Windshift for Writers:
A resource of markets, tips and courses for writers of fiction and nonfiction
To Subscribe to this newsletter. please Contact Windshift from here.
August - Summer on the west coast has been glorious so far. I am counting on another month of it. The strawberries are finally done only to be replaced by tomatoes and green beans. The taste can't be bought!
Several subscribers have queried my suggestions of foreign markets in the Markets section of this newsletter rather than offering only Canadian ones. This is deliberate on my part. I know that Canadian writers are able to pursue those few markets through their own research. Also, not all subscribers are Canadian. I have information on many more world markets than I am ever able to share with you. If you have particular market needs that I don't cover, please e-mail and I will see what I can do.
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Writing Tip: - Too much cleverness gets in the way of good story
telling. A writing voice is not a collection of tricks. It is your individual
method of communication. The practice of daily writing gives us the muscles
to grow our voice. Make a pact with yourself to write something every
day, if only to revise yesterday's paragraph. Writing is like going to
the gym. Your muscles grow consistently stronger when you exercise them
every day for ten minutes than if you only exercise them once a week for
sixty minutes.
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Markets:
Brick Magazine - is a literary journal that publishes non-fiction. Pays from $100.00 to $500.00 depending on length. Check submission guidelines at http://brickmag.com or mail to Michael Redhill, Managing Editor, Box 537, Stn Q, Toronto, Ontario, M4T 2M5; E-mail: info@brickmag.com
Massachusetts Review - seeks poems and stories from emerging writers. Contact: Editor, Memorial Hall, Univ. of Mass., Amherst, Mass 01003; E-mail: massrev@external.umass.edu ; Website: www.massreview.org
Broken Pencil - seeks articles and features from 1000 - 3000 words and fiction from 50 - 3000 words. Contact Ken Sparling, Editor, P O Box 203 Stn P, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2S7; E-mail: fiction@brokenpencil.com; Website: www.brokenpencil.com
Heat - seeks samples of international contemporary writing. No e-mail submissions. Contact: Editor, Heat Magazine, School of Language and Media, Univ. of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Website: www.ozemail.com.au; E-mail: heat@newcastle.edu.au
The Affectionate Punch seeks poetry and prose to 1,200 words and essays
and reviews to 500 words. Contact: Editor, 35 Brundage Road, Manchester,
UK, M22 0BY
Strand Magazine - seeks mystery stories and articles. Contact: Editor, P O Box 1418, Birmingham, MI 48012, USA. E-mail: strandmag@strandmag.com Website: www.strandmag.com
Open City Magazine - seeks poetry and prose material. Do not send before August 31, 2003. Contact: Editor, 270 Lafayette Street, Suite 1412, New York, NY 10012, USA; Website: www.opencity.org
Tor Books - publishes fiction [most genres] and non-fiction. No unsolicited mss but synopses welcome. Contact: Appropriate Editor, 175 Fifth Ave, 14th floor, New York, NY 10010; Website: www.tor.com
Grove/Atlantic Inc - publishes fiction and non-fiction. Contact: Appropriate Editor, 841 Broadway, New York, NY 10003; Website: www.groveatlantic.com
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Cue Time - Every month we include a couple of writing ideas to
help you kick start your writing sessions.
1. Buy a tabloid. Using one of the stories about an event, "Man escapes shark." or "Little boy found after hours in woods" and develop it into a story.
2. List three events in your life where you were very unsure of yourself. Narrow it down to one and create a character of the opposite sex that has a similar problem.
Industry News: It goes without saying that the
recent passing of author Carol Shields has left a great gap in the Canadian
literary scene.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SUBSCRIBER SUCCESSES
Congratulations to Sophia Sorensen for having a story published in the
May issue of Marina Mirror, a boating magazine in BC. She has also had
several stories published in the Nanaimo Bulletin, a BC newspaper.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The answers offered in this column are the personal opinions of the staff at Windshift for Writers. They are in no way meant to take the place of the professional advice you may need to seek for your specific query.
Questions and Answers
Q. How many characters should there be in
a short story? - Alanis T. -
A. In the average length short story there should be one main character
and perhaps two or three others. You should definitely limit the number
to no more than five. Introducing too many minor characters will reduce
the story's power and effectiveness.
Q. Is it wrong to start a short story by telling something about the main character's background? - Donald K. -
A. All fiction should start close to a high point of interest, when something is happening or about to happen to the main character. There is little time or space to establish the background or describe events leading up to the main event of the story. You stand a great danger of holding up the action of the story and losing your reader if you take too long to lead into the action.
Win a FREE place at one of our Workshops - Writers who wish to host a
workshop can do so by inviting interested friends and acquaintances to
a venue (It could be your dining-room table.) and providing the coffee.
If you host a workshop, your participation is free. Check the Workshops
page for further details.
Home News: I thought that I might slip away for a bit of kayak gunk holing
during July and August but so far, I have been ankle deep in manuscripts.
It is very encouraging to find so many accomplished authors whose work
deserves a broader horizon than their computer screen. Saying no is not
my strong suit so I have taken on more authors this year than I originally
planned to publish. That has been very exciting. Watch the Windshift Press
website over the next few months and see the birth of some wonderful books.
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Canada
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