Windshift Press
Newsletter Archives
This issue maybe distributed freely to friends, and writing groups as long as the entire issue is included.
Summer has truly taken hold here on the west coast. In this season I love the smell of ripening tomatoes and rotting seaweed. The heat brings a certain sense of languidness that precludes any ambition for writing. My solution is to write words and phrases in a notebook capturing these moments for use in the depths of winter when memory has been laundered by time. These notes become trigger points when I want to capture a summer moment in a poem or a piece of prose. This month consider focusing on your senses to record images for future writing projects. Sandra
Writing Tip: – Creatively, each of us is as unique as our fingerprint. Take a piece of your writing and analyze it to find your particular unique style. Once you identify this compare all that you write against it.
Markets:
Agni - publishes poetry, fiction, commissioned essays, and reviews from established
and upcoming writers. Submission guidelines: http://www.bu.edu/agni/about/guidelines/index.html
Chronogram Magazine – although CM is a regional magazine they publish prose and poetry from national and international sources. Submission guidelines: http://www.chronogram.com/submissions
Dimsum – publishes short stories, one act plays and poetry with an Asian connection. Submission guidelines: http://dimsum.com.hk/contact.php
Michigan Quarterly Review - publishes essays, interviews, memoirs, fiction, poetry, and book reviews. Submission guidelines: http://www.umich.edu/~mqr/submiss.htm
The New England Review - considers short stories, short-shorts, novellas, and self-contained extracts from novels; long and short poems; interpretive and personal essays; book reviews, screenplays, dramatic works, translations, critical reassessments, interviews. Submission guidelines: http://cat.middlebury.edu/~nereview/guidelines.html
Night Train – is a print literary journal that debuted in the fall of 2002. The web site includes excerpts from some of the stories appearing in the print version. Submission guidelines: http://www.nighttrainmagazine.com/submissions.html
Pif - accepts short stories, novel excerpts, poetry, hypertext, creative non-fiction, memoir, book reviews, zine reviews, interviews, and other literary commentary. Submission guidelines: http://www.pifmagazine.com/
Quintessence - is a literary magazine
focused on publishing diverse voices.
Submission guidelines: http://quintessence-encouraginggreatwriting.com/guidelines.html
Cue Time – Every month we include a couple of writing ideas to help you kick start your writing sessions.
1. Take a favourite short story and re-tell it out loud. Writers who publish their work need to become good story-tellers.
2. Research some aspect of magic. Find a way to incorporate this finding in a piece of writing in such a way that you keep the reader guessing right to the end.
Industry News: Penguin’s
paperback imprints will all contribute to a new line of Essential Editions,
a "deluxe" trade paperback format--with French flaps, rough front,
and embossed covers-- Bestsellers such as THE KITE RUNNER and SECRET LIFE
OF BEES and classics like THE BLUEST EYE and THE GODFATHER will be launched
this fall with 10 titles, priced around $16 US. Apparently, the books were
chosen based on literary merit and their enduring popularity with readers.
Just when we thought everything was based on the bottom line Penguin is launching
a deluxe paperback line.
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. I’m just about to send my first novel to a publisher. Should I mention that I am going to write a sequel using the same main character? – Alicia M. –
A. Congratulations on finishing your novel. Yes do mention your future plans, although it would be better to say that you have started writing the sequel, assuming that you have. Publishers and agents like to have additional information on an author. It helps them to assess your potential.
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: Windshift Press
continues with a busy summer of book launch and workshop events. For people
who live on Vancouver Island please watch your local media for details.
The 4th Annual Nanaimo Ghost Story Event 2005: The Nanaimo Federation
of BC Writers Group announces
a writing competition for the fall. It is open to local writers and anyone
who is willing to come to Nanaimo for the Halloween Reading. Writers of all
genres can submit a story or poem having to do either with ghosts or Halloween;
it can be spooky, gruesome or mysterious; macabre or humorous. Email your
submission to: nanaimoghoststories@canada.com
(unpublished works only) Deadline Sep 3. Max. word count: 1500. You can also
promote yourself or one of your previous works [150 words max.] in the section
<About the Author>. The copyright for the story/poem will remain with
the author. The publication will be ready for the Halloween Reading held on
Oct 26, 2005 at the Centre for the Arts when authors will read their contribution.
The booklets will be for sales at wholesale price.
Note: While every effort is made to check the markets suggested in this newsletter, writers must use their own judgment when submitting their work.