Friday, August 27, 2010

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #191

REASON TO KEEP WRITING: HANK JONES, age 91, Jazz pianist, composer, Grammy lifetime achievement recipient 2009, whose 70-year career included a stint as Ella Fitzgerald's pianist and Marilyn Monroe's accompanist when she sang "Happy Birthday" to President John F. Kennedy. He began performing at the age of 13, playing w/territory bands that toured Michigan and Ohio. During those tours he met saxophonist Lucky Thompson, who helped him land a job in trumpeter Hot Lips Page's band in 1944. After moving to New York in 1943, Jones embraced bebop and toured with Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic from 1947-51. As part of the ensemble, he became Fitzgerald's pianist, touring with her from 1948-53. His versatility landed him gigs in Broadway stage bands, including a long-running stint as the pianist and conductor for "Ain't Misbehavin'," the hit 1970s musical revue based on songs by pianist Thomas "Fats" Waller. Jones most recent recordings were "Pleased to Meet You," and "Come Sunday," an as-yet unreleased duet recording with bassist Charlie Haden, a sequel to their 1995 album of spirituals, hymns and folk songs, "Steal Away," which received two Grammy nominations. Jones received the Nat’l Medal of Arts from President George W. Bush in 2008. A tireless musician, he performed his blend of swing and bebop until the end of his life. Jones made hundreds of recordings, including more than 60 as a leader. He played with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Wes Montgomery, Nancy Wilson, Lester Young, Charlie Parker and Coltrane. At the 2009 Jazz Awards, Jones was voted pianist of the year by the Jazz Journalists Association. In 1989, the Nat’l Endowment for the Arts named Jones as a Jazz Master, the nation's highest honor in jazz.

MAD MAGAZINE- looking to expand pool of freelance comedy writers and there's more opportunity to join ‘The Usual Gang Of Idiots’ than ever. If you have a twisted sense of humor, a peculiar way of looking at the world, or are simply eager to express your immature, strange or just plain silly side, then submit your stuff. Guidelines: http://www.dccomics.com/mad/?action=submissions

THE ATLANTA TRIBUNE (The Magazine) – Black Atlanta's leading source for relevant, thought-provoking news, info on business and wealth-building. We educate our readers and present ideas, viewpoints and possible solutions that economically, politically and socially empower them. Staff list to query: http://www.atlantatribune.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=57 Scroll down for “Calendar Submissions”

THE BEAR DELUXE MAGAZINE - environmental arts publication, includes a wider array and a higher-percentage of visual art work and design than many other publications. Artwork is included both as editorial support and as stand alone or independent art. Accepts Fiction/Essay/Poetry/Other and Theme Issues and Sections. Guidelines: http://www.orlo.org/bear_submit.htm

BECKETT ANIME AND MAGNA – looking to add to its pool of freelance collectibles writers. We continue to seek market-intensive stories that reflect trends in the card and collectibles industry. Guidelines: http://www.beckett.com/HR/employment.html scroll down.

ASSOCIATIONS NOW – looking for feature article ideas, ideas for Intelligence, CEO to CEO, Small Scale, Commentators, Case studies, Government Relations, Technology, Component Relations, Ethics, Foundations and Philanthropy and more. Guidelines: http://www.asaecenter.org/PublicationsResources/content.cfm?ItemNumber=40450&navItemNumber=16415

ANIMAL WELLNESS - provides readers w/info needed to make wise health care choices for animal companions, embraces the entire holistic spectrum, from physical health issues to the emotional and spiritual well being of animals. Guidelines: http://animalwellnessmagazine.com/p/awsubmit.htm

FAN STORY ACROSTIC POETRY CONTEST – loads of contest lists http://www.fanstory.com/contests.jsp

WRITER CORNER: E.M. KOEPPEL’s $1100 SHORT FICTION AWARD - Annual Submission Period: Between Oct. 1 - April 30, any year. Entry fee: $15. First Place: $1100; Editors' Choices: $100 each. If the winning story is by anyone attending a college, a university or a school when the story is submitted, the winner will receive, in addition to the $1100 award, the $500 P.L.Titus Scholarship. Guidelines: http://www.writecorner.com/award_guidelines.asp

14th ZOETROPE ALL-STORY SHORT FICTION CONTEST – Deadline: Oct. 1, 2010. Entry fee: $15. First prize is $1000; second prize $500; and third prize $250. The winners and 7 finalists will be considered for representation The three prizewinners and seven honorable mentions will be considered for representation by the William Morris Agency, ICM, Regal Literary, the Elaine Markson Literary Agency, Inkwell Management, Sterling Lord Literistic, and the Georges Borchardt Literary Agency. Guidelines: http://www.all-story.com/contests.cgi

(New York) CHAPTER ONE CONTEST - Deadline Oct, 1, 2010. An annual competition and reading series, open to residents of New York City, that provides opportunities for emerging novelists to share their work with an audience, while emphasizing the importance of a strong first chapter. Five prizes of $1000. Guidelines: http://www.bronxarts.org/bwc_chapterone.asp

LITERARY SCAMS – Suggest writers bookmark these links & check lists before embarking on any writing venture. A search will give you more links.
http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware
http://www.spamlaws.com/literary-scams.html
http://www.bookawards.bizland.com/literary_scams.htm
http://www.authorslawyer.com/litscam.shtml
http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/avoid/av_avoid.php
http://www.writing-world.com/rights/contests.shtml

Friday, August 20, 2010

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #190

REASON TO KEEP WRITING: FRANK FRAZETTA, age 82, still painting at 82, renowned fantasy illustrator of the 20th Century. Frazetta created covers and illustrations for more than 150 books and comic books, along with album covers, movie posters and original paintings. His illustrations of Conan the Barbarian, Tarzan, Vampirella and other characters influenced many later artists.

RANGE MAGAZINE - award-winning quarterly devoted to issues that threaten the West, its people, lifestyles, lands, and wildlife, portrays "The Cowboy Spirit on America’s Outback." Guidelines: http://www.rangemagazine.com/guidelines/index.htm

HOBBY FARMS - directed towards hobby & small farmers or those simply living (or wishing to live) in the country. Hobby farmers are homesteaders, and/or living in rural areas near larger, suburban areas, raise traditional livestock and alternative livestock such as alpacas, llamas, emus, Jacob sheep, Scotch Highland cattle and other rare breeds. Mag caters to all aspects of rural living—from small farm equipment to country cooking—with an emphasis on the issues relevant to small and hobby farmers. Editorial Team to query: http://www.hobbyfarms.com/corporate/about-us.aspx (scroll down)

GOOD OLD BOAT – niche is cruising sailboats from the 1950s, '60s, '70s, '80s, and '90s. Publishes articles focused on pride of ownership and that discuss upgrades, maintenance, refits, restoration of good old boats, about vendors of good old boat products and services and histories of sailing industry companies and individuals who have influenced the industry. Guidelines: http://www.goodoldboat.com/writers_guidelines

MILWAUKEE – covering the people, issues, places of Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin. # interested in timely stories about current issues, local personalities, area business, sports, healthcare, education, politics, arts, culture, architecture, urban life, history, food, shopping, music/nightlife, recreation and the environment. Also in the market for two-page "breaker" stories, which are often short on copy and long on visuals. Guidelines: http://www.milwaukeemagazine.com/resources/guidelines.asp

THE PROGRESSIVE - exposes corporate malfeasance and governmental wrongdoing. Detail the problem, relying as much as possible on public documents and on interviews. Use plenty of quotations. Be sure to give fair comment to the corporation, government agency, or individual you are covering. Guidelines: http://www.progressive.org/mag/guidelines

WASHINGTONIAN - focuses almost exclusively on the Washington metropolitan area. Readers are concentrated in the District, in Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland, in Arlington and Fairfax counties and the city of Alexandria in Virginia, and in Loudoun and other counties surrounding the metropolitan area. About 75 percent of readers live in the Maryland and Virginia suburbs, 15% in the District, and 10% outside the metro area. Guidelines: http://www.washingtonian.com/guidelines.html

THE "SCARE THE DICKENS OUT OF US" SHORT STORY CONTEST 2010 - Deadline Oct. 1, 2010. Entry fee: $20. The contest is a Friends of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library fundraiser and is privately funded. The contest is open to published and unpublished writers alike. First prize, $1,000 and a trophy. Second, $500 and a ribbon; Third, $250 and a ribbon. Junior contest prize $250 and a trophy. All entry fees go to the Friends and are used for library projects. Guidelines: http://clarklibraryfriends.com

AURA ESTRADA SHORT STORY CONTEST - Deadline: Oct. 1, 2010. Entry fee: $20. First Prize: $1,500 Any author writing in English is eligible, unless he or she is a relative, current student, former student, or close personal friend of the judge. The winning author will receive $1500 and have his/her work published in Boston Review, the summer of 2011. Guidelines: http://bostonreview.net/about/contest/#Thirteenth (scroll down)

29th ANNUAL DELACORTE PRESS CONTEST 4 FIRST YA NOVEL - submit between Oct 1-Dec 31, 2010. Guidelines: http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/writingcontests

JERWOOD AWARDS FOR NON-FICTION - Deadline: Oct. 4, 2010. Open to UK or Irish citizens, or residents of the UK for at least 3 yrs, and working on their first major commissioned works of nonfiction. Submit a book proposal synopsis w/information about the status of your project and a copy of the publishing contract. £10,000 prize. Guidelines: http://www.rslit.org/content/jerwood Entry form: http://www.rslit.org/docs/content/2010_jerwood_entry_form.pdf

BOOK CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS - http://writing.shawguides.com

WRITER’S CONTESTS - http://www.writers-free-reference.com/contests.htm

FROM MY TWITTER FEED
ONLINE WORKSHOP: Stripping Down Hero Archetypes Sept 20 - Oct 17, 2010
http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=337

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Got High Concept? Sept 20 - Oct 3, 2010 http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=178

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Let Your Characters Do The Plotting Sept 20 - Sept 26, 2010
http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=360

LITERARY SCAMS – Suggest writers bookmark these links & check lists before embarking on any writing venture. A search will give you more links.
http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware
http://www.spamlaws.com/literary-scams.html
http://www.bookawards.bizland.com/literary_scams.htm
http://www.authorslawyer.com/litscam.shtml
http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/avoid/av_avoid.php
http://www.writing-world.com/rights/contests.shtml

Thursday, August 12, 2010

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #189

REASON TO KEEP WRITING: LENA HORNE, age 92, sultry singer, actress, was the first black performer to be signed by a major Hollywood studio and went on to gain international fame as a singer. She performed in several musicals including Thousands Cheer (1943), Ziegfeld Follies (1946), Words and Music (1948). Frank Nugent, critic, screenwriter, later wrote in Liberty magazine that Lena Horne was "the nations top Negro entertainer." At the time, Horne was earning $1000 a week from MGM in addition to $1500 for each radio appearance and $6500 for playing nightclubs. Her first movie was ‘The Duke Is Tops’ in 1938. During WWII that Horne began criticizing the way black soldiers were being treated. As a result, the songstress was dubbed a communist sympathizer by Senator Joseph McCarthy (McCarthyism) and was blacklisted. She didn't do any new movies or television for the next seven years when her tenure with MGM was up in 1950. In 1957, Horne recorded her album, “Lena Horne at the Waldorf-Astoria,” which was recorded live at the famous hotel owned by Conrad Hilton. It went on to ‘Top Ten’ status and was the best-selling album by a female singer in RCA Victor's history. Lena Horne received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the 1989 Grammy's, was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1991, and has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame - one for motion pictures, the other for her recordings. A brilliant, gracious, productive woman to the end.

AMERICAN SNOWMOBILER – looking for travel stories, sled modification stories, How-to describing how to modify or improve sled -complete w/pictures, personality stories about interesting people of note in the snowmobile world, any topics that give readers a look at and solid info about new areas where they can snowmobile. Guidelines: http://www.amsnow.com/en/sitecore/content/Home/The%20Magazine/Contributor%20Guidelines/2005/06/CONTRIBUTOR%20GUIDELINES.aspx

ARMY MAGAZINE – features 1000-1500/wds. Sidebars to features or photo essays 250-500/wds. Accepts book reviews, guest columns. If interested in book reviewing, write regarding your areas of interest, expertise. Guidelines: http://www.ausa.org/publications/armymagazine/aboutarmy/Pages/ARMYMagazine%27sWriter_sGuidelines.aspx

THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY – accepts nonfiction, fiction, fillers, book excerpts, essays, general interest, humor, personal experience, travel, poetry. Contact page to query Senior Editors: http://www.theatlantic.com/masthead Faq page for additional contact info: http://www.theatlantic.com/faq

CHRYSALIS READER – spiritual, literary topics, poetry. Audience includes people from numerous faiths and backgrounds. Many work in psychology, education, religion, the arts, sciences, or one of the helping professions. The style of writing may be humorous, serious, or some combination of these approaches. Essays, poetry, and fiction that are not evangelical in tone but that are unique in addressing the Chrysalis Reader theme are more likely to be accepted. Readers are interested in expanding, enriching, or challenging their intellects, hearts, and philosophies, and many also just want to enjoy a good read. Guidelines: http://www.swedenborg.com/page.asp?page_name=ChrysalisWriterGuidelines

ESCAPEES MAGAZINE - RV club mag, primarily a compilation of articles, tips, personal views submitted by Escapees members. Although member material is considered first priority, nonmember material is also reviewed. Travel/destinations-type articles are kept to a minimum and generally selected only when the location coincides with an Escapees national event. Well researched technical and informational articles are in high demand. Guidelines: http://www.escapees.com/magazine/ArticleSubmissions.asp

KUNGFU QIGONG – Topics should be of interest to advanced, traditional Chinese Martial Arts aficionado as well as the rank beginner of any style. We welcome articles on martial arts history, weapons, training, techniques, philosophy, well-known martial artists, notable individual experiences. We are not accepting any fiction, poetry, personality profiles, comics or cartoons, or articles for or about children at this time. Guidelines: http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/about/guidelines.php

2010 WRITERS WEEKLY 24-HOUR SHORT STORY CONTEST – Start time: Sept. 11, 2010. Deadline: When there are 500 applicants. Entry Fee: $5. Each contest is limited to 500 entrants & usually fills up fast. Guidelines: http://www.writersweekly.com/misc/contest.php

BOOK CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS - http://writing.shawguides.com

WRITER’S CONTESTS - http://www.writers-free-reference.com/contests.htm

FROM MY TWITTER THREAD:
ONLINE WORKSHOP: Harness Creativity w/a Vision Board - Sept 13 - Sept 26, 2010
http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=389

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Thinking Like an Editor - Sept 13 - Sept 26, 2010 http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=481

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Stripping Down Hero & Heroine Archetypes Sept 20 - Nov 7, 2010 http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=507

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Creating Unbreakable Conn Betwn Characters/Readers Sept 20-Oct 18, 2010 http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=527

LITERARY SCAMS – Suggest writers bookmark these links & check lists before embarking on any writing venture. A search will give you more links.
http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware
http://www.spamlaws.com/literary-scams.html
http://www.bookawards.bizland.com/literary_scams.htm
http://www.authorslawyer.com/litscam.shtml
http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/avoid/av_avoid.php
http://www.writing-world.com/rights/contests.shtml

Friday, August 6, 2010

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #188

REASON TO KEEP WRITING: ALAN SILLITOE, age 82, "Saturday Night And Sunday Morning," and "The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner" chronicled the bleak postwar realities of the country's poor. Sillitoe, a leading member of the 1950s group of so-called angry young men of British fiction, was acclaimed for his uncompromising social criticism and depiction of domestic tensions, often dubbed kitchen sink dramas. "He put somehow forgotten places at center-stage," British poet Ian MacMillan told the BBC. "He made the ordinary life into a kind of poetry." Recalling his own modest upbringing in Nottingham, central England, Sillitoe once recalled the smells of "leaking gas, stale fat, and layers of moldering wallpaper." In 2008, the author was bestowed with the freedom of Nottingham, an ancient ceremonial honor that allows recipients to drove sheep through the center of the city. In 2007, Sillitoe published "Gadfly In Russia," an account of four decades of travel through Russia.

AMERICAN FORESTS - quarterly nat’l mag w/stories & photographs about trees, forests, forestry issues, to foster appreciation for trees & forests & to offer a responsible, science-based discussion of the trends, issues, policies, & management of America's forest resources. Many depts to choose from. Guidelines: http://www.americanforests.org/productsandpubs/magazine/guidelines.php

AMERICAN HERITAGE MAGAZINE – the Nation's portal to American History, provides information on nearly 4,000 museums and historical societies nationwide, a collaboration between American Heritage and the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), whose organizational members are largely included in the system. Guidelines: http://www.americanheritage.com/contact/writersguidelinesAH.pdf

AMERICAN JOURNALISM REVIEW – nat’l mag covers all aspects of print, television, radio and online media. Publishes exciting features, strong opinions, lively articles and profiles. Every issue is packed with valuable information, continuing assessment of news and industry issues and much more. Guidelines: http://www.ajr.org/ajrgart.asp

AMERICAN PROFILE - celebrates the American spirit, audience is hometown America, generally communities with populations under 100,000. Stories spotlight the people, places and things that make America great. Guidelines: http://www.americanprofile.com/aboutus/writer.html

ASIMOV’S SCIENCE FICTION MAGAZINE - looking for “character oriented” stories, those in which the characters, rather than science, provide the main focus for the reader’s interest. Serious, thoughtful, yet accessible fiction. Guidelines: http://www.asimovs.com/info/guidelines.shtml

AIR & SPACE/Smithsonion – gen’l interest mag about flight, purpose is to enlighten and entertain. Its goal is to show readers, both the knowledgeable and the novice, facets of the enterprise of flight that they are unlikely to encounter elsewhere. Emphasis is on the human rather than technological, on the ideas behind events, rather than a simple recounting of details. Guidelines: http://www.airspacemag.com/contact-us/asm-submission-guidelines.html

HUNGER MOUNTAIN CREATIVE NONFICTION PRIZE – Deadline: Sept. 10, 2010 . Holds five contests annually, April, June Sept. Dec. Guidelines: http://www.hungermtn.org/hunger-mountain-creative-nonfiction-prize

14th ANNUAL ROBERT FROST FOUNDATION POETY AWARD – Deadline: Sept 15, 2010. Guidelines: http://www.frostfoundation.org

WALT WHITMAN AWARD – to honor a poet's first book. Entry must be postmarked between Sept 15 & Nov 15, 2010. Guidelines: http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/121

8th GLASS WOMAN PRIZE – Deadline: Sept. 21, 2010. For a work of short fiction or creative non-fiction (prose) written by a woman. Subject is open, but must be of significance to women. Criterion is passion, excellence, authenticity in the woman’s writing voice. http://www.sigriddaughter.com/GlassWomanPrize.htm

FROM MY TWITTER THREAD
ONLINE WORKSHOP: Cracking the Romance Code Aug 23 - Sept 12, 2010
http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=529

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Theme & Story Question Sept 6 - Oct 3, 2010 http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=386

ONLINE WORKSHOP: How Details Change How We Read Sept 6 – 20,2010 http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=368

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Plotting Strategy Sept 6 - Oct 3, 2010 http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=183

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Historical Angles: Writing Historical Fiction Sept 6 - Oct 3, 2010
http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=188

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Writing Erotic Love Scenes Sept 6 – 12, 2010
http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=239

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Your Thesaurus Doesn’t Know Everything Sept 6 – 19, 2010 http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=277

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Guilt-free & Cost Effective PR Options Aug 15 - 28, 2010 http://neorwa.com/index.php/Workshops/Workshops

ONLINE WORKSHOP: From Fanfiction to Fantastic Fiction Sept 6 - Oct 3, 2010 http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=430

LITERARY SCAMS – Suggest writers bookmark these links & check lists before embarking on any writing venture. A search will give you more links.
http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware
http://www.spamlaws.com/literary-scams.html
http://www.bookawards.bizland.com/literary_scams.htm
http://www.authorslawyer.com/litscam.shtml
http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/avoid/av_avoid.php
http://www.writing-world.com/rights/contests.shtml