Windshift Press
Newsletter Archives
February - February is traditionally the month for hearts. All ranges
of heart health are brought to light. The Heart and Stroke Foundation reminds
us of the physicality of our heart and loved ones remind us of the emotional
state of our heart. There is nothing like a change in our heart to empower
our creative emergence. No matter what type of experience we are faced with
growth takes place. Heartbreak is an equal opportunity destructive force.
Both men and women have their lives shattered and must rebuild them. I wish
you much creative energy this month whether your heart is whole and laughing
or in for temporary repair.
Sandra
Writing Tip: – When writing fiction, feel the emotions that your characters experience. If you can’t identify with them, then neither will your readers.
Markets
BOOST announces its 3rd annual writing contest for writers of children's literature.
Contest Dates: January 1, 2005 through April 15, 2005. Winners will be announced
May 1, 2005.
Details: http://www.boost4writers.com
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest - Prizes of $1,000, $500, $250 will be awarded, plus four Publication Royalty Awards of $150 and three Encouragement Awards of $75 each. Winning entries will be published. Submit any type of short story, essay or other work of prose, up to 8,000 words. Deadline: March 31. Details: http://www.winningwriters.com/tomstory.htm
Wergle Flomp Poetry Contest- Prizes of $1,190, $169, $60 and 5 honorable mentions of $38 each. No fee to enter. A humor contest with a special twist. Submit one poem online at http://www.winningwriters.com/contestflomp.htm Judge: Jendi Reiter. Deadline: April 1.
Edgar Literary Magazine - Short Stories & Essays: Maximum word count 4,000. Minimum word-count 1,200. Short-shorts: Maximum word-count 750. Poetry: You may submit up to five poems per issue. All submissions must be typed and double spaced in Microsoft Word or Rich Text format and submitted via e-mail, CD, or floppy disk. Details: http://www.edgarliterarymagazine.com/
Indiana Review's 2004 Poetry Prize seeks submissions. Pays: $1,000 US and Publication. Deadline: March 31, 2005. Reading Fee: $15.00. Details: http://www.indiana.edu/~inreview/general/prize.htm
Anamnesis Poetry Chapbook Award Competition - The winner will receive a cash prize of $1000 and 20 copies of the winning chapbook. Deadline: March 15, 2005. Details: http://www.anamnesispress.com/contest.htm
The Kenyon Review Prize is open to all poets who have not yet published a full length collection of verse. Deadline: March 15, 2005. Details: http://www.zoopress.org/poetry/kenyonreviewprize.html
Columbia Fiction/Poetry/Non-fiction Contest - Columbia is a journal of literature and art which accepts submissions from unpublished poets and writers. Deadline: March 1, 2005. Details: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/arts/journal/Submit.html
Absolute Magnitude, a quarterly science fiction magazine, requires stories from 1,000-25,000 words; 3,000 to 8,000 words but does not use fantasy, horror, satire, or funny science fiction. Pay: 2 to 6 cents US per word on publication for First English Language Serial Rights. Details: http://www.dnapublications.com/absmag/index.htm
The Atlantic Monthly considers unsolicited manuscripts, either fiction or nonfiction. Study magazine carefully. No e-mail submissions. Submission details found under ‘masthead’. Pay: Negotiated individually but pays well. Details: http://www.theatlantic.com/
Cue Time – Every month we include a couple of writing ideas to help you kick start your writing sessions.
1. At sometime in our life we have left a partner or been left by one. With the benefit of hindsight write a piece that shows what caused the relationship to end.
2. Do you have a hobby? Do you pursue it regularly? If the answer to both
those question is no, then decide to change them to yes. A hobby provides
you with the space to work out all sorts of problems including writers block.
Industry News: Booker to Try It National Book Association-Style?
While American awards covet the influence of British prizes like the Booker,
Booker organizers are apparently working hard to bring their process down
to the level of the Americans. After disproving the myth that the awarding
of the prize alone guarantees commercial success with the selection of Alan
Hollinghurst's book, The Line of Beauty [2004 winner], Booker organizers are
trying to make the prize more universally popular.
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 am writing a children’s book aimed at seven to eleven year olds. What age should my characters be? – Carla P. -
A. Make your characters around eleven. Children generally like to
read about the exploits of characters slightly older than themselves.
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: Our first book launch of the season takes place at the
Nanaimo Art Gallery Downtown, 150 Commercial Street on February 24th at 7:00.
If you live in the mid-Vancouver Island area of BC come and celebrate Margaret
Takaki’s dream of publishing her book The Red Flared Skirt. Book details
at http://www.windshift.bc.ca/wpintro.htm