FREE feminist Jewish poetry contest

CHARLOTTE NEWBERGER PRIZE FOR POETRY; Dec. 21 deadline; 100 lines max; $150 prize ; no entry fee

Info & entry here:  http://www.lilith.org/writers.htm 

FREE ‘First chapter of book’ contest

SCRIBOPHILE NANOWRIMO CONTEST; Dec. 7 deadline; prizes are $50 and $25 gift certificates to Amazon; No entry fee

Info & entry HERE:  http://www.scribophile.com/contests/nanowrimo-09/

Need help with your query letter?

Yes, I offer query letter consulting. For $50, you receive:

1. A review of your first-draft, one-page query letter with suggestions/edits

2. A review of a second draft with suggestions/edits

3. Five suggestions for agents/agencies that represent your type of manuscript

I also do consulting on proposals for $40/hour. (checks and PayPal accepted)

Looking for an awesome gift for only $15 or $17 – including shipping?

 

(Work It, Girl! is only $15 including shipping)

Order an autographed copy of my book TODAY! The $17 includes the price of the book plus media mail shipping to you or your friend. I’ll inscribe it to your friend with a personal message. Don’t wait until the last minute or the shipping rates will go up! Payment via PayPal at WendyBurt@aol.com

(Oh, Solo Mia! is $17 including shipping)

 

(Guide to Query Letters is $17 including shipping)

Travel stories contest

BOOKRIX TRAVEL STORIES CONTEST; Nov. 30 deadline; Short Stories & Nonfiction; prizes are $1,00o, $500 and $300

 You must register (free): http://tinyurl.com/ydgraho

Free contest for mystery authors

EDGAR AWARDS; Nov. 30 deadline; 

All books, short stories, television shows, and 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.

Books from non-U.S. publishers are eligible if they are widely

distributed in the U.S. and are readily available on the shelves in

brick-and-mortar stores for the first time during the judging year.

Works should be submitted by the publisher, but may also be

submitted by the author or agent.  

http://www.mysterywriters.org/?q=Edgars-Forms

10 Questions for…Laura Hayden, author of 11 books!

Author interview with Laura Hayden

1. Tell us about your latest book.

My latest books is RED, WHITE AND BLUE, the second book in the “America the Beautiful” series from Tyndale House.  It’s a novel about the rise and possible fall of the first female President, told from the perspective of her campaign manager, later to become the White House Chief of Staff.   The first book asks, “How far would you go to become President?” and the second book asks, “How far would you go to STAY President?” 

2. How did you get started as a writer?

Like most writers, I started scribbling as a kid.  I was an early reader and literally ran out of kids books in the local library by age 10.  I switched to adult books and never looked back.  By thirteen, I was writing what we now affectionately call “fan fic” and short stories, but my school only really recognized poetry as creative writing so I was never labeled a writer in their eyes.  (I was a math and music geek, instead.)  I got a degree in engineering which meant I have no time for reading, much less writing.  A decade or so later, my military husband had a one year assignment in Washington DC and we had two small children.  There was no job opportunities for an engineer in town for eleven months and needing major child care.  So I stayed at home.  It didn’t take long for my imagination to demand more than a constant diet of Sesame Street  and the Disney Channel.  I turned back to writing.  I got serious about novel writing in 1990, finished my first book that year and finally sold it in 1993.   

3. What does a typical day look like for you?

I try to write in the mornings and do edits in the afternoon.  Around this I work the rest of my life—my online bookstore  takes some time (Author, Author!  http://www.author-author.net) and I’m involved in several writers groups, president of one.  And then there’s the family obligations which includes my husband, a son off at college and four, count them, four dogs.    

4. Describe your workspace.

My workspace is a mess of books, dogs, more books, boxes of books, and lots of empty Caffeine Free Diet Coke cans.  It’s not a pretty sight.  But the dogs don’t mind as long as there is enough floor space for all of them to go to sleep.

5. Favorite books (especially for writers)

In my earlier years, I devoured books about writing.  Now I’m more interested in research books rather than instructional books.  But the books that helped me include THE WRITER’S JOURNEY by Chris Vogler,  TELLING LIES FOR FUN AND PROFIT by Lawrence Block, GOAL MOTIVATION AND CONFLICT by Debra Dixon and WRITING THE FICTION SYNOPSIS by Pam McCutcheon.

6. Tell us 3 interesting/crazy things about you

I’ve playing piano since I was six.  I’m decent at it because I can read music and play by ear.  I like to sing, too and can be valuable in a choir because I can sight read reliably well and have relative pitch.  (A step below perfect pitch)

I worked one summer in a coal mine as an engineer trainee while in college. There’s nothing like mentioning  my summer-long exposure to black lung to liven up a conversation.

I love television.  I mean REALLY love television.  I have two TiVos and a DVR on my computer so I don’t miss my favorite shows which this year includes Heroes, NCIS, Fringe, Top Gear, Torchwood, Doctor Who, Being Human,  Sanctuary, Stargate Universe, Castle, and more.  My guilty TV pleasure that I shouldn’t admit in any public forum are daytime TV court shows.  

7. Favorite quote

“No matter where you go, there you are. “ 
      Dr. Buckaroo Banzai of the Banzai Institute.

(I’m absolutely gaga over this movie.  It is my favorite movie of all time and yes, I have all the t-shirts, patches and several of the posters)

8. Best and worst part of being a writer

Best part:  prose written while wearing pajamas is just as effective and good as prose written while wearing street clothes.

Worst part:  Answering stupid questions about my career. 

• “No, I don’t need any help with the love scenes.  However, I am writing a murder scene…” 
• “No, I don’t pay to have my books published.  They pay me.  No.  Really.  I understand that your brother-in-law paid someone to print his book, but I didn’t.”
• “Thanks, but no thanks.  I don’t want to listen to your idea for a book, then do all the writing and split the profit 50-50 with you.” 

9. Advice for other writers

Learn about the industry from ALL aspects, not just that of the writer and a reader.  You also need to understand more about the agent’s role, publisher’s role and the bookseller’s role so that you can view the industry from all five perspectives.  This will help you have more reasonable expectations and make your efficient and effective when you seek publication.

10. Tell us a story about your writing experience.

The very first project I sold was to a company that was producing original audio dramatic productions with multiple voices but only minor sound effects and music.  The company paid be a flat fee and bought all rights to the novella I wrote specifically for them so that they could have a free hand to edit it during production to change any cadences of the dialogue and so that the hooks fell at the places the tape turned, etc.  I wouldn’t have the right to review the edits since I no longer owned the work. 

One it was released, I was generally pleased with the production except for one big glaring error that had been edited into the work.  I was embarrassed that the editor had make it appear as if I had written the purple-prose description of the characters (“A cupid’s bow mouth…”) and that I had described her as wearing a turtleneck, then in the next sentence, commented on her modest décolletage. 

That was my first taste of publishing and a painful lesson to learn about work for hire projects.  I still do work for hire, but I chose them more carefully now.   

Where can people buy your books and learn more about you?

Visit me at http://suspense.net (Yes, I’ve had this website domain for over 10 years!) and you can purchase my books at http://www.author-author.net or any major bookstore–online or in person. 

Or visit my Facebook fan page. 
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Hayden/49818881804

Call for submissions: Chicken Soup for the Runner’s Soul

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Runners

We prefer stories and poems written in the first person of no more than 1,200 words. Stories should not have been previously published in our books or other major publications. Previous publication in school newsletters, local newspapers, and other small circulation venues is okay.

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story and you will retain the right to resell it.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO http://chickensoupforthesoul.com/form.asp?cid=submit_story.

DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 30, 2009. Book is scheduled for publication July 13, 2010.

Ocean Magazine call for submissions

Stories, articles, essays and poems about the ocean; Jan. 15, 2010 deadline; photos too

Info and entry HERE: http://store.oceanmag.org/oceanmagazinecontributorsguidelines.aspx

(Low) paying market for speculative fiction

Zahir, USA; mix of fantasy, sci fi, magical realism and other stories; up to 6,000 words; pays $10 plus 2 copies

 http://www.zahirtales.com/guidelines.html

FREE poetry contest about “the sacred”

Dec. 31, 2009 deadline; cash prizes; unpublished only; 100 lines max; Info and entry HERE:

http://www.mertoninstitute.org/merton_prize.php

War Poetry Contest with $5,000 in prizes

May 31, 2010 deadline; $15 entry fee; 1-3 poems; Info and entry HERE:

http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/war/wa_guidelines.php