Friday, February 5, 2010

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #162

REASONS TO KEEP WRITING: FORREST J. ACKERMAN, age 92, science-fiction writer, actor, literary agent, magazine editor and full-time bon vivant who discovered author Ray Bradbury and was widely credited with coining the term "sci-fi." He was a founder of science fiction fandom and possibly the world's most avid collector of genre books and movie memorabilia. He was the editor and principal writer of the American magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland, as well as an actor and producer. Ackerman was central to the formation, organization, and spread of science fiction, and a key figure in the wider cultural perception of science fiction as a literary, art and film genre. His stories have been translated into six languages. Ackerman had cameos in over 210 films, including bit parts in many monster movies and science fiction films (The Howling, Innocent Blood, Return of the Living Dead Part II), more traditional "imagi-movies" The Time Travelers, Future War), spoofs and comedies (Amazon Women on the Moon, Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold, The Wizard of Speed and Time), and at least one major music video (Michael Jackson's Thriller) Ackerman appeared extensively on-screen discussing his life and the history of science fiction fandom in the 2006 documentary film Finding the Future. In 2007, Roadhouse Films of Canada released a documentary, Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman.

COUNTRY WOMAN - 68-pg, full-color, bimonthly mag for women who live in or long for the country. short, photo-illustrated profiles of rural women doing interesting things, be it having a special hobby or avocation, running a rural-based business, or engaging in a special volunteer activity, and includes informative articles on health and lifestyles Every issue features a large food section filled w/mouth-watering recipes for today’s country cook. Guidelines: http://www.countrywomanmagazine.com/Misc_Pages/cGuidelines.asp

RUSSIAN LIFE - culture, travel, history, cities, towns, politics, art, geography, issues, business and society. RL focuses on current issues and events facing Russia and Russians. Guidelines: http://www.russianlife.com/freelance.cfm

WRITERS’ JOURNAL - nonfiction, fiction, fillers on the subject of writing, all phases for the professional communicators, self/independent publishers, freelancers. Guidelines: http://www.writersjournal.com/Writer%27sGuidelines.htm

CANTICLE MAGAZINE - the only journal dedicated solely to the woman’s vocation within the Church. Seeking nonfiction, columns/depts, fillers, photos/artwork on Catholic femininity: intellectual, physical, spiritual, emotional and vocational. Guidelines: http://lhla.org/canticle/guidelines.html

FURNITURE & CABINETMAKING, UK - focused exclusively on fine furniture making. Features projects and technical articles by and for professional and non-professional designer/makers. Seeks articles about projects, techniques or technical pieces, equipment reviews. Submissions to be accompanied by good-quality images. Guidelines: http://tinyurl.com/3r5q3p

CAROLINA GARDNER - nonfiction, photos/artwork about gardening in the Southeast. Guidelines: http://www.carolinagardener.com Click on “about us” then “writers guidelines.”

8th BIG SUR WRITING WORKSHOP – March 12-14, 2010. Adult, Young Adult & Middle Grade Fiction $720, includes a shared room at the Big Sur Lodge, all meals (incl. Tax and grats), the entire workshop, and reception Friday evening. Info/Registration: http://www.henrymiller.org/AFW3.html

THE SOUTH CAROLINA REVIEW POETRY CONTEST - Deadline March 15, 2010. Entry fee: $20 One winning poem will be awarded $500, and two runners-up will receive $100 and $50, respectively. Winning poems/selected finalists will be pub’d in the Fall 2010 issue. Entries must be original, unpublished, and not have won a monetary award in other contests. Guidelines: http://www.clemson.edu/caah/cedp/cudp/writers_nook/writers_nook.htm

SEVENTH GLASS WOMAN PRIZE - Deadline March 21, 2010. No entry fee. Short fiction or creative non-fiction (prose) written by a woman. 50-5000/wds. Top prize US $600 and possible (but not obligatory) online publication; one runner up $100; one runner of $50, together with possible (but not obligatory) online publication. Subject is open, but must be of significance to women. Copyright is retained by the author. Guidelines: http://www.sigriddaughter.com/GlassWomanPrize.htm

GERMAN NEWSPAPERS will begin to pay equitable fees for freelancers.(article)
http://europe.ifj.org/assets/docs/038/048/9f20326-8d18730.pdf

WRITE WAY PRO - novel writing software designed by writers http://www.writewaypro.com

TEXT BLOCK WRITER – (FREE download) a virtual index card program for writers. http://softwarebybrian.com/cms/content/view/20/2

REFERENCE/DIRECTORIES TARGET MAILING - mail to 3500 bookstore buyers, 3500 reviewers, 4000 acquisition librarians. http://www.ibpa-online.org/programs/coopcats_target.aspx

BOOKEXPO AMERICA (BEA) SHOW - Get your own booth or display book(s) https://www.ibpaonline.org/pubresources/exhibits_pma.aspx

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