Friday, December 17, 2010

MORE BITS & PIECES FOR Writers/Authors #206

REASON TO KEEP WRITING: TONY JUDT, age 62, Pulitzer Prize finalist, a highly praised and controversial historian who wrote with sharp persistence about the changing world at large and the tragic world within, the fatal Lou Gehrig’s disease that paralyzed him. Judt was a professor of European studies at New York University. Although confined like "a modern-day mummy," his thinking was unimpaired, and Judt demonstrated as much in 2010 through a series of personal essays for The New York Review of Books. Judt's illness and his determination to tell the tale brought sympathy and admiration for a historian not known for sparing feelings. He took on communists, free marketers, supporters of the Iraq war and, most contentiously, Israel. In an admiring review of "Postwar," The New Yorker's Louis Menand noted that the book's strength was inseparable "from the personality of its author, who does not count self-effacement a literary virtue." In 2009, Judt received an honorary George Orwell Prize for "intelligence, insight and conspicuous courage." In 2010, he completed "Ill Fares the Land," a passionate call for a return to liberal governance and for a close look at the "ways in which our grandparents' generation handled comparable challenges and threats."

POETRY IRELAND REVIEW, Ireland - journal of poetry, accepts unsolicited submissions from both emerging and established poets, writing in Irish or English. There are no restrictions on style or subject, but strongly dislikes sexism or racism. Will also consider proposals (but not completed manuscripts) for articles and reviews. Guidelines: http://www.poetryireland.ie/publications/submissions.html

SNOWBOOKS, UK - independent book publisher, winner of the 2008 Independent Publisher of the Year award. Publishes about 20 titles a year in the fields of general fiction, sci-fi, horror, fitness, sport, historical and general non-fiction. Considers complete fiction manuscripts and proposals for non-fiction books. For fiction send full manuscript. For non-fiction a proposal and short example of the proposed work, e.g. a sample chapter. Read detailed descriptions of their procedure on submissions page. Royalties on sales. Guidelines: http://www.snowbooks.com/submissions.html

CHILDBIRTH SOLUTIONS.com - 90% freelance written, the online storehouse of info, services and support for childbearing women worldwide. It includes several main categories: Preconception, Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum and Birth Stories as well as other slots currently in the planning stages, including; humor, poetry, and Dad's page. Guidelines: http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/about/submissions.php

KNOW MAGAZINE, Canada - the science magazine for curious kids ages 6-9. contains short news items, regular departments, a lengthy section related to our theme, short fiction, activities, hands-on projects, interviews and more. Guidelines: http://www.knowmag.ca/about/guidelines.php

ALPINIST MAGAZINE - celebrating world alpinism and adventure climbing in the simplest, most beautiful manner possible, in first-person accounts of long routes from around the world, investigative reports of subjects compelling to climbing aficionados, and documentary pieces that capture the spirit of ascent in any of its myriad forms. Guidelines: http://www.alpinist.com/p/magazine/contribute

DIABETES HEALTH – provides patients, educators and healthcare professionals with practical advice and the latest information on new methods, technologies and research related to diabetes. Guidelines: http://www.diabeteshealth.com/company/submission-guidelines.html

HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE – gen’l-interest, advertising-free magazine for and by children up to age twelve. The mag has no religious or organizational affiliation. Individual guideline links on the guideline page. Seeks fiction, non-fiction,children art, crafts, etc. Guidelines: http://www.highlights.com/contributor-guidelines

RELISH MAGAZINE - celebrates America’s love of food. The best things in life happen around the table from Wisconsin's cheesemakers to New Mexico’s chile pepper farmers. Advises on the best cooking gadgets and cookbooks, nutrition tips and helps you get dinner on the table fast. Guidelines: http://www.relishmag.com/aboutus (scroll down for guidelines)

JAMES LAUGHLIN AWARD - January 1 to May 15, any year. Given to recognize and support a poet's second book. It is the only second-book award for poetry in the U.S. It is named for the poet and publisher James Laughlin (1914-1997), who founded New Directions in 1936. Only manuscripts already under contract with publishers are considered for the Award. The Academy awards the winning poet a cash prize of $5,000 and purchases copies of the book for distribution to its members. Submissions are accepted An entry form, signed by the publisher, is required.
Guidelines: http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/118
Entry Form: http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/119

ALEX AWARDS – January. American Library Association Children & Young Adult Book Award. The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. The winning titles are selected from the previous year's publishing. Submission form: http://yalsa.ala.org/forms/alexnominate.php

25th ANNUAL AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB FICTION CONTEST - Deadline Jan. 31, 2011. No entry fee. Winning stories are pub’d in AKC Gazette and AKC Family Dog. Entries can be on any subject, but must feature either an AKC-registrable breed or a breed listed in Miscellaneous class. 2000 wds/max. Guidelines: http://www.akc.org/pubs/fictioncontest

FROM MY TWITTER FEED:
ONLINE WORKSHOP: Slippery Art of Book Reviewing Jan 24-Feb 11, 2011 http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=663

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Roman Empire Promotion for Authors - Jan 31-Feb 6, 2011
http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfm?EventID=547

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Structure 4 Character-driven Stories Jan 31-Feb 6, 2011
http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=557

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