December - I can't believe that another year has come and almost gone. Seasonal celebrations are quickly filling December's calendar. It is so easy to lose sight of our writing commitments now.

Together with the other members of the Windshift family, I would like to offer our very best wishes to you and your family during this holiday time. We wish you much writing success in 2006. It has been great to meet many of you at workshops, conferences and book events over the last year. I'm looking forward to 2006 and the opportunity it holds for meeting many more of you.

Keep writing -
Sandra

Writing Tip: - The British author P. D. James says that if you want to be a writer you will have to get up early in the morning. It is very important that you write every day when you are working on a book. It helps you to keep the continuity and thus improve the end result.

Markets

Black Gate seeks submissions of adventure oriented fantasy fiction Submission details: http://www.blackgate.com/bg/guide.htm

Buzz Words seeks submissions of fiction and non-fiction of less than 3,000 words. Submission details: http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.co.uk/

Chapman Magazine seeks submissions of poetry, short fiction and creative non-fiction. Submission details: http://www.chapman-pub.co.uk/

Descant is currently accepting submissions of original, unpublished poetry, fiction, non-fiction, essays, art and photography for general and themed issues. Submission guidelines: http://www.descant.on.ca/submis.cfm

Espresso Fiction requires a broad range of short fiction to ' challenge, intrigue, provoke, stimulate and resonate'. Actively encouraging more submissions, particularly for engaging fiction aimed at teenagers. Details: http://www.espressofiction.com/

Gorlan Publications seeks good quality short stories in many genres. Submission details: http://www.gorlan.co.uk/guide.php

The Lady seeks submissions of poetry, short fiction and articles. Submission guidelines: http://www.jbwb.co.uk/lady.html [Note: The Lady was the first magazine to accept some of my work. - sj]

Cue Time - Every month we include a couple of writing ideas to help you kick start your writing sessions.

1. Write about the type of mug or cup a favourite person in your life might own. By writing about something personal you develop a 'voice' for the character.

2. Write about your seasonal observations. They may come in handy for a piece of fiction or an article you will write in 2006.

Industry News: The Globe and Mail has a dispatch on "the great fiction crash of 2005." Michael Posner of the Globe and Mail writes that "Agents and retailers are complaining that sales for new fiction are soft, that orders for reprints and back-listed books are down, and that publishing houses from Berlin to Boston are becoming choosier about what novels they buy, when they are willing to buy them, and what they are willing to pay."

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. My short story with a Christmas theme was returned to me last week unopened. I thought they would at least look at it because not many people write seasonal pieces. - Kevin L.

A. I'm not sure why your submission was returned. Did that particular periodical accept unsolicited contributions? Many magazines set their seasonal theme magazine in June.

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:

Life at Windshift Press is busy as usual with many new books scheduled for publication in the spring of 2006 along with a variety of events celebrating current books in print.

If you are looking for a couple of last minute gifts consider these recently published Windshift Press titles.

The Oyster Speaks is an anthology of writing and poetry from four Vancouver Island artists who have come to writing from other artistic disciplines. The line drawings were contributed by Bernice Ramsdin-Firth.

9 Lives is a children's chapter book for cat lovers of all ages but aimed at six to ten year olds. Author Lenore Hellum has filled the nine stories with wit and imagination. The characters in the book are based on cats that Lenore ahs owned over the years.

Circle of Beginning is a haunting exploration of love and our need for it, of the damage done when we go wrong with it and the deeds we might be driven to do in its name. In this mystery novel, Elizabeth Gallacher exposes the depth of the scars both to the people and the landscape.

ALL BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE WP ON-LINE STORE OR FROM YOUR LOCAL BOOKSELLER.

Note: While every effort is made to check the markets suggested in this newsletter, writers must use their own judgment when submitting their work.

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