MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #204

I hope everyone had a super Thanksgiving. ~Elizabeth

REASON TO KEEP WRITING: MITCH MILLER, age 99, an influential record producer who became a hugely popular recording artist and an unlikely television star a half century ago by leading a choral group in familiar old songs and inviting people to sing along. The “Sing Along With Mitch” album series, which began in 1958, was an immense success, finding an eager audience among older listeners looking for an alternative to rock ’n’ roll. Mitch Miller and the Gang serenaded them with chestnuts like “Home on the Range,” “That Old Gang of Mine,” “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen” and “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.” When the concept was adapted for television in 1961, with the lyrics appearing at the bottom of the screen, Mr. Miller, with his beaming smile and neatly trimmed mustache and goatee, became a national celebrity. Miller was a studio innovator. Along with the guitarist Les Paul and a few others, he helped pioneer overdubbing, the technique by which different tracks are laid over one another to produce a richer effect. He also achieved what he called a sonic “halo” on numerous recordings by the use of what came to be called an echo chamber, an effect an engineer produced by placing a speaker and a microphone in a tiled restroom. Miller and the Gang eventually recorded more than 20 long-playing discs, many of which made the Top 40. By 1966 they had sold about 17 million copies. 1980s and ’90s he was a frequent guest conductor of symphony orchestras.

WESTERN NY FAMILY MAGAZINE - 90% freelance-written, about current parenting issues with a Western NY tie-in whenever possible. Strong emphasis is placed on how and where to find family-oriented events, as well as goods and services for children, (newborn to 14 yrs) in Western NY (the Buffalo metro area). Guidelines: http://www.wnyfamilymagazine.com/writers-guidelines.aspx

AMERICAN JOURNALISM REVIEW – current events, features, book reviews. Guidelines: http://www.ajr.org/ajrgart.asp

THE ARTIST’s MAGAZINE – created for artists and art enthusiasts. It showcases the best work in all media and in all styles of the best artists working today. Practical lessons in technique, engaging interviews, lively discussions of timely issues and news of exhibitions and events. Guidelines: http://www.artistsnetwork.com/tam-submissions

INTERGALACTIC MEDICINE SHOW – opportunity for sci-fi/fanatasy writers. Guidelines: http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com/cgi-bin/mag.cgi?do=content&article=submissions

SIERRA – nat’l mag publishing writing, photography, art about the natural world. Readers are environmentally concerned, politically diverse, actively enjoy the outdoors. We are looking for painstaking reporting and smart writing that will provoke, entertain, inform, and enlighten this readership. Guidelines: http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/guidelines/writers.aspx

ASTRONOMY MAGAZINE – science and hobby mag, serves readers who want to keep up with the latest discoveries and understand astronomical science, as well as those who want to know what is happening in the sky each month. Guidelines: http://www.astronomy.com/en/sitecore/content/Home/Magazine/About%20Magazine/Contributor%20Guidelines/2004/06/Article%20submission%20guidelines.aspx

CANADIAN AVIATOR MAGAZINE – about flying, buys features and contributions to depts. Aviation enthusiasts across the country share a common interest in flying. The bulk of our writers and photographers come from Western Canada and Ontario. Guidelines: http://www.canadianaviatormagazine.com/about-us/writer-submission-guidelines

FRANKLIN-CHRISTOPH POETRY CONTEST – Deadline: Dec. 31, 2010. Poetry. Enter up to 3 poems of not more than 100 lines each, any style. $1000 Grand Prize - $2450 total. Guidelines: http://www.franklin-christoph.com/Writing/PoetryContest.html

2011 ARTSMITH LITERARY AWARD POETRY CONTEST - Deadline: Dec, 31, 2010. Entry fee: $5. Theme: Home. Guidelines: http://www.orcasartsmith.org/contest.html

DREAM QUEST ONE POETRY & WRITING CONTEST – Deadline: Dec. 31, 2010. Entry Fee: $5 - $10. Write your best short story or poem for a chance to win cash prizes. All works must be original. Guidelines/Entry form: http://www.dreamquestone.com

NASHVILLE INTERNATIONAL SONG & LYRIC COMPETITION – Over $100,000 cash & prizes awarded; Multiple contests throughout the year mean prizes are awarded faster and more often than contests that happen only once a year. Emerging songwriters don't have to compete with writers who've already had major-label recordings. Entry instructions: http://www.paramountsong.com/song-contests

29th ANNUAL DELACORTE PRESS CONTEST - for a First Young Adult Novel. Deadline: Dec. 31, 2010. The prize of a book contract (on the publisher’s standard form) covering world rights for a hardcover and a paperback edition, including an advance and royalties, will be awarded annually to encourage the writing of contemporary young adult fiction. The award consists of $1500 in cash and a $7500 advance against royalties. Guidelines: http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/writingcontests/#youngadult

FROM MY TWITTER FEED:
ONLINE WORKSHOP: How To Create A Professional Self-Published Book - Dec 13- 15, 2010 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=561

ONLINE WORKSHOP: MATCHMAKING 101 in Romance - Jan 3 – 17, 2011 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=486

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Loglines – Just the Facts, Ma’am - Jan 3 – 23, 2011
http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=400

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Warrior Writer - Jan 3 – 24, 2011
http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=352

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Writing a Mystery - Jan 3 - Jan 30, 2011 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=505

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