Friday, November 12, 2010

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #202

REASON TO KEEP WRITING: ALEXANDER ANDERSON, JR., age 90, pioneering TV cartoon artist who created Rocky the flying squirrel and Bullwinkle the moose. Before Rocky and Bullwinkle, Anderson worked on "Mighty Mouse" while apprenticing for his uncle, Paul Terry, whose Terrytoons cartoons were distributed in movie theaters by 20th Century Fox. Anderson began his own company with former U of C, Berkeley fraternity brother, Jay Ward, after Terry refused his suggestion to produce cartoons specifically for TV. They created Crusader Rabbit and his friend Rags the Tiger along with Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties and Rocky and Bullwinkle. "Crusader Rabbit" was among the first animated series produced for TV and aired on NBC in1950s. The inspiration for Bullwinkle came from a dream Anderson had where he was playing poker with friends, and a moose doing "silly card things" was sitting next to him. The character's name came from a car dealership in Berkeley called "Bullwinkel Motors." Anderson told the San Francisco Chronicle in 1991 that he found there was "something majestic" about a moose. "They're macho, but they have a comic aspect with that schnozzola. There are few creatures begging to be caricatured," he said. As for Rocky, Anderson told the newspaper he couldn't quite understand how a mouse or Superman would be able to flY, but some squirrels, in fact, could fly. "That gave (Rocky) the mantle of superness without having to stretch the truth." Ward would go on to produce "Rocky and His Friends" on ABC in 1959. With Rocky leading his somewhat slow but good-natured friend, Bullwinkle, the duo battled villains Boris and Natasha, agents of the nation of Pottsylvania, in the fictional town of Frostbite Falls, Minn. Anderson decided to pursue a career in advertising and was not involved in the venture. He later said he felt he had not received credit for his creations. He won a lawsuit against Jay Ward Productions in 1993 that recognized him as the creator of the first versions of Rocky, Bullwinkle and Dudley Do-Right.

ATLANTA TRIBUNE: THE MAGAZINE - Black Atlanta's leading source for relevant, thought-provoking news and info on business and wealth-building. Educates readers and presents ideas, viewpoints and possible solutions that economically, politically and socially empower. (slow loading) Guidelines: http://www.atlantatribune.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=63

BELIZEAN JOURNEYS – destinations and off the beaten path experiences of Belize featuring a particular interest, activity, characteristic, or personality that represents the destination or an aspect of Belizean life. These are done from the perspectives of various authors. Guidelines: http://www.belizeanjourneys.com/writers_guide.html

DOG & DRIVER MAGAZINE - for the Intern’l Sled Dog Racing Association. Features articles concerning all aspects of sled dog sports, sled dog races, sled dog care and nutrition, first-hand accounts of races, sled dog training, sled dog equipment, anything that pertains to the care and training of sled dogs are welcomed Guidelines: http://www.isdra.org/Magazine/writers_guide.htm

JUST 4 KIDS MAGAZINE – designed for families with toddlers to teens. Each page affirms a child's self-worth. Included are fun and exciting puzzles, games, stories, poems, recipes, colorful pictures, scripture readings, Bible Stories and family devotions. Guidelines: http://just4kidsmagazine.com/writer_guidelines.html

YOUTH TODAY – nat’l trade newspaper for people who work with children and youth. Readers are primarily professional youth workers and administrators of youth service, youth advocacy and youth policy programs, to include direct care workers (teachers, day care providers, counselors, recreation staff, juvenile corrections officers), managers of nonprofit and for-profit agencies (from the YMCA down to the smallest community-based agencies), operators of faith-based programs and public agencies, academics, lobbyists, government administrators, and legislative and executive staff. Guidelines: http://www.youthtoday.org/template/page.cfm?id=137

EPHEMERA - Seeks slogan writers for buttons, magnets and stickers. Wants satirical slogans about pop culture, politics, job attitudes, women's & men's issues, coffee, booze, pot, drugs, religion, food, sexual come-ons & put-downs, etc. Guidelines: http://www.ephemera-inc.com/Submit-Your-Idea.html

HISTORY TODAY, UK - covers history in its widest sense, political, economic, social, biography and archaeology, from all parts of the world. Also seeks prints and original photographs. Best freelance opportunities are for contributions dealing with genuinely new historical and archaeological research. Contact page for query: http://www.historytoday.com/contact (see dropdown menu)

BUSINESS TODAY EGYPT - covers Egyptian and Middle Eastern business and economic news. Seeks both medium-length news pieces and profiles, and feature-length work. No fiction, poetry or 'exotic Egypt' pieces. Writer-reporters based outside Egypt must make clear in their pitches whether or not they have supporting professional photography available. Accepts reprints provided not previously published in the region. Paid in Egyptian or Pounds to freelancers based in Egypt, or US dollars to those abroad. Guidelines: http://www.businesstodayegypt.com/btjobs.aspx#Freelance_Guidelines (scroll down to freelance guidelines)

2011 EDGAR ALLAN POE AWARDS - Deadline: Nov 30, 2010. No entry fee. # For works published/released October 1-December 30: Submit by Nov 30, 2010. Books with a December publication date may be submitted in galleys. (See other deadlines) Works should be submitted by the publisher, but may also be submitted by the author or agent. All books, short stories, television shows, films [and plays] in the mystery, crime, suspense, and intrigue fields are eligible in their respective category if they were published or produced for the first time in the U.S. during this calendar year. Guidelines, Entry Forms: http://www.mysterywriters.org/?q=Edgars-Forms

WRITERS DIGEST SHORT SHORT STORY COMPETITION – Deadline: Dec. 1, 2010. Accepting entries in the 11th Annual Short Short Story Competition. Looking for fiction that's bold, brilliant...but brief. Guidelines: http://www.writersdigest.com/short

St. LOUIS WRITERS GUILD ANNUAL SHORT STORY CONTEST – Deadline: Dec. 4, 2010 postmark. $15 entry fee. 5000 words max. One of the oldest, if not the oldest, writing contests in the country. Tennessee Williams won first place in this contest in 1935 for his story, "Stella for Star." The St. Louis Writers Guild Annual Short Story Contest opens for submissions every October and prizes are awarded in December. Historically, entries have come from all across the nation and Canada. Stories are blind-judged by one or more expert(s) in the fields of writing and literature. Writers do not need to be a member of the Guild in order to participate in this contest. Guidelines: http://www.stlwritersguild.org/zfiles/calendarprograms/contests/shortstory/shortstory.php

CHARLOTTE NEWBERGER PRIZE FOR POETRY – Deadline: Dec. 15, 2010. "Edgy, exciting poems touching in any way on Jewish women's experience." Contest is open to both male and female authors, but entrants should familiarize themselves with the magazine, which is geared toward Jewish women. Entries need to have both feminist and Jewish content. Guidelines: http://www.lilith.org/writers.htm

6TH ANNUAL WRITERS DIGEST POETY AWARDS COMPETITION - Deadline: Dec 15, 2010. Don't miss your chance to win cash, a trip to the Writer's Digest Conference and exposure in August 2011 issue. Guidelines: http://www.writersdigest.com/poetryawards

JOHN LENNON SONGWRITING CONTEST – Next deadline: Dec. 15, 2010 URL: http://www.jlsc.com

FRANKLIN-CHRISTOPH POETRY CONTEST – Deadline: Dec 31, 2010. No entry fee. Poetry, up to 2 original, unpublished poems of not more than 100 lines each, any style. $2500 in prizes, including the $1000 cash grand prize; 10 Merit Award Winners will receive $150 writing instruments. Guidelines:
http://www.franklin-christoph.com/Writing/PoetryContest.html

FROM MY TWITTER FEED:
ONLINE WORKSHOP: Grabbers Nov 29 - Dec 12, 2010 http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=359

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Police Use of Force Nov 29 - Dec 19, 2010 http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=417

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Business of Creative Writing Nov 29 – Dec 19, 2010
http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=295

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Writing the YA Paranormal Nov 29, 2010 - Jan 3, 2011
http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=374

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Labrynth Dec 6-12, 2010 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=578

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Manning the Submission's Box Dec 6-19, 2010 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=482

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Polishing Your Sample Pages Dec 6-19, 2010 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=409

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