Thought for the Month

"Writing, as we are taught to do it, becomes an anti-human activity. We are forever editing, leaving out details that might not be pertinent. We are trained to self-doubt, to self scrutiny in the place of self - expression.

As a result, most of us try to write too carefully. We try to do it "right". We try to sound smart. We try, period. Writing goes much better when we don't work at it so much. When we give ourselves permission to just hang out on the page."

- Julia Cameron - The Right to Write

Hello Writers,

In the midst of seemingly non-stop rain, February has rush across the doorstep and settled in. The primroses are flowering and my bulbs are showing green everywhere. News of new writing competitions and events come thick and fast. Again this month we have tried to find something of interest for most writers across all the genres.

Let us know if you are looking for something particular for writing that you have done. In the meantime enjoy this month's offerings ... Sandra

Markets:

The Carolina Quarterly seeks unsolicited submissions of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Submission details: http://www.unc.edu/depts/cqonline/submissions.html

Epoch publishes fiction, poetry, essays. Submission details: http://www.arts.cornell.edu/english/epoch.html#submissions

Geist seeks fiction, non-fiction, photographs, and a bit of poetry. Submission details: http://www.geist.com/about/guidelines.php

Image welcomes fiction, essay, interview, memoir or poetry. Submission details: http://www.imagejournal.org/about/submission.asp

Literal Latte is a literary magazine featuring known & emerging writers from around the world. It seeks stories, poetry and essays. Submission details at:
http://www.literal-latte.com/submit_new.html

Ontario Review publishes original fiction, poetry, personal essays, drama, photographs, graphics, and interviews with prominent contemporary authors. Submission details: http://www.ontarioreviewpress.com/or_main_pages/or_submitting_work.html

Ploughshares welcomes unsolicited submissions of fiction and poetry. Submission details: http://www.pshares.org/index.cfm

West Coast Line publishes work by writers and artists who are experimenting with or expanding the boundaries of conventional forms and contexts. Submission details: http://www.sfu.ca/west-coast-line/

Mad Hatter's Review seeks submissions for their current writing contest and their regular publication. Submission details: http://www.madhattersreview.com/contest.shtml

Vestal Review is open to all genres except children's stories and hard science fiction. It includes six to eight flash stories per issue. Submission details: http://www.vestalreview.net/html/submissions.htm

Zoetrope: All-Story is a quarterly literary publication founded by Francis Ford Coppola in 1997 to explore the intersection of story and art, fiction and film. Submission details: http://www.all-story.com/submissions.cgi

The 14th annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest sponsored by Tom Howard Books seeks submissions. Any type of original short story, essay or other work of prose is eligible. Prizes totaling $3,000 will be awarded. Submission details: http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/tomstory/ts_guidelines.php?google-fictioncontest

WRITING TIP:

Never start a sentence with a number; instead, write it out in full or re-phrase the sentence.

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PUBLISHING NEWS:

What a difference a month makes. Mentioning the name of James Frey now brings an opinion from even the quietest of writers. I won't enter the fray here.

I've just received a note from Solveig McLaren, Secretary, Vancouver Island Chapter, Romance Writers of America. If you are in Victoria on Saturday, February 11th between 4:00 and 5:00 think about going along to Chapters Bookstore, 1212 Douglas Street for a Valentine book signing and some great chocolate. Authors at the signing will include: New York Times best seller, Jo Beverley; USA Today best seller, Nancy Warren and Kathleen Lawless, Alice Valdal, E.C. Sheedy, Suzanne Macpherson and Susan Lyons. Even if romance writing is not your genre think about going along to talk with these authors about writing and publishing in general. Perhaps you will pick up a good promotional tip for your book.

The latest book trade news flash confirms that the big on-line stores have decided to comply with the law and collect appropriate taxes on their on-line sales. Can Amazon be far behind?

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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