Friday, December 18, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #157

Column will return on January 2, 2010.
A very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah to all my readers and my good wishes for a prosperous and fulfilling New Year.


MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - JULIETTE LACOVARO, age 84, for three decades drew maps for the U.S. government, charted the intricate contours of Hawaii and handled classified work during the Vietnam War. Now 84, the McLean resident sees a dream task emerging just a mile from her home: mapping the new Tysons Corner. She still keeps busy, and works refilling stacks of maps, helping hungry and lost shoppers find their way in the mall, ushering Northern Virginia's political and commercial luminaries up a sweltering elevator to a birthday bash and transportation ribbon-cutting ceremony atop a seven-story parking garage.

BOSTON REVIEW - nonfiction, fiction, fillers on culture, political analysis, reviews, poetry. 4000-5000/wds. Reads fiction and poetry submissions between Sept. 15 and May 15 each year. Boston Review also runs an annual short story contest. Guidelines: http://www.bostonreview.net/about/writers_guidelines

RENAISSANCE MAGAZINE - mag targeted towards re-enactors of Late Medieval and Renaissance periods. While they do publish straight history articles, it's best to have articles be of direct use to re-enactors. Such articles in the past have included pieces on costume, armor, and the culture of the period. Average feature length 2,000 words. Pays $0.10/word on publication. Guidelines: http://www.renaissancemagazine.com/subguide.html

CREATE & DECORATE – gen’l craft pub designed to teach readers principles and techniques for crafts, lay foundations that encourage readers to develop their own ideas. Offers columns that are informative and of interest to inform readers of new ideas, products, and trends within the industry. Seeks nonfiction, photos/artwork. Neg. fees and rights. Guidelines: http://www.createanddecorate.com/information/guidelines.shtml

AMERICAN HERITAGE - Devoted to American history, like articles showing how the American experience is different from that of other countries w/some link to the present. 6000/wds/max. Neg rates. Guidelines: http://www.americanheritage.com/contact (link bottom of page)

PYRAMID - tabletop role-playing games (RPGs), with most articles devoted to either generic (systemless) gaming or GURPS, with the occasional (rare) dabbling into other systems as the mood strikes us. Seeks nonfiction, columns/departments, photos/artwork for Role playing games, board games, card games, strategy games, miniatures, wa rgames. 4cts/wd and they edit. Guidelines: http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/writing.html

APRON STRINGS, UK - Essential reading for all mothers. Personal essays to be of length 800/4000/wds. Original, insightful works. Fiction (up to 4500 words) - we welcome pieces in the short story format but it’s really the personal essays that make up the bulk of this publication. €60 - €100/essay. For commissioned pieces such as book reviews and longer feature articles, we neg. w/individual writers. Guidelines: http://www.apronstringsmag.com/index_files/Page2047.htm

ROCK AND ICE - climbing mag, the leading pub for world-class writing, training and technical tips for climbers of all levels, hard-hitting gear reviews and stunning photography. Seeks nonfiction, fiction, columns/departments, photos/artwork on climbing, profiles, destinations, current outdoor/climbing-related issues. Guidelines: http://www.rockandice.com/contributorinfo.php

BRITISH COLUMBIA MAGAZINE, BC - quarterly geographic and travel magazine which focuses on British Columbia. Seeks nonfiction, columns/depts, photos/artwork. Guidelines: http://www.bcmag.ca/guidelines

PILL HILL PRESS “LOVE KILLS” SHORT STORY CONTEST - Deadline Jan. 15, 2010. No Entry Fee. Winning stories will be published in a print anthology. 1st - $125 + 1 copy; 2nd - $50 + 1 copy; 3rd - $25 + 1. Runners-up - 1 copy. Looking for SCARY stories, written in third person, featuring the theme LOVE KILLS: MY BLOODY VALENTINE. Stories should take place at or around Valentine's Day. 3000-5000/wds. Guidelines: http://www.pillhillpress.com/love-kills-contest.html

MALAHAT REVIEW NOVELLA PRIZE (Canada) - Deadline: Feb. 1, 2010. Entry Fee: $35 CAD; $40 USD;. Submit a single work of fiction, 10,000 wds/min- 20,000/wds/max.. No restrictions as to genre, subject matter, or aesthetic approach. $500 CAD is awarded, plus payment at the rate of $40CAD/pg upon publication. Guidelines: http://www.malahatreview.ca/novella_contest/info.html

ATLAS ECONOMIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION’S SOUND MONEY ESSAY CONTEST – Deadline: Jan. 15, 2010. You must be a legal resident of the U.S. or engaged as a full-time student in the U.S. You must also be no more than 35 years old on the date of the contest deadline. $5000 prize. Two additional prizes of $1000 each will be given to outstanding essays written by junior faculty, graduate students, or policy writers. Three additional prizes of $500 each will be given to outstanding essays written by undergraduate students. http://atlasnetwork.org/programs/sound-money-project/sound-money-essay-contest-2009

HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN FICTION CONTEST - Deadline: Jan. 31, 2010. Short Stories Open to age 16+. Write a children's story based on your family. 750/wds/max. Stories for beginning readers 475/wds/max. 3 prizes of $1000 or tuition for the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop at Chautauqua. Guidelines: http://www.highlights.com/highlights-fiction-contest

AUTHORS NOTE - Work created by unidentified (unknown) authors have a copyright life of only 95 years from publication or 120 years from the work’s creation—whichever comes first. If the author is named (known) and registers his pen name (whether it's his real name or a pseudonym), the copyright term for the work is the author’s life plus 70 years.

CONSUMER MAGAZINES: These are the types of magazines you might find in a grocery store check-out line, convenience store, in your airplane seat pocket, or your doctor’s office and they pay the best.

LITERARY CONTEST SCAMS –Writers should bookmark this link & check the list before entering any contest. http://windpub.com/literary.scams

Friday, December 11, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #156

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - ALEKSANDR SOLZHENITSYN, age 89, whose stubborn, lonely and combative literary struggles gained the force of prophecy as he revealed the heavy afflictions of Soviet Communism in some of the most powerful works of the 20th century. Solzhenitsyn had been an obscure, middle-aged, unpublished high school science teacher in a provincial Russian town when he burst onto the literary stage in 1962 with “A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.” The book, a mold-breaking novel about a prison camp inmate. Suddenly he was being compared to giants of Russian literature like Tolstoy, Dostoyevski and Chekhov. Over the next five decades, Solzhenitsyn’s fame spread throughout the world as he drew upon his experiences of totalitarian duress to write evocative novels like “The First Circle” and “The Cancer Ward” and historical works like “The Gulag Archipelago.” “Gulag” was a monumental account of the Soviet labor camp system, a chain of prisons that some 60 million people had entered during the 20th century.

VETERINARY ECONOMICS – monthly prof’l trade mag for practicing veterinarians that provides detailed articles about the business of client and patient care. We cover topics related to practice management, including personnel solutions, communication, practice finances, personal finances, day-to-day management issues, client relations, life balance, and more. 250-1200/wds, depending on dept. Guidelines: http://veterinarybusiness.dvm360.com/vetec/static/staticHtml.jsp?id=356190

TEXAS MONTHLY – solidly researched reporting that uncovers issues of public concern, reveals offbeat and previously unreported topics, or uses a novel approach to familiar topics. Any issue of the magazine would be a helpful guide. Stories must appeal to an educated Texas audience. Covers Texas, general interest, travel, business, technology. Seeks nonfiction, columns/depts, photos/artwork. Neg. fees. Guidelines: http://www.texasmonthly.com/writeguide

ONLINE – Exploring Technology & Resources for Information Professionals. Written and edited for librarians and other professionals who routinely use online services for information delivery, research, and knowledge management. Practical, how-to advice on the efficient and effective use of electronic information. The readership runs the gamut from novice to experienced researcher, and covers the entire range of electronic information topics, including industry trends; new products and technologies; professional, business and consumer online services; the internet; enterprise-wide information management; practical search and information management techniques; information professional roles and responsibilities, electronic content; quality issues; web design from an information professional perspective; intranet/extranet creation and promotion; and search engines. Seeks nonfiction, photos/artwork. Guidelines: http://www.infotoday.com/online/authors.shtml

2010 NORTHWEST PERSPECTIVES ESSAY CONTEST – (University of Oregon) Deadline: Jan. 31, 2010. No entry fee. Open and Student categories. 2000 wds/1500 wds for Student category. Prizes: Open Category – 1st $750; 2nd $300; 3rd $100. Student Category – 1st $500; 2nd $200; 3rd $75. Guidelines: http://www.oregonquarterly.com/essay.php

DAME LISBET THROCKMORTON FICTION CONTEST – Deadline: Jan. 31, 2010. Entry fee: $17. Original short stories, or chapters that stand on their own, should use 3500/wds/max to dazzle the judges. Four cash prizes: $350, $125, $75, and $50. Winning stories will be pub’d in an anthology w/selections from the short list. Four winners will receive complimentary copies. Also offers a critique service for those who wish to see their story's score and comments from the judges. (This service is an additional $25.) Guidelines: http://www.coffeehousefiction.com

PLOUGHSHARES - Seeks fiction, fillers. Subjects: Short story, poetry, novel exerpts. Also see editorial callender. Guidelines: http://www.pshares.org/submissions/page.cfm?intContentID=28

SCALE AUTO ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE – All about model cars. Seeks nonfiction, photos/artwork, and looking for model builders, collectors, enthusiasts who feel their models and/or modeling techniques, experiences would be of interest and benefit to our readership. Looks at the quality of accompanying photos and illustrations, content of the how-to-material, and the writing style. Guidelines: http://www.scaleautomag.com/en/The%20Magazine/Submission%20Guidelines/2009/11/ARTICLE%20SUBMISSION%20GUIDELINES.aspx

WILLIAM SAROYAN INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR WRITING 2010 - Deadline: Jan. 31st, 2010. Given by Stanford University Libraries in partnership w/William Saroyan Foundation, recognizes newly published works of fiction and non-fiction w/$5000 award for the winner in each category. The prize is designed to encourage new or emerging writers and honor the Saroyan literary legacy of originality, vitality and stylistic innovation. Official entry forms: http://library.stanford.edu/saroyan

TRAVEL AFRICA, UK - quarterly mag w/8-9 features on traveling in Africa per issue w/a variety of destinations and themes - wildlife, history, travelogue and activities. Prefers articles with accompanying high-resolution photographs. 1000-2000/wds. Deadlines given in Writers' Guidelines. Rates negotiable depending on length and if illustrations available. Guidelines: http://www.travelafricamag.com/content/blogcategory/104/65 (follow link for pdf doc)

W.B.YEATS SOCIETY of NY POETRY COMPETITION - Deadline Feb. 1, 2010. Open to members and nonmembers of any age. Entry fee $8. Poems in English up to 60 lines, not previously pub’d, on any subject. First prize $250, 2nd $100. Winners and honorable mentions receive 1-yr memberships in the Society and are honored at a Society event. Guidelines: http://www.yeatssociety.org/contest.html

CARIBBEAN TRAVEL & LIFE - requirements are that the writing be superb, the subject be something unique and interesting, and the writer must know his/her material. Readers demand behind-the-scenes stories, off-the-beaten-path destinations and ahead-of-the-curve knowledge about the Caribbean. Seeks nonfiction, columns/depts, fillers, photos/artwork about vacation, travel, recreational, cultural opportunities of the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda Island. Guidelines: http://www.caribbeantravelmag.com/article.jsp?ID=36466

DO YOU LIKE ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES? – Then write about your interest. Visit thrift shops, granny's attic, secondhand bookstores in person for old books and mags w/glimpses of the good ol' days. Write about the history of objects. Reseach the net for information to help. Find an unusual object? Look it up, and write an article.

JOURNAL WRITING - Canvass local shelters. Lead creative writing workshops at abused women's shelters, juvenile offenders' centers and other places where writing can heal and illuminate. Select projects that build on strengths. Workshop leaders help participants express previously inexpressible thoughts and feelings. Team up with a psychologist or other behavioral therapist for the most beneficial effect on your students.

LITERARY CONTEST SCAMS – Writers should bookmark this link & check the list before entering any contest. http://windpub.com/literary.scams

Friday, December 4, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #155

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - JOSHUA LOGAN, age 79, American stage and film director and writer. Logan began his Broadway career as an actor in Carry Nation in 1932. When most people are already well into retirement, Logan form 1983-1986 taught theater at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton until his death in 1988. He was also responsible for bringing Carol Channing to Broadway in Lend an Ear.

VBT/ WRITERS ON THE MOVE – Ongoing virtual book tours w/new & famous authors about books, tips, & more. URL: http://vbt-writersonthemove.blogspot.com/2009/11/december-2009-virtual-book-and.html

TECH DIRECTIONS – pubs elementary school science teaching techniques, classroom projects, laboratory admin procedures.Looking for nonfiction, columns/depts, photos/artwork. Guidelines: http://www.techdirections.com/guidelines.html

REASON - covers politics, economics, culture, and science from a broad-minded libertarian perspective. Looks for original analysis and research and do not like simple rehashes of well-worn libertarian positions. Seeks nonfiction, columns/depts. Guidelines: http://reason.com/submissions

RESPONSE MAGAZINE - Cutting-edge content for professionals involved in all facets of direct response marketing. Seeks nonfiction, columns/depts, photos/artwork. Editorial Calendar: http://www.responsemagazine.com/editorial-calendar Guidelines: http://www.responsemagazine.com/contributor-guidelines

GEIST 6th LITERAL LITERARY POSTCARD STORY CONTEST (Canada) - Deadline: Jan. 15, 2010. Entry Fee: $20, $5 for each additional entry. First prize: $250; 2nd $150; 3rd $100.. Submit a postcard along with a story that relates to the image. 500 words max. Guidelines: http://www.geist.com/contest/6th-annual-geist-literal-literary-postcard-story-contest

4th ANNUAL SAINTS & SINNERS GLBT LITERARY FESTIVAL FULL-LENGTH PLAYWRITING COMPETITION – Deadline: Dec. 31, 2009. Entry Fee: $10. The winning play will be produced by the Marigny Theatre Corporation and will premiere the weekend of the 8th annual Saints and Sinners Literary Festival, May 13-16, 2010. The winning entry will receive complimentary registration to the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival and a stipend of $250. Previously produced plays will be considered as long as they have not been produced in the greater New Orleans area. Characters should be kept to a minimum--5 or under. Staging should be simple or adaptable to a small stage. Guidelines: http://sasfest.org/first-annual-short-fiction-contest

UNIVERSITY OF LaVERNE JOSH PRIZES - Deadline Dec. 15, 2009. Entry Fee: $10. Poetry: Submit 1-3 poems (5/pg/max. Fiction: Submit one short story 8000/wds/max.Prize: $250 plus publication. Guidelines: http://www.laverne.edu/academics/arts-sciences/prism-review/contests

POOR MOJO'S ALMANAC 33 1/3 CONTEST - Deadline Dec. 31, 2009. No entry fee. In the spirit of our dear Morgan Johnson's popular essay "Industrial Espionage and the World's Greatest Sangria Recipe", we currently seek RANTS featuring "The Best Recipe You'd Never Guess." Rants should be fewer than 3000/wds. The finest rant will be rewarded with $33.33 in legal US tender. Guidelines: http://www.poormojo.org/contest.html

2009 NAT’L FANTASY FAN FEDERATION AMATEUR SHORT STORY CONTEST – Deadline Dec. 31, 2009. Entry Fee: $3 & $5. Open to all amateur writers in the field, no membership required. An amateur is someone who has sold no more than two (2) stories to prof’l science fiction or fantasy pubs. Stories must be original, unpub’d,, 8500/wds/max in length, be related to science fiction, fantasy, or similar genres in the opinion of the judges. 1st is $50, 2nd- $30, and 3rd - $20. Honorable mentions & semi-finalists will receive a certificate of award. Guidelines: http://www.n3f.org/N3Fssc.shtml

CLOUDBANK BOOKS POETRY CONTEST – Deadline: Dec. 31, 2009. Entry Fee: $15. $200 prize awarded for one poem. Two contributors' copies will be sent to writers whose
work appears in the mag. All poets who enter the contest will receive a 1 yr subscription to Cloudbank mag. Guidelines: http://www.cloudbankbooks.com/Contest.html

LITERARY CONTEST SCAMS –Writers should bookmark this link & check the list before entering any contest. http://windpub.com/literary.scams

Friday, November 27, 2009

More Bits & Pieces #154

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - MARION JACOBSON, age 95, a former teacher and guidance counselor in the Wausau School District in Wisconsin. Her love of reaching out to kids has never waned. That's part of the reason she wrote, "Why the Giraffe Has a Long Neck," and "Paddy, the Lonesome Turtle," a 23-page story about a turtle with no friends, her second children's book, both books written in her 90s.

WRITERS & ILLUSTRATORS OF THE FUTURE CONTEST – Deadline: Dec. 31, 2009. Short Stories. Open to authors with no published novels or short novels. 17,000/wds/max in short fantasy, sci-fi or horror. $1000 each quarter, one winner also receives annual $5000 grand prize. Guidelines: http://www.writersofthefuture.com

2010 THOROUGHBRED TIMES FICTION CONTEST – Deadline: Dec. 31, 2009. Short Stories. 5000/wds/max on a facet of the Thoroughbred industry (horse racing, breeding etc). $600, $300, $200 + winners pub’d in mag. Honorable mention winners who are published will also receive cash prize. Guidelines: http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/competitions/fiction-contest/thoroughbred-times-fiction-contest.aspx

FIRSTLINE – professional trade mag, seeking nonfiction, columns/departments, photos/artwork: communication and practice management for veterinary team members. 250-2000/wds depending on dept. Guidelines: http://veterinaryteam.dvm360.com/firstline/static/staticHtml.jsp?id=162994

NORTH BREEZES - sailing mag focusing on Great Lakes & Midwest sailing community. Guidelines: http://www.sailingbreezes.com/Sailing_Breezes_Current/guide/writersguidelines.htm

SHADES OF ROMANCE MAGAZINE - Romance: historical, contemporary, paranormal, mystery, regency Futuristic, & Time-Travel. Guidelines: http://www.sormag.com/guide.html

FUSE PLAYWRIGHTS STUDIO, UK - opportunity for playwrights who have links to Scotland to get their play in front of artistic directors of a number of Scotland's top theatre companies. Any subject and submitted in languages other than English (though these may take longer to process). NO Musicals. Only considers plays that have not been produced previously, by writers who are Scottish or based in Scotland. Accepted plays will be produced with royalties to author. Julie Ellen, Creative Director julie@playwrightsstudio.co.uk Guidelines: http://www.playwrightsstudio.co.uk/fuse.html

THE TUBE & PIPE JOURNAL - nonfiction, photos/artwork, instructional "how to" & "guidelines for" metal tube & pipe industry that are objective, educational, technical to help metal forming & fabricating practitioners learn about techniques, tooling, machinery, & management concepts. Guidelines: http://www.fma-communications.com/Authors-Guide.cfm

AVIATION NEWS, UK - monthly mag covering all aspects of aviation, past & present. Aimed at both people in the aviation industry/enthusiasts. Seeks articles on military and civil aircraft, airports, air forces, historical subjects, news items. Considers high-quality photos. 5000/wds/max. Rates negotiable. Request guidelines from editor. Contact list: http://www.aviation-news.co.uk/aboutourcrew.html

TODAY’S CATHOLIC TEACHER - nationally circulated mag for K-8 educators concerned w/private education in general and Catholic education in particular. Seeks nonfiction, photos/artwork, any topic of practical help, concern, or interest to educators in Catholic schools. Guidelines: http://www.catholicteacher.com/pdfs/writetct.pdf

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES - nonfiction, photos/artwork that deal w/economic, business, and career-related issues of interest to physicians looking for their first or next practice opportunity. Guidelines: http://www.uoworks.com/writers.html

WRITE BUSINESS/COMPANY HISTORIES - Pitch your writing services to CEOs, public relations officers, business owners, associations, and the Chamber of Commerce. Do your research and then begin the document with a surprising fact, include provocative quotes, explain historical context and corporate milestones. This can also develop into writing annual reports, business plans, catalogs, corporate profiles, product film scripts, and industrial training video scripts.

LITERARY CONTEST SCAMS –Writers should bookmark this link & check the list before entering any writing contest. http://windpub.com/literary.scams

Friday, November 20, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #153

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - ANGEL TAVIRA, age 84, a one-handed violinist who dedicated his life to Mexican folk music and won a Cannes Film Festival award for his first movie at age 82.

DRAMATICS MAGAZINE – professional association for theater education. Also home of the International Thesbian Society. Seeks nonfiction, photos/artwork on acting, directing, playwriting, or technical theatre. Guidelines: http://www.edta.org/publications/writers_guidelines.aspx

USDA CONNECTION - publishes freelance-written features, health articles, personality profiles, how-to training articles, first-person accounts of life in the dressage world. All articles must focus on USDF programs or members or on dressage: nonfiction, photos/artwork, features, personality profiles, how-to and first-person accounts of the dressage world. Guidelines: http://www.usdf.org/connection/contributing-guidelines.asp

UU WORLD - Quarterly denominational mag of Unitarian Universal Association of Congregations seeks nonfiction, columns/depts, fillers, photos/artwork. Purpose is to help readers build their faith and act on it more effectively in their personal lives, their congregations and the world. Guidelines: http://www.uuworld.org/about/submissionsguidelines.shtml

WASHINGTON MONTHLY - covering politics, government, culture and media. Seeks nonfiction investigative and opinion-based feature articles 2000-5000/wds, occasional short news items and humorous sidebars 500-1000/wds), book reviews of recent political and cultural titles 800/wds. Guidelines: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/inside/writersguidelines.html

WEIRD TALES - Fantastic and weird fiction, poetry, nonfiction, fillers, stories. Founded in 1923, Weird Tales quickly became the chief source for many types of fantastic fiction over a substantial portion of the 20th C; it helped launch the careers of imaginative authors as wildly diverse as H.P. Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury and Tennessee Williams. The present incarnation has been published continuously since 1988; we are all about stuff that is weird. Truly extraordinary fiction you cannot find anywhere else. Guidelines: http://weirdtales.net/wordpress/contact/submission-guidelines

VERBATIM: THE LANGUAGE QUARTERLY - publishes original articles dealing with any aspect of language. Seeks nonfiction. Up to $500, depending on length, wit, and other merit. Guidelines: http://www.verbatimmag.com/writers.html

1st SAINTS & SINNERS SHORT FICTION CONTEST – Deadline: Jan 2, 2010. Entry fee $10 A Program of the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, Inc., in Collaboration w/NO/AIDS Task Force. Original, unpub’d short stories 5000-7000/wds on the broad theme of Saints and Sinners. Contest open to authors at all stages of their careers and to stories in all genres. One grand prize of $250 and two 2nd place $50. Top stories will be pub’d in an anthology from QueerMojo, an imprint of Rebel Satori Press. Guidelines: http://sasfest.org/first-annual-short-fiction-contest Entry Form: http://sasfest.net/wp-content/files/ficcon10.pdf

EDGAR AWARDS - Deadline: Nov. 30, 2009. All books, short stories, TV shows, films [and plays] in mystery, crime, suspense, intrigue fields are eligible if they were pub’d or produced for the first time in the U.S. during this 2009 calendar year. Books from non-U.S. publishers are eligible if they are widely distributed in the U.S., are readily available on the shelves in brick-and-mortar stores for the first time during the judging year. Works should be submitted by the publisher, author or agent. Prestigious award. Guidelines & entry forms: http://www.mysterywriters.org/?q=Edgars-Forms

CHARLOTTE NEWBERGER PRIZE FOR POETRY – Deadline: Dec. 21, 2009. Sponsored by Lilith Magazine. Edgy, exciting poems touching in any way on Jewish women's experience. Contest open to male and female authors, but entrants should familiarize themselves w/mag, geared toward Jewish women. Entries need to have both feminist and Jewish content. Submit 1 - 3 poems, 100 lines/max/each. $150. Guidelines: http://www.lilith.org/writers.htm

BOOKRIX TRAVEL SHORT STORIES CONTEST – Deadline: Nov. 30, 2009. Free registration. Short Stories, Nonfiction. It may deal w/a travel journey to a new place, time traveling, revisiting one's past, visiting a lost love or a new one, or an inner journey. 25 BookRix pages/max. Awards: $1000, $500, $300. ($1800 in cash prizes for authors & 10 Amazon Vouchers each worth $20 to win for readers.) Guidelines: http://tinyurl.com/ydgraho

SCRIBOPHILE NANOWRIMO CONTEST – Deadline: Dec. 7, 2009. No entry fee. Books
Submit the first chapter of your NaNoWriMo 50,000/wd. novel. $50 Amazon Gift Card, $25 Amazon Gift Card Guidelines:: http://www.scribophile.com/contests/nanowrimo-09

LITERARY CONTEST SCAMS –Writers should bookmark this link & check the list before entering any contest. http://windpub.com/literary.scams

START A NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER - Solicit advertising fees from local businesses. Do research on publishing fees. Profile a personality. Interview ordinary people in your neighborhood with extraordinary stories. After interviewing the person and collecting researched information, begin the article with a succinct hook capturing the person's attitude, explain who the person is, quantify his or her efforts. You can also sell the profile and photos to features editors of papers and mags. Write about the eco-friendly businesses. Sell different versions of the article to trade magazines, environmental magazines, the local paper and the business owner as part of his PR kit. Provide photos of people doing their work.

Friday, November 13, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #152

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - KERMIT LOVE, age 91, the costume designer who helped puppeteer Jim Henson create Big Bird and other "Sesame Street" characters. Love was a designer for some of ballet's most prominent choreographers, including Twyla Tharp, Agnes de Mille, Jerome Robbins and George Balanchine. Love designed costumes and puppets for film and advertising, including the Snuggle bear from the fabric softener commercials. Love always insisted Henson's famous frog wasn't named for him.

STUDENT TRAVELER - Seeks nonfiction, columns/departments to motivate college students to see the world with fun, fresh editorial. Query Eric Tiettmeyer eric@studenttraveler.com All sorts of student opportunities at: http://www.studenttraveler.com/mod-htmlpages-display-pid-2.html#editorial

18th TOM HOWARD/JOHN H. REID SHORT STORY CONTEST - Entries accepted until March 31, 2010. Ten cash prizes totaling $5550. Top prize $3000.Seeks short stories, essays, other works of prose. Up to 5000/wds. $15,entry fee payable to Winning Writers, Attn: Tom Howard Short Story Contest, 351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060. Guidelines: http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/tomstory/ts_guidelines.php

AKRON LIFE & LEISURE - Seeks nonfiction, photos/artwork. Subjects: people, places, entertainment, arts and other important stories pertaining to Greater Akron, Ohio. Greater Akron to be Summit, Medina, Portage, Northern Stark and Northeastern Wayne counties w/downtown Akron as its base. 300-4000/wds. Topics: personality profile, history (especially with modern twist), business profile, the arts, education, sports and outdoor activity, charity activities, home improvement, fashion, gardens, health care, recreation and food. Guidelines: http://www.akronlifeandleisure.com/guidelines.asp

IMPACT MAGAZINE, Canada - Seeks nonfiction, photos/artwork on Calgary's sport, health, and fitness world. Submission deadlines are 16 weeks prior to publishing date. 600 -1800/wds. See editorial calendar. Guidelines: http://www.impactmagazine.ca/guidelines.html

TRAPPER & PREDATOR CALLER - leading source of practical, comprehensive info for North American fur harvesters. Seeks nonfiction, photos/artwork about trapping, predator calling and muzzleloader hunting. Highest consideration will be given to stories focused on methods and equipment used in trapping, calling or hunting. Accepts historical pieces, personality profiles and unusual experience stories. 1500-2500/wds. Query Jared Blohm, Managing Editor jared.blohm@fwpubs.com Guidelines: http://www.trapperpredatorcaller.com/writers%20guidelines

WOODWORKING PLANS AND PROJECTS, UK - woodworkers from beginner to expert. Projects should be well-illustrated w/step-by-step descriptions, plans, high-quality photos. Also carries reviews of latest woodworking products and relevant technical articles. Contact Matt Long, mattl@thegmcgroup.com w/outline of ideas. Neg. rate & rights. Guidelines: http://tinyurl.com/5ouf39

LAKE SUPERIOR MAGAZINE - Seeks nonfiction, fiction, columns/depts, photos/artwork about Lake Superior region - history, current events, life styles, environment, tourism. Up to $600, depends on length, importance of story, writer's experience. Features: 1600-2200/wds. Depts/Columns: 900-1400/wds. $65-125. Guidelines: http://www.lakesuperior.com/news/editguidelines.html

EST/SLOAN FOUNDATION PROJECT - full-length and one-act plays, and musicals. Topics related to a broad range of issues. $1000-10,000 each are available for script proposals. Rewrites $1000-5000 are available. Deadline for proposals Nov.30, 2009. Deadline for script submissions Dec. 31, 2009. Guidelines: http://www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org/est_sloan.html

WRITERS' VILLAGE (UK) SHORT FICTION CONTEST – Deadline Dec. 31, 2009. Entry fee £5 ($8.20) 1st prize £150 ($246); 10 further prizes of £10 ($16.40) to writers whose short fiction shows the greatest originality, mastery of the craft skills of creative writing and power to move the reader. Any form of fiction may be submitted up to 3000/wds, in any genre, short stories or a section from a WIP. Guidelines: http://www.writers-village.org/competition-rules.php

INTERNATIONAL WRITER’S WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES & SEMINARS - URL: http://www.screenwriter.com/WritersCalendar.html

Friday, November 6, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #151

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - VIDAL SASSOON, age 80, retired from the beauty industry and now spends much of his time on philanthropy. He established a charitable foundation and supports the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Anti-Semitism at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Sassoon, whose career spanned more than four decades, became famous for his modern, low-maintenance styles and is the founder of the worldwide brand of shampoos and salons. At age 80, he is helping build Habitat homes for Katrina victims.

WATERCOLOR ARTIST - bi-monthly mag for artists of all skill levels working in water-based media. Must inform, instruct or inspire the water media painter. Readers want specific ideas and tips Seeks nonfiction, fillers, photos/artwork. Writers are paid depending upon the length and complexity of article submitted. Usually does not exceed $500. Guidelines: http://www.artistsnetwork.com/upload/images/Queries_WCA.pdf

FLASHQUAKE (Global) - independent, quarterly, web-based publication that focuses on flash fiction (very short short stories), nonfiction (such as memoirs, essays, creative nonfiction, humor) and poetry. All submissions must be under 1000/wds, and poetry less than 35 lines. Shorter works will be reviewed more favorably. By e-mail only, to submit@flashquake.org Place manuscript in body of text. No attachments. USD5 to USD25 depending on length and quality. All rights remain with author. See editorial calendar Guidelines: http://www.flashquake.org/guidelines.html

BUST MAGAZINE - women's lifestyle mag, seeks nonfiction, columns/departments, photos/artwork. 250-2500/wds. depending on section. Guidelines: http://www.bust.com/Info/Submit-to-BUST.html

PARROTS, UK - monthly, full-color consumer mag for parrot and parakeet enthusiasts. Seeks articles on members of the parrot family, including budgerigars, amazons, cockatoos, cockatiels, macaws, lovebirds, lories, lorikeets, conures etc. Provides readers w/variety of articles dealing w/veterinary health, breeding, pets, conservation, bird behavior and general parrot info. Considers pet stories sent in by readers. Inclusion of good quality photos or artwork will increase chance of acceptance. 600-4000/wds. Paying market. Rates & rights negotiable. Gilly Lloyd, Editor parrots@imaxweb.co.uk Guidelines: http://www.parrotmag.com Use “contact” link.

ALASKA AIRLINES MAGAZINE - in-flight mag for Alaska Airlines, 80% freelance. Columns include Journal (arts and culture), Business, On Location, Profiles, Sports, Technology and Travel. Rates begin at $50-100 for shorts through to $300 for columns and $500 for features. Guidelines: http://www.alaskaairlinesmagazine.com/contributor

SATURDAY EVENING POST - nonfiction needs include how-to, gardening, pet care/ training, financial planning, subjects of interest to family-oriented readership. For nonfiction articles, indicate any special qualifications you have for writing about the subject, especially for technical or scientific material. 2500-3000/wds. We buy all rights. Up to $400. Guidelines: http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/resources/magazine/submitwork.shtml

YOUTH TODAY – features businesses that provide services to youth, evaluation of programs for youth. Seeks nonfiction, photos/artwork. Stories run from 600/wds-2500/wds. $150 to $2,000. Payment depends on story length and complexity. Guidelines: http://www.youthtoday.org/template/page.cfm?id=137

CAPPER'S - nationally distributed monthly tabloid publication, emphasizes home & family to readers who live mainly in rural Midwest. CAPPER'S uses historical, inspirational, nostalgic, family-oriented, travel & human-interest stories; unusual accomplishments, collections, occupations, hobbies, etc. 500/1500/wds. Up to $300. Guidelines: http://www.cappers.com/contributors-guidelines

OF INTEREST TO POETS & POETRY LOVERS - http://www.poetryspeaks.com

WRITING WORLD: HOW TO CRAFT A GREAT ARTICLE - Part I: Structure, Focus, Unity and Flow http://www.writing-world.com/basics/dawn06.shtml Part II: Hooks, Leads and Endings.
http://www.writing-world.com/basics/dawn07.shtml

HOW TO RESPOND TO FALSE CLAIMS OF COPYRIGHT OR TRADEMARK - One of the favorite tools of both cults and corporations seeking to take embarrassing information off the Internet is to falsely claim a violation of a copyright or trademark. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act, enacted in 1998, set out a notification procedure that can be used to request an ISP to remove allegedly infringing material from a web page. However, there is a defense against this attack if you feel you’ve been targeted: it's called a COUNTER NOTIFICATION LETTER. Most people don't know how to write such a letter, which is why Dave Touretzky dst@cs.cmu.edu put together this helpful form. URL: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Terrorism/form-letter.html

Friday, October 30, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #150

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - SIDNEY POLLACK, age 73. Pollack became a prolific producer of independent films in the latter part of his career. With a partner, he ran Mirage Enterprises, a production company whose films included “Cold Mountain” and the documentary “Sketches of Frank Gehry,” released in 2006. Most recently, Mr. Pollack portrayed the father of Patrick Dempsey’s character in “Made of Honor.” Pollack never stopped acting; in a recent episode of “Entourage,” the HBO series about Hollywood, he played himself.

VERGE MAGAZINE - Seeks nonfiction, columns/departments, photos/artwork. Ways to get out and see the world by volunteering, working and studying overseas. Looks for articles that are issue driven and combine an engaging and well-told story with nuts and bolts how-to information. Wherever possible and applicable, efforts should be made to provide sources where readers can find out more about the subject, or ways in which readers can become involved in the issue covered. 800/wds/max. Negotiate fees and rights. Guidelines: http://www.vergemagazine.com/verge-magazine-contact-us/editorial.html

FYI to NOTE - Work created by unidentified (unknown) authors have a copyright life of only 95 years from publication or 120 years from the work’s creation—whichever comes first. If the author is named (known) and registers his pen name (whether it's his real name or a pseudonym), the copyright term for the work is the author’s life plus 70 years.

CANDIS, UK - monthly mag carrying general features on health and family life. Aimed at women aged 30-60 and their partners. Will consider proposals only, short stories of themes of modern love, romance, friendship, family life w/warm likeable central characters. Short stories, 1800-2000 wds. Response time is lengthy. Send article proposals to Debbie Atwell, Editor. jenny@candis.co.uk or short stories to John Jenkins, Fiction Editor at fiction@candis.co.uk URL: http://www.candis.co.uk

BOOK FESTIVALS - A portal devoted to live literary events. Free listings available to authors &publishers around the world. URL: http://www.bookfestivals.com

SIGNSPOTTING - Funny signs needed from around the world. $50. Check to U.S. contributors. PayPal used for outside U.S. URL: http://www.signspotting.com/community/faq.html

ENROTE, Canada - Air Canada's upscale travel lifestyle magazine. Interested in everything from wine to design, popular science to pop music. CDN$1/wd. Guidelines: http://enroute.aircanada.com/en/articles/writers-guidelines

TATIANA’S TRAVEL CORNER - seeking freelance travel writers: general travel articles based on the chosen topics for each month. $150/article, plus $50 each photo for up to 4 photographs. Reviews of travel books: $100/bk review. Send cover letter, resume, writing sample and project proposal to info@tatianastravelcorner.com Each article must be personal. URL: http://www.tatianastravelcorner.com Click on “contact us.”

ALTERNATIVE COORDINATES - looking for original stories in the genres of Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and Speculative Fiction. Science Fiction can include, but is not limited to hard sci-fi, space opera and space adventure, alternative history, time travel, aliens, genetic experiments, etc. Fantasy can include heroic fantasy, magic, witchcraft, mythological creatures, vampires, fairy tales or contemporary fantasy. Horror should lean more to the supernatural or genetic mutation side. $01.5/wd up to 5000/wds and $0.01/wd thereafter. Speculative Fiction can be any story that asks the question “what if.” Guidelines: http://www.ac-mag.com/submission.html

SKIRT!® - personal essay topics relating to women and women's interests. All essays for consideration should be submitted in their entirety and be between 800-1200/wds. Paying market, pay varies, negotiate. Buys one-time rights. Will edit for length and content. Guidelines: http://www.skirt.com/contributor_guidelines

THE PASTEL JOURNAL - bi-monthly pub for professional artists and passionate amateurs showcases the best work of top working artists. With full-color reproductions, in-depth interviews, thought provoking essays and helpful information on workshops, contests and exhibitions, it will inspire and inform artists working in pastel or any other medium. seeks pastel art, nonfiction, photos/artwork. 500-2000/wds. Artists are paid depending upon the length and completeness of article submitted. Payment usually does not exceed $500. Guidelines: http://www.artistsnetwork.com/upload/images/Queries_TPJ09.pdf

DANCE TODAY, UK - monthly mag covering every aspect of social and competitive dancing: ballroom, Latin American, flamenco, salsa, tea dancing and sequence. Articles range from dance holidays through competition features and music reviews, to technical descriptions, diary dates, where to go dancing. Articles to be fully illustrated w/photos. 300dpi. GBP10/100/wds. Photos: GBP10 for quarter-page, GBP20 for half and GBP40 for full-page. Negotiate rights. Guidelines: On application from the Katie Gregory, Editor dancetoday@dancing-times.co.uk URL: http://www.dancing-times.co.uk

Monday, October 19, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #149

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - LAWRENCE WELK, age 89, a musician, accordionist, bandleader, television impresario, hosting The Lawrence Welk Show from 1951 to 1982. After retiring his show and from the road in 1982, the maestro continued to air reruns of his shows, repackaged first for syndication, and starting in 1986 for public television. Welk also starred and produced a pair of Christmas specials in 1984 and 1985, at age 82.

IN MADRID, Spain - free, English-language monthly mag covering the best of the city of Madrid for foreigners and Spaniards alike. Distributed throughout the city on the 1st of every month. Also available online and as PDF format. Articles should have a particular focus on the cultural events taking place in the city. The mag is constantly looking for new contributors. 1000 to 1600/wds. EUR20-50, depending on length. Guidelines: http://www.in-madrid.com/aboutus.html

YOUNG WRITERS SOCIETY – website created for the young writer, an online community where kids, tweens and teens can share work, chat, create a blog, join user groups and much more. The site also has its own monthly publication called the Squills E-Zine, compiled of members' work. URL: http://www.youngwriterssociety.com

BUSINESS PLUS, Ireland - Ireland's largest circulation monthly business mag published 11 times a year. Focuses exclusively on the activities of Irish companies or companies based in Ireland and covers areas such as entrepreneurial activity, hands-on advice, technology, investments, or more general items on cars, wine, health and travel. Also welcomes press releases regarding Irish corporate activity. Welcomes contributions that are relevant to their agenda, both from freelance journalists or professionals in the business field. Negotiate rates and rights. Guidelines: http://www.bizplus.ie/about_us

PRACTICAL PRESCHOOL, UK - aimed at those who work w/children in the Foundation Stage of UK education (0 to 5 years old). Practical activities for pre-school children and resources for teachers. Carries latest news, reports, features, reviews and info on the latest developments taking place in the UK. Each issue also contains practical activities pull-out supplement, based on the 6 areas of learning and early learning goals. Articles: 1200-1500/wds, including 4 or 5 practical steps and/or a relevant case study. Activities supplement: 1000-1400/wds. Paying market. Rates & rights negotiable. Guidelines for articles for the magazine or for the practical pull-out section: http://www.practicalpreschool.com/magazine/contribute.shtml

PHOTO TECHNIQUES - Seeks nonfiction, photos/artwork. Photochemistry, lighting, optics, processing and printing, Zone System, special. Guidelines, scroll down: http://www.phototechmag.com/author.htm

GREATER GOOD - New scientific research studies, journalistic profiles of programs & research projects promote peace. Seeks nonfiction, columns/departments, photos/artwork. Guidelines: http://peacecenter.berkeley.edu/greatergood/about_us/submission_guidelines.html

THE MENNONITE - Stories of Mennonites exercising their faith, art, holidays, parenting. Seeks nonfiction, columns/departments, fillers, photos/artwork. Guidelines: http://www.themennonite.org/submissions/guidelines

SPIDER - Subjects: 6 - 9 yr., adventure, geography, history, science, sports, technology, travel. Seeks nonfiction, fiction, fillers, photos/artwork. Accepts simultaneous submissions. Guidelines: http://www.cobblestonepub.com/guides_SDR.html

ARTFUL DODGE - Prose, poetry. Seeks nonfiction, fiction, fillers. Accepts simultaneous submissions. Guidelines: http://www3.wooster.edu/artfuldodge/guidelines.htm

BABYBUG - Infants, Toddlers. Seeks nonfiction, fiction, fillers, photos/artwork. Guidelines: http://www.cobblestonepub.com/guides_BBB.html

DIALOG - Of interest/assistance to newly blind, career and leisure experiences, fiction, humor, and poetry. Seeks nonfiction, fiction, fillers. Guidelines: http://www.blindskills.com/submit.html

ATOM JACK MAGAZINE - Speculative fiction mag that peddles science fiction and science fantasy. Seeks fiction, columns/departments, fillers. Guidelines: http://www.atomjackmagazine.com/guidelines.htm

NOTE: Still in “moving and unpacking” mode so freelance list will be spotty. Thanks to those who follow.

Friday, October 2, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #148

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - HARVEY KORMAN, age 81, an American comedic actor who performed in television and movie productions beginning in 1960. In 2006, at age 79, two years before his death, he was still working and produced “Together Again: Conway & Korman,” with Tim Conway.

25 RTE RADIO SHORT STORY CONTEST, Ireland - Deadline: Oct. 26, 2009. Short Stories Open to those writers born or living in Ireland. 1800/2000/wds, short fiction suitable for performance on the radio. €3000, €2000. €1000. Guidelines:
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/francismacmanus/1285220.html

2010 ERIC GREGORY TRUST FUND AWARDS, Great Britain - Deadline: Oct. 31, 2009 Open to British subjects by birth who reside in the UK and under age 30 as of March 31, 2010. Poetry, verse-drama, or belles letters. Max 30 poems. £24,000 in total prizes, average of £4000 per winning poet. Entry Forms & Guidelines: http://tinyurl.com/mt8dak

GRAYWOLF PRESS NONFICTION PRIZE, United States - Deadline: Oct. 31, 2009. Open to U.S. residents with at least one published book. Literary nonfiction manuscripts work in progress. Submit max of 25,000 wds plus 2 - 3 page synopsis. $12,000 advance and publication. Guidelines: http://tinyurl.com/d7ksbz

GREEN PRINTS MAGAZINE – Gardening mag. Seeks nonfiction, fiction, fillers. Guidelines: http://greenprints.com/wguidelines.html

LADYBUG MAGAZINE - Young children's interest, science, how-things-work, poetry. Seeks nonfiction, fiction, columns/departments, fillers, photos/artwork. Guidelines: http://www.cobblestonepub.com/guides_LYB.html

REPTILES MAGAZINE - Reptile and amphibian-related topics, including captive care, field herping, herpetocultural trend. Seeks nonfiction, columns/departments, photos/artwork. Guidelines: http://www.reptilechannel.com/writers-guidelines.aspx

APPLESEEDS MAGAZINE - Social studies for children ages 8 and up (primarily in grades 3 & 4. Seeks nonfiction, photos/artwork. Guidelines: http://www.cobblestonepub.com/guides_APP.html

SHORT TALK, UK - online publisher of recorded short stories. Seeks stories for all age ranges that can be read aloud by an actor. 600/7000/wds. Submissions: Fee dependent on length of story. Copyright remains w/author with the exception of the recording. Guidelines: Guidelines: http://www.shortalk.co.uk/flash

CLASSIC CARS, UK - monthly glossy magazine, heavily illustrated, covering the world of international classic cars of all ages. Seeks articles by knowledgeable writers about classic cars, events, and associated personalities. 500/4000/wds. Paying market. Rates negotiable. Contact page to query for guidelines: http://www.classiccarsmagazine.co.uk/contact.php

CLASSIC STITCHES, UK - bi-monthly mag covering embroidery, embroidery designs and designers. Also carries project-based features with designs to stitch, designer profiles, book reviews and a 'What's New' section. 1500/wds. GBP200 per article, dependent on space used. Negotiate rights. Contact page to query: http://www.classicstitches.com/main/contactus.aspx

NOTE: MOVING THIS WEEK AND NEXT. JOB BOARD WILL RESUME IN TWO WEEKS.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #147

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - FRANK LAUTENBERG, age 84, U.S. Senator, the chamber's third-oldest member, author of many bills, easily won nomination for a new term in June, 2008, over a challenger who sought to make an issue of his age. "If you count on vigor, vitality and effectiveness, I think I rank pretty high," he said.

ABCs CHILDRENS PICTURE BOOK - Competition Launches 6th Year on Sept. 20, 2009. Deadline for Entries: Jan. 31, 2010. If you write for children, this is your opportunity to become the published author of a picture book. http://www.abcbookcompetition.org

2010 WILLIAM SAROYAN INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR WRITING - via Stanford, nonfiction and fiction, $5000 prize. http://library.stanford.edu/saroyan Entry form: http://www.certain.com/system/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x67811115d9

HILL COUNTRY BOOK FESTIVAL FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH – Nov. 14, 2009, 9am-4pm
Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8th Street, Georgetown, TX 78626 Info: http://www.hillcountrybookfestival.org/index.html

TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL - Oct. 31 thru Nov. 1, 2009. Info: http://www.texasbookfestival.org

HIDDEN EUROPE, Germany - travel mag, does not cover famous destinations, glitz and gloss of posh hotels or finest restaurants. Publishes articles about everyday Europe that give a wide and balanced understanding of how a place and its people function. 1500/wds.plus relevant images (free of any copyright restriction) as high-resolution TIF or non-compressed JPG images, at least 2300X1700 pixels. Rates negotiable EUR150-250. First print publication rights. Copyright remains with the author. Guidelines: http://www.hiddeneurope.co.uk/submissions.php

BAHAMA BOTNET LINKED TO CLICK FRAUD SURGE – URL: http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=4363&tag=nl.e550

BIRDS ILLUSTRATED, UK - quarterly, subscription-based mag published in Feb., May, Aug. & Oct. Covers all aspects of birdlife, birding, wildlife art and photography. Articles: studies of individual species or bird families; profiles of bird artists and photographers; articles on birding areas in Britain and popular overseas locations; ornithological history. Seeks images that are excellent in aesthetic terms, or which show unusual bird behavior, illustrated articles. Up to 2500/wds. Paying market, rates by agreement. Guidelines bottom of page: http://www.birdsillustrated.com/contact_us.html

EPIC's 2010 WRITING COMPETITION FOR STUDENTS - Deadline: Oct. 20, 2009. Young Open to Students worldwide, attending public, private, or home schools. Students must be in junior high/middle school or high school in the U.S., or the equivalent grade level in their specific international school system. Entries: story, poem, or essay, written specifically for the contest or a school assignment for grades 6-8/ages 11 to 14 (Middle School categories) or grades 9-12/ages 15 to 18 (High School categories). $100 prize. Guidelines: http://newvoicesyoungwriters.com/enter.html

ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS JOURNAL - IT management and business journal. Seeks nonfiction. Contact page to query: http://esj.com/pages/about-us.aspx

ANIMAL WELLNESS MAGAZINE - Physical health issues relating to the emotional and spiritual well being of our animals. Seeks nonfiction, columns/depts, photos/artwork. Guidelines: http://animalwellnessmagazine.com/p/awsubmit.htm

DIG MAGAZINE - Archaeology for grades 4 and above. Seeks nonfiction, fiction, fillers, photos/artwork. Guidelines: http://www.cobblestonepub.com/guides_DIG.html

Friday, September 18, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #146

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - ANDREW WYETH, age 91, active artist up to the end, and patriarch of a family that includes hundreds of artistic works by three generations of Wyeths. Like his father, he read and appreciated the poetry of Frost and Thoreau and studied their relationships with nature. Music and movies also heightened his artistic sensitivity. In his art, Wyeth's favorite subjects were the land and people around him, both in his hometown of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, and at his summer home in Cushing, Maine. One of the most well-known images in 20th-century American art is his painting, Christina's World, currently in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

DO YOU WRITE HUMOR? - Enter the 2010 Mona Schreiber Prize for Humor. 750 words or less. http://www.brashcyber.com/mona.htm

DESTINATION FRANCE, UK - aimed at those intending to buy property in France and the British holidaymaker. Seeks features on property, tourist destinations, activity breaks and family holidays, French culture, food, wine and lifestyle, and news of events. Prefers submissions to be illustrated w/photos. Paying market, amount variable, depending on length and number of photographs used. First British Serial Rights No guidelines available online. Query: Carmen Konopka, Editor carmen.konopka@wwonline.co.uk URL: http://www.destinationfrancemagazine.co.uk

ONELOOK DICTIONARY SEARCH - http://www.onelook.com

WRITER GAZETTE - $1 markets for Freelance Writers. http://www.writergazette.com/markets-onedollar.shtml

BOOK TRAILERS - http://gwextra.com/BookVideoTrailers.html

CLOCKS, UK - monthly mag w/world-wide circulation, covering old/antique clocks and their makers. Aimed at collectors, repairers and restorers. Carries articles on all aspects of horology, including clock collecting, profiles on clock makers of the past 300 yrs, clock repair and restoration, clock-making and news. Accepts submissions from knowledgeable freelancers. 1000-3000/wds with 4-12 photos/illustrations. Also accepts typewritten manuscripts and conventional photographs, either as prints or transparencies. Rates and rights negotiable. John Hunter, Editor editor@clocksmagazine.com Guidelines: http://www.clocksmagazine.com/admin/writing.htm

BORDERS REWARDS - Become a Borders Rewards Member for FREE & receive special savings http://www.borders.com/online/store/BRLandingView?cmpid=SA_20090914_NR

WEST COAST LINE - Publishes work by writers and artists who are experimenting with or expanding the boundaries of conventional forms and contexts. Interested in work engaged with problems of representation, race, culture, gender, sexuality, technology, media, urban/rural spaces, nature, and language. Negotiate rights. $50 - 200. http://www.westcoastline.ca/guide.htm

EnROUTE, Canada – readers are highly mobile people who live, work and play on a global scale. Mag is read by nearly 1 million passengers a month and can be found in the seat pockets of Air Canada aircraft and in Maple Leaf™ Lounges and select Star Alliance™ lounges around the world. It is also distributed at more than 100 upscale outlets across Canada (hotels, boutiques, health clubs, restaurants and lounges). Air Canada passengers are affluent business travelers from major Canadian cities and highly educated frequent flyers w/disposable incomes far above the national average. $1/wd/Cdn. E-mail editorial queries info@enroutemag.net w/ “query” in the subject line. Pay on acceptance. Guidelines: http://enroute.aircanada.com/en/articles/writers-guidelines

QUILL & QUIRE MAGAZINE, Canada - monthly mag of the Canadian book trade, reaching an audience of primarily publishers, booksellers, librarians, and writers. Publishes both 300-1200/wd. and up to 3000/wd news and feature articles about the business of writing, publishing, and bookselling in Canada. We also publish author profiles of 1800 to 2000/wds, and brief reviews of Canadian books.The fee for published articles is 45¢ a word. Brief reviews 350/wds - $90; feature reviews 800-1000/wds - $300. Guidelines: http://www.quillandquire.com/faq.cfm#27

MSDN MAGAZINE - looking for original, well-written articles that help developers evaluate and learn to use current Microsoft technologies for their software development projects. Welcomes submissions from all readers. Great MSDN Magazine articles provide an in-depth look at real-world implementations using current Microsoft tools and technologies. Our readers love to see workable example code, extensible libraries, and useful add-ins. If you've got something to share, tell us about it. Send an article proposal to us at mmsubmit@microsoft.com 3000 - 8000/wds, not including code samples. Negotiate rates and rights. Guidelines: http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/submit.aspx

25th RTÉ RADIO 1 SHORT TORY COMPETITION, 2009, Ireland - Closing date 26 Oct. 2009. 1800-2000/wds. Winners will be notified early in 2009. EUR3000, EUR 2000 and EUR1000, first, second & third prizes. Other shortlisted stories selected for broadcasting will be paid current rates. First Irish broadcasting rights. Guidelines: Rules and entry form available as PDF files from the website. Follow links. http://www.rte.ie/radio1/francismacmanus/1285220.html

Friday, September 11, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #145

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - DICK MARTIN, age 86, American comedian and director, best known for his role as the co-host of the sketch comedy program Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968 to 1973. "We designed the show so that we are two relatively normal guys wandering through a sea of madness," Martin later said. Martin was a frequent panelist on game shows such as Match Game and Password Plus. He was also the host of two game shows: a parody game show called The Cheap Show in 1978, and Mindreaders in 1979. Starting on The Bob Newhart Show, he directed for over a dozen series. Martin later became the chief director of the 1980s sitcom Newhart. He became one of television's busiest directors, and worked until a few months before his death..

BRAND, UK - literary mag published twice a year, specializing in the short form. Keen on international work and is always looking for new writing that takes risks, has a strong voice and is challenging. Seeks high-quality, original short stories, plays, poems or creative non-fiction. Each issue also features an in-depth interview with a significant writer and art by contemporary artists. Only accepts work not published in UK before. Short stories & creative non-fiction 2500/wds. Short plays or performance texts: max 10 minutes. Poetry: up to 3 poems w/max of 40 lines each. Artwork: up to 3 pieces. GBP30 plus free copy of magazine. Guidelines: http://tinyurl.com/2uddd8

PRACTICAL CARAVAN, UK - monthly mag covering site and product reviews, travel, investigations, travelogues, first-person stories, technical, DIY topics. Images essential to accompany text. 2000/wds/max. Paying market. Rates negotiable. Contact Page to Query: http://www.practicalcaravan.com/contact/index.html

INTERNATIONAL LIVING, Ireland - monthly mag for expatriates and world travelers covering all aspects of visiting and living in exotic places including accommodation, real estate, taxes, sport and leisure, retirement and any other inside information in a relaxed, informal and friendly tone. Also publishes short 'postcards' telling of undiscovered international gems such as cities, restaurants, hotels, bed and breakfasts, festivals, golf courses, sports facilities or unusual sporting events, fishing, real estate, where to buy bargain goods, get any form of good value and so on. Postcards 250-500/wds. Full-length articles 1000/wds. USD50. Photos accepted. Higher rates for articles published in monthly print publications. Guidelines: http://internationalliving.com/write_for_us.html

TOWARD FREEDOM - Human rights, globalization, trade, labor, environmental preservation, political prisoners. Seeks nonfiction, columns/depts, photos/artwork. Pays on publication. Articles under 3000/wds. Negotiate pay and rights. Guidelines: http://towardfreedom.com/home/content/view/397/76

LATIN JAZZ CLUB MAGAZINE - literary cyber-emporium of related music news, articles, interviews, CD reviews and info, a virtual on-line mag dedicated to the advancement, education and historical preservation of Latin Jazz. Pays on publication. Seeks nonfiction, columns/departments, photos/artwork. Subjects: Music reviews, articles, interviews. Guidelines: http://www.latinjazzclub.com/writers_guidelines.html

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS - serves more than 5 million visitors monthly. Focuses on decorating, building, remodeling, crafts, entertaining, cooking, gardening. Provides readers, who are mostly women, w/interactive tools. The Website also gives readers a platform to contribute and share ideas w/others. Negotiate fees and rights. Better Homes and Gardens, 1716 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309-3023, (515) 284-3000. Contact Page to Query: http://www.bhg.com/tools/meet-the-staff-of-bhgcom/?page=2

LENGTH OF COPYRIGHT - Work created by unidentified (unknown) authors have a copyright life of only 95 years from publication or 120 years from the work’s creation—whichever comes first. If the author is named (known) and registers his pen name (whether it's his real name or a pseudonym), the copyright term for the work is the author’s life plus 70 years.

COIN NEWS, UK - monthly mag covering coins from all eras, and coin collecting. Features news, events (e.g. fairs, societies, auctions etc.), book reviews, a banknote section and a section on historical coins, together w/general features of interest to both the serious and not-so-serious collector. 2000/wds/max. Paying market. Rates & rights negotiable. Guidelines: Available from editor. Online form to Query or further info: http://www.tokenpublishing.com/contact.asp

THE TREASON SHOW, UK - slick and irreverent comedy show based at Brighton, UK, playing to packed houses on a monthly basis. Show deals with news and current affairs. Is willing to consider submissions of witty, fresh and topical material. Length: Not stated, but keep it short. Send initial submission of 2 sketches or 2 songs (lyrics only). Because of the structure of the show, songs stand a better chance of acceptance. A 'writers pool' of GBP1000 is shared by those who get their material into the show. The current average is as follows: songs GBP30, sketches GBP20, one-liners or captions GBP5. Guidelines: http://www.treasonshow.co.uk/team/writeguide.shtml

SAILING TODAY, UK - practical mag for cruising sailors. Articles cover boat buying, owning, equipment, clothing and products for sailing. Generally commissions articles, but will consider practical features and cruising stories. Also accepts photographs. High-resolution digital preferred, but can take slides or prints. 1500-3000/wds, depending on section. Is willing to consider longer submissions if suitable for splitting into 2 parts. Query Rodger Witt, Acting Editor rodger.witt@sailingtoday.co.uk Paying market, rates and rights negotiable. Contact Page: http://www.sailingtoday.co.uk/contactus.aspx

Saturday, September 5, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #144

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR, age 78, French author and philosopher. She wrote novels, monographs on philosophy, politics, social issues, essays, biographies, and an autobiography. She is now best known for her metaphysical novels. In 1979 she published ‘When Things of the Spirit Come First’, a set of short stories centered around and based upon important women to her earlier years. ‘Adieux: A Farewell to Sartre’ was published in 1981, when she was 73.

THE SCOTS MAGAZINE, UK - monthly mag, concerned w/Scottish topics. Seeks items on people and events related to Scotland, and Scottish places. Does not cover sport, politics, beauty or fashion. Will also accept short stories, poetry, and photographs but must be Scottish. Rarely goes beyond the borders of Scotland. 1000/2500/wds. Payment on acceptance for printed articles, on publication for illustrations. Rates negotiable. First copyright only. Guidelines: http://www.scotsmagazine.com/guidelines.asp

EYE, UK - monthly magazine aimed at early-years education professionals, child health and behaviour, children's centres, cross-curricular activities, the outdoor classroom, management and training issues. Seeks inspirational articles and time-saving ideas and projects for educators to use in an early years education setting. 1600-1800 wds. Requires world serial rights. Guidelines: http://www.earlyyearseducator.co.uk/contribute.shtml

PLENTY MAGAZINE - Covers a broad range of lifestyle topics, from food, travel, and fashion to technology, business, and culture. $1/word for magazine, $150 for website articles. Guidelines: http://www.plentymag.com/guidelines.php

RELISH MAGAZINE - monthly newspaper-distributed magazine that celebrates America's love of food, Relish brings readers authentic, accurate features on cooking, dining and entertaining. Our useful, informative, human, concise articles are full of detail and color-writing and reporting at its best. This is not a market for beginners; send only your most professional work. Coverage of people and places must be enlightening and instructional and have broad regional or national relevance. Articles should be topical but have a long shelf life. Submission info bottom of page. Rates negotiable. Guidelines: http://www.relishmag.com/aboutus/index.html#contact

READER’S DIGEST, Canada - Everyone’s got a funny story so send us your humorous anecdote or joke, and if we publish it in Reader’s Digest. Competition is fierce. Every year, thousands of readers send us their stories. Anecdotes: $200 for items we print in Life’s Like That, All in a Day’s Work, Humour in Uniform, Campus Comedy, Tales Out of School and As Kids See It. Contributions must be true, unpublished stories. Jokes: $30 published in Laughter, the Best Medicine. We may run your item in any section of our magazines, or elsewhere. If we receive more than one copy of the same or a similar item, we pay for only the one we select. Guidelines: http://www.readersdigest.ca/laugh_submit.html

READERS DIGEST, Australia - My Story $500: Personal stories beyond the call of daily life. They must be unpublished, original and less than 1000 words. Kindness of Strangers Up to $250: True accounts of good karma, inspiring acts of unexpected kindness and generosity, or just something someone did that made your day – or changed your life. 100-500 words. Anecdotes and Jokes $50-$250: Guidelines: http://www.readersdigest.com.au/content/31124

WILD BIRD MAGAZINE - the largest birding magazine strives to be broad in scope, with stories of interest for everyone from beginning birders to longtime birding enthusiasts. We offer tips for species identification, equipment information, inside tips about birding travel and backyard birding pointers. Also offers forums where birders can share their experiences, expertise and excitement. $300 - $500. Guidelines:
http://www.wildbirdmagazine.com/wb/detail.aspx?aid=14587&sts=all&gobtn=&cid=3998

TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL – Oct. 31 – Nov. 1, 2009, Austin, TX. The Writers' League is again reserving space in its booth for members to display and sell their books or writing-related services. A limited number of two-hour slots will be available for $75. Due to the high level interest in past years, these slots will be available by lottery only. URL: http://www.texasbookfestival.org

Saturday, August 29, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #143

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - REX HARRISON, age 82, English Academy Award and Tony Award-winning theatre and film actor, continued to act on Broadway until the very end, in ‘The Circle’ by W. Somerset Maugham, opposite Glynis Johns and Stewart Granger.

WRITER 2 WRITER - for writers who want to write every day &earn every day. http://www.writer2writer.com

LIST OF WRITER’s CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS - http://writing.shawguides.com

GIBBONS STAMP MONTHLY, UK - Britain's biggest-selling philatelic publication monthly, seeks features on stamp-collecting, philatelic-related news items, exhibitions, sales, new issues etc. 500-3000 wds. Negotiable rates depending on length & interest. Guidelines: http://tinyurl.com/4pyyct

CHAPMAN, UK - literary mag published 3 times a year, "controversial, influential, outspoken and intelligent." Seeks poetry, short stories, fiction, reviews, criticism and articles on Scottish culture. Accepts illustrations, line drawings, half-tones, cartoons. Fiction, any length. Prose/critical articles, 3000wds max. Poetry, send 4 to 10 poems (one to pg). GBP8 per published page. Illustration rates by negotiation. Guidelines: http://www.chapman-pub.co.uk/contributions.php

BACKSPACE - 'writers helping writers' runs articles offering writing advice from published authors and articles from publishing agents. URL: http://www.bksp.org

DEVELOPMENT HELL - resource for all screenwriters. Carries screenwriting news, articles and offers 2 levels of membership: free and premium paid-for service. URL: http://www.DevelopmentHell.net

BLACK ON WHITE - great site, enables writers to overcome whatever it is that's stopping them from writing. URL: http://www.blackonwhite.on.ca

DAY SPRING CARDS – publishes religious greeting cards. $60/card. Guidelines: http://www.dayspring.com/contact/editorial.asp

FREEDOM GREETING CARD COMPANY - will consider all material. Pay negotiable. Guidelines: http://www.freedomgreetings.com/about/workingforfreedom.php

WESTERN NEW YORK FAMILY MAGAZINE - current parenting issues w/a Western NY tie-in. Strong emphasis is placed on how and where to find family-oriented events, as well as goods and services for children in Western New York. Each issue has an "Up Front" focus article with appropriate sidebars, as well as additional articles, regular columns (books, family travel, "Simple Pleasures," single parenting, restaurant reviews) and a centerfold calendar of events of interest to growing families. $35-200. Guidelines: http://www.wnyfamilymagazine.com/writers-guidelines.aspx Read carefully.

EASY STREET - Lifestyle Magazine of Aiken, South Carolina, a high quality, glossy city/regional mag published quarterly by Palmetto Publications. Covers a mix of business profiles, the arts, latest happenings, fine dining, wines, outdoor recreation, sports, travel. Wants writers w/a good knowledge of their subject. $100-150. All rights. Guidelines: http://www.easystreetmagazine.com/Writers%20GL.htm

Saturday, August 22, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #142

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - BO DIDDLEY, age 79, a founding father of rock 'n' roll whose distinctive "shave and a haircut, two bits" rhythm and innovative guitar effects inspired legions of other musicians. He was still touring until a few months before his death. Diddley's Chess recordings stand among the best singular recordings of the 20th century. "Seventy ain't nothing but a damn number," he told The Associated Press in 1999.

FREE LANGUAGE TRANSLATOR – http://tinyurl.com/38tuo

REVIEW COPIES, if bk release is Nov or Dec, don’t mail review cops til 1ST of yr. They could wind up Xmas GIFTS by unscrupulous reviewers.

WRITER'S PORTAL - boost your wd power &discover new reference mat’ls. Freelance writing market given daily URL: http://www.writersportal.com

POULTRY WORLD, UK - monthly journal covers all poultry-related matters. Focuses on large scale production and processing of poultry and eggs, covering interests of niche markets and hobbyists. Accepts news items, articles for the Business and News sections. Sidebars required. News items up to 250 words. Articles 5-700 words. Rates negotiable. Guidelines: On app. to editor. There is also an enquiry form to use. URL: http://www.farmersmediacentre.co.uk/poultryWorld/index.htm Query link: http://www.farmersmediacentre.co.uk/poultryWorld/contacts_editorial.htm

FT. MYERS MAGAZINE - bi-monthly mag focusing on local and national arts & lifestyles, distributed free at more than 250 locations throughout Lee and Collier Counties in Southwest Florida. FT.Myers magazine is targeted at educated, active, creative and successful residents of Southwest Florida, ages 20-75 years old, as well as guests at the best hotels and resorts on the Gulf Coast. $50/200 for articles. Guidelines: http://www.ftmyersmagazine.com/FtMmag-WRITERS.html

The WAHM MAGAZINE - content-driven digital mag for work-at-home parents. Accepts pieces for our dept features sections that are up to 3000 wds long. Photographs are also accepted when part of the article. We also like to see sidebars for longer articles. $35-350. Guidelines: http://www.thewahmmagazine.com/guidelines.html

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION MAGAZINE - Features run 1000-1200 wds and range $350-550. Depts run 500 -1000 wds and range $250-350. Several sections to contribute to, accepts photos. Purchases both First North American Serial Rights for print and for electronic usage on turkeycountrymagazine.com which includes digital version of the magazine. Guidelines: http://www.nwtf.org/tv_magazines/Writers_Guidelines.html

PAINTING MAGAZINE - dedicated to the acrylic painting enthusiast. Articles are 600-1000 wds or 300-350 words for Last Stroke. See editorial calendar. Accepts photos. Guidelines: http://www.paintingmagazine.net/Guidelines.aspx

SHOTGUN SPORT MAGAZINE – Americas leading shotgun magazine. Contact form and guideline link: http://www.shotgunsportsmagazine.com/contact.html

SKYLIGHTS MAGAZINE – inflight mag for Spirit Airways. Our stories offer quick and practical information on where travelers are going, what’s doing once they get there, where they can eat, sleep, play, buy, relax. We present who and what they’re talking about, names, faces, music, movies, books, gadgets, fashion—in chatty, culture-current language. Our voice reflects a youthful sassy edge that informs, amuses and delights our wide-ranging readership. Guidelines: http://tinyurl.com/l9pl25

Friday, August 14, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #141

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING - QUENTIN CRISP, age 90, flamboyant writer and gay campaigner was expected to begin a new run of his long-running one-man show, before touring five other British cities with "An Evening with Quentin Crisp," a few days before he died.

WEB WRITING – Web Tips that work: http://www.webwritingthatworks.com

CRAFT of SONGWRITING - Articles, resources and a chat room for all would-be songwriters. http://www.craftofsongwriting.com

FREE LANGUAGE TRANSLATOR – http://tinyurl.com/38tuo

CLEAN RUN MAGAZINE - educational and engaging feature articles covering the entire range of issues pertaining to the training of dogs for agility, competing in our sport, the conduct of training classes and agility events, & the health and safety of our agility dogs. Clean Run provides a forum in which you can share your experiences and expertise with over 11,000 agility enthusiasts of all ability levels worldwide. $75 - 300. Guidelines: http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&page_id=56

IS THE ISBN DEAD - http://personanondata.blogspot.com/2009/08/isbn-is-dead.html

INSCRIBE/ FELLOW SCRIPT, Canada - one of Canada’s largest organizations for Christians who write. It is a 28-44 page mag-style newsletter published 4 times annually for members, w/special “Fall Conference / Fall Contest” flyer mailed in early summer. Nonfiction: Feature articles: 600–1200/wds. Book and Market reviews: 150–300/wds, reviews that explore only material of particular relevance to Christian writers or that inform writers of new markets for their work, or that provide information about changes in markets. Fillers & tips: 25–300/wds. Guidelines:
http://www.inscribe.org/FellowScript-guidelines.htm

BOOK of HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT - 1856 (for your historical writing research) URL: http://www.mrsbeeton.com/index.html

MOMMY THINK.com - If you write about attachment parenting or natural mothering, For most articles, we pay $25 per article, for 30 day exclusive electronic rights, or $50 for 90 day exclusive electronic rights. We may pay up to 10cts/wd for extra special articles. Articles should be 750-2500/wds in length (though this is a flexible guideline). Email your material in the body of an email to Writers at writers@mommythink.com Guidelines: http://www.mommythink.com/web%20pages/contact/contact.php

RIVER STYX - Seeks nonfiction, fiction, photos/artwork. Subjects: Literary, Poetry Pays on publication. Guidelines: http://www.riverstyx.org/submissions/index.htm

WRITTEN BY - Seeks nonfiction, columns/departments. Subjects: Screen and television writing, interviews. (Guidelines are being rewritten, so this to contact link. http://www.wga.org/writtenby/writtenbysub.aspx?id=1046

PROFESSIONAL MARINER - Seeks nonfiction, columns/departments, photos/artwork. Subjects: professional seamanship, maritime industry news, regulations, towing, piloting, technology. Contact page to query: http://tinyurl.com/p24uma

AUTHORS DRESS DOWN THEIR HEROS & HEROINES – financial climate even affects our characters. http://tinyurl.com/ktf4xp

DRAMATICS - is the Educational Theatre Association’s magazine for theatre students & teachers. Seeks nonfiction, photos/artwork. Subjects: Educational theatre for high schoolers, blocking, costume design, set construction, news, plays. Guidelines: http://www.edta.org/publications/writers_guidelines.aspx

TOM HOWARD/JOHN H. REID POETRY CONTEST – 15 cash prizes totaling $5350. Info: http://www.winningwriters.com/tompoetry

5 TO 7 EDUCATOR, UK - monthly mag publishing practical & professional articles for teachers of Key Stage 1 education in UK. Seeks submissions covering all aspects of teaching this grade, such as practical activities that are fresh and imaginative, time-saving techniques, resources, and professional articles. Has different sets of guidelines for authors, depending on the type of article. Professional articles: 1200-1500/wds. Practical activities: 400/wds/activity, together w/illustrations (photograph or drawn). Full global rights. Guidelines: http://www.fivetoseven.co.uk/contribute.shtml

EARTH ISLAND JOURNAL - quarterly, award-winning publication of the Earth Island Institute. Combines investigative journalism w/thought-provoking essays. Seeks stories that anticipate environmental concerns before they become pressing problems. Prefers stories that focus on individuals & communities who are successfully defending & restoring the Earth. On-the-ground reports from outside North America are especially welcomed. Also requires photographs. 1200/3000/wds. Prefers writers query before submitting. Editorial calendar of upcoming issues available online. Send queries/submissions by e-mail or postal mail. $0.20/wd. Guidelines: http://earthisland.org/journal/index.php/guidelines

SONY TO ADOPT COMMON FORMAT FOR EBOOKS – http://tinyurl.com/pfmo25

Friday, August 7, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES #140

MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING – FRED ROGERS, age 74, venerated public TV series "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" still airs. He believed when it came to being a parent, "the best gift you can give is your honest self."

FOOD TIMELINE - going all the way back to 10,000 BC http://www.foodtimeline.org

WRITER’S CONTESTS - http://tinyurl.com/mtgyp4

MANUSCRIPTS - Ideas for preparing flawless manuscripts w/free downloadable tips: http://www.publishersresource.com

THE MELOY FUND FOR DESERT WRITERS - Something 2 keep in mind for 2010. Grants are $2000. Info: http://www.ellenmeloy.com

SHORT STORY WRITERS - up to 10,000 words wanted for online anthology: Pays $50 per story accepted. http://www.mywriterscircle.com/index.php?topic=22377.0

TRAVELERS TALES - looking for personal, nonfiction stories and anecdotes, funny, illuminating, adventurous, frightening, or grim. Stories should reflect unique alchemy that occurs when you enter unfamiliar territory and begin to see the world differently as a result. $100 honorarium for stories, plus authors receive a free copy of the book in which their work appears. Guidelines: http://www.travelerstales.com/guidelines/

UNITED FEATURES - United Media develops and markets 150 comic strips and editorial features worldwide, including Peanuts, Dilbert, For Better or For Worse, Get Fuzzy, Miss Manners and Nat Hentoff, through United Feature Syndicate and Newspaper Enterprise Association. (Scroll down to Submission Guidelines) http://www.unitedfeatures.com/?title=Help%20and%20FAQs

VOICES ACROSS BOUNDARIES - multi-faith publication, offers essays, fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction to readers w/general interest in exploring current events within the context of their, and others’ faith. $75-600 [US$56-450] depending on length. Check editorial calendar. Guidelines: http://www.acrossboundaries.net/voices/editorial.html

WHY AGENTS TURN DOWN GOOD BOOKS - http://tinyurl.com/n2rgct

LINCOLNSHIRE LIFE, UK - monthly, glossy, full-color magazine, founded in 1961 and dealing with the culture, history, personalities, activities, events and life in the UK county of Lincolnshire. Also seeks high-quality photographs to illustrate articles, or to feature on front cover. 800-1600/wds. GBP25/printed page. GBP50 for cover photo, lower rates for photos used inside. Query form, click on Editorial: http://www.lincolnshirelife.co.uk/index.php?page=contact-us

IMPORTANT ARTICLE - Hackers expose weakness in visiting trusted sites http://tinyurl.com/lmem6x

SEDONA BOOK FESTIVAL - October 2-3, 2009. Sedona, Arizona http://www.wellredcoyote.com/sedonabookfestival.html

HERIZONS, Canada - feminist philosophy that is diverse & relevant to women's daily lives, health issues, social & political issues, environmental, equality, justice, spiritual; parenting and all issues. $55-$750. Herizons is a non-profit organization based in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. Guidelines: http://www.herizons.ca/contribute

FALL FICTION CONTEST - Deadline: Oct. 31, 2009. Entry fee: $15. Sponsored by OnceWritten.com. Award: $1000. Guidelines: http://www.oncewritten.com/Contests/FictionContest.php

Friday, July 31, 2009

MORE BITS & PIECES #139

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #139
MORE REASONS TO KEEP WRITING – YVES SAINT LAURENT, age 71, legendary designer, the most influential and enduring designer of his time. His ready-to-wear label, Rive Gauche, sold to Gucci in 1999, still has boutiques around the world. Nowhere was Saint Laurent's gift more evident than the valedictory fashion show that marked his retirement in January 2002.

INDEPENDENT BOOK STORE LIST - http://www.newpages.com/bookstores/default.htm

BOOKHITCH - Here authors can advertise their books http://www.bookhitch.com

HISTORIC FOODS – (for your historical characters) http://www.historicfood.com

13th ANNUAL ROBERT FROST FOUNDATION POETY AWARD – Deadline: Sept 15, 2009. Entry fee: $10. http://www.frostfoundation.org(click on ‘poetry award’)

GRANT WRITING - Association of Fundraising Prof’ls posts grant-writing jobs at http://www.nsfre.org/v_jobcontrolcenter.cfm

BRITISH LIBRARY DIGITIZED ALL 18TH CENTURY NEWSPAPERS IN COLLECTION - This will give researchers access to over two million pages from 43 different newspapers including national, regional and specialist titles such as Chartist newspapers. The Library is hoping to offer some access for free with perhaps a paid-for service for repeated access. http://www.bl.uk

FOR COPYWRITERS ONLY - Newsletter is a good one too http://www.forcopywritersonly.com

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE MAGAZINE - Sunday mag of the newspaper covers the following CA counties: San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Lake, and Mendocino. Finished stories accepted on spec. 900/wds. 25/75 cts/wd. All rights. Query by email. Form online for info. Guidelines: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions

SPIRIT MAGAZINE - targets the flying affluent, expanding their horizons with adventurous perspectives on contemporary themes. Conceived to complement the unconventional in-cabin environment of Southwest Airlines, the magazine blends energetic travel reporting with diverse, trend-charting topics from the worlds of business, technology, sports, culture, fitness/nutrition, and the arts. Hip profiles of hot personalities in a variety of disciplines provide an irreverent counterpoint to the practical, life-enhancing insiders' guides that serve the needs of audience. Pay is negotiated on a per-article basis. Contact page: http://www.spiritmag.com/contact_spirit

SPORTS AFIELD - about hunting and fishing. 10-25 cts/wd, accepts photos. First North American & European rights. Editorial calendar available. Guidelines: http://www.sportsafield.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=64&Itemid=38

THE STORYTELLER MAGAZINE - geared to, but not limited to new writers. Short stories up to 1500 wds, essays and non-fiction up to 1500 wds. Poetry up to 40 lines. Low paying but great for newbies. Guidelines: http://www.freewebs.com/fossilcreek/guidlines.html

TAI-CHI - interested in many aspects: self-defense, internal skills, health, meditation, fitness, self-improvement, ch'i cultivation, Traditional Chinese Medicine (acupuncture, herbs, massage, etc.) and spiritual growth. Articles 500/3500 wds or more. $75/500 includes payment for photos. First North American Serial rights. Guidelines: http://www.tai-chi.com/mag_guidelines.php

TEXAS MONTHLY - reporting on vital issues such as politics, the environment, industry, and education. As a leisure guide, covers music, the arts, travel, restaurants, museums, and cultural events with its insightful recommendations. Prefers solidly researched reporting which uncovers issues of public concern, reveals offbeat and previously unreported topics or uses a novel approach to familiar topics. Query first. Fees are negotiated and agreed upon when the writer is notified that the manuscript has been accepted. Contact page: http://www.texasmonthly.com/contact