Cottage offers prizes!

• 1st Prize: $100
• 2nd Prize: $75
• 3rd Prize: $50

So, if you were there and can remember the experience, or if you know someone who was (they are also accepting "as told to" stories), write from the heart, tell your story with imagery and humor, end with a satisfying conclusion, and email your story to sreynolds(at)literarycottage(dot)com. They have many guidelines for submissions as well as tips for writing a fabulous story, so please go to their website and check them out.

Thema Literary Journal: Many Plots, One Premise ~

Do you have a flair for writing cleverly-constructed plots? Good character delineation? Clever plot twists? Or if poetry's your thing, are your poems thoughtfully constructed and carefully distilled? In either case, Thema Literary Journal might be interested in accepting your submissions for publication. They are also kind enough to provide themes for your inspiration. Upcoming themes and deadlines are:

• In Kay's kitchen -- November 1, 2008
• Put it in your pocket, Lillian -- March 1, 2009
• The dean's cat -- July 1, 2009

The premise must be an integral part of your story or poem, not merely incidental to it. They prefer fewer than 20 double-spaced pages of short fiction, and no more than three poems. On acceptance for publication, they will pay:

• Short Story: $25
• Short-Short Piece (up to 1000 words): $10
• Poem: $10

There is no reading/submission fee and both traditional and experimental short stories and all types of poetic forms are welcome. Send your short stories to Virgina Howard, editor, (poems to Gail Howard, poetry editor), Box 8747, Metairie, LA, 70011-8747. Be sure to include SASE and indicate premise! If you are submitting for more than one premise, be sure to include a separate SASE for each premise. Do not put the author's name on any page beyond the title page, and indicate the target theme in your cover letter or first page of your manuscript. Please go to their website for additional info.

A Sign Of The Times???

Here's another war-related contest, but the folks at Diversion Press are looking for short stories, not poetry, for their upcoming anthology: War is All We Know. Their anthology is designed to collect the best FICTION on war; historical or other fiction is fine, but they do not want real-live battle stories! Each story must include, as a quote or somewhere else in the text, the phrase "War is all we know."
Prizes are :

• 1^st: $30 dollars
• 2nd: $20 dollars
• 3rd: $10 dollars

All three winners will have their short-stories published and receive a free copy, including free shipping, of the publication. Winners may also have their stories and name featured on their web-site. While only three prizes will be given, other work may be considered for publication in the anthology. Please go to their website to look at the rest of their submission and proposal guidelines.
You have until December 1st 2008 to get your 20 to 40 page story submitted to them. They prefer regular mail, [Diversion Press Inc., Attn: Acquisitions Editor, P.O. Box 30277, Clarksville, TN 37040] but will also accept your work via email at divisionpress(at)yahoo(dot)com.

What's In That Drawer?

Ya gotta love a contest that gives you a theme and lots of ideas with which to flush it out. (At least, I always do!) Here's one that especially intriguing: The Muse Marquee's Mother Hen Contest has it all: a cash prize of $25, no entry fee, and a link to an article with an amazing plethora of suggestions on what to write about and how to finesse it into your short story of 1,000 words or less (less is better). The deadline isn't until October 10th 2008, so you have plenty of time to be inspired, write and then submit your story to museitupeditor(at)yahoo(dot)ca. The winning story will also be published in their November 2008 issue!

Are You Able To Come Up With Edgy One-Liners?

If so, this will interest you: Kate Harper Designs is accepting submissions of "edgy quotes with a twist of humor," and will pay $50 for each one she accepts!! Quotes should be appropriate for a greeting card, bookmark, or coffee cup, 20 words or less, and original (by you). She also provides a handy link to a page with helpful suggestions; among them:

• What have you said to a friend lately that made them laugh?
• What is the best piece of advice your pet would give you?
• Think of someone who did something nice for you lately. What would you like to say to them?

Send as many quotes as you want to quotesub(at)aol(dot)com, but first, go to her website to look at the rest of the submission guidelines.

Barn Owl Review Accepting Submissions ~

Barn Owl Review, a handsomely-designed print journal of poetry, literary fiction and critical prose, offers several options for submissions to it's upcoming 2009 issue. They are looking for high-quality work that takes risks while connecting to its readers. You may submit 3 to 5 poems to the attention of their poetry editors, (nothing of a greeting card or inspirational verse nature, please), 1 to 3 short shorts of 1,000 words or less OR one short story (5,000-word maximum), to the attention of fiction editors, or critical prose (also up to 5,000 words), to the attention of Adam Deutsch. Barn Owl Review 2 will be released February, 2009, so be sure to have your submissions in by November 1st, 2008. They will pay two copies of the issue that your work appears in, and offer half off for additional copies. Please go to their website to check out the rest of their submission guidelines.