Category Archives: free

Oct31

Chicken Soup call-out: The Dog Did What?

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Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dog Did What?
101 Amazing Stories of Magic Moments, Miracles and… Mayhem

We are so excited about Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dog Did What? We know you’ll have many great stories for us and that you rejoice in the simple absurdities, funny habits, and crazy antics of your dogs. Our dogs make us smile every day, but sometimes they really outdo themselves. Whether they came up with the idea themselves, or you put them in a situation that caused them to do something unusual, we want to hear about it! Tell us what your dog did that made people want to ask again and again, “The Dog Did What?”

We are looking for first-person true stories and poems up to 1200 words. Stories can be serious or humorous, or both. We can’t wait to read all the heartwarming, inspirational, and hysterical stories you have about your dogs!

Here are a few suggested ideas but we know you will come up with your own:

• Has your dog ever done something that made you laugh out loud?
• Has your dog ever demonstrated a surprising degree of empathy or comprehension of a     situation?
• Have you ever taken a trip with your dog? Did s/he do something funny?
• If you have more than one dog, have they ever done something together that you can’t     believe?
• Does your dog do something that no other pet of yours has ever done?
• Does your dog act a certain way with a particular family member?
• Has your dog ever gotten stuck somewhere?
• Has your dog ever done something extremely embarrassing?
• What happened when you tried to train your dog?
• Have you ever brought your dog somewhere you really shouldn’t have?
• Do you sometimes think your dog is human?
• Has your dog done something heroic?

Please remember, we no longer publish “as told to” stories. Please write in the first person about yourself or someone close to you. Do not ghostwrite a story for someone else unless you list that person as the author. If a story was previously published, we will probably not use it unless it ran in a small circulation venue. Let us know where the story was previously published in the “Comments” section of the submission form. If the story was published in a past Chicken Soup for the Soul book, please do not submit it.

If you submitted a story or a poem on our website to a book entitled “Stories About Dogs” within the last few months please do not submit that same story or poem to us again. We have it in our database. We have tweaked the title of our dog book just a little and we have extended the deadline date for submissions but other than that the database remains the same and your story is there and will be considered for the book.

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 OUR WEBSITE. Select the Submit Your Story link on the left tool bar and follow the directions.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS JANUARY 5, 2014.

CONTACT US
Please do not reply to this email address. You will NOT receive a response. For any further questions or correspondence, contact webmaster@chickensoupforthesoul.com.
Oct14

FREE poetry contest with cash prizes!

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Fifth Annual Spirit First Poetry Contest

Deadline: January 31, 2014
First Prize: $175
Second Prize: $125
Third Prize: $75

Complete Guidelines:

Spirit First is pleased to announce its Fifth Annual Meditation Poetry Contest. Poetry submissions may be of any length and any style but must have a theme of Meditation, Mindfulness, Silence, Stillness, or Solitude (but only peaceful solitude, not loneliness). Poems may reflect any discipline, any faith, or none. Poems must be previously unpublished.

Enter up to three submissions. Sending more than three poems will lead to those poems being disqualified.

 

Please submit your poems by email unless you do not have access to the Internet. Poems will be accepted by U.S. Postal Service for those who do not have Internet access. All others are requested to be emailed. Poems sent by U.S. Postal Service will not be returned. Poems must be received by January 31, 2014.

 

Please submit your poems all in one file or inside the body of an email (rather than three poems in three separate files). Be sure to include the author’s name, address, telephone number, and email address. There is no cost to enter this contest. Submissions must be received no later than January 31, 2014.

 

Winners will be announced on or before April 30, 2014, on the Spirit First website at www.spiritfirst.org. Winning poems will be published on the Spirit First website and the Spirit First blog, and in a Spirit First newsletter (authors retain full rights to their poems).

 

How to submit:

By email: send to meditate@spiritfirst.org.

By U.S. Postal Service (for those without Internet access): send to the following address:

Spirit First Poetry Contest
PO Box 8076
Langley Park, MD 20787

Sep12

Fun, free very short story contest

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The 3rd Annual Epeolatry Contest; deadline is Sept. 16, 2013 at 5:47 a.m. (Pacific); details below and here:

www.satyrsgarden.com/writing/epeolatry.html

Submission Guidelines 2013

Hooray, epeolatarians! We’re in our third year, I just had my second child this past April, and now I’m about to turn 35! What does that mean for you? The worst prizes ever to come out of a writing contest, most likely (have you ever tried to knit with a colicky baby?), but it means it’s another chance to flex your bulging, buxom, … wait. What’s the theme?

“Sexy, Not Sexy” or “This Isn’t Romance” or “I’m Not in Love”

Inspired by a list produced by the Calgary Association of the Romance Writers of America (CARWA?), you’re to take 15 words from their collection of the sexiest* words and write a 600 word short story.

The catch? It can’t be sexy. No romance, no erotica, no sensual situations. Yep. 15 steamy words, without the salacious story.

Send entries to ravendemers@gmail.com by the deadline, complete with any pseudonym and personal or professional link you wish to use. Please put 2013 EPEOLATRY SUBMISSION in the subject line.

*Please note, the judge quibbles over several of the words deemed sexiest, as some require context, and some, like jealousy, aren’t sexy at all.


					


	

		


	
Aug24

	

											
Life Lessons Essay Contest – Real Simple Magazine

					
		

			
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deadline Sept. 19, 2013; 1,000-1,500 words; cash prizes of $500, $750 and $3,000; theme is “What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?”; details HERE:


http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/inspiration-motivation/second-annual-life-lessons-essay-contest-00000000013682/index.html