The Editor of the two-volume Women in Science Fiction and Fantasy: An Encyclopedia (to be published by Greenwood Press in 2007) seeks contributors for unassigned entries.
The project includes thematic essays (5000 words) and entries ranging from 250-1000 words. "Preference will be given to college professors, published writers, and advanced graduate students, but others qualified to write about women in science fiction, fantasy, and related genres in work in English from the 19th century to the present, covering fiction, nonfiction, film, television, art, comics, graphic novels, music and poetry will also be considered."
Payment for accepted essays/entries will be the 2-volume encyclopedia set, plus an honorarium ($250 for thematic essays, $50-$100 for entries).
For more information, see the full call for contributors.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Literary Journal News
Earlier this month, Dan Wickett announced a terrific offer via the Emerging Writers Network: "The offer is simple - pay for one less journal than your order. Subscribe to 3? Pay for 2. Subscribe to 4? Pay for 3."
As Dan correctly notes, these journals "are frequently where authors of literary writing first publish. Think about it. You pick up a book by a first time author and read the notes beneath his or her photo. They frequently mention having published stories, poems or essays in two or three journals, the names of which you recognize. Recognize, but perhaps have not ever read, or seen." And that's too bad. We writers rely on these journals; the journals should be able to rely on us. This offer really helps. Dan has assembled a truly impressive list of participating journals, so be sure to check it out.
And here's some related news: that list includes The Chattahoochee Review, which recently appointed me a Contributing Editor. As you can imagine, I am thrilled and proud!
As Dan correctly notes, these journals "are frequently where authors of literary writing first publish. Think about it. You pick up a book by a first time author and read the notes beneath his or her photo. They frequently mention having published stories, poems or essays in two or three journals, the names of which you recognize. Recognize, but perhaps have not ever read, or seen." And that's too bad. We writers rely on these journals; the journals should be able to rely on us. This offer really helps. Dan has assembled a truly impressive list of participating journals, so be sure to check it out.
And here's some related news: that list includes The Chattahoochee Review, which recently appointed me a Contributing Editor. As you can imagine, I am thrilled and proud!
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Wedding Story Contest
From the announcement:
"Did things not go as planned on your Big Day? Did your Dad trip over your wedding dress while walking down the aisle? Perhaps a bumblebee took up residence in your wedding bouquet? Maybe a cousin of the groom enjoyed the open bar a little too much or there was a fender bender on the way to the reception. Tell us about it; we're here for you. At Love to Know Weddings, we understand. In fact, rather than lamenting those unfortunate events, we're choosing to celebrate your wedding catastrophes with a contest."
There does not appear to be any entry fee for this contest, although you must log in/register for an account on the website. "The Contributor with the most interesting wedding mishap as voted by the Love to Know editors will win $150 cash for his or her trouble. Runner up will receive an Amazon gift certificate worth $25."
Stories should run 200-500 words, and the deadline is February 28, 2006.
For more information, click here.
"Did things not go as planned on your Big Day? Did your Dad trip over your wedding dress while walking down the aisle? Perhaps a bumblebee took up residence in your wedding bouquet? Maybe a cousin of the groom enjoyed the open bar a little too much or there was a fender bender on the way to the reception. Tell us about it; we're here for you. At Love to Know Weddings, we understand. In fact, rather than lamenting those unfortunate events, we're choosing to celebrate your wedding catastrophes with a contest."
There does not appear to be any entry fee for this contest, although you must log in/register for an account on the website. "The Contributor with the most interesting wedding mishap as voted by the Love to Know editors will win $150 cash for his or her trouble. Runner up will receive an Amazon gift certificate worth $25."
Stories should run 200-500 words, and the deadline is February 28, 2006.
For more information, click here.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
From My Bookshelf
Drivers
Stories by Nathan Leslie
Hamilton Stone Editions, 2005
Everyone who knows me knows I don't particularly like to drive. Many people--ranging from friends and family to the guy who inspects my car each year--routinely tell me that given how infrequently I use the car the fact that I own one makes absolutely no financial sense. A few years ago I thought I'd write a short story about someone who either didn't like to or was simply afraid to drive. I started that story, but, as can happen, the piece soon turned into a story about something else; a story truly "about driving" eluded me.
So I wasn't quite sure how I'd react to Nathan Leslie's new collection, Drivers. In the end, I was a little surprised and quite delighted by this group of 23 stories, most of which have previously appeared in print and online magazines. (Leslie, the author of another story collection, A Cold Glass of Milk, is himself fiction editor for The Pedestal Magazine. He also teaches at Northern Virginia Community College in Sterling, Virginia.)
It's tough to assemble a story collection, and it can help if you have a theme connecting the components. Leslie definitely has that. The "drivers" of this book, while mainly residing in Middle Atlantic states (Leslie was born in Minneapolis but raised in Ellicott City, Maryland) illustrate a variety of compelling "driver" characters and situations. That's also an admirable achievement, because it's far easier to write not-very-variable variations on a theme than it is to create distinctive yet related stories.
In "Stuck on Woodrow Wilson," for example, a woman seethes behind the wheel while caught in accident-exacerbated traffic on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge leaving DC. In "Shape," a car salesman evinces a surprising sales approach as well as a deep--if conflicted--concern for his troubled sister, to whom he lends a car (with problematic results).
The main character in "The Hit and Run" is a driving instructor making money off parents' fears. He's a pretty disturbing instructor: he makes it to his class through ice and snow "at 65, skidding all over the road and blaring right through the stop lights, stop signs, and anything else in the way." He's also responsible (though apparently not particularly remorseful) for killing a mother and her daughter in a hit-and-run.
Some stories reflect a sheer love for and/or knowledge of cars. Again, I'm no expert even when it comes to my poor neglected Honda, but the references to Duryeas and Hillmans seem authentic to me.
Whether you like cars, or like short stories, or both, you're likely to enjoy Drivers. Find out more here.
Stories by Nathan Leslie
Hamilton Stone Editions, 2005
Everyone who knows me knows I don't particularly like to drive. Many people--ranging from friends and family to the guy who inspects my car each year--routinely tell me that given how infrequently I use the car the fact that I own one makes absolutely no financial sense. A few years ago I thought I'd write a short story about someone who either didn't like to or was simply afraid to drive. I started that story, but, as can happen, the piece soon turned into a story about something else; a story truly "about driving" eluded me.
So I wasn't quite sure how I'd react to Nathan Leslie's new collection, Drivers. In the end, I was a little surprised and quite delighted by this group of 23 stories, most of which have previously appeared in print and online magazines. (Leslie, the author of another story collection, A Cold Glass of Milk, is himself fiction editor for The Pedestal Magazine. He also teaches at Northern Virginia Community College in Sterling, Virginia.)
It's tough to assemble a story collection, and it can help if you have a theme connecting the components. Leslie definitely has that. The "drivers" of this book, while mainly residing in Middle Atlantic states (Leslie was born in Minneapolis but raised in Ellicott City, Maryland) illustrate a variety of compelling "driver" characters and situations. That's also an admirable achievement, because it's far easier to write not-very-variable variations on a theme than it is to create distinctive yet related stories.
In "Stuck on Woodrow Wilson," for example, a woman seethes behind the wheel while caught in accident-exacerbated traffic on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge leaving DC. In "Shape," a car salesman evinces a surprising sales approach as well as a deep--if conflicted--concern for his troubled sister, to whom he lends a car (with problematic results).
The main character in "The Hit and Run" is a driving instructor making money off parents' fears. He's a pretty disturbing instructor: he makes it to his class through ice and snow "at 65, skidding all over the road and blaring right through the stop lights, stop signs, and anything else in the way." He's also responsible (though apparently not particularly remorseful) for killing a mother and her daughter in a hit-and-run.
Some stories reflect a sheer love for and/or knowledge of cars. Again, I'm no expert even when it comes to my poor neglected Honda, but the references to Duryeas and Hillmans seem authentic to me.
Whether you like cars, or like short stories, or both, you're likely to enjoy Drivers. Find out more here.
Magazine for International Students Seeks Submissions
Maybe it's just me being hypercautious (something I've been called many times!) but I'm always a little skeptical of online job announcements from publications that don't include a link to a website. Sometimes, however, just a little extra research can reassure me. Not only do I come to feel that I know the publication a little better (which certainly helps me if I actually do want to pitch an idea its way) but it just makes the publication itself seem more legitimate and professional.
Today, for instance, I saw an announcement on FreelanceWriting.com for World Scholar, "a news and lifestyle magazine for the over 13 million international students studying and living in the United States." The magazine accepts articles, student profiles, and columns. As you'll see if you read the announcement, columns (up to 900 words) pay $45; features pay $.10/word.
I thought about posting this for others who might be interested, but I didn't want to do that without at least looking for the magazine first. And I think I found it. Here.
Today, for instance, I saw an announcement on FreelanceWriting.com for World Scholar, "a news and lifestyle magazine for the over 13 million international students studying and living in the United States." The magazine accepts articles, student profiles, and columns. As you'll see if you read the announcement, columns (up to 900 words) pay $45; features pay $.10/word.
I thought about posting this for others who might be interested, but I didn't want to do that without at least looking for the magazine first. And I think I found it. Here.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Birthday Preparations
I'm preparing the next issue of The Practicing Writer, our free monthly newsletter, which always goes out to subscribers during the last week of the month (the February issue goes out next week). It's hard to believe but this forthcoming issue will mark the newsletter's second anniversary. (Subscribers--stay tuned for a special celebratory surprise!)
Subscribers can always read through our archives. And the current issue (at the moment, that would be for January 2006) is available to all at freelancewriting.com.
Back to work!
Subscribers can always read through our archives. And the current issue (at the moment, that would be for January 2006) is available to all at freelancewriting.com.
Back to work!
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Fee-Free Contests
Writing contests. You see them advertised everywhere. And they can sound so promising.
The trouble is, many, if not most of them, charge fees to participate. And those fees sure can add up fast.
But there are lots of "no-cost" competitions--awarding cash, publication, residencies, and conference attendance, among other plums--for writers in every genre. They don't charge fees. The Winter 2006 edition of The Practicing Writer's Guide to No-Cost Literary Contests and Competitions profiles 221 such opportunities. And the complimentary preview includes several sample listings. Check out this great resource for your writing practice today (it's updated semiannually to remove "dead" programs and revise links as needed while adding new opportunities).
The trouble is, many, if not most of them, charge fees to participate. And those fees sure can add up fast.
But there are lots of "no-cost" competitions--awarding cash, publication, residencies, and conference attendance, among other plums--for writers in every genre. They don't charge fees. The Winter 2006 edition of The Practicing Writer's Guide to No-Cost Literary Contests and Competitions profiles 221 such opportunities. And the complimentary preview includes several sample listings. Check out this great resource for your writing practice today (it's updated semiannually to remove "dead" programs and revise links as needed while adding new opportunities).
Monday, January 16, 2006
Boot Camp for Journalists
Writing about public health? "The six-day CDC Knight Public Health Journalism Boot Camp offers a crash course in the basics of public health and biostatistics." This year's Boot Camp will take place June 25-June 30, 2006, in Decatur, Georgia. "Approximately 15 journalists will be selected for the Boot Camp, which is made possible through lead funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The camp will provide housing, breakfast and a per diem stipend of $25 for other meals. Participants are required to finance their own transportation to and from the camp." The application deadline is March 15; there is no application fee. I checked over the list of past participants, and among them are several freelancers/book authors. You'll find much more information, and the application form, right here.
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