Thought for the Month

"I did not lose myself all at once. I rubbed out my face over the years washing away my pain, the same way carvings on stone are worn down by water." - Amy Tan

Hello Writers,

Spring is showing its face in various ways here on the west coast. I am restless and keep trying to find reasons to escape from my desk into the outdoors.The sounds from the tennis court across the street echo in my ears. Unfortunately, I've never been very good at exercise. I have started numerous programs and regimes over the years only to falter before they became a habit. The one exercise that I do without thinking is walking. I walk for many reasons - to clear my mind, to work out a problem, to meditate and sometimes just to please my body. Some of my best writing comes to me while I walk. Walking allows me to observe my neighbourhood in detail. And the membership price is always within my budget.

There aren't very many poems, stories or essays on the joys and benefits of walking. Why not remedy that now. Let your life unfold step by step.... Sandra

Markets:

Writers Forum seeks submissions for their monthly short story competition. Submission details: http://www.writers-forum.com/short_story_competition.htm

Writers Forum seeks submissions for their monthly poetry competition. Submission details: http://www.writers-forum.com/poetry_competition.htm

Sling Ink invites story submissions for very short stories [170 words - Now there's a challenge~!] Submission details: http://www.slingink.co.uk/public/comp1_1.php

Fish Publishing One Page Short Story Competition seeks submissions. Deadline has been extended to 31.03.06. Submission details: http://www.fishpublishing.com/2006-one-page-story-prize.php

Cadenza short story competition seeks entries. Submission details: http://www.cadenza-magazine.co.uk

The Poetry Center Allen Ginsberg Poetry competition seeks entries. Submission details: http://www.pccc.cc.nj.us/poetry/Prize/

The Wergle Flomp Poetry Competition seeks humorous entries. Unusual guidelines but lots of fun. Submission details: http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/wergle/we_guidelines.php

Writers Inc. Writers-of-the-Year Competition welcomes prose and poetry entries in all styles. Submission details: http://www.writersinc-london.org.uk/competition.html

Alimentum seeks fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry all around the subject of food. Submission details: http://www.alimentumjournal.com/submissions.html

Fiction Attic seeks entries of short fiction. Submission details: http://www.fictionattic.com/

The Foliate Oak seeks submissions of short fiction and non-fiction. Submission details: http://www.uamont.edu/FoliateOak/

42Opus seeks submissions before the end of April. Submission details: http://www.42opus.com/

Please Note: The URL's listed above were all current when the newsletter was composed. However, Windshift is not responsible for their continuing currency.

WRITING TIP:

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

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March discount of 25% to all newsletter subscribers

Mentoring -Treat yourself to an hour of mentoring from a publishing professional. This could include advice on submission packages to publishers or marketing plans for your book. Ask for details by contacting Windshift Press. Please put 'mentoring' in the comments.

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PUBLISHING NEWS:

In the shadow of the Oscar Awards there is much to be hopeful about as an author. Many more books are now being made into movies.

This is also the week of the London Book Fair, which next to the Frankfurt Book Fair is the premier event in the international publishing calendar.

In other news, classic children's book heros are being recognized by the Queen. A theme park is to be built in the gardens of Buckingham Palace as part of a children's party for the Queen's 80th birthday.

An area of forest will be converted into Winnie the Pooh's Hundred Acre Wood. Peter Pan will duel with Captain Hook aboard a pirate ship on a lake. J K Rowling will read from her next Harry Potter book.

Locally, Windshift Press authors of The Oyster Speaks are observing International Women's Day with an event at Volume One in Duncan on March 8th at 7:30. Later in the month on March 30th they are honouring their roots with an event at the Oak Bay library at 2:00.

On March 25th at 2:00 newly published Windshift Press author Kathy Wilson will celebrate the publication of her book Take The Wings of A Morning in Qualicum Beach.

These events are all FREE! If at all possible we recommend that our subscribers attend these gatherings of writers and readers. Check out our Calendar of Coming Events.

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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